My Experience With Blockages and PU Surgery

[goholistic]

My beautiful cat Butch just had this surgery today after recurring blockages. I was very optimistic after speaking with the surgeon about it, but now lying here in bed reading all about it I am very anxious, upset, etc. Very concerned about possible complications during recovery. He has been through a lot already and is just the most lovely cat. I am going to visit him tomorrow after work, and then maybe bring him home the following day. So stressful.

Stay strong and focused @Butchy. As with any surgery, you and Butch may encounter some ups and downs. Be in tune with your cat. Know what's normal and not normal for him behavior-wise. Keep an eye on his pee stream and any warning signs of discomfort. Stay in close contact with your vet with any concerns or updates. Have the contact information of your nearest emergency vet on hand...just in case.

@elise1030 has been through quite a journey with her cat Theodore, and as of the latest update, he's doing marvelous.

Sending lots of vibes... 

 

[butchy]

Thanks so much goholistic
So nice to find support here. The vet said this morning that he is going ok after surgery yesterday, although not eating as possibly a bit stressed. I am DYING to see him after work today and to get him home, but very nervous about how he will go. Poor thing has had so many problems over the years. I can't help but think its just not fair. Was emotional reading posts from @Gusmom last night. I very much hope that Butch doesn't have to go through what Gus went through. Fingers crossed. Thanks again for the positive thoughts and support. Much appreciated. X

 

[elise1030]

It IS possible for a cat to pull through this. It just depends on your determination and finding the right vet/specialist equipped to deal with it. I was lucky in that I was pointed in the right direction and had a very willing and slightly opimtistic surgeon to help us through.

Today, after 7 months of heartache and almost quitting on saving him, Theodore is doing so wonderfully well.

I wish all the very best for your boy and I hope that recover is more straightfoward than ours was. And always follow your gut instinct

 

[butchy]

Thank you elise1030 ! I will keep you posted. Very, very much appreciate the kind words and support. X

 

[butchy]

Well I'm feeling much better now. Just had a visit with Butch and he looked great. Much better than I was expecting. Very cuddly and happy to see me, bright and curious and even chowed down some food while I was there. I have enormous gratitude for the vet staff, they are just so amazing. The surgeon is sending a sample of Butch's struvite crystals to Hills for analysis and said that they will then come back with a diet recommendation. The crystals were huge, so much so that the surgeon said that even with the PU surgery there is a possibility of blockage in the future, hence the further analysis required. And he recommended 3-monthly urine analysis. So I am not out of the woods I don't think, but definitely optimistic having seen Butch's demeanour today. Hoping to bring him home tomorrow afternoon. Will be very anxious and watching him like a hawk no doubt. Can't say enough for the vet staff, feel like I am in very good hands with them. Will post an update when I get my little mate home. X

 

[goholistic]

Well I'm feeling much better now. Just had a visit with Butch and he looked great. Much better than I was expecting. Very cuddly and happy to see me, bright and curious and even chowed down some food while I was there. I have enormous gratitude for the vet staff, they are just so amazing. The surgeon is sending a sample of Butch's struvite crystals to Hills for analysis and said that they will then come back with a diet recommendation. The crystals were huge, so much so that the surgeon said that even with the PU surgery there is a possibility of blockage in the future, hence the further analysis required. And he recommended 3-monthly urine analysis. So I am not out of the woods I don't think, but definitely optimistic having seen Butch's demeanour today. Hoping to bring him home tomorrow afternoon. Will be very anxious and watching him like a hawk no doubt. Can't say enough for the vet staff, feel like I am in very good hands with them. Will post an update when I get my little mate home. X

So glad to hear Butch is in good spirits! It always makes for a much more pleasant experience when you like your vet clinic.

Sending the sample to Hill's, eh? Given the bias, they will likely come back and recommend their prescription diet - dry, wet, or both. There are varying experiences when it comes to managing struvite crystals with diet, but there seems to be a general consensus to stick with wet food in order to keep the system flush and hydrated. I also think a wet diet is best. I'm not sure what Butch's diet consists of. You might want to poke around the forums. There are LOTS of threads about diet and urinary issues. Or, you could start a new thread in Cat Nutrition if you wanted to get input from others.

 

[butchy]

Thanks GoHolistic. The problem is, he has been eating Hills c/d religiously since his last blockage a few years ago. He has been having dry in the morning and wet at night. I had previously asked my old vet if he should be on wet only and was told no because c/d will prevent blockages whether its the wet or dry, and plus the dry is good for his teeth. So pretty annoyed about that but never mind, will speak with the vet today about his diet and will move him to wet only. Luckily he's pretty easy going and will eat just about anything. I might do some research into other brands as well. I feel as though Hills is very much favoured here in Australia and I guess I'm a bit annoyed with Hills because their products just didn't work with my Butchy despite my best efforts and intentions. And it's very hard to keep his weight down while he's eating c/d. I know that Royal Canin is considered a good option and that they have a c/d equivalent AND a calorie control option.

Any way, enough about that for now. Butch is coming home today, all going according to plan. I can't wait to have him back but will be nervously watching his every move. I wonder if I can get some idea from others that have been through this, how long I should expect to have off work? It is Wednesday now and I have until Sunday off, but am expected back next Monday. Obviously will stay home if I need to.

Thanks again for the support here, it really does give me a lot of comfort. X

 

[kaspers momma]

Has anyone had issues with long term what I am assuming is pain after PU surgery? Kasper had his surgery a year ago and we have periods off and on where he scoots and Licks alot and irritates the area so much he has to wear a cone again for a while! Have had him checked and even cultured his urine and they can't find anything wrong! He also starts inappropriately urinating when this happens and I am at my wits end! I was just wondering if anyone has had any problems like this and if so if there were any ideas I haven't tried. Kasper is an old boy but other than this he is a happy healthy boy!

 

[lokipuss]

Thanks GoHolistic for the good vibes!  I haven't been on line for a while trying to get through the first 3/4 weeks post surgery.  What a journey it has been.  Many of us have read Dr. Lisa Pierson's advice on her website, but last week I read  "how catinfo.org came to be.  If you haven't read it, please do and make sure you have some Kleenex!  Loki had to wear the cone of shame for 3 weeks !  Finally got it off the day before Thanksgiving.  He had to have the stitches trimmed and after 5 weeks, needs to have them trimmed again.  Ugh.  However, on the bright side, Loki began really improving day by day over the holidays.  Urine clumps were getting back to normal size, able to have a daily BM, running, jumping, playing, etc.  In addition,I went to a new holistic vet and couldn't have been more pleased.  Since Loki blocked on 8/14 he has been to either his primary vet or one at the emergency clinic every week up through last week.  Not one recommended he take a probiotic from all of the antibiotics he's been prescribed, until I met with Dr. Allen.  She recommended Vetri-Probiotic and he loves it!  I told her I was also looking for a healthy treat and she recommended Bravo, chicken medley. (Both sold on Amazon.)  He would inhale the entire bag if he could get it open!  Like an idiot I was feeding both Loki and Luna Temptations.  If anyone is using these treats, please stop !  Go on their website and look at the ingredients.  It's trash!  The first ingredient is CORN!  The other thing she gave me was a combination of Tinkle Tonic and Tranquility Blend.  (Both are sold on Amazon as well.)  Had I known about these products, who knows, maybe surgery could have been avoided.  I can't go back and change anything, but maybe others may benefit from my mistakes.  Of course, had I done it all over again, I would have never ever ever fed them dry food.  Loki had to have another C&S urinalysis done late last week and am hoping the results come back negative for any bacterial infections.

Butchy - at first Loki was prescribed Hill's cd and then Royal Canin so.  He would eat the cd, but wouldn't touch the so. I gathered the nutritional information on both and then on what I was feeding him, Ziwipeak and Hound & Gatos.  I made the decision to feed him what I considered closest to real food he would eat in the wild, not processed by products like cd and so.  The fewer ingredients, the better the food.  Really wish I had the time to make it myself, but I don't.  He weighed 13.8 lbs when he blocked in mid August and now weighs 12 lbs.  One more lb to go.  Good luck with Butchy's recovery.  As others have said, watch him like a hawk.  I slept on the floor with Loki for four weeks because I was so afraid he would rip the cone off.  I couldn't bear to lock him up in a cage at night, especially since he was in it all day while I was at work.  I also kept a daily journal, what he ate, giving meds, when he urinated and had a BM, warm ears, etc.  I wrote it all down and that seemed to help, especially his urination.  I even took pics of the urine clumps to show the vet.  At first I took a few days off, then the following week, I would work for two or three hours and go home for a couple of hours and go back to work.  It was difficult at first, then you just get used to it.  As the days went by, I was able to leave him unattended in his cage for 4 hours at a time.  Hope all goes well for you both !  Oh and don't forget water.  I put it in his wet food (about 3 cc's at a feeding) and also gave him 2-3 cc's in a syringe after meds.  Take good care !

 

[goholistic]

@LokiPuss, I'm so glad Loki is improving and that you've had a good experience with your new holistic vet. You're someone who has been through this first hand and you have great advice for others.

 

[zoneout]

@lokipuss it's a shame so many cats are going through this torture. People just don't know until it's too late. All it would take is a WARNING instruction on bags of dry food that says kibble can cause urinary blockages in male cats. It's borderline criminal that they don't educate or warn owners. I guess we will have to wait 50 years until something is done just like with asbestos and tobacco. Too many people (including vets) getting rich while pets and their owners needlessly suffer.

 

[stewball]

I think you are all marvelous.i would never be able to do what you all do after this opelation. I'm afraid I'd wimp out.

 

[lokipuss]

Thanks so much GoHolistic!  Got a call from the ER surgeon yesterday.  Loki's latest C&S results were negative for bacterial infections !  What a supreme relief !  I chose to take the advice of Dr. Pierson, Dr. Elizabeth Hodgins (great book on cat health) and listen to my gut.  I did not feed him RC so as prescribed.  I stopped giving him temptations treats and kept feeding him low carb wet food mixed with water.  Now on to getting Loki and Luna to living in peace again.  I've had them separated for 4 months and miss Luna is nothing but a hisspot right now.

Zoneout - I agree !  And to go a step further, places that have pets for adoption should warn new cat owners as well.  I was think about emailing Jackson Galaxy (My Cat from Hell) about this to see if he would be willing to mention this insidious problem on his show.  He could reach millions of people and he obviously loves cats.  It's worth a shot.

And Stewball - trust me, you would be able to make it through if it happened to your cat !  You just learn to take it one hour, one day at a time. 

Butchy - hope things are going good for you.  Please keep us posted on your progress.  Best of luck !

 

[goholistic]

 
Thanks so much GoHolistic!  Got a call from the ER surgeon yesterday.  Loki's latest C&S results were negative for bacterial infections !  What a supreme relief !  I chose to take the advice of Dr. Pierson, Dr. Elizabeth Hodgins (great book on cat health) and listen to my gut.  I did not feed him RC so as prescribed.  I stopped giving him temptations treats and kept feeding him low carb wet food mixed with water.

Excellent news! 

 

[pisces7386]

My little man, Bear, blocked 6 days ago... and reblocked 4 days ago so they did PU surgery that day. He came home 2 days ago... and he has been doing better and better ( pee amounts, pain level, appetite) But all of a sudden over night ( its 6:30am and I have been up with him all night) he is refusing to use the litter box. He doesn't like the pelleted newspaper that the vet told us we had to use now. He sniffs at it , and then walks to the old box of clumping clay litter and rubs all over it. I call the tech that was on duty overnight and she said I can never use clumping litter again... Is this true?!  All three of my kitties are really really picky and I have only been able to get them to use arm and hammer ultra last. 

He wants to pee, but refuses to use the litter that the vet insists on... Does anyone have any suggestions as to a litter we can use while he is healing  that would be more like his clumping clay litter but not risk  reblocking his wound?? And even bigger--- Have you all switched to non clumping and dust free litters forever?

 

[goholistic]

 
My little man, Bear, blocked 6 days ago... and reblocked 4 days ago so they did PU surgery that day. He came home 2 days ago... and he has been doing better and better ( pee amounts, pain level, appetite) But all of a sudden over night ( its 6:30am and I have been up with him all night) he is refusing to use the litter box. He doesn't like the pelleted newspaper that the vet told us we had to use now. He sniffs at it , and then walks to the old box of clumping clay litter and rubs all over it. I call the tech that was on duty overnight and she said I can never use clumping litter again... Is this true?!  All three of my kitties are really really picky and I have only been able to get them to use arm and hammer ultra last. 

He wants to pee, but refuses to use the litter that the vet insists on... Does anyone have any suggestions as to a litter we can use while he is healing  that would be more like his clumping clay litter but not risk  reblocking his wound?? And even bigger--- Have you all switched to non clumping and dust free litters forever?

I do not have direct experience in this type of surgery, but I am assuming they don't want you using clumping litter in case some of it gets in/on the opening and cause a major issue. Ask your vet if you can use the rodent pet bedding instead - wood shavings or the soft cottony stuff. 

Hopefully someone with more experience can chime in on what litter to use. I'm not entirely surprised that Bear won't use the litter with the pelleted newspaper - 1) because its a change and cats don't like change and 2) because it is uncomfortable to walk on.

 

[pisces7386]

It turns out the tech who relayed the message to me about the litter got a little over enthusiastic- the vet preferred that we use the newspaper litter... but in light of bear's stubbornness she said that we could try some other natural litters, like the corn cob or pine shavings. She also suggested shredded paper or shredded paper towels.She said if he still fights it we can use the clumping clay- we just need to check his wound and opening to make sure nothing gets stuck in there. Bear is a pretty chill cat so she knows that he will let us clean him down there even if it hurts a little.  She also said we can go back to the clumping clay after he gets his stitches out at the two week mark. 

I also want to apologize for not double checking my information before my original post- it has been a stressful week with very little sleep and  I was at my wits end after watching him want to pee but not even try for several hours. 

 

[goholistic]

 
It turns out the tech who relayed the message to me about the litter got a little over enthusiastic- the vet preferred that we use the newspaper litter... but in light of bear's stubbornness she said that we could try some other natural litters, like the corn cob or pine shavings. She also suggested shredded paper or shredded paper towels.She said if he still fights it we can use the clumping clay- we just need to check his wound and opening to make sure nothing gets stuck in there. Bear is a pretty chill cat so she knows that he will let us clean him down there even if it hurts a little.  She also said we can go back to the clumping clay after he gets his stitches out at the two week mark. 

I also want to apologize for not double checking my information before my original post- it has been a stressful week with very little sleep and  I was at my wits end after watching him want to pee but not even try for several hours. 

No worries! I know what you mean about no sleep and watching like a hawk, although for my kitty it is for a different reason. It's going to be tough in the beginning. Try to hang in there for your little guy - he needs you! 

Sending lots of vibes for a speedy recovery....  

 

[laurascats]

Well hello to all of you who have gone through the PU surgery with your loved ones. My little four year just joined the PU club this past Friday (3/28/15). I had known about this procedure and researched it when my baby first blocked in mid August of 2014. I have always fed my 2 boys wet food the most with a little treat of dry ever now and then. My choice of food was always the best - yet  i was not knowledgeable about the high phospherous contents can form crystals, or  that male cats are notorious about blocking. My Luca's second block was last Monday (3/24) and was catherized and my vet requires a two day stay in order for them to watch the progress. Our vet is also a vetinary hospital. Luca was not too upset being there with all the vets and techs for they all have a good time with the animals. All went well until 12 hrs later with the cath out- he blocked again while in the hospital and they strongly advised me to do surgery - which we did and then found out that Luca's urethra was a very narrow opening and he was eventually going to block even if crystals did not form.  We get calls from the doctor who is on call each day in the morning and at night. My little man is still in the hospital and with God's grace we hope to take him home on Tuesday (3/31). I am being positively optimistic over all this, I wanted to resolve this issue holisticly and when surgery was eminent, I did not feel like I failed him. And neither should anyone of you on this site. We all love our cats who give us their unconditional love continously. It is sites like this one that are informative and rewarding. I have learned a great deal from everyone who has posted before me, and I thank you all for such great information that has helped me so far.  God Bless you all and your furry loved ones.

 

[mr frank]

Hi. My 3 yr old cat frank has blocked 4 times now and should be having the pu surgery next week