Struvite Crystals

[meow.rchl]

Hello cat friends,

I am desperate for help of any kind.

My just turned 5yr old boy, gave me the scare of my life when he couldn't pee for days several months ago. He was taken for two nights and had his bladder flushed which was over 50% full of crystals. He has been on his prescribed urinary kibble, AND THEY ARE ALREADY BACK!!!

Two weeks ago I found an actual puddle of dark red blood urine in his box, did a urine screen and he has a UTI and crystals. Because of his issues and pain, he is also not pooping, on medication for that as well.

I've come to you all, pleading, hoping and praying, that one of you will help me find something that dissolves these nasty devils, there has to be something out there that can aid in breaking them down.

I am accepting any and all advice and suggestions! Thank you so much in advance. -Jaxx's mama

 

[SundaesPerson]

Which prescription food did your vet put him on? I know Hill's has a couple different ones. My girl was on the Hill's s/d variety for struvite crystals and was clear of them in 10 days or so. It definitely wasn't her favorite thing, but it worked super well for her. She now eats the Royal Canin urinary formula kibble supplemented with pate wet food and has been doing well.

Did the vet take any scans to see what was happening inside his bladder to see if there was anything other than a UTI and crystals? If not, I'd get another appointment to see if there might be something more going on, simply because anything bladder related is harder on male cats.

Hope you're able to get your boy sorted out!

 

[meow.rchl]

Which prescription food did your vet put him on? I know Hill's has a couple different ones. My girl was on the Hill's s/d variety for struvite crystals and was clear of them in 10 days or so. It definitely wasn't her favorite thing, but it worked super well for her. She now eats the Royal Canin urinary formula kibble supplemented with pate wet food and has been doing well.

Did the vet take any scans to see what was happening inside his bladder to see if there was anything other than a UTI and crystals? If not, I'd get another appointment to see if there might be something more going on, simply because anything bladder related is harder on male cats.

Hope you're able to get your boy sorted out!

That's amazing, I'm so happy for your kitty, girl cats are so much more lucky since their urethra is more wide and much shorter.

He's on the royal canin s/o he doesnt do wet food, he only likes the squeeze up things, tried everything else. And he's drinks SO much water I don't get it!

Did a body xray, all he said was that the bladder was small, I was more worried about the backup of poop in his little body that looked like he hadnt pooped in weeks.

He did seem to skip over the bladder part when talking about the xray, I have a hard time listening when in full panic mode, so I will definitely go back and ask more about the xrays.
There has to be some kind of supplement or mineral that dissolves crystals??

 

[Robyn5678]

Can you try to work some wet food into his diet? My parents have to feed their boys Royal Canin urinary after they went thru that with their 2 cats. One ended up needing the surgery.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. You really need to switch him to a canned only diet. It still should be the prescription diet. He has to eat that and only that. No treats, or anything else. Make sure he eats. The last thing you need is your cat getting fatty liver disease from not eating.

How old is he? Is he overweight? How many cats in your household? Is he indoor only? Is he a stressed-out cat? What medication is he on? has he been back to the vet since you found the bloody urine? Do you keep your litter box extremely clean? Do you have a water fountain and multiple water sources available for him? Do you give him bottled water?

 

[FeebysOwner]

If he won't eat the canned prescription food, try soaking some of the dry food in water and see if he will eat it that - the added moisture will be good to help flush out his bladder.

But, yes re-check with the vet about what they saw on the x-rays. And, specifically talk about the size of his bladder - and, what is going on with his kidneys - that is where some crystals can develop as well. You can also ask about if there are other ways to dissolve the crystals - and, ask about his urine PH as part of that discussion. Certain PH values help to attribute to the development of crystals, even when prescription food is used.

You may need to pursue an ultrasound to see the actual condition of his kidneys - an ultrasound will also help to take a better look at his ureters and bladder as well.

 

[meow.rchl]

Can you try to work some wet food into his diet? My parents have to feed their boys Royal Canin urinary after they went thru that with their 2 cats. One ended up needing the surgery.

He actually did have to have surgery as well

 

[meow.rchl]

Hi. You really need to switch him to a canned only diet. It still should be the prescription diet. He has to eat that and only that. No treats, or anything else. Make sure he eats. The last thing you need is your cat getting fatty liver disease from not eating.

How old is he? Is he overweight? How many cats in your household? Is he indoor only? Is he a stressed-out cat? What medication is he on? has he been back to the vet since you found the bloody urine? Do you keep your litter box extremely clean? Do you have a water fountain and multiple water sources available for him? Do you give him bottled water?

It's really hard to give him wet food, I've tried every brand, every flavour, and they just bury it like it poop, he will only eat the squeeze up tube wet food I try and give him daily.
The Dr said that the treats I give him are fine, the Greenies. He's 5, 10lbs perfect weight the Dr says. Indoor only, he has a sister same litter and mama, different breed. He's a very happy boy.

I give them tap water, 5 bowls in different materials around my room, just bought a fountain coming Monday. He's been back to get twice since I found the blood. I keep the box as clean as possible.

 

[meow.rchl]

If he won't eat the canned prescription food, try soaking some of the dry food in water and see if he will eat it that - the added moisture will be good to help flush out his bladder.

But, yes re-check with the vet about what they saw on the x-rays. And, specifically talk about the size of his bladder - and, what is going on with his kidneys - that is where some crystals can develop as well. You can also ask about if there are other ways to dissolve the crystals - and, ask about his urine PH as part of that discussion. Certain PH values help to attribute to the development of crystals, even when prescription food is used.

You may need to pursue an ultrasound to see the actual condition of his kidneys - an ultrasound will also help to take a better look at his ureters and bladder as well.

I'll try the wet kibble, I never actually thought of that thank you.
I remember him saying "the bladder is small" I said what does that mean, he said "is good". His blood came back totally normal thankfully. How do I ask about kidneys? From xray?

Urine PH? Okay I'll ask about that as well. I didn't even think about an ultrasound I'll call them now thank you

 

[meow.rchl]

Hi. You really need to switch him to a canned only diet. It still should be the prescription diet. He has to eat that and only that. No treats, or anything else. Make sure he eats. The last thing you need is your cat getting fatty liver disease from not eating.

How old is he? Is he overweight? How many cats in your household? Is he indoor only? Is he a stressed-out cat? What medication is he on? has he been back to the vet since you found the bloody urine? Do you keep your litter box extremely clean? Do you have a water fountain and multiple water sources available for him? Do you give him bottled water?

His medication is Baytril pills, Prednisone, Lactulose, and Laxatone(oral gel)

 

[maggie101]

Hills prescription c/d canned disolved my cats struitive crystals. Try adding tiki sticks or churu,90% water tuna or chicken flavor. there is also purina proplan ur to try. Males are more likely to have crystals so water is very important. Lots of bowls and a fountain

 

[maggie101]

I also buy soft easy ccrushable freeze dried treats at a small pet store

 

[verna davies]

Try mixing Royal Canin S/O wet food with the dry and added water. Start with a little wet and if he will eat it, slowly increase wet and decrease dry. Also look at cornsilk and d-mannose, they are natural products so wont interfere with any meds he is on.

 

[FeebysOwner]

How do I ask about kidneys? From xray?

I'd ask if they could tell anything about the kidneys on the x-rays, and if the vet thinks the kidneys might be playing a role in the crystal production. The vet is likely to say that would require an ultrasound - that is my guess anyway.

 

[Robyn5678]

He’s already had the surgery to “reroute his plumbing” and he’s still having issues?

 

[maggie101]

Hello cat friends,

I am desperate for help of any kind.

My just turned 5yr old boy, gave me the scare of my life when he couldn't pee for days several months ago. He was taken for two nights and had his bladder flushed which was over 50% full of crystals. He has been on his prescribed urinary kibble, AND THEY ARE ALREADY BACK!!!

Two weeks ago I found an actual puddle of dark red blood urine in his box, did a urine screen and he has a UTI and crystals. Because of his issues and pain, he is also not pooping, on medication for that as well.

I've come to you all, pleading, hoping and praying, that one of you will help me find something that dissolves these nasty devils, there has to be something out there that can aid in breaking them down.

I am accepting any and all advice and suggestions! Thank you so much in advance. -Jaxx's mama

I just bought d mannose on chewy. It is also a preventative. My cat no longer has crystals but I believe stress was the cause so it is possible it could happen again. She was also treated for loose stools

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi,
Please check out the information in the link below.

If it was my cat, I would be giving bottled water only. I don't think tap water is good for cats.

I would stop giving any treats or anything additional to the prescription diet. I know your vet said it's okay. Obviously, something isn't working if he is having issues again. The little greenies treats don't do anything to help cat's teeth.

Even though he had the PU surgery, he can still block again and continue to have problems. The PU surgery doesn't solve whatever problem that caused him to block in the first place.

Why is he on the Prednisolone? Make sure that you don't abruptly stop that medication and it is tapered off by gradually reducing the dose. Also make sure he isn't put on any anti-inflammatory medications while on the Prednisolone. To do so can cause severe stomach ulcers and potentially perforate the gut.

If you are going to get an ultrasound done, I highly recommend you have it done by a specialist. Ultrasounds are very subjective and only as good as the doctor preforming it. You don't want the general practice veterinarian who only does one a week doing it, you want the internal medicine specialist that does 100 a week and has been doing them for over 20 years with special training doing it. Usually, the price is no different.

Although it was written over a decade ago, there is allot of good information in the below link.
Cat Urinary Tract Diseases: Cystitis, Urethral Obstruction, Urinary Tract Infection (catinfo.org)

 

[meow.rchl]

Hills prescription c/d canned disolved my cats struitive crystals. Try adding tiki sticks or churu,90% water tuna or chicken flavor. there is also purina proplan ur to try. Males are more likely to have crystals so water is very important. Lots of bowls and a fountain

I got him the hartz brand tubes, he loves them even tho I don't know if I trust the brand.
Bought a fountain off Amazon that's coming today

 

[verna davies]

Dont give too many, they may cause diarrhoea

 

[maggie101]

Dont give too many, they may cause diarrhoea

Yea,I started slowly adding more each day. Seems to love it!