Opinions Please:re:ginger Cat,treatment For Blood In Urine.help?

[VIOLET0019]

MORE: Details of what happened: Re Ginger Cat, Pink Snow, Blood in Urine............what happened since my last question I posted last week:

I brought Ginger to the Vet, where he stayed overnight so that the Vet could test his urine. The next day I picked him up and the Vet said that there was a lot of blood in the urine, and that he had a Urinary Tract Infection, and advised me to give him these antibiotics: Clavamox 62.5mg(20 tablets) plus to change his food to: canned Royal Canin Urinary SO. I have been giving him the antibiotics all week, he has 3 tablets left, but I am very concerned as although there is no blood in the urine, and he is not crying in pain, and is still in good spirits and playful, he has been squatting and urinating, only a few drops coming out, in the litter box: 40-50 times each day!, for the first 4 days, and in the box for a long time (3-4 minutes.)! Now it is one week later, Ginger is urinating approx.30-40 times per day, and still taking approx. 1-4 minutes, and STILL only a few drops each time. He urinates sort of standing up with his paws holding on, to the top of the box, but in a squatting position. I am very concerned as he is still urinating only a few drops each time he goes into the litter, and is still squatting etc. I feel very confused and worried, and would be very grateful and would appreciate any opinions, advice, suggestions regarding Ginger, i.e. could he have been misdiagnosed? What should I expect now that he is nearly finished the medication? What could be wrong with him…might it be that he was given the wrong type of medication? Why is he not urinating normally? The Vet charged me a total of $150.(include.taxes) [Exam$46, Urine Collection$18,Urinalysis$37, Overnight Boarding $13.50, Clavamox 62.5mg (20 tabs)$12, Royal Canin 5 cans food $6.50]. Regarding the Urinalysis: Last week, when I asked the Vet what was his PH number he sort of hesitated and said that it was difficult to say as there was a lot of blood, I was charged $37…..does this sound right? Has anyone had anything similar happen with their cat? If he is still squatting and urinating so many times per day even after the antibiotics are finished, what could be the next step? Could he be ill with something else causing this? Should I call the Vet now, or after all the meds are finished, and if he asks me to bring Ginger in again..... What can I expect could be the next step in knowing what is wrong with him..... tests, etc......and also, what to expect in additional Vet charges? THANK YOU ALL VERY VERY MUCH!! ^,,^

[badger]

Poor thing. The urinary tract can become so inflamed that hardly any gets through, but he keeps on trying because the urge is there.

I'd definitely give the vet a call. Frankly, when they start peeing blood, it's a serious case, so he may simply need to be on meds for a little longer, or a different one. The vet might want to do another extraction first; it's difficult to collect urine yourself and and probably impossible if he only manages a few drops at a time.

Warning: The vet may ask for a blood test to check kidney function and if your cat doesn't start to improve soon, or with new meds, I think it would be a good idea. Maybe your vet would accept some kind of payment plan.

Hopefully this is just a particularly tenacious uti and will clear up soon.

PS Keep feeding him canned food (even if it is not the expensive kind) if possible.

[dustybird]

I agree with badger. Give the vet a call and see what he says. Sorry how long was/has he been on the meds? Most vets put them on meds for 14 days and depending on what meds some twice a day and some once a day. Clavamox is a popular one for treating uti's but some cat's need something a little stronger. I would keep feeding the food the vet gave you and you could add a little water to( the more urine the more peeing the more the bladder will get flushed). The food he gave you the s/o ph helps to dissolve and prevent both types of crystals(struvite and oxolate). As long as he is producing urine in the box even a little the only thing the vet would probably due is change him to a new stronger antibiotic. They will only do a urinary catheter when they are blocked. Yes they may want to do blood work or another urinalysis but a lot of times they will give you a new drug, stronger and longer and have you continue with the ph food.

My male cat had a bladder infection last spring and was put on clavamox and we changed foods. It cleared up but came back so they put him on a stronger medication(orbax I believe). After another 10days of meds he was fine. This winter he had another uti, back onto the orbax for 2 weeks and we changed to the urniary s/o ph food. We fed only canned while he was on the meds and now he gets canned twice a day and dry once a day. I am going to keep him on this food as it can be used for maintance and since he is now a kitty with possible frequent bladder problems I won't have to worry about him becomming blocked with crystals.

The price you paid for the visit etc... is the same as the price I paid. It is hard to get a ph level from a stick test when there is a lot of blood as they read the stick by the colour it changes. Now that there is no blood(visible) there shouldn't be a problem reading the test.

Best wishes and hopefully he just needs a stronger antibiotic and more time on the ph food. Keep us posted . It is good that you are keeping an eye on him as to how much and how often he urinates as a lot of people don't. I am paranoid and once a day I listen for my guys fire hose to go off in the box.

[cpietra16]

Poor Kitty. Any updates? Have you called the vet? I hope he pulls thru.

[mummummum]

to Ginger. I imagine the Vet checked for crystals ?

[VIOLET0019]

Thank you everyone, your support is truly appreciated. I just wanted to let you all know that I brought him back to the Vet yesterday (Friday), as he had 1 antibiotic tablet left, and being very concerned feeling frustrated + sad at watching him still straining and going into the litter box for up to 4 minutes at a time and having only a few drops come out, even though there was no more blood, and on antibiotics!! The Dr. examined him, and then suggested to renew his script for the same antibiotics for a few more days, PLUS added another med: Ketoprofen 5mg. - for inflammation and pain. He has had two tablets, and it seems to have helped him tremendously, in the way that he is going into the litter box fewer times, and with less straining, (like the past week,approx. 40 times a day, and only a few drops each time)! This whole week he has been on the special prescription canned food (for struvite crystals), but eventually totally refused it, + stopped eating, so I purchased another brand, also at the Vet's - prescription food Medi Cal, Dissolution Formula-for struvite crystals. Last night when I opened the can, he lapped it up, (I was ecstatic!), but today, again, he has refused to eat any food at all, I even tried opening a new can of the original first one, nope, absolutely refuses to eat. I feel very frustrated as Ginger has had this type of "eating disorder", for six years, and over the years, I have given him every single holistic food that is on the market! I am not going to be able to be switching brands anymore as this is PRESCRIPTION Vet food! Anyways, I left it out for a few hours, and then tried to give him a fresh plate, but no luck, he does not want food. .... Any opinions about this? I am feeling better just knowing that at least he is now on a pain killer...this poor brave little guy must have been in so much pain (even though he did not ever display any signs...i.e. crying) ..... so I will continue with his antibiotics and the new additional inflammation/pain killer meds. I am feeling a bit upset, because although he is going to the litter box less, he has eaten zero today, absolutely refuses to eat.
I feel worried.I have tried both prescriptive cans from the Vet, but he reallllllllllllllly does not want to eat. So, I took a syringe and squirted some water into his mouth, to at least keep him hydrated until Monday, when I will drop him off at the Vet, who mentioned that the next step is to do xrays as he still does not know what is wrong with him!!!!! I wish he could talk to tell me how he feels! And this cat is so odd-he refuses people food-absolutely has NEVER in six years ever wanted to eat any real food, i.e. plain boiled chicken breast (which I feed my little dog-also rescued from a terrible life of being kept in a cage and beaten) If he refuses to eat any of the prescription canned foods tonight and also on Sunday, how dangerous is that??? I was wondering everyone's opinion on maybe forcing some plain organic yogurt into his mouth? Is it safe (re ph, acid etc..)?I will continue to squirt water in his mouth, to attempt to keep him hydrated, but I am so worried about him not having any food since Friday. Can a cat go without food (if he does not eat tonight, and Sunday)?? HELP please, I am so worried - I would appreciate any opinions, advice???? THANKS!

[dustybird]

I am glad to hear he is doing better in that he's urinating more. Unfortunately cat's can't go with out food as long as dogs can. Will he eat any of his old food? If he will maybe you could try mixing the old with some of the vet food(sort of hide the fact that the new stuff is in there) and if he eat's it gradually sneak more of the new in. My male normally loves canned food but isn't too fussy on the prescription urinary formula so I have to trick him by placing a few kibbles of the same food on top. Also the meds might be upsetting his tummy which makes him feel a little nautious, so the idea of eating just turns him off. I have heard of using live culture plain yougurt with dogs but not sure about cats, maybe someone else on here will know. Will he drink water on his own, you could try plain chicken broth(minus salt etc...) and see if he will drink that as it at least has some nutrients in it. If you have an off hours phone number for your vet try giving him a call as maybe he will have suggestions on what to do until monday or something you could give to help settle his tummy. Other than force feeding the canned food (placing a glob on your finger and then putting it on the roof of his mouth) I can't think of anything else to suggest. You could also try placing the food in front of him and pett him, sometimes it help stimulate them to eat and I almost forgot you could heat the food a little in the microwave, it sometimes works.

Good luck hope he start's eating soon and that other's will have more ideas for you to try.

[badger]

The meds are probably not helping his appetite. It is quite serious when they don't eat but don't panic. You could try mixing some of the canned food with warm water until the consistency is thin enough to squirt into his mouth with a syringe. Maybe give him a tablespoon or two at regular intervals, if it is not too much of a struggle.
There are medications to stimulate the appetite but the vet might not want to add anything at this point, until you get to the bottom of his problem.
Chicken broth is a good idea.

[VIOLET0019]

First, thank you so much for your support - all of your advice and suggestions mean alot to me and have helped me help Ginger!
Well to let you know - I am quite exhausted, (as I am quite ill also!), and after so many assorted attempts throughout the day, finally, (not knowing if it was safe or not safe!) I decided to try a teaspoon of plain organic yogurt, (while cooing and petting and adoringly BEGGING him!!) - and miracle of miracles he lapped it up (For six years he always refused yogurt)!!
And all day, wherever he went, I always placed a plate with the Prescription food close to where he was resting, never believing that he would eat any of it. I am not sure if the yogurt stimulated some spot deep in the recesses of his brain.....but whatever it was - most importantly HE ATE!!!!!!!!!!!HURRAY!!!
Once again, thanks........I will let you all know what is going on with sweet little Ginger.

[badger]

Maybe he was in so uncomfortable, food was just too much of an effort. It amazes me why vets are so reluctant to give pain meds, with an infection of that severity I would think it would be automatic.
I'm glad he feels better.

[VIOLET0019]

Well, it was too good to be true. It is now 19 hours later, after he ate 2 tsp. prescription food and 1 tsp. yogurt............I will not give up, and continue to try and coax him into eating. Also, tried some chicken today - absolutely no interest - he is "burying" his plates. I will go now to squirt water into his mouth and tomorrow, unless a miracle happens, I will have no choice but to bring him to the Vet, probably X-rays, and who knows what else....
Thanks everyone.

[chico2]

Violet,so sorry to hear about poor Gingers continuing trouble:sad:
If I were you and it was my cat,I would feed him any very smelly canned catfood for now,dilute it with warm water.
I know he is on prescription food,but it's no good for him anyway,if he is not eating and he needs to keep up his strenght.
One of my cats were on MediCal,but refused to eat it..
My little fatty Vinnie will eat people food if I let him,but my other two will not touch it(except tuna)so it is not that unusual that Ginger won't.
Good Luck tomorrow!!