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Hello all,
I wanted to follow up on my question about Mercury from two months ago. He had been suffering from recurring urinary blockages, and after several ER visits, I scheduled him for a PU surgery at The Bridge Clinic, a non-profit vet hospital in Bensalem and Philadelphia. The surgery was done on Aug 14th, and the surgeon recommended doing the PU first to see if the stones would pass naturally, which they did. The surgery cost me $1,181.
Unfortunately, the issues didn’t end there. Mercury seemed to recover for about three weeks, but then he started frequenting the litter box and peeing only small amounts, sometimes not at all. He also began peeing outside the litter box and seemed very uncomfortable, especially at night, so I took him for a follow-up on Sep 12th. An X-ray and urinalysis were negative for stones or infections, but crystals were found, leading to a diagnosis of FIC/FLUTD. They suggested Gabapentin for pain and more water fountains and litter boxes (this visit cost $191).
Despite following their advice, Mercury’s issues persisted, so I scheduled another appointment on Sep 19th. The vet confirmed FLUTD and suspected a possible infection at the surgical site, so he received a Convenia and Buprenorphine injection (visit cost: $134). Still, no improvement.
I then took him to his primary vet at Telford on Oct 3rd, where they suspected a different bacterial infection and prescribed Clavamoxin, though I declined a urine culture due to cost (this vist was $170). I also put him on a strict urinary diet (he was on dryMetabolic Urinary food and regular wet food which I diluted with water). He showed some improvement, but then, last Monday, he seemed blocked again. After giving him Amitriptyline, he was able to urinate, and Telford said their only recomendation is a urine culture, and they don’t have any time to see him that week, so I reluctantly agreed to. (Urine culture + 7 Amitriptyline + 14 Clavamoxine was $323), today the results from the culture came back clean, meaning I spent $273 for nothing.
What’s frustrating is that I haven’t spoken to the vet directly since the first visit, only through techs and nurses, and I’m running out of time and money. Mercury is still in pain and struggling to urinate, and I don’t know what else to do.
So if you have any insight or recommendations to what I should do next please let me know because I am at my wits end and have no idea what to do. (I’ve attached the visit’s summaries and the receipt from my last time at Telford to this post)
Hello, I live in San Jose California and need urgent help with my male 7yr old neutered cat who is blocked. I took him to a vet who referred him to an ER , the ER has given me an estimate of $4500 to $5000. I cannot afford the treatment, they have unblocked him and put a catheter and IV. They plan to keep him for 48hrs in the hospital, the doctor told me that she found stones in his bladder and kidneys. I am really worried, please help me find a vet who can treat him further for less. I want to move my cat in the morning to an affordable clinic. Please guide me on next steps and help me find a vet. The case summary from the vet and estimate from the ER is attached to the post. Please help me this is very urgent.
Hello
I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. Can you please go to my blog and see all of the articles I have there for this? I literally have documents that you can use as a step by step guide to try to get help that is both affordable and helpful. Kmdvm.blogspot.com
Update: My cat went through a cystotomy on Friday, the surgery went well and he was sent home the same day. Unfortunately he was still blocked as the surgeon did not remove the stones in his urethra (He did not take any xrays after the surgery and also discharged my cat without making him pee on his own). I rushed him to the ER as he was very restless and trying to pee, the ER doctor immediately unblocked him with a catheter and while doing so, she was able to push the stones back into the bladder. Xrays (attached) were taken which shows three stones in the bladder. As the cost of ER was adding up and the surgeon who did his surgery was not available over the weekend, I decided to shift him with the catheter on to the hospital where his surgery was done.
My cat is currently doing well, he is on Ivy and has a catheter on. He is on CD food since two days. The urine color has improved from bloody to fairly clear. Urinalysis results showed struvite (Ammonium Mg Phosphate) crystals . I will be meeting the surgeon tomorrow and need your advice on what should be the next steps for my cat. Which of the following would you advise?
1. Re surgery to remove the remaining three stones from the bladder. After the initial surgery, the surgeon had mentioned that my cats heart is weak and hence he had to adjust the anesthesia to a lower level (1 instead of the usual 2), though the ER doctor does not see why would that be the case as there is no murmur seen in his reports and he has taken the sedation well while he was unblocked twice in the ER.
2. CD food therapy: Urinalysis results showed struvite (Ammonium Mg Phosphate) crystals. Should we remove the catheter, make him pee on his own at the hospital and then get him home. Watch closely for re blockage while continuing his CD diet. What are the chances of his re blockage? Will the bladder have greater chances of rupture if he gets re blocked since he just had surgery?
Please advise.
Also, attaching his PRE SURGERY medical records.
I would like to add that in the initial surgery, the surgeon successfully removed all the stones in his bladder but the stones in the urethra were left behind even though he said he flushed them. The ER doctor is very certain that she pushed those stones back into the bladder while unblocking him the second time when he landed in the ER post the surgery.
@KristaMagnifico FYI
FYI @KristaMagnifico
Hello,
It sounds like your cat has reblocked because stones were left behind? No post op Xray was taken?
If this is the case I would ask to speak to the hospital manager and ask them to resolve the situation (ie remove the stones) at no cost to you. I don’t know why this was not discussed with you after the surgery was done? They should have known your cat was very likely to reblock very soon.
I would also ask them to help you save your cat or ask them to give you your records so you can submit your cats case to the medical board for review. I would also ask your local vet to help you with this case.
There are lots of support groups for this online. Esp on Facebook. Maybe someone will be able to help locally if you reach out to them.
Good luck. Please keep me posted. I’m sorry for the delay.
@Krista Magnifico Update:
My 8 year old cat (male, neutered, American short hair) was diagnosed with bladder stones and underwent a cystotomy in February 2024 to surgically remove the stones from the bladder. Unfortunately, the surgeon left behind 3-4 stones in the urethra during the surgery, which were later pushed back in the bladder. These stones blocked him again in May 2024 – he was unblocked via a catheter and the stones were pushed back into the bladder during catherization. He again got blocked a couple days ago and has been unblocked again via catherization with the stones pushed back in the bladder. The X-rays do not show formation of new stones in the last few months and the urinary analysis do not show any crystals.
We are considering three surgical options to remove the sones now: 1) cystotomy 2) PU 3) Cystotomy + PU. Please see X-rays after the cystotomy in February, the one from May and the one from last night and advise on the best course of treatment
My female DSH cat started having urinary issues about 5 days ago. I noticed she’s not used the litter box for a day and I took her to the vet. They did an ultrasound and a blood test. The blood test was normal and the ultrasound detected a cystitis. We started giving her antibiotics. The night after she still wasn’t using the litter box so I took her to the ER. They said there was nothing with her though.
She still doesn’t use the litter box on her own, I have to put her in it a couple of times a day to make her pee(and still she does that only once a day)
What should I do?
Hello
These are often complicated issues involving multiple underlying things. To include diet, litter and litter box dislikes and environmental stress. I would look for a vet who specializes in feline medicine and place different kinds of litter boxes and litter types for your cat. Also make the area your cat lives in is as free of stress as possible. Calm quiet and easy to access all of the things she needs. Like fresh high quality canned food. Fresh water. And immaculately clean litter boxes. Also I add an anti inflammatory like dasaquin and a pain medication. I like gabapentin but your vet might use something else. Also ask about learning how to give sq fluids at home. Follow up with a urinalysis too.
Good luck
I have a cat that is dealing with urinary issues. Started yesterday with him straining but nothing coming out. I like many others do not have the $2k that the vet will most likely charge.
**I will take him in tomorrow to have bladder emptied, get antibiotics & anti inflammatory which will be around $300. That I can handle. My question is, what can I do at home to help the situation?
I saw online that apple cider vinegar has been used? Does anyone have any experience with home / natural remedies of any kind?
I do understand that it can be fatal if cats bladder is not relieved because of accumulation of toxins and electrolyte imbalance.
And I know that often we are referred to rescues & animal shelters for options with financial help. But unfortunately all of them in my area are already asking for help from community. And last vey I took a cat to for this recommended euthanasia if couldn’t afford to treat, so I’m also well aware that vets aren’t going to help either.
So is there ANYONE in this community that has experience with homeopathic/ natural remedies that can assist?
Hello,
I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. And all of the others in his situation.
I do not have any experience with apple cider and honestly I am too worried about what is likely already going on with your cat to try to advise anything else other then the er.
I’m working really hard to accumulate a list of affordable places and options. Please let me know if you find anyone locally. Please keep calling everyone and everywhere.
If all else fails offer to surrender your cat to get the care he needs. I know it’s not fair but it’s better to save his life.
Keep me appraised of what happens.
Best of luck
My 3 yo male nuetered tuxedo cat Kenobi was diagnosed with FIC by the ER DVM yesterday with no blockage. He is peeing just a dime size at a time. Should I also give him Apple Cider Vinegar as his PH was 7.0 ? Other than his urinary levels, red blood cells in his urine, struvite crystals, his blood work was good with no infection. The ER DVM gave him ; Buprenorphine, Prazosin, & Gabapentin. We have changed his food to all wet Royal Canin Urinary SO from mainly kibble with some wet. We think the stressor was the absence of our 19 yo tabby Tinkerbelle we had to help cross over 2 weeks ago. Should I get Kenobi a companion kitten to replace Tinkerbell? We also are buying a water foundation as he does not drink water enough.
Hello,
I would ask your vet about the following;
Giving sq fluids at home daily, adding a short course of a steroid and the latest opinion on prazosin’s efficacy. (I don’t use it).
Also I don’t use vinegar.
These are a matter of experience and preference. Therefore please ask your vet or find a feline only practitioner to help.
Thank you for your reply. Ill ask but given this study I don’t see why she would.
Summary
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Prazosin administration increased the likelihood of rUO by 14 days; ongoing investigation of other therapies to decrease rUO in cats is warranted. Without specific indications, the use of prazosin for the prevention of rUO should be discouraged.
Link
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/260/S2/javma.21.10.0469.xml
He is doing better this AM and has had at least 2 large urine eliminations during the PM, one I would consider normal. the other the size of a gold ball ( litter clump) We administered 1/2 teaspoon of H2O and ACV orally x2 last night. 1x this am. along with prescribed meds. He is running around to get to food bowl , face rubbing, purring, jumping on the bed, acting like his old self . I plan to continue to water his wet food. He does not seem to drink well. We have bought a fountain to encourage water consumption. He likes to drink directly from the tap so maybe that will work.
Can you answer a question for me? My Persian had surgery at 2yrs old due to calcium oxilate stones and now at 7yrs old he’s having trouble peeing. He’s been on RX food since his 1st surgery and drinks a ton of water. Is it possible he can have stones again when he’s on UR veterinary food from day 1?
Hello. Yes it is possible. Please cal your vet ASAP and have your cat seen
My cat is about 14 years old. Male. Last week really noticed he goes to litter often but doesnt go. But sometimes he did have a few times of clumped urine litter. So took to emergency clinic Sat 12/13/30. They could not get any urine to test. Sent home with antibiotics antiflamatory- pain meds and told to get in see regular vet.
Took to vet today 12/15/20. They were able to get a good stream of urine out as well as these blood clots tissues. See image. Said that I would need to ck his bladder ongoing to make sure it doesn’t get rock hard baseball sized. Gave me a medication to help dilate. Did blood panel and Im waiting to hear back on any other medications.
I feel like imaging should be done like yesterday.
If this blood clot tissue can happen again should he have been keep at vet to do something ?
Was this blood clot a actual plug and blockage. So since they got it out the blockage is gone at the moment?
I am just worried and dont want to make a mistake and not know if he has a full hard bladder.
Or did this clot coming out as he is good currently. How long would it take for another clot to form?
Any input advice would be much appreciated
Hello,
I think that all of the questions you pose are excellent questions to ask yourself vet. I also talk to parents about feeding watered down canned food. I often add a steroid and I give cats Sq fluids daily to help flush the bladder. Just things to talk to your vet about. I get super aggressive with these guys. And I offer lots of options for parents to do at home. Along with showing them how to palpate a bladder to monitor at home. I hope this helps. Good luck.
Hello,
I applaud your dedication and devotion and on your cat. I’m sorry it has been such a long and arduous road.
I’m sorry but I also think these cases need lots of time to resolve. They are usually complicated and multifactorial. So expecting or hoping for a quick resolution is often not feasible.
I do think that it is hard to manage a budget and a complicated case. I don’t know if anyone has done xrays or an ultrasound but these are also still on the list of possible places to look for your answer. If you are running right on funds than lean harder on pain medication and anxiety medication.
I like long term gabapentin and fluoxetine. I also offer lots of options in the litter and litter box department. I like a big, shallow uncovered box with potting soil, or play sand. Don’t remove what you have just add something like this and see which box they choose to use. Also add anything that you can to help keep him relaxed and calm.
I also like feliway and lots and lots of toys.
I hope this helps. Please let us know how things are going.
Good luck
Krista.