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Deborah | 1 week ago
My 5 Yr Old Cat Has Been Home One Day Following An Overnight Stay At The Vet …

My 5 yr old cat has been home one day following an overnight stay at the vet for blockage of urethra for crystals. He was given what seemed to be the appropriate treatment of catheter, steroids, antibiotics and a X-ray. He has come home on a five day supply of steroids and diet food. I was expecting my cat would just be “fixed” and back to normal. But he is not back to normal by any means. He is very weak and subdued. This is a normally very active , mischievous cat. My question is this normal response after having been thru this ordeal ? He is eating and drinking well. He is peeing but very little. Often but small amounts. He does not seem to be in pain like prior to treatment. He will go and just lay in the litter pan. It almost seems he is too weak to get out. But he does get out. I’m assuming he might be just like a human with a uti , in that he feels he has to go pee all the time . They did send him home having had a long acting antibiotic. I don’t know if that can make him feel bad. He does seem to be in the side of improving , but very slowly. Is this normal? It’s the weekend here so I can’t call the vet with my questions. I have a great vet group , although I have never seen the vet who took care of my cat before and am disappointed I was not given more post care instructions on what to expect.
Thank you
DWS

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It’s hard for me to answer this because the answer lies in an examination. If he has a small, soft, non painful bladder and is urinating comfortably then I would say that it is ok to give him some time at home to recuperate. But. The best answer always has to be the safest answer and I always have to say that the best advice I can give is to see a vet.
    Can you call the er and ask to speak to someone who just took care of him? Or see your regular vet first thing Monday morning?
    I hope he’s ok

  2. Deborah Post author

    I might not have phased my question right. I just wanted to know once blockage has been opened and cat sent home does the cat usually go back to normal behavior or does it take a couple of days for the cat to recoup from having had the trauma.? He is peeing, eating and drinking.

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Robyn | 2 weeks ago
My Five Year Old Dog Is Seriously Afraid Of Storms. It Seems Like The Sound Is …

My five year old dog is seriously afraid of storms. It seems like the sound is what is triggering her fear. She is not treat motivated so I could not get her to take a calm chew but seems so elevated in her fear I don’t think that would have worked. She was shaking and heavily panting for an hour after the storm. Any suggestions??

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  1. Laura

    Is this a recent development? I would recommend a thundershirt, but be aware you need to put it on the dog BEFORE the storm hits. Medication can also help.

    Beyond that, I would work on desensitization with sounds.

    Additionally, I’d like to add my Doberman was not sound averse until after her spay, and she slowly increased in her storm aversion. She went from a dog who would stand outside and glare at the sky for daring to make noise when she was intact to a dog who’d cower on her bed post-spay. It was bizarre. We worked on desensitization training with Youtube videos and the highest value treats I had – bits of medium-rare steak. It helped.

  2. Robyn Post author

    Thanks for your response!! That is helpful. Yes it seems new and worse over the last year

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Juan | 2 weeks ago
I’m Saving A Small 8-10 Week Kitten. We Found Her While We Were Walking Our …

I’m saving a small 8-10 week kitten. We found her while we were walking our neighborhood, she was crying for help on the side road/gutter. She has a hurt right leg. We have caught her and made sure that she was alone…we visited her for about 1 week (feeding and winning her trust) and new we had to help her ASAP. We got a trap and trapper her and took her home. We don’t have much money since I have already saved two other feral kittens in the neighborhood and kept them both. I won’t get into that since that is not my purpose on here. But we have taken Lola (the new found kitten) to get x-rayed and started her shots. I’m at my wits end because we took her to AM/PM Vet to get the x-ray and they simply said that she has no broken leg and that more than likely she would need the leg amputated but to give her two weeks. They did not offer any advice what to do. So, we took her back and this time they (another vet at AM/PM) said that it was a mis diagnosis. I have been spending lots of time with Lola and massaging her leg and I think she has been able to move it more than when we first brought her home. She is totally comfortable with us at home now and I think she is healing but I’m not sure if what I am doing is causing more harm. I’m doing my best to keep her confined in a cage, but I do take her out to bond with her and play and massage her leg. So today, I saw your video putting a splint on Penelope and I think that is what I should do also. I believe the symptom you mention is possibly what Lola is experiencing. Should I take her to another vet specialist who can give hopeful advise? Can you please give me advise on: What to do and What Not to do? I’m doing the best I can but finding it difficult because I have saved two other cats (Mango is 3 years now and MaeLa is 8 months – they were both feral kittens when I saved them. It has been two weeks now and I know time is of the essence to help Lola with her leg. Please help me with advice from your experiences.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello
    Thank you for helping this kitten. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to help her. Kittens this young can have miraculous recoveries from the most extreme trauma. As long as she is eating, drinking and urinating and popping and playing I would just let her heal and grow. There is honestly not much more that you can do. I never rush to amputation unless the leg is causing a problem. As long as she stays inside where she is safe having a non functional leg won’t hurt her. Massage and allowing her to play in a cage is fine. I just wouldn’t want her running and jumping in a room, or off a bed or couch as it might worsen the injury. I also have to say that I worry about rabies. I have seen a few young kittens be injured by a rabid animal and this puts humans in danger. I don’t know if this is a problem in your area.
    Keep doing what you are doing. Lots of cats do great and live long happy lives with one or more imperfect legs.

    1. Juan Post author

      Thank you so much for contacting me – I appreciate it. Do you think it will be helpful to put the splint on her leg to straighten it out, so it heals that way? Or should I just continue doing what we are doing to help her without putting on a splint. We are doing our best to keep Lola from jumping up on sofa or tree I just bought her. Lola, I believe is now feeling safe and comfortable around us. So that makes me happy to see her feel safe and gaining weight. So, I have two other cats (3-year male and 8-month female) both are fully vaccinated, and Lola has already had her 1st set of shots. I’ve done lots of reading on how to integrate a new kitty, but I can’t find anything about a hurt kitten. Can you give some insight to this and perhaps some guidance. I am super greatly for your help/advise.

      -Juan

  2. Juan Post author

    This is Lola (about 10 -12 weeks old). It shows how she carries her leg…it is bent and keeps it bent. I do straigthen it out and massage it and press on her claw to get blood flowing. I don’t know if I am doing good or bad…I just want to make sure I am helping her recover and not doing more damage. If you need to see a video of her walking, to give more advise then I can. Thank you again for your kindness.

  3. Krista Magnifico

    Hello.

    The picture helps. For these cases I apply a soft splint made from wrapped tongue depressors. I have a video on my YouTube channel. In general these cases need some rigid support that doesn’t go in so tight that it causes limb damage. Over a few weeks the leg might be able to be supported enough yo straighten out.

    1. Juan Post author

      Hi again, I saw the video and it looks easy but I know it will not be. All the moving from kitty. I purchased this xtra small splint. Maybe use it for 8-10 hours during day and remove for massage and resting. The vet gave gabapentin but not sure I should give…maybe at night?
      Is this considered a soft splint? Im also looking into physical therapy for kitty. What do you think ?
      I’m trying to add picture of splint but not able to.

  4. Juan Post author

    Hi, I am using a soft splint I purchased on Lola’s front right limb. Do I enclose her in a cage or small play-pin so she does not move around that much for a certain amount of time (two weeks)? I can’t afford feline physical therapy or to get them to look at her. I believe it is what “Wink” one of your videos had. I have tried to search and search for guidance and I can’t find anything. Lola is around 14 weeks now and has filled in. She is doing all that a little kitten would be doing except she only uses the 3 limbs. Please give some guidance on Splint Therapy (soft splint) such as:
    * how long to wear the splint per day and overall duration (2 weeks, 3 weeks, etc).
    * Do I limit movement? Do I close her in her cage, with food, water, toys and litter box?
    * Do I give her any medication for pain or inflammation?

    Please help me with your guidance or links I can read or view. Thank you so much

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Gwen | 3 weeks ago
Got This 3-4 Week Kitten Who Needed A Home And Appears To Have A Twisted/angular …

Got this 3-4 week kitten who needed a home and appears to have a twisted/angular wrist. He was most likely born with this deformity since I don’t believe his legs cause him any pain. He is starting to walk and it is becoming a bit of a struggle.
Can someone recommend me any options? I don’t want to go to the Vet just now because i know it will end being costly with X-rays and such. Right now i’m considering splinting, but I also want to know other options like maybe messages, etc. He is doing pretty well, but since he does sometimes walk, supporting his leg on the leg twisted (the bone, rather than his paw), i’m afraid it’ll become a future problem when he’s older.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello.

    If you follow my blog at kmdvm.blogspot.com I have a few articles on this. I would use a soft splint and rest. These kittens grow and the legs strengthen and they can have normal lives. If you are anywhere near me in northern Maryland I will help.

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BRET | 1 month ago
Just Seeing If You Know Anybody In Chicagoland That Is Able To Do Somewhat Affordable Surgery. …

Just seeing if you know anybody in Chicagoland that is able to do somewhat affordable surgery. My cat had unblocking last Monday, model patient & fine til Sat when not flowing as freely, he is trying so hard, I’m trying to gently help him while going. I’m 1400.00 in & don’t want to lose my Lil guy cz of money. He’s trying so hard & I’m losing my mind going thru it all. We have most of the antibiotics & pain meds, just need to get past this, did the overnight at home and stayed up, all went well. 5 days 2 soon…..if could direct us somewhere near Ill go. He deserves to live, not die cz his dad can’t afford this unblocking.

Thanks

Bretster7@gmail.com

If email can give u more contact info

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your kitty and this situation.
    I would post on social media looking for advice and affordable options. Call all of the shelters and rescues and ask your vet for help.
    Next ask to be unblocked via the most affordable option they will give you. Ask to decline all diagnostics and ask to be allowed to go home with the urinary catheter in place. Or ask if your vet will permit your cat to be hospitalized at their facility for a few days. I have written a lot about trying to afford this. Please go to my blog at kmdvm.blogspot.com and search for UO or blocked cat.
    There are also Facebook groups on this. See if anyone there can offer help.
    Please let me know if you find someone to help.

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Parham | 2 months ago
Hello All, I Wanted To Follow Up On My Question About Mercury From Two Months Ago. …

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)

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    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.

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Pam | 3 months ago
Hi Krista My Almost 11 Year Old MC Potcake (who Has Too Many Beings Lipomas To Count) …

Hi Krista
My almost 11 year old MC Potcake (who has too many beings lipomas to count) recently had his senior blood work and urinalysis – everything was normal except an elevated ALP.

The urine was a free catch sample at 4 pm and it was very dilute. This prompted me to remember that he has been drinking a little more (summer) as well as eating a lot of watermelon – and to remind me that he has also had an increased appetite over the last year. I did a specific gravity on a morning urine sample after he had no access to water overnight and he was able to concentrate his urine at 1.025

He has chronic seasonal allergies so his inner thighs have a dark pigment change – this has been present for years – there are no other derm changes and I don’t see a pot bellied appearance but the vet is considering Cushing’s. They suggested an abdominal ultrasound first followed by a low dose suppression test. I would rather do the dex test first before an ultrasound. I’m not sure that I’m convinced that Cushing’s is likely but something may be going on.

Of more concern is that this previously healthy dog coincidentally, a few days after the blood work, had an episode of vertical nystagmus and ataxia – very brief – less than 30 seconds. He’s been fine ever since but its only been a few days – I have been told that vertical nystagmus is less common with Senior Vestibular disease and possibly more likely a central lesion.

any thoughts that you have would be appreciated !
Pam

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    For cases like this I usually recommend the following.
    Ask about diet. See if anything could be influencing water intake. I do a very thorough exam. This includes anal glands. Then I repeat the blood work a few months later (if not drinking or peeing excessively). If the pet is believed to be drinking and urinating more then I think that X-rays, abdominal ultrasound (by a proficient vet) and LDDT are warranted. I don’t have too much preference on order because they usually all need to be done. The biggest thing to talk about before starting all of these diagnostics is that the client must be willing and able to treat for cushings before we start the expensive procedure of diagnostics.

    Good luck

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Lucy | 4 months ago
Post Neutering My Vet Diagnosed A Hernia And Did A Second Surgery. They Found That It …

Post neutering my vet diagnosed a hernia and did a second surgery. They found that it was just a seroma. Now they are saying she has another seroma. She is a ragdoll and has a very saggy stomach and I can’t see a lump this time. I don’t believe it’s a seroma. They have told me to bring her in to have a drained. Is it negligent not to go to this appointment?

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Parham | 4 months ago
4 Year Old Male Cat With Urinary Blockage

Hello

My name is Parham Parsa, I found your page on youtube and have read your blog, and for once I saw someone that is actually talking about blocked cats and is raising awareness to this issue and I wanted to thank you for it.

My cat Mercury (4.5 years old, 18lbs) is currently in the hospital for another urinary blockage and I genuinely don’t know what to do, this is his third visit, first time he got blocked was about a year and half ago and he was on the death’s door, his blood work was extremely elevated, he was lethargic and in visible pain. His regular vet unblocked him and transferred him to a vet hospital for further care, this visit cost me about $5K, and after that he was put on a strict urinary diet. Second time was 3 months ago where we noticed him being in pain and struggling once again and we took him to an ER vet and he was unblocked again, despite my persistence of leaving the his urinary catheter in, they took everything out, and send him home that very night, thankfully he remained unblocked until last night. His vet told me that since he is keep getting blocked he should just get the PU surgery and all but refuse to see him, so I took him to the Metropolitan vet hospital and their estimate for getting him unblocked and doing the PU surgery was 7-8 thousand dollars which is wildly out of reach for me at the moment. After reading your blog I have decided that if I find a second job I can afford to have him unblocked and kept in the hospital for observation for a night or two but I don’t know what I can do after that. If you have any suggestion regarding an affordable PU surgery or any other suggestion I am all ears. I’m really sorry for the long email, and looking forward to hearing back from you.

I just got off the phone with his vet at Metropolitan and after they took some X-Rays they saw some large stones in his bladder which they suspect could be the reason for his repeated blockages, and recommended a cystotomy and they said that the balance would stay at 7-8 thousand dollars. As of now my plan still remains to have him unblocked and watched for couple of days but I don’t know what I should do next.

PS.. I have attached a couple of pictures of him to this post. He is genuinely the sweetest and the friendliest cat I have ever met and the idea of me having to say goodbye to him just because I can’t pay for his treatment is is something I cannot imagine.

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,

    I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. So many of these cats have a similar situation and it leaves their families with such a huge dilemma about what to do and how to afford all that might lie ahead.
    My advice at this point would also be to do the PU surgery and to remove the stones. If you are close to us I would be happy to see him and see if there is anyway we can help. Please call the clinic and leave your number. I will call you back.
    Dr Magnifico

    1. Parham Post author

      Thank you, Dr Magnifico, I will definitely call the office first thing in the morning. And again I want to thank you for bringing awareness to this problem. Your articles about the blocked cat were such a huge help for me in dealing with this issue.

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Paula | 4 months ago
Hi Dr. Magnifico, Thank You From The Bottom Of Our Hearts For Your Help With Our …

Hi Dr. Magnifico,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your help with our baby Percy last week. He perked right up after the Subq fluids and is doing well. I wanted to ask you how many times is best to feed him since he is a kitten? Don’t want to overfeed him or underfeed him. Also, since I rescued him from the rescue I volunteer with ( AARF) they will be doing his neutering on 7/30. He will be 3.5 months then. He was born on April 11th 2024. I’m still nervous because he’s so young and little and just want to do the right thing and for it to be safe for him. How young do you neuter boy kittens if I came to you? My kitten that I rescued in 2005 from Defender’s of Animal Rights was already spayed when I got her and she was just a little thing. I know with male kittens you have to wait longer. Thanks so much for your advice.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello!
    I am so happy to hear that Percy is doing well.

    I think that feeding three times a day is fine. I will admit that with my kittens I leave out dry kitten food and offer a half a 3 oz can every 12 hours.

    I also think that neutering at 3.5 months is fine. I have done it many times. If able I prefer to neuter at about 6 months old.. But I understand why the rescues prefer early., You will have to discuss with them,

    Thank you for all you do to help these animals who need us.

    take care
    krista