EOL for Ben?

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A Fae

A Fae

Member Since 2021
It may be Ben's time to go to the BIG sleep. I am hoping for opinions from those with more experience than me.
About a year ago Ben had blood in his urine and I took him to see the vet. She put him on 5 days Clavamox for a UTI, possible crystals. She didn't mention a change in diet, which was the procedure in about 1995 when the same happened to Groovy Cat. Groovy was put on a dry science diet rx for one bag and he was never bothered again. The vet seemed more concerned about glucose in Ben's urine and wanted to do a curve with a CGM. I did change Ben's food to Purina Pro Plan URINARY TRACT HEALTH. All prescription UT foods are over 20% carbs. I added Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health about 2 months ago. All are pate and I add extra water. I expected the food switch to lower the urine PH. I was wrong.
Forward to a month ago. Ben started having blood in his urine again and I took him to my other vet that costs an extra $40 Uber ride. I like this vet better. Ben has a tiny bladder and he either has to stay to get a urine sample so I did one at home and took the sample back in. His urine PH was 8.5 very high alkaline. He was on Clavamox for 7 days and I added a cranberry supplement. About day 9 blood got lighter for days. Then it came back stronger than before. Vet wanted to put Ben on UR or CD food. All those are over 20% carbs. I'm afraid they would take his BG so high he could be comatose. His diabetes is NOT under control. He is getting 5U Glargine bid and his bg is usually in the 300's.
He has cataracts and loosing his sight. The hind quarter neuropathy is making him walk on his toes.
I am thinking It's time to let him go as this bladder issue is really unknown and I don't have the cash for any hospitalizations. He is in the litter box leaking blood. With the uncontrolled DM and his coat is not looking good and much dander.
I have been considering EOL for almost a week. I am having a very hard time with this. Ben is the only person in the worked I have. And legally he is my Emotional support animal. Dangerous times ahead when he does go. I know he is in pain.
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The leukocytes analysis via dipstick for animals is worthless so just ignore.
https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/media/1260/feline-update-autumn-2011-revised-030713.pdf
The USG of 1.008 is very dilute and indicates severe kidney degradation.
Is the urine red colored?
Presently my Merly has red blood cells in his urine. His urine is more of a dark yellow vice red tinge. This has been going on for almost a year.
I previously had a cat, Patches II, red urine and she had difficulty urinating, I had to manually express her bladder otherwise she you urinate anywhere when her bladder was full. I said goodbye after a short time. Do you blood test for glucose>
How did you arrive@5 units?
 
Thanks Larry. I looked in to the specific gravity.
He sits in his box and finally gets blood colored blood out. We did curves as his BG was going up. He is still not regulated. Sad thing he was OTJ under 115BG for 6 months.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Have you or the vet
Click to expand...
He was on Clavamox and a cranberry supplement for 7 days. Day 5 blood was lighter. By day 10 there were no visual signs of blood. By day 15 bloid was back and got worse til he sits in box and drps a few drops of blood. Tomorrow we'll get a CBC and ask for a catheter to expell debris. He didn't feel large stones. I just double checked Purina Pro Plan URINARY TRACT HEALTH formula on the Purina site. That food is suppose to bring down urine ph which it did not. I'm worried about BG skyrocketing with a high carb prescription food.
I suppose the CBC will make the decision since my mind is doing it's bipolar rapid cycling thing. Yes, no, yes, no. :bighug:
 
I’m concerned that with crystals he could block. That happened to Max was he was young, 4 or 5 years old. He was not diabetic at the time and was put on CD. There was a gel you could get back then to give that would mean you would not need CD. I’d ask about that. I’m sorry you are in this situation.
 
I am really sorry you are going through this with Ben. It is so hard, isn’t it, when they are sick and we feel like we can’t help them.
If he has to go on a special diet then you can probably adjust his insulin dose upward? I know it’s not ideal. Don’t they sell any wet food options for crystals and urine ph adjustments? I have read that cranberry supplements are too acidic for cats with CKD (felinecrf.org)
 
Ben is a miracle kitty. He didn't want to go to the Big Sleep. Last night, he was turning around. When he was being examined, he was bright-eyed and bushy tailed. The vet agreed with Ben. When being examined, he peeded a BIG puddle. So, they got a great less contaminated sample. We got a CBC, sent out to the lab, which should tell more.
Once again, I took my kitty in to be put to sleep, then I was home with kitty and prescription food Tonight there was less blood. I think he passed some of the crystals when vet was examining his belly. Big relief.
I was only charged $110 + 10 3oz cans of prescription food for $30
He started on prescription Royal Canin urinary health SO it is the lowest carb for prescription at 15% on a dry matter basis Fingers crossed.
He wants me to leave him for a day to do another curve with blood from his vein. They only charge $50, a reg vet visit is still $40.
 
I am very glad to hear Ben is turning around. I hope the new food is suitable for him and the urine sample gives some answers.

Suzanne & Darcy said:
@Bron and Sheba (GA) how did you treat Sheba’s FLUTD?
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FLUTD can be stress related and I have to say with most of Sheba’s flares, I could look back and remember that she was stressed over something a few days earlier. So if you could reduce the stress that would help. I remember we had relatives come to stay once and Sheba had a flare….she got stressed around new people but never worried about the kids racing around the house.
Feliway collars or infusers are useful. I had a collar for Sheba and it definitely made a difference.
Cartrophen (or adequan (in the US) is an injection and is given weekly for 4 weeks. It is supposed to help the bladder wall. It’s an anti inflammatory and often used for arthritis in dogs and horses but is also used for cats with FLUTD.
I also gave cosequin caps to Sheba as they are supposed to help with bladder wall as well.
During flares it can be painful so a pain killer such as bupe can be given, and sometimes Prozosin.
Encourage extra fluids during flares.
 
[QUOTE=FLUTD can be stress related

It's just Ben and I truly don't know of any stressors with him other than finding the perfect hiding place out of about ten to take a nap right now. Or, maybe the 2 times/month I have to go to the grocery store. By his choice he is indoor only (I love it too). We have a balcony that he will sometimes nap under the chair. The only stress I have ever seen with him is when we have to go outside to go to the vet. And we had a 5.8 earthquake back in 2020. That was the only on I had ever ben through. He found gread hiding places like the dirty cloths hamper :cat:

I used Cosequin injections with my boxer, and I was using Adequan injections with Ben for a bit, but the vet tech was only selling me syringes full but I need to get the vials as Dr Karma use to get me for Pinky the boxer. Unfortunately, my friend Karma was my favorite vet but she retired in December. She was my vet when I was treating Old Groovy Cat's CRF. I would tell her what I learned and what I needed, she always agreed and told her techs to go ahead and get me whatever I ask for.
Today, I am only seeing light pink instead of dark red in his box. He loves the new food. And I get to go to the Farmer's Market 1/2 block down the street :smuggrin:
I will check with the vet for those. Thank you so very much, that is very helpful. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
I am using Adequan in one of my cats for arthritis. I got the Rx from the vet for a vial of Adequan. With the low dose she gets the vial will last a long time. You have to start with frequent shots for arthritis — Twice a week for 4 weeks. Once a week for 4 weeks. Then once a month thereafter. And the injection is intramuscular and not sub-q like an insulin injection. I’m not sure what the recommendations are for FLUTD (or idiopathic cystitis or whatever) but surely poor Be ‘s bladder wall has been stressed with whatever’s been ailing him and it’s worth trying.
 
I suppose it was the scared mom in me jumping to conclusions. I got the chem analysis back today. Ben has a UTI that Clavamox doesn't seem to take care of, at least not with a 5 or 7 day dosing. Dr Ian is giving us a different antibiotic.
Ben was becoming lethargic and as you can see from his photo, very sad. I am so glad it's not stones of some sort. fingers crossed the different antibiotic will do the trick. I have read sugar kitties are more susceptible to UTIs. After UTI is gone I will put him on arthritis meds.
Thanks for all the support and love you send us. It's just Ben and I and some Facebook friends in our lives. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 

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Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I am very glad to hear Ben is turning around.
Cartrophen (or adequan (in the US) is an injection and is given weekly for 4 weeks. It is supposed to help the bladder wall. It’s an anti inflammatory and often used for arthritis in dogs and horses but is also used for cats with FLUTD.
I also gave cosequin caps to Sheba as they are supposed to help with bladder wall as well.
During flares it can be painful so a pain killer such as bupe can be given, and sometimes Prozosin.
Encourage extra fluids during flares.
Click to expand...

Its been so long and Ben is still bleeding. The recent chems with UA (posted above) did not show crystals and he had a normal ph. He is on day 8 of 14 days of his second round of antibiotics. They don't seem to be helping.
Being very low income unfortunately I can only take him to the vet 1x/month. I was also informed our affordable vet is closing July 19th.
I have an appointment July 3, my payday. I am now thinking idiopathic inflamation of the bladder wall, or maybe bladder tumors. I will be asking for Adequan injectable, and will find out about xray etc.
I'm hoping for the best.
 
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