Cat with urinary obstruction/PU surgery

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Hi all,
Not sure if anyone is still here who may remember me, my sugar kitty passed away in 2018, but I come here every now and again for my various feline problems, as this is the absolute best source of information I have found on cats.

For those who may remember me, we got Shinoda a few months after Frosty passed away. He is now 5, going on 6 in September. He has been doing great with almost no health issues (except being a bit overweight perhaps), and suddenly out of nowhere was unable to pee Wednesday afternoon.

Lucky me, just in time for 4th of July. I took him to our regular vet Wednesday night, and he was able to empty the bladder by massaging and pushing on his belly, put him on prazosin and gabapentin, and sent us home. Later that night into the morning Shinoda couldn’t pee, so I brought him to a local ER on the 4th.

He ended up staying there for 2 days for catheter placement and IV fluids. I picked him up yesterday, and when he got home he had a few small pees, and then was unable to pee again overnight. He was dribbling on the bed this morning, so this time I took him to a big and reputable animal hospital/ER that’s an hour away from me (red bank vet for those from NJ), where they again had to place the catheter and admit him.

The ER doc gave me 2 options - another trial with Catheter and IVF, or PU surgery. Well, I looked up the surgery and … it feels so extreme given that these symptoms just started suddenly a few days ago (although not getting better with multiple treatments that all cost a pretty penny).

I guess I’m looking for your personal experience with this and how did you handle it if you had a cat in a similar situation. Shinoda does have insurance and although it won’t cover everything, it should hopefully cover most of the expenses. Part of me wants to give him another chance with non surgical treatment, but all the driving around back and forth to and from various ERs all over the state is stressful for both of us.

thank you in advance!!

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi Ana. I remember you and Frosty well.
Has the vet considered it could be FLUTD? And not a blockage?
I’m no expert but I would not think a cat could be unblocked by just massaging and pushing on his belly.
And the dribbling sounds very like FLUTD.
My kitty Sheba had FLUTD and when she had a flare she would be unable to pee and would go in and out of the LB. Sometimes she would do tiny amounts of pee. And she would dribble wee and seemed unaware she was doing it.
FLUTD does not require an operation. It is managed with medication, keeping up fluids and reducing stress. I would suggest googling it and seeing if it could be that. It tends to settle down after a few days. Sheba had flares a few times a year.
I have had 2 cats with blockages over the years and it was very obvious. They were very uncomfortable, going in and out of the litter box and straining and making noises as if in pain.
I would check FLUTD out fully before committing to an operation.
I’ll tag a few others to see if they have ideas or experience
@tiffmaxee
@Bandit's Mom
@Suzanne & Darcy
@Wendy&Neko

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Good to “see” you! Thank you so much for your response.

During the first ED visit on the 4th, they had difficulty passing the catheter into the urethra, and saw crystals in the urine specimen. His urine was bloody and slowly clearing up after the catheter was inserted, probably due to irritation from the procedure, They did send urine for culture, but he was already on antibiotics from the first vet visit on Wednesday, so I double it grew anything, but they’re gonna call me next week when it’s back.

Today, they said they didn’t have as much trouble passing the catheter in, but did have one area where they encountered some resistance and felt “gritty” according to them, which they thought may be residual crystals. So I believe the general consensus is that there’s crystals in the urine and they’re causing a blockage. They did take X-rays after each catheter placement, and they didn’t see any stones or anything really obvious like a mass. They also did a quick US where they did see general bladder inflammation, but they say that’s common in cats with blocked. (Which came first, I do not really know.)

I’m hoping to get more information tomorrow. I want to speak to the surgeon to find out more about what the operation entails, and then the Hospitalist vet to try to figure out exactly what is causing the blockage and if there is any other treatment. After leaving the 48 hours in the ER yesterday he was prescribed acetapromazine (stronger alpha blocker than prazosin to relax the urinary sphincter), onsior (anti inflammatory, similar to Advil in humans) , and gabapentin, and it didn’t work.

ETA: he hasn’t been vocalizing in the litter box, but going in and out and squatting as if he was peeing, and taking a rly long time when I checked after, the litter was dry. So he kept trying but couldn’t go

 

[Deborah & Muffy(GA) & Wendall]

I've had a few cats with UT issues and PU surgery would be a last resort after exhausting other possibilities. Cats with cystitis, FLUTD are in a lot of pain and should be given medication (buprenorphine) to control it. Pain causes stress and stress can cause/ exacerbate UT problems so it becomes a vicious cycle. When my cats started to get flare-ups they were given valium to relax the bladder, there are likely other drugs now.

As you already know from having a diabetic, feeding dry food isn't good for any cat but it's especially dangerous for those with UT problems. People who have a UTI are told to drink more fluids but cats have a low thirst drive and need to get most of their moisture from food. More moisture means more frequent voiding of urine which keeps the the bladder flushed and less likely to become inflamed thereby reducing the chance of stones forming.

Crystals become a problem when a cat also has cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) and the crystals combine with mucus and form a 'plug' that can block the urethra. A blocked male cat has about 72 hours before his bladder ruptures, at which point it's too late and he dies. That risk can be almost completely eliminated by diet, providing adequate moisture and recognizing the signs that the cat is starting to have trouble.

Lots of good information:
https://catinfo.org/feline-urinary-tract-diseases/

 

[tiffmaxee]

Hi Ana. Max blocked once when he was a little younger than your cat. A vet pierced his bladder requiring surgery and I nearly lost him. After that he was put on Hills CD. I was told later he needed to eat canned food and eventually he was eating regular canned food again. He did not need Pu surgery fortunately. I think I recall there’s a gel you can give them in addition or in place of CD. Does they find crystals in his urine? I remember I was so scared Max would block again. I wish I had been told to only feed him wet food at the time.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

@Ana & Frosty (GA)
Hi Ana
I don't know if you want to try these
Tyler was blocked once, had to take him to the ER ,

the mucus plug, was blocked ,I needed to change his food.
He's been in remission since 1-24-21
The food that was suggested by the ER was too high in carbs so I found this and have been feeding this , never raised his BG and knock on wood hadn't been blocked since

Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Beef & Chicken Entree flavor Pate

Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Chicken Entree

They are both low carb and low in phosphorus


The Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health is low carb and low phosphorus
Beef and Chicken Entree pate
Carbs are around 4.80
Phosphorus is 1.44 dry matter

They also have Chicken Entree in Gravy which isn't pate it like tiny pieces of chicken like the size of a chicklet piece of gum lol remember them, they are like tiny tiny chunks
Carbs are 4.5
Phosphorus 0.78 dry matter



Knock on wood hasn't had a problem since Nov 2022
The Chicken Entree
https://www.amazon.com/Purina-Pro-Plan-Urinary-Formula/dp/B003R0LM2U
I have a Pet Smart by me so I just run in there to pick them up
Petco has them too
At least you can buy a few cans and see if she likes it

Here's the Beef & Chicken Entree
https://www.amazon.com/Purina-Pro-Plan-Urinary-Formula/dp/B0170YQ822

My vet said this was a good food to feed Tyler
I always add water to the food

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hi Ana!

Neko's buddy Theo got his idiopathic cystitis diagnosis one week after Neko's FD diagnosis. Sigh! He was peeing dime size amounts, if that. Except with stress in the ER clinic waiting room where he flooded the pee pads in the carrier. But it did mean he wasn't blocked. His urinalysis showed some crystals and mucous plugs. He got buprenorphine, Cerenia (as anti inflammatory) and prazosin. Also Cartrophen (Adequan in the US) for his bladder walls and I also added Cosequin to his food. What really helped him was a low carb and low phosphorus diet with plenty of water added. I also put Feliways up in the house. He was a semi feral skitty kitty.

The vet originally put him on Urinary SO for a week then C/D. But Neko was in her acro starving phase and chased him away from his very high carb food. Vet suggested raw food as something they both could eat. Later I read the Catinfo page referenced above and found out any low carb/low P would work, but with water added to keep him flushed out. He did have a second episode after which I added more water to his food, and no more episodes after that.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Thanks guys. Of course Shinoda has been on wet food from birth, as all of my other cats and I even had a water fountain for them for water, but it got some mineral deposits on it and I just threw it away. I hope that wasn’t what was causing his issues

I just got off the phone with the veterinary surgeon, and she was really great at explaining everything. Basically, he has FLUTD or FIC, and failed medical management the first 2 times. I have no idea what is causing him all this stress… nothing in our household has changed…

He was put on all the meds you guys are talking about and still couldn’t pee at home . She did say though that typically at RBVH they wait until urine is no longer blood tinged to remove catheter AND they make sure they pee before they go home, which didn’t happen at the last ED which makes me think there could have still been residual inflammation in his urethra/bladder. In humans, we would never send someone home before peeing after a catheter is removed… I know costs might drive a lot of veterinary care and maybe that’s why they limited the hospitalization to 48 hours…

I think I’m going to give him one more chance with medical management. They will probably keep him longer this time. The downside is cost of hospitalization and additional cost of potential surgery later if it fails again…(double)… thank goodness for paying for insurance for all these years for him… but it’s not gonna cover everything obviously.

 

[tiffmaxee]

Fingers and paws crossed!

 

[Jasmine&MissBee]

we usually give them three strikes at urinary obstruction catheterization before recommending a PU surgery.

C/D wet and S/O are great options for helping break down crystals.

a PU surgery definitely poses its risks as well. It sounds like his first hospitalization wasn’t long enough. we usually like to see nice light yellow urine ( no blood ) before taking the catheter out . the hospitalization itself it very stressful as well for them.

Do you happen to know what his Potassium was on bloodwork? Also ask if he can get Onsior! it’ll help with the inflammation as well!

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

we usually give them three strikes at urinary obstruction catheterization before recommending a PU surgery.

C/D wet and S/O are great options for helping break down crystals.

a PU surgery definitely poses its risks as well. It sounds like his first hospitalization wasn’t long enough. we usually like to see nice light yellow urine ( no blood ) before taking the catheter out . the hospitalization itself it very stressful as well for them.

Do you happen to know what his Potassium was on bloodwork? Also ask if he can get Onsior! it’ll help with the inflammation as well!

Potassium was normal both times. I was honestly surprised… I must have caught it right when it started happening. All of his blood work and even BUN/Cr was normal. I guess we got lucky in that sense.
I already ordered the urinary friendly wet food for him to start once he’s home, but part of the issue was when he came home on Saturday he wasn’t eating. Poor guy was probably traumatized or possibly doped up on the medication as well. I do appreciate the low carb urinary health options in this thread!!
And yes, he did get Onsior after first hospitalization.just hoping longer time with a catheter will do the trick. Appreciate everyone’s input and those crossed paws!

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Hi Ana!

Neko's buddy Theo got his idiopathic cystitis diagnosis one week after Neko's FD diagnosis. Sigh! He was peeing dime size amounts, if that. Except with stress in the ER clinic waiting room where he flooded the pee pads in the carrier. But it did mean he wasn't blocked. His urinalysis showed some crystals and mucous plugs. He got buprenorphine, Cerenia (as anti inflammatory) and prazosin. Also Cartrophen (Adequan in the US) for his bladder walls and I also added Cosequin to his food. What really helped him was a low carb and low phosphorus diet with plenty of water added. I also put Feliways up in the house. He was a semi feral skitty kitty.

The vet originally put him on Urinary SO for a week then C/D. But Neko was in her acro starving phase and chased him away from his very high carb food. Vet suggested raw food as something they both could eat. Later I read the Catinfo page referenced above and found out any low carb/low P would work, but with water added to keep him flushed out. He did have a second episode after which I added more water to his food, and no more episodes after that.

I already told my husband to order feliway plug ins LOL. ASAP all over the house. Shinoda was feral when we adopted him also and about 2-3 months old at the time, so he is definitely still a scaredy cat! I love the idea of everyone saying to add more water to the wet food, I’m gonna start doing this for all of my cats. My old gal Bella who is 16 has been battling UTIs and crystals as well. I guess they didn’t like the water fountain I bought them, lol. These cats are gonna give me greys

 

[Wendy&Neko]

My cats didn't like the water fountain either.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I took some notes from my conversation with Dr. Cain , the veterinary surgeon at Red Bank Animal Hospital today, and wanted to share in case someone is ever looking for information in the future:

Urinary blockage in cats

There area a number of possible causes of urinary obstruction in cats.

• Bladder stones - usually would be visible on x-ray.
• Cancer or mass - would be visible on ultrasound.
• Majority of cases are due to a phenomenon that is referred to as FLUTD - Feline urinary tract disease, or FIC - Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. Idiopathic = we have no idea why it’s happening… my favorite word in medicine (sounds so fancy, but basically means we have noooo clue). So no real known cause, although many theories, which were beyond the scope of my curiosity at this point in our discussion.

Usually happens when cats experience some sort of stress (what could these spoiled little fur kids possibly be stressed about???), which leads inflammation of the bladder. When their bladders become inflamed, they shed its inner mucosal lining and congeal with crystals that may be normally found in the cat’s bladder. (Gross …)

Combination of this substance can cause a mucous plug that gets stuck in the cat’s urethra and causes a blockage.

Medical management - urinary catheter, IV fluids, monitoring ins and outs, to essentially flush out the bladder for 48 hours. Then pull catheter and see if cat can pee. There is always a lifelong risk of re-obstruction. Usually special food is recommended to decrease crystals, which is one part of the problem (MORE ON THAT LATER).

If this management fails -“PU surgery” - stands for perineal urethrostomy. Like a good surgical PA, I googled it yesterday and found step by step guide on how to do it… and I was slightly mortified to find out that essentially, it means amputating the penis down to the urethra that is at the level of their perineum…which will then allow these large mucous plugs and other debris to pass from the bladder and cat can urinate. So we are not really treating the cause of the problem (since we don’t really know what it is), but are managing it to the best of our ability.

There are risks associated with surgery, some in the immediate postoperative period, and others can happen at any time thereafter.

Most cats can go home the day after surgery, but full recovery and healing at home takes 2-3 weeks. Initially, cats can have some urinary dribbling, which should improve over time. They are recommended to be isolated to a quiet room or bathroom to monitor their urination habits.

Another short term risk is severe bleeding from the urethra, which in rare cases can necessitate a blood transfusion. Small amount of bleeding and spotting from the urethra is normal for a cat with a PU for the rest of their lives.

Long-term risks of PU is include increased risk of UTIs due to the urethra being shorter, similar to a female cat. There is risk of stricture at the urethra due to scar tissue (<5% risk), which may develop at any time, and in severe cases may require surgical revision, and could lead to urinary incontinence because the urethra is already so short…. There is always a risk of re-blocking as well, although it is lower than without the surgery.

Hope this helps someone someday! And explains why I chose to spend another unbelievable amount of $$ to try to manage this medically

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

So my dilemma is now trying to figure out what caused this level of stress in my cat, and how to prevent it in the future.

I read the reference above from Dr. Pierson, and I'm actually more confused and bummed than I was before. In a nutshell, as a mom of a former diabetic cat, I was already doing all the things she mentioned with their diet. I was already giving low carb wet food, and had a water fountain. So this just kind of reminds me of my initial SHOCK when I realized what was happening to Shinoda. I figured it must be genetic or something.... bad luck... but her page makes it sounds like it's absolutely water related. It just can't be in our case.....

Shinoda is on fancy feast pate. In the initial panic of this diagnosis, I went ahead and ordered the RX food for Shinoda that the vet recommended (Hills U/C I think) only to come here a few days later and realize that it's 23% carbs or something like that. UGH. Shinoda is already on the heavier side, as he likes to steal the food from my IBD (she eats a low carb select protein Venison food). I do not want him to gain more weight on a high carb formula... but I also don't want to put him through another hospitalization, and spend another $10K+ on hospitalization or possible surgery. So now I do not know what food to feed him..... I do not feel comfortable just feeding him any food, because I thought I was giving him the lowest carb and moist food there was! With plenty of water to drink available, and here we are...

I would definitely add 2 tablespoons of water to any of his food going forward, but I just don't know if it's enough since I have already been following all the "rules" and he obstructed. But if I give him the Rx food, it's high carb and he might end up gaining weight and possible diabetes risk...

I might be getting ahead of myself here, since Shinoda has not really been eating during his brief time at home between hospitalizations. I guess first we have to get him home and get him to eat SOMETHING...

I've also been racking my brain for any possible causes of stress. I must admit I haven't been the most attentive to their litter boxes lately... maybe that's the case? I actually took them all outside 2 weeks ago and cleaned them with Dawn soap and filled with fresh litter (before he got obstructed). Was it TOO CLEAN? The litter box is also slightly small for Shinoda now that he's a little on the bigger size, but it's the same litter box he has used for almost 6 years. My husband was actually working on a new litter box from a storage container that is large and has high sides to better fit Shinoda and a low entry for my elderly cat, who is a high peer... but we haven't used it yet. It's also possible I haven't change the filter in the water fountain for some time... but we have been refilling it often.

I got rid of the water fountain and decided to use large ceramic water bowls that I can throw in the dishwasher daily so they are always clean. I'm not sure if maybe I should invest in another water fountain... I haven't seen Shinoda drinking from it to be honest. I've only seen my 1 cat drinking from it, and she's the only one without urinary issues!

Any input is welcome. If you got this far, thanks for reading!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Good questions on what caused it, not something we figured out either. He was naturally skittish with strangers. At the shelter they called him a semi feral. He was relaxed with exactly 5 people, thankfully I was one of them. Most affectionate cat I've ever had once I got him home. Long story, he was at the shelter for almost 7 years. Was it Neko's sudden medical drama with the feline diabetes and acromegaly? Who knows. The cause wasn't as important as figuring out how to prevent it in the future.

Theo didn't drink much on his own either. He came from a shelter environment of open bowls of dry and wet food, and was overweight. I put him on low carb food right away and he was losing weight at a good gradual weight as a result.

When he got the diagnosis I did the vet food for a couple weeks. The vet said the SO/CD would help clear out the crystals, but the food battles at home were ridiculous so I asked the vet what would work for both cats. One of the things you are missing in feeding Fancy Feast is that it's not really low phosphorus. Dr Lisa's page says low carb and low phosphorus.

With two cats I had multiple water bowls in different parts of the house, so no fear of guarding. Theo just didn't have a strong thirst drive and needed more water added to his food.

I've heard litter boxes should be replaced every year or so. If plastic, they pick up the pee smells and retain it. You have a number of litter boxes that equals number of cats + 1?

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Thanks, Wendy. I’ll have to take a closer look at her page to see if she has specific brand of food recommendations with low phos. Just seems like the phosphorus would be secondary to all the wet food and water… it’s really frustrating.

I guess I’ll look for a water fountain that’s easy to take apart and can be put in the dishwasher to make it easier to clean.

So because our house is small and there’s almost no room to put litter boxes, we only have 3. But we’ve had 3 since Shinoda was a baby! So that’s not a change. We literally have them everywhere, even in front of 2 door entrances because there’s nowhere to put them. We are going to be making those bigger litter boxes soon, do there will be at least 1 more for the 3 cats. We might eventually replace them all with the larger boxes made from a storage container with a low entrance if they like it. We are also supposed to be moving soon, which is a whole other thing… it’s almost as if he knew we were moving and felt stressed LOL (we haven’t even started packing, so there’s just no way he could know something was going to happen!)

The litter boxes I currently use are the Modcat boxes so they come with liners, which I change every 3-6 months, so they don’t need to be replaced or cleaned that often. They are unfortunately not working well anymore because Shinoda is a little too big for it, and the old lady cat is having trouble getting into it due to her leg weakness /pain. So definitely time for a change.

Thanks again.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

The vet also mentioned certain additive to water (electrolytes?) to make water more enticing for cats to drink. Any thoughts on that? Has anyone tried them?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Low carb/low phosphorus foods are what kitties here with CKD eat. Here's a list compiled by someone on the CKD's groups. See the CKD Diabetes list.

Not sure which additive the vet is mentioning but suspect it's also one given to CKD kitties. I've not tried it with a cat, but seen mixed reviews by cats on FDMB. Other things people have done is boil chicken in water, saved the chicken for treats and give the chicken water as something to drink.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

@Wendy&Neko - question about the phosphorus .. my understanding is that with kidney disease, similar like in humans, since kidney process phosphorus, the reason we want to limit phos is so it doesn’t get too high in the blood?

and just so that I understand it correctly… the reason to limit phos/mg/ca in urinary health is because that’s what crystals are made of?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Sorry, not a vet - just quoting what Dr. Lisa said. Also, from a VCA web pate on crystals in cats:

Struvite bladder stones are one of the most common bladder stones in cats. These stones are composed of a mineral called struvite, which is a combination of ammonium, phosphate, and magnesium.

Struvite stones are also called crystals. So I think the answer is yes.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Shinoda is home. He apparently had a psychobilly freak out at the vet this this morning that is very unlike him, signaling to us that he has had enough of urinary catheters and hospitals. The Hospitalist vet kept telling me what a sweet cuddly guy he was yesterday, and how everyone there loved him because he’s not mean. Well, this morning when the tech opened his cage to do something Shinoda bolted out, ripped out his urinary catheter (no balloon inside thankfully), and proceeded to try to hide. When the tech went to reach for him, he BIT HER. Vet said it was a really small scratch, but now the poor woman has to be on antibiotics….. goes to show though that even the nicest sweetest animal can react under stress! Let this be a lesson for us all..
But the good news is that so far he had a very small pee in his litter box for me!! Vet said there wasn’t much in his bladder when I picked him up, since he hasn’t been eating or drinking. I’m going to keep my paws and tails crossed… he still has not eaten anything for me except for cat nip. he is loving life right now because I put the catnip out on my bed and he’s going nuts for it. Apparently ‘nip is a great distraction technique for giving medication… I don’t think he even noticed me giving him his prazosin , or even the liquid gaba that made him drool and look disgusted last time. Poor guy also got transdermal buprenorphin, so I’m fairly confident there is NO STRESS in this cat’s life right now
Hoping he will pee again in the morning, and that he finally eats something! I’m going to work tomorrow, but have my nest cam all set up so I can spy on him while I’m there.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Happy to read that he's home and stoned. When Theo came back from the ER they gave him way too high a bupe dose - he walked like a drunken sailor. Hope Shinoda eats for you soon.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Update: Shinoda was peeing the first 24 hours but didn’t eat anything, and hasn’t really peed much the past 24 hours. This morning litter was dry, I have a nest camera in my room and I saw him entering the litter box only once in the morning and then when we checked around 6 pm , there was a teeny tiny wet spot.
However, he didn’t eat anything the first 24 hours at home until last night. My husband makes himself chicken in a crock pot and whenever he does, Shinoda goes NUTS screaming on top of his lungs and running around. So he boiled him some chicken and sure enough he ate some last night, and also this morning. This morning before I gave him his meds he was really happy and energetic, and was desperately trying to escape our bedroom. He really hates being isolated…

after breakfast and potty break he was sleeping on the windowsill for a good 10 hours. Probably the gabapentin. The vet had explained to me how to palpate his bladder, and I was able to feel it and it felt it, maybe it’s about the size of an egg or slightly bigger? , but soft and not painful. I figured maybe he didn’t have to pee yet because he just started eating last night.

coincidentally, red bank vet Hospitalist called me this evening to check in. They really are the best and worth every penny… I told him that basically Shinoda looks good and is acting normal, and he’s not going in and out of the box to pee, straining, crying, nor is his bladder painful, so I wanted to wait til the morning. He agreed with my plan.
So this evening Shinoda did have a small. About a quarter sized pee in the litter box. I guess we will see what happens overnight!

I also want to say that the paper they gave me at discharge was excellent. It didn’t even mention prescription food - it talked about switching over to wet food and providing plenty of water, and other says to decrease the cats stress - pretty much everything that was advised here. It was personalized with shinoda’s name and all his meds. I cannot recommend this vet hospital and I’m so glad I found them. The hour drive is totally worth it to see them. Their new building and ER is nicer than some of the human hospitals I have been to…

also, I have to ask - how long can a cat live on boiled chicken? It’s even 1.5 days, and prior to that he didn’t eat for an entire week. I was hoping that if he continues to pee overnight I will let him roam the rest of the house finally and just monitor him closely. I would like to start transitioning him cat food again , but not sure how long he can eat boiled chicken without developing some sort of deficiency…

TIA

 

[Dyana]

I love the Red Bank in Tinton Falls. Did they move that massive aquarium to the new building? It was so relaxing to watch the fish swim around in the waiting room.

J.D. used to get the occasional stress induced hard to pee problem. Eventually the Dr. gave me some pills to give him that relaxed his bladder, and it helped.

Is being isolated in one room causing him stress?
Sending eat your food vines to Shinoda.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I love the Red Bank in Tinton Falls. Did they move that massive aquarium to the new building? It was so relaxing to watch the fish swim around in the waiting room.

J.D. used to get the occasional stress induced hard to pee problem. Eventually the Dr. gave me some pills to give him that relaxed his bladder, and it helped.

Is being isolated in one room causing him stress?
Sending eat your food vines to Shinoda.

So I didn’t see the aquarium! I spent most of the time there I the ED, but when I went to pick him up, it was in the main hospital. Not sure what happened to the aquarium… If we go back I’m gonna have to ask.

Shinoda is getting multiple meds to relax his bladder and him. It probably IS causing him stress to be confined to one room but having multiple cats this is the only way I can monitor his urination habits. It was Vet recommended.

 

[Chrispooky12]

My boy had FLUTD & UTIs & started to get cystitis. I started him on D Mannose 2xs a day 1/4 of a tsp mixed in with his FF & 3 tablespoons of water & he also gets cosequin one time a day also mixed in with his food. He hasn't had any issues since then, knock on wood. Hope this helps your boy.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Update: unfortunately despite all the medication, water bowls and fountains, feeliway diffusers, and cleaning the litter box diligently, Shinoda is blocked again. We found that my daughter’s blanket smelled like cat pee this morning, and found him hiding this afternoon and then saw him dribbling on the couch he is straining to pee so badly but drops and tiny sprays come out . I drove him back to the vet hospital and this time I think we have no choice but do surgery.

ETA: he was never quite back to his normal self ever since this whole thing started 2 weeks ago. He wasn’t eating great at home, I think gabapentin may have been really making him out of it. And his pees were very small. Im really hoping that he pulls through this and is able to get back to his normal life soon.

 

[Dyana]

Waiting for updates on your boy Shinoda.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Waiting for updates on your boy Shinoda.

Hi Dayna! Thanks for following
Things went pretty well! Shinoda had his surgery on Friday, and I picked him up yesterday afternoon. He is doing pretty well, and had a big pee at the vet, as well as in the litter box at home yesterday! It was huge… I was so happy, as this is the first time he has really emptied his bladder well in weeks.

he’s still not eating great, but he does eat if I hand feed him boiled chicken we call him King Shinoda. He is hanging out in our kitchen currently with the cone of shame, although it’s a soft cone and seems like it might be more comfortable than the standard plastic cone.

he got some topical narcotic pain meds at the vet that should last him 3-4 days, and he’s on clavamox antibiotic which thankfully he takes as a treat (it’s in the form of a flavored cat treat). The wound looks pretty gnarly… even for me who does (human) surgery for a living. Hopefully over time and once the hair grows back, it will just look like a tiny hole (if that).

I’m a little worried that he might get the cone off because he did get it off when he was a kitten after neutering. It would be catastrophic if he were to lick the injuries, and he could separate the urethrostomy from his skin, and long story short, they might not be able to fix it. So far he hasn’t tried. I did give him gabapentin last night because he seemed pretty anxious when he got home and tried to escape from the kitchen multiple times (he has to be confined to 1 room and separated from other animals). But so far today he’s been chilling. I think he’s more relaxed now that he realizes he is home. We set up big dog beds for him in the kitchen, a variety of food, and chicken flavored water from the boiled chicken.

Does anyone know how long a cat can live off of boiled chicken before they start developing some sort of deficiency? It’s pretty much the only thing he’s eaten in the last 3 weeks. We have 2 weeks to go until the cone can come off. The vet surgeon said to email him a picture of the incision in 2 weeks and if it looks good, Shinoda will be cleared to return to normal life. fingers crossed… the only other twist to the story is that we are closing on a new house on Tuesday and will be moving next week/weekend. So more moving and stress… but the upside is that the new house has a really big master bathroom where we can put Shinoda, which will be quieter and more relaxing than our kitchen. He will also be halfway done with his quarantine by Friday, so hopefully after we move he won’t be isolated for long.

thanks to whoever is following along!

And I did ask about the aquarium! apparently it came with the building. The receptionist I spoke to said that either whoever is gonna rent the space is keeping the tank, or they will have to find new homes for all the fish. Apparently people who started RBVH owned the building, but then as the company grew the owners separated the assets, so not clear who owns the building now. So unfortunately there’s no more tank at the new hospital, but the fish should be ok.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

 

[Larry and Kitties]

My cat Lighting blocked again after his first PU surgery. He had a second PU surgery and was fine thereafter.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

My cat Lighting blocked again after his first PU surgery. He had a second PU surgery and was fine thereafter.

Oh no! I am really hoping this doesn’t happen to us, but I know all about the risks, such as strictures, etc. All of these hospitalizations and surgery cost me $16K so far. Thank goodness we have pet insurance which will cover most of it! (I learned the hard way with Frosty). So far he’s been peeing great thank goodness.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Ana --

What an ordeal! (And of course I remember you and Frosty.)

You might want to check out a pre-mix that many of us who feed our cats a raw food diet use. The one I use is EZComplete and is made by FoodFurLife. It may be an option to add it to the homemade chicken you're feeding Shinoda.

 

[Dyana]

Thank you for responding and I am have been praying for him.
Make sure the cone is on snug. Best Of Luck with your move.
I'm sure the fish will be fine. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

My cat Lighting blocked again after his first PU surgery. He had a second PU surgery and was fine thereafter.

Larry, do you remember how long it took for your cat to recover and start acting/feeling more like himself?

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I do not think it took long since the second surgery was 25 years ago.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I do not think it took long since the second surgery was 25 years ago.
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Aww, poor baby! And 25 years ago… I was 13 then! Ha it’s interesting and kind of amazing that this surgery has been around for this long, and that they haven’t come up with any good medical way to manage this problem. Hopefully it’s a testament to how effective the surgery is …

How old was your cat and how long did he live after the surgery?
I actually now know 2 people whose cats had it in “real life.” One of the women at my gym , her cat had a blockage when he was under a year old! It recurred and they did the surgery. Her cat is around 7 now. He also blocked once since but I consider that a pretty good result!
And as I was sharing my story at work, one of the nurses overheard me and said her cat had the same surgery a few years ago. He is also doing very well, no recurrences so far.
It’s pretty crazy that I haven’t really heard of the surgery until now… of all the things I know about cats I vaguely knew about the blockage issue, which is how I recognized what was happening, but had no knowledge of all of this… I also didn’t think it could happen to my cats because I feed them low carb wet food and have all this water available goes to show you… only so much stuff is under your control.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Hi fellow New Jerseyan I'm so glad to hear that Shinoda is doing well .
I hope the move goes well, it will be so nice that you can put King Shinoda in the master bathroom. Please keep us posted
@Ana & Frosty (GA)

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Hi fellow New Jerseyan I'm so glad to hear that Shinoda is doing well .
I hope the move goes well, it will be so nice that you can put King Shinoda in the master bathroom. Please keep us posted
@Ana & Frosty (GA)

Thank you! I remember you from when I used to come here with Frosty

So far so good, still peeing, eating when we hand feed him, cone still on. Antibiotics finish on Friday. We have made it 3 days so far, 11 more days to go with the cone!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Aww, poor baby! And 25 years ago… I was 13 then! Ha it’s interesting and kind of amazing that this surgery has been around for this long

i remember my aunt's cat had to have this surgery back in the early 80's. Can't remember exactly when. They were much more quick to go to surgery back then. My aunt was on holiday at the time, so my mother who was looking after him had to make the decision to get it done without consulting her. My aunt was a total cat lady, she would have approved.

Have you ever looked at soft cones?

Fingers crossed for an easy recovery.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

i remember my aunt's cat had to have this surgery back in the early 80's. Can't remember exactly when. They were much more quick to go to surgery back then. My aunt was on holiday at the time, so my mother who was looking after him had to make the decision to get it done without consulting her. My aunt was a total cat lady, she would have approved.

Have you ever looked at soft cones?

Fingers crossed for an easy recovery.

Oh, wow! Sounds like this procedure is as old as I am, haha. The vet actually did give us a soft cone! It seems to be the trend nowadays…. Last time any of my cats had surgery (Shinoda’s neutering), he had the plastic cone. This time, both times he was hospitalized, he got the soft cone. He seems to be tolerating it pretty well so far surprisingly! But he is also older and is on more significant pain meds (and possibly having more discomfort this time), so hard to compare.

im happy to report he finally ate some cat food today for the first time in 3 weeks. Not much but at least he’s eating. We ran out of boiled chicken, so I’m really hoping he will start eating cat food. We are giving him just fancy feast so far … not sure if we will ever get to transitioning to any urinary food at this rate.