Help with flutd

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Kahluasmom

Kahluasmom

Member Since 2021
Mouse, my civvie, has been suffering from Cystitis. I finally took her back to our old vet because the new one would not prescribe Prazosin. It's been 2 weeks and she's still having problems. Her eating is way off. Her pooping is a challenge. And she's straining in the pan, not producing much and having accidents. She'll be okay for maybe 3 days and then it starts again. The vet says we can try xrays to see if there's anything in her bladder or urethra, but that may not show anything. What she suggests is a consult with internal medicine and a cystoscopy. The consult is $241. The cystoscopy is $6700. My husband says absolutely not. So....is this the end? I'm sick.
 
Could be the end. I myself would not spend $6700 based on what you described.
Determining when enough is enough depends both upon how the cats is acting and how that acting could cause emotional problems for the caretaker.
In the past I know think that I had waited too long.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
Could be the end. I myself would not spend $6700 based on what you described.
Determining when enough is enough depends both upon how the cats is acting and how that acting could cause emotional problems for the caretaker.
In the past I know think that I had waited too long.
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I know....today she is miserable. I adore her. But I am tired, too. I don't want her to be miserable.
 
Is she getting anything for the pain? . Cystitis is painful.
Have you looked up FLUTD? Have a look at the ways to manage it. I don’t think you need a cystoscopy. My vet did an ultrasound which cost less than $100. He did it in the consulting room and I stayed and held Sheba. No sedation needed. If you can’t afford it, you could just treat it as FLUTD and see if it settles. But it does come and go but Shebas only lasted less than a week each time.but ECID.
Sheba had it and there are things you can do to ease it. It tends to come and go. She would start by going back and forth to the LB and doing tiny amounts. This could go on for a day. She would also have little accidents as she did I seem aware of it happening. She also had blood in the wee at times. It does settle down.
Stress tends to be a factor. I used a feliway collar and it helped. I would change you subject line to something like ‘help with possible FLUTD” it’s also called idiopathic cystitis.
I live in Australia and we give something else, but I think overseas they give Adequan injections for it as it supports the bladder wall.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Is she getting anything for the pain? . Cystitis is painful.
Have you looked up FLUTD? Have a look at the ways to manage it. I don’t think you need a cystoscopy. My vet did an ultrasound which cost less than $100. He did it in the consulting room and I stayed and held Sheba. No sedation needed. If you can’t afford it, you could just treat it as FLUTD and see if it settles. But it does come and go but Shebas only lasted less than a week each time.but ECID.
Sheba had it and there are things you can do to ease it. It tends to come and go. She would start by going back and forth to the LB and doing tiny amounts. This could go on for a day. She would also have little accidents as she did I seem aware of it happening. She also had blood in the wee at times. It does settle down.
Stress tends to be a factor. I used a feliway collar and it helped. I would change you subject line to something like ‘help with possible FLUTD” it’s also called idiopathic cystitis.
I live in Australia and we give something else, but I think overseas they give Adequan injections for it as it supports the bladder wall.
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She is currently taking buprenorphine for pain. I convinced the vet to let me up her dosage a tiny bit today. Not doing much. She was on gabapentin, but the vet took her off. She is getting Adequan for her leg. I did join the FLUTD group and they are very helpful. Mouse has been dealing with this for months, but I didn't know. Our old vet said it was her kidneys. But her numbers haven't changed. I suspect it's the Prednisolone. But the vet will not change.
 
Kahluasmom said:
She is currently taking buprenorphine for pain. I convinced the vet to let me up her dosage a tiny bit today. Not doing much. She was on gabapentin, but the vet took her off. She is getting Adequan for her leg. I did join the FLUTD group and they are very helpful. Mouse has been dealing with this for months, but I didn't know. Our old vet said it was her kidneys. But her numbers haven't changed. I suspect it's the Prednisolone. But the vet will not change.
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Have you tried a feliway collar or diffuser? Also I used cosequin. I’m glad you joined the FLUTD group. Do they have any other suggestions?
How often is the adequan?
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
Have you tried a feliway collar or diffuser? Also I used cosequin. I’m glad you joined the FLUTD group. Do they have any other suggestions?
How often is the adequan?
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I have the diffusers. I don't have cosequin. What is it used for? The FLUTD group is suggesting to up her buprenorphine and find a new vet. The adequan is once a week and about to go monthly.
 
Cleo has flutd which is stress/anxiety induced and I give her Cosequin. It's a glucosamine chondroitin powder or soft chew I get from Chewy. The soft chews have "starch" but I haven't seen any impact on her BGs . When she has a flare-up - (same symptoms @Bron and Sheba (GA) described) I increase the dose of Cosequin (chew and powder) and make her meals and snacks extra soupy.
Have you looked at the Phosphorus and Magnesium levels in her food? I noticed that with foods higher in these % would cause a flareup. It usually clears up in a couple of days to a week.
I also got her a "senior" litter box. It's larger and has a lower entry point. Lastly, I have a feliway plug in near the litterbox.
Also, every couple of days I switch out her toys and once a week I move her scratching/resting posts a foot or two to the left or right so she has a different viewpoint. Hope she feels better soon. :bighug:
 
Angela & Cleo said:
Cleo has flutd which is stress/anxiety induced and I give her Cosequin. It's a glucosamine chondroitin powder or soft chew I get from Chewy. The soft chews have "starch" but I haven't seen any impact on her BGs . When she has a flare-up - (same symptoms @Bron and Sheba (GA) described) I increase the dose of Cosequin (chew and powder) and make her meals and snacks extra soupy.
Have you looked at the Phosphorus and Magnesium levels in her food? I noticed that with foods higher in these % would cause a flareup. It usually clears up in a couple of days to a week.
I also got her a "senior" litter box. It's larger and has a lower entry point. Lastly, I have a feliway plug in near the litterbox.
Also, every couple of days I switch out her toys and once a week I move her scratching/resting posts a foot or two to the left or right so she has a different viewpoint. Hope she feels better soon. :bighug:
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Which one do you use?
 
Angela & Cleo said:
Also, I switched her to filtered Brita water both in her bowl and mixed with her food.
Here is a link to an article about a study in feline cystitis https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/72/6/ajvr.72.6.843.xml
I hope your kitty feels better soon.
Did the vet do an ultrasound and/or urine analysis to determine crystals, if any, infection, and PH level?
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I use bottled water for the cats. Is that okay?

The vet did all of those and said everything was clear. This was the 3rd urinalysis, 2nd ultrasound....2 different vets.
 
Kahluasmom said:
I use bottled water for the cats. Is that okay?

The vet did all of those and said everything was clear. This was the 3rd urinalysis, 2nd ultrasound....2 different vets.
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Sorry no Vet can give an answer. Guess that leaves idiopathic cystitis just like my Cleo. I feel for you. Seeing the fur baby in pain and not being able to do anything about it is heart breaking :bighug:

I used to use bottle water but she had a two flare-ups even with the bottle. That's when I bought a Brita and switched her (and the humans) to filtered. So far so good. Her last episode only lasted 2 days as opposed to the 5-7 days.
Are you feeding canned or homemade food? Either way, I'd look at the minerals in the food (for ph purposes) and see if there's a way to increase water intake.
 
Angela & Cleo said:
Sorry no Vet can give an answer. Guess that leaves idiopathic cystitis just like my Cleo. I feel for you. Seeing the fur baby in pain and not being able to do anything about it is heart breaking :bighug:

I used to use bottle water but she had a two flare-ups even with the bottle. That's when I bought a Brita and switched her (and the humans) to filtered. So far so good. Her last episode only lasted 2 days as opposed to the 5-7 days.
Are you feeding canned or homemade food? Either way, I'd look at the minerals in the food (for ph purposes) and see if there's a way to increase water intake.
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She's eating EZ Complete with lamb and Stella and Chewy Selects turkey. I'm also supplementing with baby turkey or ham.
 
Kahluasmom said:
She's eating EZ Complete with lamb and Stella and Chewy Selects turkey. I'm also supplementing with baby turkey or ham.
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My vet said to look for magnesium at or under .02% and equal or less than 1.5% Ash. I don't feed raw. If it were me, I'd contact EZ Complete and Stella and Chewy for the mineral contents.
I wish I could help more. This is the extent of my knowledge on the subject :bighug:
Let me know if there is anything else I can help with
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
I’m so glad the extra bupe is helping the poor girl!
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It is....but....I took her to the vet this a.m. What her problem is, is not constipation. It's her IBD, which has gone nuts. Her intestines are super inflamed. So...back to the full Prednisolone pill. She has been so sick today. She's eating baby turkey and freeze dried turkey treats. But, tonight she was moving around and nudging stuff. Poor sweet baby.
 
Kahluasmom said:
It is....but....I took her to the vet this a.m. What her problem is, is not constipation. It's her IBD, which has gone nuts. Her intestines are super inflamed. So...back to the full Prednisolone pill. She has been so sick today. She's eating baby turkey and freeze dried turkey treats. But, tonight she was moving around and nudging stuff. Poor sweet baby.
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Hopefully the pred will settle things down and she will start eating again. I had a kitty some years ago who needed pred for his IBD.
 
Mouse is going to switch to Dantrolene. The vet originally said to wait 48 hours after stopping Prazosin. The spasms are so bad that I haven't stopped the Prazosin yet. Today the vet said 24 hours was okay. She is so miserable. Do I have to wait until tomorrow?
 
Kahluasmom said:
It is....but....I took her to the vet this a.m. What her problem is, is not constipation. It's her IBD, which has gone nuts. Her intestines are super inflamed. So...back to the full Prednisolone pill. She has been so sick today. She's eating baby turkey and freeze dried turkey treats. But, tonight she was moving around and nudging stuff. Poor sweet baby.
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What is her current dose of Pred? My IBD boy, Bingley, takes 2.5 mg. pred daily. Every time I try to switch him off of daily and go to every other day, he stops using the litter box and just goes anywhere. But what I really want to know is... how is Mouse doing now? Any better? How's it going with the Dantrolene?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
What is her current dose of Pred? My IBD boy, Bingley, takes 2.5 mg. pred daily. Every time I try to switch him off of daily and go to every other day, he stops using the litter box and just goes anywhere. But what I really want to know is... how is Mouse doing now? Any better? How's it going with the Dantrolene?
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The vet put her back on 5 mg. of Prednisolone. We didn't have time to see much of a change and everything wents nuts, again.....UTI is back. So.....no meds today at all except her antibiotic. Same old deal....e. coli and amox. She has sent the urine out, too. She wants to try Mouse without any meds or supplements for a day to give her a break and then see what's working and what could be interacting. It is ridiculous how many meds, etc. she's on. Now to get some fluids into her......
 
I’m so sorry. I was really hoping that things had calmed down sine mid-November. It’s probably a wise plan to see what’s going on with the meds - as long as they don’t wait too long. So no Cosequin for a few days either? What about the Bupe?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I’m so sorry. I was really hoping that things had calmed down sine mid-November. It’s probably a wise plan to see what’s going on with the meds - as long as they don’t wait too long. So no Cosequin for a few days either? What about the Bupe?
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Shes not on cosequin yet. It just came today. I gave her Bupe tonight. She was yowling she hurt so much. No way my girl's gonna hurt. I'll apologize tomorrow!
 
Kahluasmom said:
Not really.....the peeing is better. Not as frequent and only 1 accident overnight. But, she's still not eating much. I just talked to the vet's office. As soon as they talk to the vet, they'll call back. I want to load her up with Mirataz.
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Do you already have the Mirataz at home? I'm pretty sure you've given it to her before, right?
 
It sounds like maybe you are making progress. Did you add the Cosequin? Is she still getting the Bupe? Anything else? I know the vet was wanting you to stop everything for a little while? And I know you gave her the Bupe anyway when she was in pain (good mama!)
 
I have some. The vet wanted to take her off all meds except the antibiotics and let her body rest. Yesterday we added cerenia and gabapentin. She ate okay yesterday. But, she's eaten less today.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
It sounds like maybe you are making progress. Did you add the Cosequin? Is she still getting the Bupe? Anything else? I know the vet was wanting you to stop everything for a little while? And I know you gave her the Bupe anyway when she was in pain (good mama!)
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She is off the bupe. She wanted to stop it and try the gabapentin. It does seem to have helped the spasms. I just got her to eat about 28 calories! She's over 80 for today now. I feel better about that.
 
Kahluasmom said:
She is off the bupe. She wanted to stop it and try the gabapentin. It does seem to have helped the spasms. I just got her to eat about 28 calories! She's over 80 for today now. I feel better about that.
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Well Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant (works on the chemical messengers from the brain and nerves) so maybe that’s why it helps. I hope the eating will continue to pick up! What did they say about Mirataz?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Well Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant (works on the chemical messengers from the brain and nerves) so maybe that’s why it helps. I hope the eating will continue to pick up! What did they say about Mirataz?
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No Mirataz. She's eating okay and getting fluids. I'm supposed to reduce the Gabapentin a bit tonight. She's having problems with her back legs, which can be a side effect.
 
Yes. Gabapentin dosing is very individual to the cat. Many cats do have trouble walking with Gabapentin until you either find the right dose or they acclimate to it. I’ll be thinking about you!
 
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