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Hopefully, them not having time means he isn't bad enough where they need to do something NOW.
Is he peeing more today? Is he on pain medicine?
I've seen them do that needle thing. In fact, Livvy had it done and it didn't bother her at all. It sounds much worse than it is.
I'm so sorry you're without him another night. Soon, this will all be over and he'll be home under the covers with you.
Take care, we're here if you need to chat. :)
Laura, did they tell you that his bladder was enlarged?
Why do they suspect urinary crystals if they haven’t been able to get a sample?
If they suspect a blockage, they should flush him out now and not wait until tomorrow morning.
Phoenix had his bladder flushed twice. The first time by my vet with a cost of over 300$
The second time at the emergency vet’s for more than double that amount.
He was in the hospital for two days with the catheter installed.
This happened last year and he’s been ok every since.
I hope poor Corkscrew is going to feel better soon.
Hang in there and keep us updated.
Laura, I have twice brought male cats to vets with symptoms of possible crystals. In both vet visits, they took urine from the bladder with no anesthesia at all. the needle is very tiny, the cats did not mind at all. Are they afraid of little Corkskrew and trying to get extra money out of you with anesthesia? (and wasting prescious Corkscrew time?). Do you like the vet? I have never gotten updates from techs, always directly from the vet with full explanations and plenty of time for me to ask questions because they know I don't understand the medical terminology. I pay a pretty penny for it but it is worth a life saved. Still hoping for rapid recovery for your family!
Don't panic!!Quote:
Originally posted by Uabassoon
... When I speak to the vet in the morning I will make sure
to ask the questions that you have told me to ask.
I know that they still haven't actually been able to get a urine sample from him,
... How do vets normally test for crystals?
After that will they need to install the catheter?
As long as Corky ism't the :eek: FIRST male kat the Vet has treated -
chances are s/he has done this Test & Treat MANY times!
"Blocked urinary tracts" on MALE kats is a very common problem!!
You don't have time to read up on it right now; but if you read
deeply enough, and talk to enough Vets; you'll find they have
MANY "theories" of how & why crystals, stones, and other blockages
form in the males...
And the "How do we Treat" question gets many theories
and different answers, too!
MY Vet suggested an IMMEDIATE "release" of the backed-up
urine in Boots by IMMEDIATELY installing the Catheter - AND
making the "installation" secure enough that he could
Keep It IN for several days - allowing time for the Bladder to be
completely *flushed out* - and hopefully he'd "never" plug up again.
And when the Catheter is inserted - *whoosh* - he gets the Urine sample
to test for WHAT is plugging things up!
*IF* your Vet did the Needle Insertion - they HAVE a sample.
If they DIDN'T do the needle withdrawal,
I HOPE they're sure poor Corky does NOT have a full bladder;
but let's give the Vet the benifit of the doubt -
I'm sure they know what they're doing!
Boots forgot to "Read da Plan"... he plugged up again a couple
weeks after the First Flush! :(
Catheter #2 was installed, he flushed, tube out;
all was OK for a day or so - then another morning of
DAD! I can't *PEEE* - an it HURTZ!
Back to the Vet ~ for ~
Catheter #3 and he was transferred to the Hospital for Sir Jury!
In Hind-Sight - we should have taken Option #2 that Doc Mike
offered on Plug-Up Day #1 - which was to do the Sir Jury and
not "hope" he'd flush out and have no more problems.
If you don't know what the Sir Jury IS -
they remove the penis completely, and reconstruct him (INTERNALLY)
so that the urine is discharged through a tiny opening
near where the penis WAS on his belly.
MOST Kats (thankfully, Boots is one of the "most") -
have NO Problem "controlling" their elimination =
no *dribbles* or inability to "hold it" till a litter box visit
can be scheduled. He *pees* when HE wants to.
And even if crystals or stones RE-form in his bladder -
the "New Plummin Route" has a larger opening and is a little bit
shorter than God designed him the first time -
much less chance of a "plug" forming and preventing the
flow of urine.
So the Big Question for You & Dr Vet to hash out IS:
Is the "plan" being followed a sure fix - or a "maybe"??
The Operation (Forget WHAT the medical term is :( ) - is pretty
much a sure fix - and very easily done by an experienced KAT Vet.
Patient (Corky) should tolerate it just fine.
Trying to flush and medically "treat" the crystals or stones
that form in the urine - to prevent their formation -
is not quite such a sure thing. And -
if the Non-Surgical remedies don't work - you're faced with
additional rush visits to the Vet IF he plugs again.
BEST thing for you to do is ask the Vet to EXPLAIN what your options are.
Hang in there!
{{{HUGS}}}
/s/ Phred
.
Laura, I'm so sorry to hear that Corkscrew is still at the vets and that he may have crystals.:( I sure hope that the procedure goes well tomorrow.
Cirrus was so blocked up in March that he had to have a catheter and then he went through the surgery to make him pee like a female. It also cost me more than the average cat because he's semi-feral and becomes very scared and vicious at the vets so they have to put him under to do simple procedures. Even though my vet knows this, he tried to give him his meds without putting him under and he bit him so he's now known as "killer" at my vets office.
Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. Please take care and keep us updated when you can.
In all honesty I can understand why they would want to give him the anesthesia. Corkscrew is a big and strong cat and while he's tame with me and people who he knows he's very different around people he doesn't trust. When I placed him into the cage at the vet yesterday I could almost immediatly see the change in him, I was even afraid to touch him. I just quickly closed the cage door because I was scared he was going to attack me.Quote:
Are they afraid of little Corkskrew and trying to get extra money out of you with anesthesia? (and wasting prescious Corkscrew time?).
They didn't say it was enlarged but he said it was very tender. Corkscrew would also yowl with pain when the vet would touch his bladder.Quote:
Laura, did they tell you that his bladder was enlarged?
Laura ~
(Hope you haven't *signed off*!)
READ this article -
it's one of the best web write-ups on the subject.
Towards the bottom, there's info on the Surgical Remedy ~
Called THE PERINEAL URETHROSTOMY :eek:
You could even *print* the article and take it with you
to the Vet tomorrow as a reference.
Article >>>
marvistavet.com ~ Urinary Blockage
/s/ Phred ..
Thanks for the link Phred.
When my cats act out at the vet so to speak, instead of using anesthesia, they take em in the back room where I they use a restraining devise that I have never seen (to my own joy). It's better than waiting- I would prefer blood work be done NOW than do an overnight because so and so is being weird and hissy!. My vet is Dr. Kat (Katherine) Ternes. She specializes in cats. I moved to Boston in 1985, went though a series of vets that tossed my cats around like puddy till someone told me about this vet who does house calls. She has been my vet since about 1987. She no longer does house calls because she was fresh out of vet school at the time. I love her because she hugs and kisses the cats, is sensitive, gives me loads of time for my money, is available 24 hours a day (she has met me at her office at midnight before with a dying foster kitten who was not under her care but was kind enough to see us), and has been available during off hours for me when I've called her regarding Jan's sick cats who have no vet. My point is, she could possibly give a referral to a good cat vet in your area should you ever feel you are not being heard. Or not being told the whole story. She is expensive (office visits are up to probabably $40 - I dunno cuz i dont do annual visits since she told me on the sly that distemper and rabie vaccines last a lifetime- keep that to yourself- she said it's known among vets but not state laws yet). Just fyi for future- I prefer a well informed female vet who goes to all the feline conferences regarding new info and expects all her female (for some reason, all the vets -2- she hires are women!) are always well informed with latest info and spend at least 30 minutes per office visit and kiss and hug all the cats. Its no wonder there is a waiting list to get in at The Feline Hospital at Salem MA
Laura, I'm sorry Corky is so sick. He has been in my prayers and will continue to be. Hopefully his problem is only temporary and responds well to this course of treatment!
{{{BIG HUG}}}
We are all here for you!
Oh Laura - what a worry for you. Phred seems to be The Man with the info., failing you being able to speak directly with Boot!
I'm hoping the outcome will be a lot more positive and today may get some good news for Corkscrew.
Last time I was at our vets., (annual check up thingy!) one cat was having a real temper tantrum -NO ONE was going near him - until his owner called him Snugglebum - and everyone in the waiting room fell about laughing - I'm sure I had Ketchum **snicker**!!
C'mon Corky - big brave boy and get well very soon - Meowmie's getting upset xxx
Lynne
Laura I'm so sorry that things are so stressful right now. I would be out of my mind with worry and I know you're missing sweet Corky.
Please know that prayers are still be said that he gets well soon and comes home feeling all better.
Hoping for a good update! Hang in there Corky man!
I've been keeping up on things with you on AIM, but I wanted to drop a note here just to let you know that I was reading everything too! :)
I'm glad his treatment is so inexpensive. I know it could have escalated quickly, if there had been something else wrong, so it must be a relief to know it'll only be about $200. I know you can't wait to have him home with you, and I'm sure Tibby misses him by now too! :p
I hope he gets better soon, both for his sake and for yours. Poor Corky. You're in our prayers, Bella says she'll keep a candle lit til he comes home. :) Love ya!!
I was wondering...now that the UTI problem is getting fixed, do you have any idea about what the 'larger' problem (why he gets sick about 2x a year) yet? Did you post that somewhere and maybe I missed it? I hope he's OK...How is his eye? I am sorry you and Corkscrew have to go through all this stress, and I hope he gets to come home soon.Quote:
Originally posted by Uabassoon
Originally the vet did blood work on Corkscrew for everything because about 2 years ago Corkscrew became very ill, at the time the vet thought he might have had FIV so they did full blood work on him. Since then Corkscrew gets sick about twice a year, he will run high fevers and have horrible respiratory infections that will last for a month or longer. If you do a search and type in "Corkscrew sick" you will see all the threads from where he has been ill, each time it's required a few vet visits before he fully recovers.
I'm really worried because this is the first time the vet has ever asked to keep Corkscrew for the night in all the times that he's been ill. We also think that he may have a UTI, yesterday and the day before he urinated on my recliner. So while he's there they are going to get a urine sample. I think they also plan on doing another blood test on him while he is there. We really just want to get to the bottom of why he is getting sick all the time.
Laura,
Still praying for Corkscrew! And, you and Tibby, too, of course.
Johanna
Just got into this thread. I hope Corkscrew is feeling better. And Don Juan is offering to do a free "cat scan."
Laura ... thanks for taking time out of your worry and work, to keep us updated! I know you are really stressed right now, and missing your baby! :( We all love Corkscrew and pray that he will be home and all better soon!
(hugs) to you!
Kim
Sending many positive and healthy vibes out to you and Corkscrew. Hope he's healthy and better very soon Laura.
Laura, I missed this thread too. :( Hoping Corkscrew will be alright after the white coat visit. It's stressful not only to him, but to you having to leave him there. As far as corona viruses go, I've heard that over 90% of all cats when they're the age of five, will test positive for corona viruses. Nobody can differentiate between one and another. The common kitty cold so many cats get, is a member of the corona family of viruses, as is FIP. I subscribe to Catnip Newsletter put out by Tuft's University, and they did an extensive article on FIP several years ago. Only 5-10% of exposed cats will actually come down with full blown FIP, and it's mainly genetically linked. Leslie's Cheops (sp?) was a pure-bred Siamese from a breeder, and she lost him to FIP when he was only a kitten. I'll bet that breeder's entire breeding stock eventually succumbed to FIP. I've had FIP here in the past affecting a litter of 8 kittens. Two litters combined, and nursed by sister cats. One kitten was affected, and had to be PTS when he developed obvious wet form FIP. The others have been fine years later, though Marley developed epilepsy when he was six months old or so. I'm sure Corkscrew will be fine, and is probably hurting mainly because of his UTI. Give him lots of kisses for all of us when he comes home...provided he's not hoppin' mad at you! :eek: ;)
:confused:
Laura ~
How's Corky doing?
We're all *Purrayin* an Krossin Pawz & Klaws
for your Boy -
Any UppyDates from the White Coat?
/s/ Phred
..
Corkscrew is doing great :) He came home last night and he peed, and ate and drank water and cuddled. Once they were able to get the urine sample it turned out it was only a UTI so they sent him home with some antibiotics. My vet was out of town so the reason why it took so long to get the sample was because they were short a vet. I've decided that I DO NOT like the other vet at this clinic so as soon as my regular vet gets back into town I am going to make a big complaint. I think I am going to find another vet to use should mine go out of town again.
As for Corkscrews eye I'm convinced that he is allergic to something in my apartment. When I brought him home from the vet his eye looked perfect, no problems at all. Then right now when I got home from work I noticed it was kind of runny again. I'm going to clean my air filters and doing a good cleaning up, I know my place is a little dusty and such. So hopefully that will fix the problem.
So despite my bad experience with this vet, I have Corkscrew home he is happy and healthy and that's all that matters to me.
I'm so glad Corkscrew is doing alright! :) I hope his runny eye problem goes away soon. Sorry about the bad vet experience. :( I hope you find a better vet!
I have been checking to see what the vet said off and on all day, been checking and checking! I am so glad Corkscrew is doing OK now and is on the road to recovery! Bet he IS allergic to something in your new place.... lets hope it is something a good cleaning will take care of.. I am a allergy QUEEN!
AMEN to that!!! :DQuote:
Originally posted by Uabassoon
Corkscrew is doing great :)
So despite my bad experience with this vet, I have Corkscrew home he is happy and healthy and that's all that matters to me.
:)
Wheeeeeew!
*THANKS*, God!
Welcome back Home, Corky!! ;)
Laura ~
Keep a close eye on him ~
Monitor his "drinking habits" :p - be sure he's drinking enough
water - that helps flush and prevent stone & crystal formations.
And also *watch* for any signs of him *straining* to urinate -
Long duration visits to the sandy box with "nuffin happnin" :( is
one of the signs of a urinary blockage.
For what it's worth -
Boots started off being diagnosed & treated for a "U.R.I." -
antibiotics "fixed" him for a few months...
THEN the real urinary BLOCKAGE problems started.
Hope that never happens with Corky - but please, be observant! ;)
/s/ Phred
.
Thanks for the info Phred! I'm most definatley going to be on the lookout now. I'm also going to try to change a few things, from now on the kitties are only getting bottled water. I'm also going to reduce the treats since i know they aren't very good for them, and I'm thinking about switching them over to a healthier food. They are on science diet right now, so I might switch some something of higher quality.
*Welcome Home Corkscrew!*
I'm relieved to hear that its only a UTI and that he'll be good as new after a few days on the antibiotics!
Stinks when you don't like the other vet in a clinic. :(
I am so glad that corkscrew is on the mend :D
I’m so glad it wasn’t a blockage.
I’m still following Phoenix to the litter box every chance I get and so far so good.
Hoping the same for Corkscrew.
Glad to hear he is back home and okay!
I'm happy Corkscrew's home too! Hope you can figure out what's causing the eye flareups. Could it be dietary? :confused:
Laura, you must be so relieved. I'm so glad that Corky is back in your loving arms.:) Pet Talk Prayers to the rescue again. I'm still praying for his continuing recovery and I hope you find the reason for the runny eye. As Phred says, I guess you just have to "keep an eye" on him.
I'm so glad to hear that Corkscrew is back home again and doing well.:) I'm also glad that he didn't have any crystals. Hopefully his UTI will clear up soon and you'll be able to find out what's causing his runny eye problems.
So glad he's home!!! :D Yay!!
BTW, I picked up a FreshFlow pet fountain on eBay for like $30. My cats love it and I notice them drinking a lot more water - from the pet fountain and from their bowls - since I got it. It comes with a filter to remove impurities. I bit expensive, but it might help.
Good luck & kisses to Corkscrew.:)
I am glad Corky is okay!
Yay! Corkscrew is home!! :D
Great news to read this morning! I'm so glad Corkscrew is ok and I'm especially glad he is home with you now.
Hugs and snuggles toyou Corkscrew!!! Hugs to you to Laura I know you've been through a lot worrying about the little fellow.
Great News Laura. So pleased the Corkster is back home with his Meowmie and feeling a little better - fingers crossed he continues his recovery.
Sorry it was a bad vet experience :(
Well Done Corkscrew xxxxx
Lynne
I'm so glad to hear Corky is better and it is an UTI only:D
As to his eye: I hope it's not a cat hair allergy;)