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Gatsby is back at the vet's with another near-blockage of his urinary tract. My hopes for him to avoid needing surgery are fading, because if he blocks completely it'll be the third time in 2 1/2 months.
I've asked the vet to have a culture done this time, to try to find out what it is that keeps coming back.
I'm so sad and discouraged. Gatsby is my office buddy, and it's hard to focus on work without him curled up and purring nearby. I really need for him to get better.
Prayers for Gatsby!
And for you, too...it's been a sad time for you and your furbabies. Prayers that the vet finds out the cause and that it is treatable.
Oh dear, when it rains....We'll send up prayers right now that Gatsby will heal quickly, easily and in peace and will not need surgery. You've had enough sadness; time now to have some peace. (((HUGS))) :love:
Thank you for the prayers. Poor Gats has had a difficult couple of months.
He'll be staying at least overnight at the vet's because they had to insert a catheter. I was hoping they wouldn't have to do that, but I'm not surprised. If they try to send him home again without making an effort to figure out why this keeps repeating, I'm not going to be happy.
They really have no idea why about 60% of cats get blockages. They tried diet, fluids, many things to help Ming, my meezer. He used to block constantly but I heard that cats that get the operation have severe infections the rest of their lives and my vet doesn't like to go that far. We put Ming on amitryptiline a year ago and he hasn't had a single blockage or infection since then. They don't know why it works, but it does on most cats. Ask you vet about it. It only costs me $10 for 100 pills from Pet Meds.
Amitryptiline works? That's really interesting--you wouldn't expect an antidepressant to prevent urinary tract blockages. I'll definitely ask about it. Thank you!
Look it up online: amitryptiline and FLUTD in cats. It doesn't always work, but in the hard core cases, it usually does.
I'm so sorry for poor Gatsby! You know, I had not heard of blockages until I got on this site, so I'm no help! I just hope they can get things cleared up quickly - catheters are NO FUN!! Paws crossed and prayers sent - keep us updated.:love:
Our sympathy to dear Gatsby. Fister knows what it's like to be blocked, he had the problem years ago. Every two or three months he would block up, so we made the decision to have him operated. Since then, he's been fine. :)
Good luck! :)
I'm so sorry to hear this.:( Yes, many vets like to avoid doing surgery because of certain side effects like UTI's or loss of bladder control.
Storm blocked 2 times and the second time they couldn't even get a catheter in him so he had to have the PU surgery. He had some how built up some scar tissue and his surgeon said that the more times a cat is catheterized then the more likely that they'll build up scar tissue and have more problems. I also had a board certified surgeon perform his surgery because it was more difficult than most PU surgerys. This is what the ER told me to do.
After surgery he did have some issues with UTI's but now he's been fine ever since he's been on a grain free diet which is Innova Evo. He also gets plenty of canned food mixed with water every day to help keep him hydrated.
The surgeon also told me that it was only a matter of time before Storm would become blocked because he has a very small urethra opening. I think that's what it's called. Now he's able to make big pee biscuits in the litter box. I hope that your vet will be able to help Gatsby. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.
Gatsby's doing pretty well today. He was certainly happy to see me and get some scritches behind the ears. They'll take the catheter out today, and hopefully he'll be able to come home tomorrow.
It appears that he didn't have an actual blockage, and there weren't any problems inserting the catheter. It seems that he may be having spasms or swelling or something that cuts off the urine flow. The vet thinks that the problem is pretty far back along the urethra and that the regular PU surgery wouldn't really help. I asked about amitryptiline, and the vet said that might be an option.
Thank you all for your good wishes and suggestions. My tuxie boy and I appreciate it!
Happy to help.:) Amitryptiline relaxes any spasms or bladder irritations, as they thought that was part of Ming's problem, along with crystals. I still don't know why it works, but $10 every 3 months is a small price to pay for a healthy cat.
Gatsby is back home. He's taking Zeniquin and amitriptyline. I really hope that'll help him avoid recurring episodes.
I think he's a little overexcited at being home, because he keeps making trips to the litter box. The first trip resulted in a decent sized "biscuit," and he can't possibly have anything left in his bladder by now, so I think he's just having a bit of an obsessive-compulsive spell. I've noticed recently that some of his litter box trips seem to be out of habit--for example, he'll head for the litter box immediately after eating or drinking even the slightest amount. The amitriptyline may help with that.
Well, poor Gatsby (who is normally very little trouble to pill) hates taking the amitriptyline. I guess the taste is pretty horrible. katladyd, how do you get Ming to take the stuff?
It is VERY bitter! I wrap it in a small piece of a Pill Pocket, they sell them at Pet Smart. After a year, Ming just opens his mouth and takes the pill without much trouble. It takes two of us, but it is done without much trouble. The first few weeks, until I discovered the Pill Pocket trick, was very hard. Ming won't eat the pill in the Pill Pocket on his own, the pills are that bitter, but you can ask you vet for a pill popper to shoot the pill down his throat, or just get behind him, lift his head up a little, and place the pill at the very back of his throat. He should then swallow as a reflex. Sometimes I have to almost shove the pill down his throat with my finger. As long as you are doing this from behing the cat, you can't be bitten. Your vet tech can show you how to do this.
I've got a pill shooter, and that's how I got tonight's pill down him. It was a struggle, though, because he really didn't want to swallow. Which of course meant he had the nasty taste in his mouth longer.
I'll have to pick up some Pill Pockets. I wonder whether amitriptyline can be compounded into a less bitter form?
I've wondered that myself. Now, and this is just a rumor, I've heard that amitryptiline can be made into a liquid or gel that can be applied topically. You could ask you vet about that. I do know that, like anything else, Ming got used to it and now is fairly easy to pill. Wishing you luck.
Penny, ask your vet for #3 gel caps. The meds that Pidge takes are really nasty, too, plus they're cut in half which makes it even worse. I put them all in one gel cap and it's easier for her to swallow, no nasty taste, the gel cap dissolves quickly and best of all, no more gagging and vomiting.
Thank you both! I'll ask the vet about both compounding and the gel caps. There may not be anyplace nearby that does compounding, but I would imagine he can get me some gel caps.
Gatsby was a little bit woozy last night after taking the amitriptyline. I know from taking the stuff myself some years ago that it makes you feel a little funky at first, so I'm watching him closely for side effects. Right now he's relaxing in a sunbeam--something that's been rare lately, as we've had day after day of cold rain.
It's still too early to tell whether the amitriptyline is going to prevent Gatsby's UT issues from flaring up again. His litterbox use is much closer to normal right now, but he's usually OK for a few days after a vet visit. If he's still going well by this time next week, that'll be good progress.
He's been more subdued than I'd like. Even for a cat, he's been spending a lot of time just lying around. I'm going to give him a couple more days to adjust to the medication, then call the vet if he doesn't perk up a bit. Maybe the dosage will need tweaking.
Well, Gatsby's urine culture came up positive for staph. Fortunately, it looks like he's on the right antibiotic for that. And it may mean that he won't have to be on the amitriptyline long-term.
He's lounging in sunbeams this morning and seems to be feeling pretty good. He's more affectionate than he's been the past few days, which makes me very happy.
YAAY! Lounging in sunbeams and being lovey are good things!
Hope you are back to your old self soon, baby boy!:love::love:
Oh I'm so glad! You definitely need a break! :)
I had to rush Gatsby to an emergency vet last night when he suddenly became blocked. They had to cath him again. An X-ray didn't show any stones, and his urine looked relatively clear, so the cause is a mystery.
The emergency vet said that Gats has a very narrow urethra. This vet was really pushing surgery, which is confusing because my vet said that Gatsby wasn't a good candidate for PU surgery. I told the emergency vet that I didn't want to do any surgery until Gatsby's staph infection clears up, at least. I also need to get some more information, since I'm getting conflicting advice.
Poor Gatsby! He's been such a trooper, and there has to be a way to keep this from recurring. Maybe surgery is the answer, but I'm not going to do it based on the snap decison of an emergency vet.
I'm sorry to hear that he became blocked again.:( Maybe he keeps getting a mucous plug I think that's what it's called. Some cats get this and it'll also cause them to become blocked. Why did your vet say that he wasn't a good candidate for PU surgery? If he has a narrow urethra then it doesn't take much for him to become blocked. This is what my Storm had too. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way. Please take care. (((HUGS)))
KAK, my regular vet told me that Gatsby's blockages (or swelling or spasms, whatever was happening) were taking place so far back along his urethra that the surgery wouldn't be effective.
Also, I'm not willing to go forward based solely on the ER vet's recommendation because I don't entirely trust the clinic. For one thing, they're outrageously overpriced. They insist on payment in advance of treatment, but because I'd been there before (with poor Hagrid), they allowed me to get by with paying half of the $ 1000 :eek: estimate. My vet charged me $ 225 last week for basically the same course of treatment. For another thing, the ER vet wanted to operate today based on a 30-minute exam last night. There were no problems getting the catheter in, so there wasn't any need to rush Gats into surgery. I think that a conscientious ER vet wouldn't try to take over another vet's patient in that manner.
They're not going to take out the catheter until tonight or tomorrow morning. My plan is to bring him home when I can, then find a vet who has plenty of experience with the surgery and schedule an appointment for a third opinion.
The vet at the ER clinic just called and said that Gatsby is doing OK, but he isn't producing as much urine as she'd expect. So it's possible that my poor sweet boy may have kidney problems.
Please think some healing thoughts for my tuxie boy. I'm so worried about him.
I sure feel bad for you and for dear Gatsby. I hope that you are able to figure something out quickly for both of your sakes. I completely agree with your decision regarding the ER vet and the surgery. Has his blood work showed kidney problems?
I'm not entirely sure what blood work has been done up to this point. He's been to two other vets, and I thought at least one of them did blood work, but I can't recall for sure. The ER vet will run a blood panel if there's still cause for concern by morning.
I'm a train wreck. I really need for my Gatsby to be well and happy again.
My girls have their paws firmly crossed and are sending all of their healing thoughts Gatsby's way. :love:
Is the amitryptiline not helping? Poor Gatsby! Maybe there is another med they can try?
Hugs to Gatsby, and that the riddle is solved soon.
I really feel bad about this, Penny. This roller coaster ride is maddening for you, I know. I wish something would work!
The amitriptyline isn't helping so far, but he's only been taking it for a week. Antidepressant drugs take time to have an effect in people, so perhaps it's the same for cats.
Thank you all for your good wishes. Things have been pretty bad around here for awhile, and your kindness helps me get by.
I'm sorry to hear that he isn't producing the amount of urine that he sould be.:( I think you're very smart to get another opinion and hopefully he doesn't have kidney problems.:( Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.
Gatsby's urine production is much better this morning, thank goodness. They'll remove the catheter this morning, and maybe he'll be able to come home this evening. I just hope he can stay unblocked until the staph clears up, and in the meantime I'll get another opinion about surgery.
They removed the catheter and Gatsby immediately started straining again. So the catheter is back in.
The ER vet wants to do surgery now, but he's not really addressing my regular vet's concerns. The ER vet just keeps saying that when cats block multiple times, they do surgery. It usually works, but sometimes it doesn't.
My regular vet's office is going to set up an appointment at a university vet clinic that's clear across the state from where Gatsby is right now. So I'm trying to reach the ER vet to find out when Gatsby would be able to make that trip.
If surgery is his best option, he'll have the surgery, even if I have to sell my car to pay for it. But I don't want to put him through it if there's no realistic chance it'll keep him from blocking. And nobody's talking about what happens if the surgery doesn't work, which really scares me.
ETA: The ER vet is going to talk to my vet directly, and if my vet's convinced that surgery is reasonably likely to help, we'll probably go ahead and do it. If my vet still has reservations, I'll have a specialist at the university look him over.
If surgery can't prevent him from reblocking, there's a good chance I'll lose him because they haven't been able to find medication that works at all.
This can't be happening. Not my Gatsby too.
You're right, this can't be happening. It just can't be. We'll keep the prayers going for this sweet boy, Penny, and you, too, my girl. :)
Thank you, Mary. I'm trying so hard to make the right decisions, but I'm having a lot of trouble keeping my head clear at the moment. I'm just worried sick.
I'm so sorry - I can't even imagine how this makes you feel. I just can't. :( Prayers they can solve this and make poor Gatsby feel better. (((hugs)))
:love:
Penny - I'm so sorry that you and Gatsby are going thru so much.:(
Fingers and paws crossed that the whitecoats can fix him up, and that this ongoing problem will be a thing of the past.
I just lit a candle for him.