Luna has another UTI :(

[Kirsten]

It must have started during the night. When I cleaned her litter box this morning, I noticed many little drops of urine in there, and it continued during the morning. I called my vet, who was luckily in her office on a Sunday morning and she offered me to bring Luna to her. She got her antibiotic shot and will be on Marbocyl from tomorrow on.

As usual, the shot helped immediately, since we are back, she hasn't peed. But it's frustrating! Her last UTI is only 5 weeks ago, and she's been on Berberis (homeopathic remedy) ever since, which usually helps. But it seems she'll never get rid of her bladder problems.

Kirsten

[Medusa]

Wow, lucky for you that your vet was in on a Sun. Hopefully, this will be the last of the bladder issues.

Blessings,
Mary

[Kirsten]

Thanks, but I'm afraid it's not. She has to deal with this for many years...

Kirsten

[Sonia59]

Oh no Luna, not again, poor girl

Kirsten, you've probably posted this somewhere else but I don't remember: is Luna on a very specific diet for cats with urinary infections? We had a cat at the shelter who was very sensitive to UTI because he was not drinking (not at all!). He had only one sort of wet food that we mixed with water. One day a volunteer made a mistake and gave him another food. The amount was really nothing but the day after he was sick. This is an extreme case, but I was wondering to what extend another food would delay the relapse for Luna.

[Randi]

Kirsten, I suppose you know that she should have food with very low amounts of Calcium, Ash and Phosfor. Not sure whether it depends on what kind of crystals she has, but ask your vet about it. Also Sasvermont some very informative articles about this a few years ago - go and search for them.

Hope Luna will get better soon, and she'll take her medicine.

Kisses and headbumpies from us.

[Catty1]

My vet told me that 50g (about 1/5 of the powder in a capsule for humans) per day for one cat really helps with the infections and stuff - but it should be continued for about 30 days.

I put it in plain yogurt, which Oscar loves! They both have a tart taste.

Is this something Luna could have for a couple of weeks every couple of months?

I really hope you find something that works. Poor Luna and poor you!

Glad she is feeling a bit better now.

[Kirsten]

She IS on a diet already ("Kattovit Urinary"), and also has her Uro Pet paste every day, but still it happens.

Even though she had to deal with struvite crystals in the past, I'm pretty sure that most of her problems are e.coli-related. She HAD a real bad e.coli infection when she was 9 months, and I'm sure I almost lost her, that's how sick she was.

And a couple of times, I noticed that weeks before her UTIs are acting up, there are problems with a softer stool and vomiting, so I believe this is a new episode of e.coli acting up. My vet thinks I could be right, and recommended a lab test for e.coli, and - if it's positive - an e.coli immunization, which would be a lifelong, very expensive treatment. Unfortunately, I don't have the money for this. Please don't get me wrong, I'm already spending a lot of extra money on Luna, and I gladly pay it because I love her, but it seems my life is getting harder with each passing year...

Kirsten

[Kirsten]

My vet told me that 50g (about 1/5 of the powder in a capsule for humans) per day for one cat really helps with the infections and stuff - but it should be continued for about 30 days.

50g of what? I'll try everything if it only helps Luna, and medicating her is not such a big problem. She's always a good girl with meds.

Kirsten

[Catty1]

OOPS! lol

Cranberry powder...(which is in the capsules!)

Sorry bout that!

[Kirsten]

Thanks! I will try to find it on ebay. I read about cranberry products before, but they are not available here.

Do you know where I can order them?

Kirsten

[slick]

http://www.thecranberrylady.com/contact/index.html

I've heard this lady is awesome and she is only a 40 min. drive from me. I'll call her tomorrow and see where I can get some capsules for you. I'd be happy to send them to you free of charge.

Consider it "Pay it Forward".

[Kirsten]

Slick, you'd really do this for me? Thank you so much! But of course I will pay for it, I can send you the money by paypal.

Besides, in the meantime, I found out that there are some cranberry capsules offered on ebay, but for humans. Do you think that would be the same products?

Kirsten

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear that Luna has another UTI. I sure hope that something will help her to continue to be free of them. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

[kb2yjx]

Kirsten!! How so very frustrating!!! Have you ever tried homeopathic Cantharis 30X? I have used that when just drops of urine have come out and after a few doses, it has helped.... Sandra

[Kirsten]

I think I will definitely try this cranberry thing! Just spoke to a person in a pharmacy and she said it's just becoming popular in Germany for the treatment of bladder infections (but for humans). She showed me an article that said it works especially well when the problems are e.coli-related (which I think it is). I called my vet and she said it would be worth a try.

Sandra, I have Cantharis, and I think when she's through with her antibiotics, I will try it instead of Berberis. I also tried it in the past when Luna began to show symptoms, but it didn't work in an acute state. But I was told it would also work as a long time therapy.

She's doing much better btw. She's in a good mood and sweet and cuddly, and only peed twice today - huge amounts each time, which is very good!

Kirsten