Snowball at the vet's

**BigB_Kittys** · 10-21-2005, 11:40 AM

I brought Snowball in to the veterinarian to check on the status of his urine. Back in June they found some crystals in his urine and he was put on Science Diet S/D. Lately, I've become concerned about his weight because it appeared that he was gaining weight on the S/D. Today he weighed 19.9 lbs versus 18.3 lbs back in June, so he has been switched over to W/D soft-food to help him lose weight. W/D has the same ingredients that prevent crystals in the urine as S/D, but with over half the fat. He'll have to stay overnight in order for the staff to get a urine sample, but that shouldn't be a problem as he has stayed overnight at the vet's before, and the staff just love him because he is very easy to work with. Knowing him, he'll probably give them headbutts and roll over to have his belly rubbed

.

Regards,

Brian
Hamilton, ON

**lv4dogs** · 10-21-2005, 11:42 AM

Oh no, another one at the vets today. I wish Snowball & you only the best. Hope everything is alright.

**catmandu** · 10-21-2005, 01:23 PM

I wish Snowball well,and we hope that the White Coats will find that everything is all right.
And that your Big Bundle of Love will be able,to come home safe and sound.

**BigB_Kittys** · 10-22-2005, 05:25 PM

I brought Snowball home from the Vet's early this afternoon. He was very happy to be home. The veterinary staff said that he was a very good patient. One cute thing he did to them is that he would hide behind his litter-box in the cage he was put in while they waited for a urine sample. Would you believe that he didn't want to give a urine sample so they had to give him some fluids to make him go. They said that some cats do this while under their care. Anyways, when he hid behind the litter-box and the staff would call him, he would come walking over, purring the entire time and asking for some head rubs. What a cutie-pie.
No red stickers for this cat

.

Brian
Hamilton, Ontario

P.S. The urine sample on first examination did not show any crystals, but there was a tiny amount of blood that was visible under the microscope. The vet said the change to W/D, and in particular a diet of only soft food, which has a high moisture content, should help clear this up. I should be getting results from the lab next week.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 10-22-2005, 11:13 PM

I'm sorry to hear that Snowball has crystal problems.

Hopefully his urinalysis will come back normal. Feeding him wet food will help give him the extra mositure that he needs so hopefully this will prevent future crystals from forming. I currently feed all of my cats both wet and dry food and I mix it together and I also add a little water to it to give it more moisture.

**rg_girlca** · 10-23-2005, 12:58 AM

I'm glad to hear that Snowball is back home and that he won't be getting any red stickers.

Prayers that his test results are okay and that the new food will keep him healthy.

**NoahsMommy** · 10-23-2005, 02:11 AM

Awww, I hope the new food will help the crystals and added weight go away.

Hugs and prayers going out for Snowball.

**momcat** · 10-23-2005, 01:15 PM

Prayers being prayed that the new diet works and Snowball won't have to be a guest at the Whitecoat's Hotel again anytime soon.

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 10-24-2005, 04:48 PM

Glad to hear Snowball is home again and here's hoping the W/D does the trick for him!

**BigB_Kittys** · 10-25-2005, 07:57 AM

Yesterday morning (Monday), the vet's phoned with the results from the lab. Snowball has no crystals in his urine , but they did detect blood, as the vet staff did on Saturday. They believe Snowball suffers from "Feline Ideopathic Cystitis". As such he has to only eat soft food as the crunchy food exacerbates the condition. This also explains why sometimes he will pee on the rug. The fun part for me is that I have to get him interested in eating only soft food, and finding something that he likes. The vet staff gave us 24 cans of W/D, 12 chicken and 12 what I assume to be beef (doesn't say on the can). He seems to like the chicken, but the other he hates. He kept bugging me all night to feed him and everytime I gave him the bowl he would sniff and then start scratching on the floor or cabinets, as if he was tring to bury his food. Then he would sit next to the couch while I slept and would either tap my arm with his paw or make a very loud demanding meow. Needless to say I didn't sleep very much. Looks like getting him adjusted to his new food is going to be great fun

.

Brian

**Tubby & Peanut's Mom** · 10-25-2005, 10:35 AM

I know there are hard foods that he can eat that will not promote the crystals, unfortunately I don't know the names of them. I know there are others here who have cats with the crystal problem, and some have even had the surgery. You can do a search here - probably for crystals - and I'll see what I can find too.

Some PT members who have had cats with crystal problems:
Randi - Randi & Fister
KrazyAboutKats - Tracey & Storm
Cinder & Smoke - Boots
Glacier - Pete
Barbara - Barbara & Tigris