More UT problems for Gatsby

[Prairie Purrs]

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.

[Catty1]

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.

[Medusa]

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)))

[Prairie Purrs]

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.

[katladyd]

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.

[Prairie Purrs]

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!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Lots more prayers are on the way. I'm sure that eveything will go well.

You'll most likely need to confine Gatsby after his surgery so I don't know if you have a spare bedroom or bathroom for him or not. I didn't have this option with Storm so I had to buy a big cage and I was able to set up a small litter box in it too. I would bring him out to feed him. He didn't like it at first but later became used to it. I think he had to be confined for about 2 weeks or so and then he was able to have his stitches removed. Good luck.

[Anikaca77]

My prays are coming for Gatsby.

I'm so sorry to hear about all these problems. I was just wondering when your vet gave Gatsby the amitriptyline did she mention a kind that they can rub on the cats ear?

They want to give that to my Ashley. I haven't done it yet because she hasen't peed outside of the box since that one sunday two weeks ago. I don't know if it was being at the vets all day long and she got so scared or what.

I hope Gatsby heals well and everything goes wells for Gatsby.

Melissa

[Prairie Purrs]

I'm so sorry to hear about all these problems. I was just wondering when your vet gave Gatsby the amitriptyline did she mention a kind that they can rub on the cats ear?

My vet said we could consider geting the amitriptyline compounded if Gatsby continued to resist swallowing the pill. But he only took it for about a week, so we never got that far. The ER vet discontinued it, and I doubt that he'll resume taking it after the surgery.

[Prairie Purrs]

Gatsby's out of surgery and awake! After all the worry, apparently it was pretty routine--a perineal urethrostomy rather than the prepubic form. I don't know yet when he'll be able to come home. Obviously they're watching him today to make sure he's recovering normally and that there aren't any complications.

I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am. Thank you all for your healing thoughts and prayers!

[Medusa]

Great news, Penny! I hope that Gatsby has seen the last of those nasty UT problems forever!

[Prairie Purrs]

Gatsby has his own room under normal circumstances because he really hates other cats. He full-out attacks them. So my home office doubles as Gatsby's house. Because I spend 8-10 hours a day in there working, it's easy to keep a close eye on him.

If he needs closer confinement for awhile, my sister has a good sized dog crate I can borrow. That might be necessary to keep him from trying to jump onto my desk or his cat tree.