Question. Please read. (update: Doesn't seem good...)

[kimlovescats]

I would take him to the Emergency vet tonight! Think how painful urinary infections are for us! The misery of feeling like you have to go, but can't!!!

[catmandu]

That sadly doe sond pretty serious.
We are praying for Our Pal Butter that its nothing that the White Coats cannot take care of.

[slleipnir]

Well the vet told me it doesn't sound that serious....I'm going by what he said. I'll take himin first thing in the morning

[slleipnir]

What will they do to him? If I take himnow, will they just give him sometime that will work over a while? I don't know what to do. He won't eat and he meows if I pick him up. I'm afraid the vet will be angry if I call again...He seemed annoyed that I said I would call later if it got serious

[Catty1]

When you pick him up, you touch his tummy - or it stretches, and he meows.

I think the vet thought it WAS serious, which is why he sounded annoyed with you.

I think you should get that boy in now, hon!

Let us know how it goes!

[slleipnir]

I'm sure it's nothing, but I'm going to take him in. I don't think I'll sleep otherwise.

[Catty1]

I wouldn't sleep either...we worried meowmies and all! I hope Butter is better soon!

[Soapets]

Let us know what you find out! I'm GLAD you're taking him in tonight. If it were me, I'd rather do that and have it not be serious, than NOT do it and wish later that I had!

Deb

[slleipnir]

I just got back.

Sorry this probably won't make much sense cause I'm crying so hard. He has a blockage, and a heart murmur. They said the heart murmur could be some sort of heart problem. They said if I left it for a day or 2 he would have died.

They said it often comes back...unfortantly, I don't have 700-900 dollars everytime it does....so I can only pray it doesn't come back because I won't be able tp keep him.

I'm paying for it this time. I just couldn't stand not having him. God I hope it works and that it never comes back. I love him so much and there is no other cat like him. Everyone keeps saying ohi t's just a cat, put him to sleep and get a new one...but it's not like that.

I'm so depressed....they said with all his problems it makes it harder to do whatever it is they do...I just hope he will be ok...please god let him be ok.....

[Catty1]

Okay, hon - hugs hugs. What a horrid time you have had, and how terrifying!

First of all - you will hear from a lot of people here who have cats with heart murmurs - even "serious" ones - that are living long and happy lives!

Second - there are inexpensive ways to prevent a blockage from recurring. My Oscar had crystals AND an infection. He and his fur brother are on Royal Canin SO food, and it got rid of the crystals - and prevent them coming back! Cole never had a problem - and now he never will.

Ask the vet for other ideas on prevention.

They will likely pass a wee catheter into him to unblock him and get the urine flowing. Their concern about the heart might be from them having to give him an anesthetic.

HUGS and PRAYERS for dear Butter!

And hugs to you...you did the right thing, and I think he will pull through. he is just too loved not to!

[CathyBogart]

When you get a chance, give your vet a call. There are diets available that can help bolster feline urinary health.

There IS a more permanent solution if it does recur. It's a surgery called perineal urethrostomy, and what is essentally does is make the urethra wider so things that would otherwise obstruct it can pass. I have no idea how much that costs though.

What grade was his heart murmur?

I'm really glad he's okay. He's probably feeling about a billion times better right now. How scary that must have been for both of you!

[aly]

(edit: opps sorry, I just realized Cathy already mentioned this)

Hi Audrey,

As soon as I read your first post, I immediately thought he was blocked (I would have told you right away, but I am only just now seeing this). I am concerned that your vet told you that it didn't sound serious. I probably would've done exactly what you did and listened to him had I not worked in a clinic and seen a lot of blocked cats come in.

A lot of blocked kitties will continue to have problems and I really think a good solution is to get a PU (perineal urethrostomy - make him a girl ). It is a common surgery for boys with that problem. I actually just got one done on my 8 week old foster kitten (they generally don't need them so young, but my boy was having numerous problems all stemming from when he was starving as a newborn and nursing on his privates).

Anyway, I'm not telling you to run out and get the surgery soon or anything. Just keep it in mind if there continues to be problems. You can read about it on the internet and question your vet about it. Or even call a different vet to ask about it.

I have you and your boy in my prayers.


(gosh I haven't posted here in forever, missed you all!)