Ashley Scheduled for a X-ray, Should I get a Second Vet to Look at Her???

[catmandu]

More Found Cat , Porch and Saved Cats and All Of Our Awesome Angel Army Prayers for Little Ashley are coming!
And of course from the Poor Old Found Cat Feeder as well.
Its so sad when Our Fur Pals are under the weather!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear this. Yes, maybe you should take her to a different vet for a second opinion. I would also think that having an ultrasound done would be a better way to see what's going on inside of her instead of just an x-ray. I know that it's more expensive though. Are there any vets in your area that specialize in cats only? Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

[Anikaca77]

I'm sorry to hear this. Yes, maybe you should take her to a different vet for a second opinion. I would also think that having an ultrasound done would be a better way to see what's going on inside of her instead of just an x-ray. I know that it's more expensive though. Are there any vets in your area that specialize in cats only? Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

'

I don't think so I think they all treat dogs and cats and other animals. I've actually never heard of just a vet that treats cats only.

[moosmom]

I agree that an ultrasound is in order. It shows ALOT more than an x-ray and it doesn't expose Ashley to any unnecessary toxic rays.

I'd also get a second opinion. Good luck! You'll be in my prayers.

[Lizzie]

Sorry to hear you are having more trials and tribulations and it must be very hard on you watching Ashley and wondering just what is the real problem.

My Taranis pees in the tub and outside the box when she is getting stones in her bladder. There is no infection and the stones are tiny, like gravel, but extremely irritating. The only sign is pee'ing in other places, her appetite and activity remain normal. She'd had a few UTI's when she was 2 and 3 years old, then developed stones when she was about 4. She did have surgery a few years ago to clean out all the gravel. She's on SO as needed. As for Ashley not making a perfect landing sometimes, you may be so worried about her that you are seeing tiny details that you would miss at any other time.

If you can afford it, then a second vet is a good option. I've been surprised over and over again at the variation in opinion from different vets.

[Anikaca77]

Thank you everyone, I have a call to have my regular vet call me back first. I really do like the current vets that we have and they are very good with my babies and they know my financial situation.

I've been watching the jumping thing more and she is seeming to get up on the bed just fine and it seems like she is having a trouble when she is rushed (like one of our male cats chasing her in the bathroom or something, they are not allowed in the room but sometimes they end up sneaking in but I kick them out as soon as I notice they are in there) only a few times have I noticed it on her own so maybe I'm just being overly cautious or something but the vet (it's actually this newer vet that just recently started) is going to call me so hopefully she can offer some advice but I think for right now we will just keep the x-ray on schedule for Monday, Oct. 12th and see what happens. My husband thinks we should give her a dose of pills but I'm sorta thinking why do that if she's not sick, I doubt it could hurt her but I will ask the vet for sure because if it is an infection, although they only saw crystals in her urine, no white blood cells which is what my vet said is needed to tell that it's a bladder infection.

Lizzie- Did your vet test Taranis urine and if so did they fine anything? How did your vet determine that she had a UTI?

Thanks again,
melissa

[Lizzie]

I wouldn't give pills to Ashley if you have already decided to take her to a vet since medication will probably mask symptoms. I only give them when it's a minor recurring problem and I know I'm not going to take a cat to the vet - such as Diego's intermittent fevers and the vet has already given me meds to pulse treat, or Darcy's interstitial cystitis (no infection or crystals ever).

Yes, the vet always does a urine test when I take in any of mine for possible UTI or cystitis. Taranis' first UTI happened before she was returned to the shelter for the second time and she had a recurrence within the first year of being adopted by me. The vet found lots of white cells, which confirmed it was an infection, blood and a small amount of crystals. This was in the days before the very wonderful Metacam was used for inflammation so she got antibiotics and something to relax her bladder contractions. If the antibiotics hadn't worked, we were going to send out a urine sample to the lab for more specific analysis. She's also been on Prozac for years because she sort of hates other cats. Mind you, she acts like she hates people too and has slashed me quite a few times, nearly bitten me too. I say sort of and acts because she loathes being alone and will actually jump up to be by the other cats, just lunges if they come close to her, and she likes to lean into me - just slashes and bites if I touch her. Yes, a difficult cat!

With Taranis' later problems no white cells were seen but there was blood. I just called my vet to check and the stones (tiny as they are and more like sand actually than gravel) were easily visible on x-ray. There was large amount of stones and it took the vet a long time to rinse and pick them all out of the bladder. Taranis didn't need an ultra-sound.