Irwin is home..I need some advice on possible euthanasia

[Taz_Zoee]

Donna you got me crying too. I went through a similar thing with Taz.

I agree with Donna and Gary. It sounds like Irwin is doing well right now since the stones are gone. I would try the medication and food and see how that goes for him.

I remember when Taz was very sick and all my PT family kept telling me "you'll know when it's time". I didn't want to face that fact AT ALL. But the last time he went to the vet she said "I would not try to stop you if you want to let him go today". Well of course I didn't WANT to. But she said there was basically nothing left to do for him. I'd done the fluids for a few weeks with no results. It was time even though I didn't want it to be. I also stayed with him while he went. Oh man, all those emotions are rushing back to me right now.

Irwin is sooo young, I hope he has a few (if not more) years left with you. And you should know when he's had enough.

Good luck! And I'll keep Irwin in my thoughts.

[kitten645]

Major LES here.
Having gone thru this very painfully and very recently, I completely agree with everyone here. Irwin will tell you when he's done. Don't start packing his bags yet! They can really be miracles and when he's done, he will absolutely tell you so. Hobbes did and no amount of money I wished I could throw at teh problem was going to make him whole again.
I think Irwin has alot of living to do yet. You are an excellent meowmie!
Claudia & Calvin

[Catty1]

I don't think UTIs and stones in a younger kitty are USUALLY causes for euthanasia. If you choose the food and kitty treats wisely, and make sure he gets lots of fluids (adding warm water to mush up some wet food a bit helps), then handsome Irwin should be with you for many years to some.

Shortly after I got my tabby Oscar a few years ago, he developed a nasty cystitis. There weren't many crystals - and those that were there were gone in a week with a change in diet. However, there was blood in his urine up to a month later.

In addition to changing his food, my vet said I could use the powder from a cranberry capsule. About 50 mg - or 1/5 of a capsule, as I eyeballed it - went into a small amount of totally plain unflavoured low fat yogurt. Oscar loved that stuff, and got the cranberry in with it. It was to be used for about a month. (You can ask your vet about this).

Hugs to you and to Irwin, and I am sure you will be able to maintain his new health for a very long time.

[JustineNYC]

I don't think UTIs and stones in a younger kitty are USUALLY causes for euthanasia. If you choose the food and kitty treats wisely, and make sure he gets lots of fluids (adding warm water to mush up some wet food a bit helps), then handsome Irwin should be with you for many years to some.

Shortly after I got my tabby Oscar a few years ago, he developed a nasty cystitis. There weren't many crystals - and those that were there were gone in a week with a change in diet. However, there was blood in his urine up to a month later.

In addition to changing his food, my vet said I could use the powder from a cranberry capsule. About 50 mg - or 1/5 of a capsule, as I eyeballed it - went into a small amount of totally plain unflavoured low fat yogurt. Oscar loved that stuff, and got the cranberry in with it. It was to be used for about a month. (You can ask your vet about this).

Hugs to you and to Irwin, and I am sure you will be able to maintain his new health for a very long time.

Its not stones and UTI's unfortunately, its Feline Lower Urinary Tract disease, and what its done to his bladder. The bladder wall is 5 to 7 times thicker then it should be, which makes Irwin feel like he needs to urinate all day, he empties his bladder and then goes back to the litter another 7 times.

He's spent the majority of the day in the cat litter and hes already on pain meds.

I wish it was stones and UTI's. Infections can be treated and stones can be removed. Unfortunately, this sucks.


He's been on prescription diets since he was 2, it hasn't helped.

If this is gonna be his life, I dont know what to do, its not right to let him live his life in a cat litter box.

[Catty1]

What meds is he on?

I don't know if this helps a thickened bladder wall, but a number of cats are put on amitryptiline to relax the bladder muscle. Maybe ask your vet if that would help Irwin?

I'm so sorry to hear how ill Irwin has been...hopefully he will even out in the next several days. I would guess his bladder is more sensitive than usual.

{{{hugs}}}

[king2005]

I'm a firm believer that raw foods solve most digestive issues in dogs & cats. Cats & Dogs were never meant to digest cooked foods, well not in large amounts like many people feed them. Try a raw diet to see how he does

http://www.healthypetjournal.com/def...px?tabid=20622

[katladyd]

What meds is he on?

I don't know if this helps a thickened bladder wall, but a number of cats are put on amitryptiline to relax the bladder muscle. Maybe ask your vet if that would help Irwin?

I'm so sorry to hear how ill Irwin has been...hopefully he will even out in the next several days. I would guess his bladder is more sensitive than usual.

{{{hugs}}}

My Ming suffered chronic blockages until I put him on amitryptiline over a year ago. He has had not one bladder infection or blockage since! I also give him plenty of water in his canned food, feed him Purina One for Urinary Tract Problems, and feed him NO FISH FLAVORED CAT FOOD! He's doing great and there is no reason to put him down.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear that Irwin's bladder walls have become thickened. Hopefully he's feeling better since his bladder stones have been removed. I'd also wait and see what happens and hopefully he'll be with you for quite a while yet. I'll continue to keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

I typed in meds for the thickening of the bladder in cats and I came across this: http://cat-bladder-problems.com/blog...er-thickening/.

I've also heard and read this:
Cosequin and Feline Urinary Diseases:
Cosequin glucosamine and chondroitin joint supplements have been found to improve urinary bladder health in cats by producing a protective coating on the inside of the bladder wall.