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

[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.

[moosmom]

Catty1,

I would NOT recommend Amitryptiline. My vet told me that while it's approved for dogs, it is not approved for cats as it makes them irritable and lethargic. I know because I tried it (years ago) on RB Casey. That was the exact result I got. He was being tormented by one of my other cats, Tucker, who I rehomed. He's living the life of Riley with my friends in a 3 story victorian house. I have visitation. He's wonderful.

[Freedom]

See if you can find The Whole Pet Diet, by Andi Brown, at your library. Take a look, buy it if you think it will help you. I bought it for $3 plus shipping on Amazon.com

Like someone said above, diet can cure so much!

And although he is currently in the litter box a lot, ALSO:

he is the sweetest cat ever. He is always purring, rubbing on me, kissing me, he has his little furry mouse he walks around the house with....he loves to play and be silly, so its difficult for me to make a decision like that, when I do not see a sickly cat. Its not like he sits around wanting to die.


Does not sound like he is checking out as yet. You AND THE VET just need to find a way for him to feel more comfortable.

Best wishes!

[JustineNYC]

Irwin was on the Amitryptiline and then Clomicalm (I posted about it last year), because he developed a spraying habit because of his urinary issues. Neither helped. We thought the spraying was behavioral, but now I feel its because his bladder bothers him and he associates the box with pain. When he would spray, he'd stand up and push push push like he was trying to pass urine and only a little would come out.

Good news is, he has been using the litter and burying his peepee. So maybe returning to old habits is a good sign.

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

Also, from 2007 to last month, Irwin was raw fed. My 2 labs are, and I had switched him over because I feel the same way about pet foods (my labs do excellent on a raw diet)....but his bladder still needed to be cleaned out, I dont know if the raw contributed to his problems or they were already there.

The vet told me that while a grain free diet is beneficial, its not ALL about grains, its about the PH of his urine, because a high or low PH can contribute to the formation of stones/crystals, and the prescription diet is designed for that, the raw one isn't.

Does not sound like he is checking out as yet. You AND THE VET just need to find a way for him to feel more comfortable.

Thanks!! We are blending his meals with a cup of water because he never drinks water, so hopefully we can keep him flushed out....and we'll try some supplements. Its just very frustrating!

Here he is last night



I;m also trying to keep him stress free, he's in a room with his mom who I also own and I bought him a bunch of kitty play centers to keep him busy.

[kb2yjx]

Like you, right now, our Samson is fighting a bad UTI/blockage, and has the thickening of the bladder walls. He is getting Elavil, Dasaquin, Fish Oil, and is still on Baytril(for a few more days. He eats his canned SO with 30cc's of spring water added. Sam is not even 2 years old. It was because of a blockage, that he was able to be rescued. He was near death when he was found on the farm. Like you we are willing to do all we can for Samson. He has been on the Elavil for several months and is doing well on it. No lethargy or irritability. Just do NOT even consider combing me(he does get combed)!! I have to admit, there was a time, when putting Samson to sleep was considered. However, Barry and I talked about it, and decided to give him more time and see what happens. I just hope Samson and Irwin will be around for a long time....Hugs and Prayers!!! Sandra

[Taz_Zoee]

I'm glad to read he is a bit better today. I am still hoping a solution can be found to help him be comfortable at least. He is such a handsome boy.

[columbine]

Mixing extra water in with Irwin's food is an excellent idea! You can also try putting extra water bowls of different types in different locations. Smudge won't drink from a stainless bowl in the kitchen, but he enjoys drinking from a glass bowl in the living room. You could get him a cat drinking fountain, too - some cats prefer running water, as it's how their ancestors chose clean, safe drinking water in the wild. (I got one for Smudge, but he was scared of it. You just never know!)

You can also add Cosequin to his wet food. It's a chicken/fish flavored powder that soothes and protects the inside of the bladder and urethra, although it's primarily sold as a joint supplement!

Grain-free food is a good way to keep a cat's urinary pH high enough to avoid irritation. There are a lot of grain-free brands available nowadays, and many pet stores will give you samples to see if your cat will eat a specific food. Smudge enjoys Indigo Moon kibble (by Solid Gold), and gets his meds mixed into Soulistic canned food.

Love, Columbine

[katladyd]

Moosmom, I am so sorry you had a negative experience with amitryptiline. I have had the exact opposite happen with Ming, he no longer fights with Mac, and he become even more of a super love cat than he was before. My vet said this med has different reactions with different cats. She said 60% of cats do very well on it, but for the other 40%, it is just as you described. I believe that this med has saved Ming's life, because he had chronic blockages and his bladder wall had thickened as well. He is such a happy, healthy, cat now that I would recommend that she should at least talk to her vet about it. When it works, and the dosage has to be tinkered with a bit, it works wonders!

[JustineNYC]

Moosmom, I am so sorry you had a negative experience with amitryptiline. I have had the exact opposite happen with Ming, he no longer fights with Mac, and he become even more of a super love cat than he was before. My vet said this med has different reactions with different cats. She said 60% of cats do very well on it, but for the other 40%, it is just as you described. I believe that this med has saved Ming's life, because he had chronic blockages and his bladder wall had thickened as well. He is such a happy, healthy, cat now that I would recommend that she should at least talk to her vet about it. When it works, and the dosage has to be tinkered with a bit, it works wonders!

Its an anti-depressant so Im wondering why it helps thickening of the bladder wall? Does it make them high to the point where they don't care about their bladder?

[Catty1]

Justine, my sister was on elavil to relax spasms in her bladder (she had MS). If the bladder and sphincter muscles spasm and contract, it will feel like one really has to GO but can't, because of the muscles tightening.

It doesn't change the thickness of the bladder wall, but helps the UTI problem in other ways.

It is a tricyclic anti-depressant, used in humans and other animals. Most find it may space them a tad, but it is not a sedating med (in my memory).

It sounds like you have tried it, though, and it didn't work. Or is your vet trying it again now that the stones are all flushed out?

Irwin is a SUPER handsome boy and looks like a very beloved kitty. He is sure to heal well with his meowmie's love and devotion.