Tigris, again!!!

[kimlovescats]

Barbara, I am so sorry to hear of Tigris' problems. I hope and pray that the vet can find some means of treating it, so that he doesn't have to suffer through this for long, and so that YOU don't have to worry about him! (((BIG HUGS))) and prayers for you, Tigris and Siegmar!

Kim

[krazyaboutkatz]

Barbara, I'm so sorry to hear that Tigris is sick again. I know that this is a terrible disease because a lot of the time no one knows why the cats get sick.
Storm's tests were inconclusive the first time and he had a bad bacterial infection the second time and also scar tissue. After his surgery the surgeon said that his urethra was very small so it was only a matter of time before he had problems. I'm still feeding all of my furkids the special prescription food just to be on the safe side. So far so good.
I wonder if your vet can either x-ray or do an ultrasound on Tigris's urethra to find out if it's normal in size. Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. Please take care. {{{HUGS}}}

[krazyaboutkatz]

Originally posted by Barbara


The problem is that many recipes like diet food (they say that most foods these days are already formulated in a way that they acidify the urine- plus these foods that prevent struvite crystals can bring oxalate crystals) or even the plumbing surgery Boots and Fister had will not work in a case like that.

The food that I'm currently feeding my furkids is Royal Canin S/O formula in both wet and dry. It's the only food that I know of that will prevent both struvite and oxalate crystals. Good luck.

[Barbara]

I simply cannot tell you what I all dreamt this night but it showed I was not in an easy mood.

This morning as soon as we opened the vet's exterior door we heard our Tigris and so knew he was alive

Ok: the medicinal details.
It is called iFLUTD. Idiopathic Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.
His kidneys are ok. Well, a little high in urea but nothing to be really concerned.

He has definitely no stones.

He has a bacterial infection but the vet thinks it's a secondary one.

His urethra is chronically inflammed, swollen and there is scar tissue. Poor boy must have been in pain. The reason for this is not known (which is what "idiopathic" means).

Now there are two options:

1) the conservative option:
The bacterial infection is treated by antibiotics.
The inflammation of the urethra is treated by prednisolone.

This is what we start doing. He'll have to take the prednisolone for about 2 weeks time (and it will be funny 2 weeks regarding the fact that Tigris doesn't eat most of the stuff other cats die for
). The vet says she knows some cats who work rather well over the years with maybe one or 2 times prednisolone per year.

Of course it is essential that the bladder is flushed. Having no stones, neither struvite nor oxalate, Tigris may have his veggie juice which is the only beverage he really is craving She says the pred makes him hungry and thirsty- so that may help.

Then it's no more dry food. Wet food to help his intake of water.

2) surgery
Of course I asked about the perineal urethrostomy (which is -am I right?- what Fister, Boots, Mishi and Storm had.

To my vet's opinion this would be the last resort. The urethra is a block against bacteria coming from the exterior and so can prevent UTIs. My vet says that many cats with urethrostomy suffer from UTIs and need antibiotics often.

I said I knew some who had it and seemed to get along rather well.

Now my question: Randi, Phred, Tracey:

Can you tell me what your vet said about the risks of the surgery.

I agree with my vet that we will first try to control it the way I described but I'd like to know more about the plumbing surgery.

Isn't it funny that very manly cats seem to have more problems. I would have put my bet on Filou for being prone to diseases but as I behave like an eagle now when one of the boys goes to the box, I can say that he p...s like a waterfall.

BTW: Filou was a velcro kitty yesterday and this morning. I think he was saying: Do you keep me when I am very good

I am happy I have my big boy back. Now I hope we can get him to get better.

[jenluckenbach]

Thanks for the update. Best of luck with the medication. Hopefully it will work and no more talk of surgery. Kisses to tigris.

[Logan]

Barbara, we have never dealt with this, but you sure do have good resources right here at Pet Talk, don't you?

Please give Tigris a gentle hug from me. I hope he will be feeling better soon. Glad Filou is doing well.....velcro kitties are fun, aren't they?

[Randi]

Barbara, I can imagine Tigris is a velcro kitty now, he must be SO happy to be home again.

Fister had struvite crystals and blocked up 2-4 months after the first flushing, but since Tigris had an infection, I don't know what to say. I hope that the Prednisolone will help him get rid of that infection! Fister had Prednisolone too, for 10 days, I don't quite remember why. I do remember his urine test was sterile - my vet said that was not good.

Prednisolone will make him put on weight, so don't worry if he gets a bit plumb during taking these. Can you get them down his throat?

The operation we decided on, because he was prone to block up again and thought, we may as well avoid further flushing and catheterisation. The vet said he'll still form crystals, but won't block up. He had Hills S/D for at least 6 months before all this, but he still had problems. He's now on C/D - and occasionally on W/D with less fat.

I think you already have this link: ? http://www.lbah.com/Feline/flutd.htm#sx

I hope you find the right solution for him! I'll try to find more info on this and send to you.

We're sending kisses, scritchies and purrs to your wonderful boy.

Hugs to you and Siegmar.

[smokey the elder]

Poor Tigris! I hope he feels better.

[MySweetBoy]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Barbara
[B]The morning of the New year, Tigris

Hi Barbara,

I just read about Tigris this morning. Poor little guy....I'm so sorry he's not well. I went out to a web site I had visited about a year and a half ago when Buddy was suspected of having cardiomyopathy, and remembered reading about iFLUDT, a link at the same site. Here is the site. I think you will find it very incouraging. Read the last line of the third paragraph under the heading "Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease". I hope this is so true for your Tigris!!! My prayers are with you both.

Linda

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resou...e/urinary.html

[Barbara]

I have read all the thread about Boots' surgery and it looks as if he had an infection plus crystals. He got antibiotics against the infection from beginning of August until end September.

Fister's urine being sterile means he had no primary UTI (1-3% of the cats with FLUTD have one). But he had crystals (20% of all cats with FLUTD have them). So he needed no antibiotics then.

Tigris has no crystals and a secondary UTI for which he gets the antibiotics.

The bad thing is the chronically inflammated urethra. This can be kept down by the pred.

What I would like to know is:
Did Fister or Boots have any problems like an UTI after the surgery?

Did your vet inform you about the risk of getting more UTIs once the surgery is done.?

Thank you Linda, for the link. That's exactly what it is- and I also hope it is over once we get it sorted out.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I'm glad to hear you at least know what the problem is, Barbara. That's half the battle. And it sounds like you're really doing plenty of research to find out just what all your options are. I sure hope it can be controlled with the antibiotics and pred, but at least you'll have all the information you can get about the surgery before having to make that decision.

I'm so glad Tigris is home again. Sounds like he wasn't too happy about having to spend the night away from home. {{{hugs}}} to you and gentle skritchies to that big Tigris boy.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Barbara, I sure hope that the meds will help Tigris so you won't even have to think about surgery. Yes, everyone I spoke with informed me about the risks of both Cirrus and Storm developing UTI infections after their operations. This is another reason why I'm keeping them on their special diet. So far so good. Cirrus had his operation last Feb. so it's almost been a year and he's doing very well.
In Storm's case he had to have surgery because of scar tissue and he became blocked twice. The scar tissue prevented him from being able to be catheterized. His surgeon told me that she's seen many cats that have been catheterized so many times that they develop very bad scar tissue. Then when they finally have the surgery, the scar tissue grows back and they become blocked again. In Storm's case this shouldn't happen because we caught it early.

Tigris,please be a good kitty and take all of your meds and get well soon.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Come on big boy.......take your meds......

[catcrazylady]

Barbara please forgive me for not seeing this sooner! I am horrible about checking all of PT's boards.

I'm so sorry that Tigis and you have been through so much. It sounds like you are very informed and will do the best for him. This thread is so informative!
Please know that I'm praying for Tigris and I hope the meds take care of everything.

[Randi]

My post disappeared into thin air, so I'll try again.

After Fister had the operation, there has been no problems. I do hope it won't be neccesary for Tigris to be operated though. Hopefully the medicine will help clear it up and he can get back to normal.

It's tough to see them suffer. Have you got any painkillers for him? Fister had some called Romefen, they seemed to help a lot.
He also had Prednisolone for 10 days and put on weight, so don't panic if Tigris does too.

More kisses and scrithies to your wonderful boy - and hugs to you and Siegmar.