Aa
My Milo
He sure is not feeling good. Last night he was squatting on a towel on the floor and I was like what the heck. He sat there a while got up and there was 2 drops of urine. It smelled foul couldn't see any blood. This lasted all night my poor baby. He never finished his Baytril pills I couldn't get him to take them. All morning I laid with him. I called the E-vet he was on a cattle farm. Finally he saw Milo. His bladder was empty thank god and he is not blocked. He got an injection of Baytril and Onsior for pain. Of course the vet gave the pill NO problem I look like a cougar scratched me up. And soooooo the diet I know is the cause. Milo has been eating the kitten chow & puppy food and not his. Ive been bed ridden with depression I didn't notice really until last night. Price you pay. My poor baby. I have to get a urine specimen on Friday to drop off at the Vets. He gave me the stuff for the box. Im just glad he was not blocked I was up all night with him. He'd squat and pee a few drops and then go to the box and try again and again. He is now under the bed hopefully sleeping he hasn't come out since home I hope he is feeling better. My poor baby boy.
THANK YOU for the GREAT post as always FM....you and I think very much alike and I value your input very much.....great advice:))
Poor kitty! I had a female cat with crystals in her bladder in the past, so everything that Opus has mentioned makes perfect sense to me. I don't know if the antibiotics contributed to her getting IBD (Colitis), but since I deal with my own colon issues, I know antibiotics could very well have contributed to her issues. Although, looking back I'm pretty sure she had some problems to begin with. Just the same, I know the antibiotics used for the crystals in her bladder had to have contributed to her IBD in some way, because it was after the use of antibiotics for this issue that she started having the chronic diarrhea issues, which proved to be IBD. It might not have been what started her issues entirely, but I am convinced that it definitely contributed to the IBD issues. I was much younger when I had that cat and less was known over all about what was really best for our pets. The vet I saw back then did a lot of the same things your cat's vet is doing now, so I agree with Opus about having the vet follow the procedures in the information links she provided. It may very well make a huge difference in the cat's overall health long term.
I recommend also going grain free, especially since the kitty hasn't been feeling good. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they absolutely must eat meat. They do not benefit from grains at all. Some of them, like my cat, are also allergic to grains. As our house cats come from a species that originated in the desert, in nature they would get their water from their diet. In nature they would rarely even get the opportunity to actually drink water. This is why it makes sense to feed the cat as close to a native diet as you can. I'm not sure why there are still so many vets who even recommend dry kibble for cats. It's really not a well-meaning cat owner's fault when their cats get sick. After all, the commercial pet food industry has so much of the population convinced that they should buy dry kibble for their cats and dogs. And, too, vets sell commercially made prescription diets right out of their offices, and much of that is--dry kibble. It helps that I take Akira to a veterinarian office that only sees cats. So, no dogs and no exotic pets. Just cats. And, the vet I usually see really likes the brand of canned cat food I started giving to Akira once we realized she was allergic to grains.
While a raw diet is good for cats, there can definitely be problems associated with both affordability and getting the right balance of nutrition for your cat. Even people with the best of intentions can end up with a cat with serious health issues if they don't follow a proper raw diet for their cats. I find it easier to give raw meat scraps to Akira as special treats when I'm cutting up meat for myself rather than giving her a strict raw diet.
Canned food is still far better than dry kibble, because it provides the moisture in the cat's diet. It is still much closer to a native diet than dry kibble is. I recommend using a brand that is also grain free, since cats don't benefit from all those grains in the first place. Keep in mind that white potatoes are still considered to be in the grain category nutritionally, even for people who are on a grain free diet. I normally recommend using the brand I've been using successfully, because it is available in the economy sized cans (12.5 oz) as well as the individual serving sized cans. So, it's more affordable than a lot of other healthy and natural pet food brands. I would recommend buying a couple cans of the individual serving size cans and one or two economy sized cans of WELLNESS grain free cat food to see how your cat adjusts. You may need the individual sized cans at first, since Milo is not feeling good. There will be a lot less waste involved while Milo is healing. And, too, some cats need to adjust to the new diet more slowly than others. If you're fortunate like I have been, your cat will accept the economy cans which, of course, have to be refrigerated after opening them. You should be able to get four adult servings out of one economy can. So, one economy can should last one adult cat two days.
While this is more expensive than dry kibble, this is the most affordable way I know of to ensure good nutrition and health in a cat. It's way more affordable than a vet bill because the cat is sick. I sure can't afford that myself.
I recommend also going grain free, especially since the kitty hasn't been feeling good. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they absolutely must eat meat. They do not benefit from grains at all. Some of them, like my cat, are also allergic to grains. As our house cats come from a species that originated in the desert, in nature they would get their water from their diet. In nature they would rarely even get the opportunity to actually drink water. This is why it makes sense to feed the cat as close to a native diet as you can. I'm not sure why there are still so many vets who even recommend dry kibble for cats. It's really not a well-meaning cat owner's fault when their cats get sick. After all, the commercial pet food industry has so much of the population convinced that they should buy dry kibble for their cats and dogs. And, too, vets sell commercially made prescription diets right out of their offices, and much of that is--dry kibble. It helps that I take Akira to a veterinarian office that only sees cats. So, no dogs and no exotic pets. Just cats. And, the vet I usually see really likes the brand of canned cat food I started giving to Akira once we realized she was allergic to grains.
While a raw diet is good for cats, there can definitely be problems associated with both affordability and getting the right balance of nutrition for your cat. Even people with the best of intentions can end up with a cat with serious health issues if they don't follow a proper raw diet for their cats. I find it easier to give raw meat scraps to Akira as special treats when I'm cutting up meat for myself rather than giving her a strict raw diet.
Canned food is still far better than dry kibble, because it provides the moisture in the cat's diet. It is still much closer to a native diet than dry kibble is. I recommend using a brand that is also grain free, since cats don't benefit from all those grains in the first place. Keep in mind that white potatoes are still considered to be in the grain category nutritionally, even for people who are on a grain free diet. I normally recommend using the brand I've been using successfully, because it is available in the economy sized cans (12.5 oz) as well as the individual serving sized cans. So, it's more affordable than a lot of other healthy and natural pet food brands. I would recommend buying a couple cans of the individual serving size cans and one or two economy sized cans of WELLNESS grain free cat food to see how your cat adjusts. You may need the individual sized cans at first, since Milo is not feeling good. There will be a lot less waste involved while Milo is healing. And, too, some cats need to adjust to the new diet more slowly than others. If you're fortunate like I have been, your cat will accept the economy cans which, of course, have to be refrigerated after opening them. You should be able to get four adult servings out of one economy can. So, one economy can should last one adult cat two days.
While this is more expensive than dry kibble, this is the most affordable way I know of to ensure good nutrition and health in a cat. It's way more affordable than a vet bill because the cat is sick. I sure can't afford that myself.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Sending my love, prayers and support, Kitty girl. So Good to see you posting. xo
poor little Milo....is he NOT passing his urine bkitty?
sending some healing prayers and kitty vibes for him...and you too dear{{>^.^<}}
sending some healing prayers and kitty vibes for him...and you too dear{{>^.^<}}
The vet also mentioned he would board him so he can get his medication properly since I am having sooo much trouble.
He is not getting any better it seems. Today when I had my hubby hold him to give him his injection my kitty moved and I stabbed my husband in his thumb with the needle. So injections are not any easier to give it seems. I will prob be dropping him off at the vets tomm for the day the vet mentioned an xray to check for stones.
I will also add Dr. Piersons words on urinary tract INFECTION in cats...
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections can occur anywhere along the tract from the kidneys to the urethra. Most infections gain access to the bladder when bacteria travel up the urethra from the outside world. From the bladder, the infection can ascend to the kidneys.
Please note that when the abbreviation "UTI" is used, the 'I' must be defined. Does "I" mean infection? Or does it mean inflammation?
It is very important to understand the difference if we are to stop overusing antibiotics and start using more pain medications when cats exhibit signs of urinary tract problems.
Studies have shown that otherwise healthy cats (no kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism) - that are showing signs of urinary tract discomfort - have only a ~1-2% chance of having a UT infection yet antibiotics are prescribed very frequently for these patients. The veterinary community needs to address this very serious problem involving the overuse/abuse of antibiotics.
Roughly 99% of these otherwise healthy cats have sterile (no infection) cystitis. This is because the feline is very good at saving water to stay hydrated which results in a very concentrated urine. (Urine Specific Gravity (USG) >1.040) Concentrated urine is a very hostile environment that does not readily support bacterial growth. Therefore......
Urinary tract infections are rare in cats without a concurrent disease such as kidney insufficiency, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections can occur anywhere along the tract from the kidneys to the urethra. Most infections gain access to the bladder when bacteria travel up the urethra from the outside world. From the bladder, the infection can ascend to the kidneys.
Please note that when the abbreviation "UTI" is used, the 'I' must be defined. Does "I" mean infection? Or does it mean inflammation?
It is very important to understand the difference if we are to stop overusing antibiotics and start using more pain medications when cats exhibit signs of urinary tract problems.
Studies have shown that otherwise healthy cats (no kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism) - that are showing signs of urinary tract discomfort - have only a ~1-2% chance of having a UT infection yet antibiotics are prescribed very frequently for these patients. The veterinary community needs to address this very serious problem involving the overuse/abuse of antibiotics.
Roughly 99% of these otherwise healthy cats have sterile (no infection) cystitis. This is because the feline is very good at saving water to stay hydrated which results in a very concentrated urine. (Urine Specific Gravity (USG) >1.040) Concentrated urine is a very hostile environment that does not readily support bacterial growth. Therefore......
Urinary tract infections are rare in cats without a concurrent disease such as kidney insufficiency, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism.
blood in the urine does NOT necessarily mean infection NO....its often present in feline lower urinary tract disease...FLUTD. because of the irritation caused by these bladder crystals scratching the urinary tract when they urinate....and like with us humans when there is an irritation it feels like we need to pass urine all the time...with us there is often presence of infection(not always) but with cats its very rare to have infection present...
I will copy a few lines of Dr. Piersons article....please read it all
http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
Lower Urinary Tract Clinical Signs
Patients may exhibit one more more of these signs:
Straining to urinate - with and without production of urine
Frequent trips to the litter box - with and without production of urine
Crying while urinating
Excessive licking of the genital area
Blood in the urine
Urinating in places other than in the litter box
Posturing (squatting) in the litter box for a long period of time (Note that sometimes people think that their cat is constipated when he/she is really showing signs of a lower urinary tract problem.)
I will copy a few lines of Dr. Piersons article....please read it all
http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
Lower Urinary Tract Clinical Signs
Patients may exhibit one more more of these signs:
Straining to urinate - with and without production of urine
Frequent trips to the litter box - with and without production of urine
Crying while urinating
Excessive licking of the genital area
Blood in the urine
Urinating in places other than in the litter box
Posturing (squatting) in the litter box for a long period of time (Note that sometimes people think that their cat is constipated when he/she is really showing signs of a lower urinary tract problem.)
He actually seems a little better he is out from under the bed laying next to me calmly and has not been squatting...
About a month ago he did have blood trace in his urine.?? Is that a sign of infection or FLUTD??
just sent you a PM when I saw your status abt baytril......injection, this is not a good drug for use with cats, in fact as far as I know its only approved for dogs in the injection form...and even in tablets baytril can cause blindness in high doses...
the Vet hasn't even done a C&S honey, so the cause is MORE THAN LIKELY NOT even infection...cats actually very rarely get an infection...what they get is FLUTD caused by dry foods...this is crystal formation and yes will cause a blockage if not fed a moisture rich canned food!!!!
the male urethra is so tiny, if they don't get the required moisture in their foods they become blocked very easily.
Vets TOO EASILY prescribe antibiotics....and this is dangerous for cats, unless absolutely necessary and the only way to know is by a C&S....
I can't emphasize this strong enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Milo eats dry food....therefore I am 99% sure he has crystals in his urine and therefore getting some small blockage thus the difficulty passing urine...he needs plenty of water to flush these out and NO more dry food b/c this causes dehydration and crystal formation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no matter how often you put him on antibiotics the crystals will continue to form.....
PLEASE ANYONE WITH MALE CATS READ THIS ARTICLE....
http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
the Vet hasn't even done a C&S honey, so the cause is MORE THAN LIKELY NOT even infection...cats actually very rarely get an infection...what they get is FLUTD caused by dry foods...this is crystal formation and yes will cause a blockage if not fed a moisture rich canned food!!!!
the male urethra is so tiny, if they don't get the required moisture in their foods they become blocked very easily.
Vets TOO EASILY prescribe antibiotics....and this is dangerous for cats, unless absolutely necessary and the only way to know is by a C&S....
I can't emphasize this strong enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Milo eats dry food....therefore I am 99% sure he has crystals in his urine and therefore getting some small blockage thus the difficulty passing urine...he needs plenty of water to flush these out and NO more dry food b/c this causes dehydration and crystal formation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no matter how often you put him on antibiotics the crystals will continue to form.....
PLEASE ANYONE WITH MALE CATS READ THIS ARTICLE....
http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
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