A cat forum. CatBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » CatBanter forum » Cat Newsgroups » Cats - misc
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Cat Urolithiasis



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old December 16th 04, 03:15 PM
tunic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

how are plugs identified? he hadnt any signs of infection or too much blood
in his urine
there were certainly many crystals though, could it be a combination of
the two?

while trying to pass the cathetere the last time, the vet met an obstacle
(she could sense it)
she cleaned the edge of the cathetere and analyzed the contents in the
microscope where many crystals were visible
she believes that the cathetere eventually passed *by* the stone in the
urethra so the catheterization or the acidification (by s/d food) hadnt
had any effect on the real problem. is that possible? i think the
cathetere is quite wide for that to happen

the good thing is that the cat is in good shape, he is almost used to the
procedure (he was even once catheterized without sedation) and he was
never anorexic. oh and he peed quite a bit after coming home from the vet
today..
is it possible his current difficulty to urinate to be due to urethra
inflammation and not stones?
i'm still having second thoughts about PU but am i just putting off the
inevitable?


  #12  
Old December 16th 04, 05:57 PM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"tunic" wrote in message
lkaboutpets.com...
how are plugs identified? he hadnt any signs of infection or too much

blood
in his urine
there were certainly many crystals though, could it be a combination of
the two?


Urethral plugs are a combination of a small amount of calculus (usually
struvite) and large amounts of mucus, which is probably secreted by mucosal
cells in the bladder and urethra - most likely in response to some mucosal
irritant and/or inflammation. Struvite uroliths contain larger quantities
MAP and smaller quantities of mucus and other debris.



while trying to pass the cathetere the last time, the vet met an obstacle
(she could sense it)
she cleaned the edge of the cathetere and analyzed the contents in the
microscope where many crystals were visible
she believes that the cathetere eventually passed *by* the stone in the
urethra


She may have pushed the obstruction back to a wider point in the urethra. A
technique called "retrograde urohydropropulsion" is often used flush an
obstruction back into the bladder by distending the urethra around the stone
with fluid - this is only for temporary relief. Voiding urohydropulsion is
used to eliminate urethral stones if the stones/plugs are small enough.



so the catheterization or the acidification (by s/d food) hadnt
had any effect on the real problem. is that possible? i think the
cathetere is quite wide for that to happen


I think you're right.



the good thing is that the cat is in good shape, he is almost used to the
procedure (he was even once catheterized without sedation) and he was
never anorexic. oh and he peed quite a bit after coming home from the vet
today..
is it possible his current difficulty to urinate to be due to urethra
inflammation and not stones?


Sure its possible. Crystals alone can inflame the urethra - and repeated
catheterizations can certaily inflame the urethra. Perhaps an
antiinflammarory med might help. Inflammation in the urethra is analogous
to rust and corrosion inside a pipe. Reducing the inflammation would
probably increase (restore) urethral diameter.

Its also possible that she broke up the stone - don't forget, he's on s/d -
so struvite would be soluble in an acidic urine.


i'm still having second thoughts about PU but am i just putting off the
inevitable?


Maybe not. Lets keep our paws crossed!

Phil







  #13  
Old December 16th 04, 06:36 PM
tunic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

i sent him for PU afterall..
the PU vet told me that it is almost certain that it will happen again,
even if he gets well now, so there's no point avoiding it
i am regretting it now but i hope it will turn out ok
thanks for all the information and the support..





  #14  
Old December 17th 04, 12:10 PM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"tunic" wrote in message
lkaboutpets.com...
i sent him for PU afterall..
the PU vet told me that it is almost certain that it will happen again,
even if he gets well now, so there's no point avoiding it
i am regretting it now but i hope it will turn out ok
thanks for all the information and the support..


At this stage, you didn't have much choice, not with repeated blockages.
Urinary tract obstructions are potentially fatal and there's always the risk
of not getting him to an emergency clinic in time -- not to mention the
stress and discomfort.

The only other suggestion I can make is keep his litterboxes immaculately
clean. The PU will turn him into an anatomical female but he will not have
the host defenses of a female. Infections can easily ascend to the
bladder - meaning literally, they crawl up from outside and have a shorter
distance to travel.

You did the right thing.

Best of luck.

Phil.




  #15  
Old December 17th 04, 08:44 PM
tunic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

thanks.. the PU vet also had big difficulty in passing the cathetere in
order to make the urethrostomy so i guess it was the right thing to do..
i got him back home today, he has a small cathetere sewed on (for 5 days)
i will be using shredded newspaper for litter
he is a housecat and doesnt go out, is it possible to get infected by
sitting to a dirty place or something like that?

thanks again


  #16  
Old December 21st 04, 08:52 AM
tunic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

it is so tragic, he blocked again after being PUed and with a cathetere 3
times wider
of course this cathetere is only 2 cm long and wont reach in the bladder
so this happened before the cathetere
i'm afraid that the problem will be worse when the cathetere will be
removed and once again we will be where we started (except that now the
cat has no genital system and has been tormented as hell)
i wish we could fight the cause and not just the symptoms..



  #17  
Old December 21st 04, 11:06 PM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"tunic" wrote in message
lkaboutpets.com...
it is so tragic, he blocked again after being PUed and with a cathetere 3
times wider
of course this cathetere is only 2 cm long and wont reach in the bladder
so this happened before the cathetere
i'm afraid that the problem will be worse when the cathetere will be
removed and once again we will be where we started (except that now the
cat has no genital system and has been tormented as hell)
i wish we could fight the cause and not just the symptoms..



This should not have happened. Apparently, the PU wasn't performed
correctly. I think a big part of your cat's problem is a bungling,
incompetent vet. I strongly suggest you seek a second opinion - quick -
before you lose your cat to acute renal failure due the vet's gross
incompetence.

I'm sure you have veterinary teaching college in your country, contact them
for a referral to another vet and ask about their procedure for submitting
crystals for analysis. If he's still forming uroliths in a highly acidic
urine, there's a very good chance that the crystals aren't struvite - or
completely struvite.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh - I'm infuriated by the stress and trauma this
matchbook vet is putting your cat through.

Please do not hesitate in obtaining a referral and second opinion.

Phil






  #18  
Old December 22nd 04, 02:38 PM
tunic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

hmm the vet who performed the PU was different than the casual one and she
is much experienced in situations like this (although she found a small
stone during the operation but lost it!!! there goes our chance identify
the exact composition of the stones..)
the casual vet has contacted at least two other vets to get their opinion,
and is much caring, i wouldnt say she is not competent..
i just think that my cat is cursed, the first day he traumatized the wound
with the e-collar and he was bleeding like hell
today the small cathetere got lost inside the opening (the stitches were
cut) and fortunately the vet managed to pull it out

the urine PH was 6 (5-6 hours after the feeding) but maybe there are
stones which take time to dissolve (he's been on s/d for 3 weeks)
the vet is definite about it being struvite.. we had also sent an urine
sample to a microbiologist who found crystals with an ammonium phosphate
compsition

i dont know what else to expect..(hope not a renal failure)



  #19  
Old December 27th 04, 06:38 PM
tunic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

hi,

i followed your suggestion and took the cat to another vet.
he did a urine analysis and concluded (with complete certainty- as much as
the other vets had for the opposite conclusion) that there were calcium
oxalate crystals in the urine.
fortunately i have already stopped feeding him s/d food for a few days now
(i'm giving him waltham's urinary which is supposed to prevent both kinds
of stones) and he has managed to pee (i dont know if this was due to the
food's effect or it was simply coincidental)
the PU vet cut the stiches today and stiched again a broad cathetere for 2
days to prevent a symphysis from occurring

i am really outraged with all this, i dont know what to believe. can these
people be called scientists? i think not.. maybe they think my cat is a
guinea pig and can do experiments to him







  #20  
Old December 27th 04, 08:39 PM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"tunic" wrote in message
lkaboutpets.com...
hi,

i followed your suggestion and took the cat to another vet.
he did a urine analysis and concluded (with complete certainty- as much as
the other vets had for the opposite conclusion) that there were calcium
oxalate crystals in the urine.



I knew the first vet screwed up the stone analysis, goddamit. Struvite
doesn't form in urine pH at 6.1 or lower.


fortunately i have already stopped feeding him s/d food for a few days now
(i'm giving him waltham's urinary which is supposed to prevent both kinds
of stones) and he has managed to pee (i dont know if this was due to the
food's effect or it was simply coincidental)


the PU vet cut the stiches today and stiched again a broad cathetere for 2
days to prevent a symphysis from occurring

i am really outraged with all this,



I'm ****ed as hell -- and he's not even my cat! If he were my cat, I'd
probably need to be restrained. This was not simply a mistake. It was
gross negligence by failing to have the stone analyzed properly before
prescribing a treatment.


i dont know what to believe. can these
people be called scientists? i think not.. maybe they think my cat is a
guinea pig and can do experiments to him


I'd tell the bungling vet that you want to renegotiate the bill or else she
can negotiate a malpractice suit for performing an unnecessary
*irreversible* drastic surgery and causing you and your cat unnecessary
pain, suffering and stress - not to mention the cost of surgery and repeated
vet visits.

I would take legal action, not only because of you and your cat's
experience, but also for the health and welfare of other animals that this
incompetent vet might affect.

Lets hope he's on the road to complete recovery.

Phil




 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CatBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.