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#1
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Concerned about Licky
Hi - I could really use some advice, if anyone has any.
History: Licky has had chronic urinary tract inflammation for years. When he was first diagnosed, the vet prescribed a special canned food for him, which I bought right there. This was several years ago, so I don't remember the specific results, but at some point I was talking about it here, and several people insisted that the prescription food was mostly junk, it just had (low pH? I don't remember what it was that made it better for his UTI), and I should feed him high-quality, grain-free food, and supplement it with Cosequin (which contains glucosamine and chondroitin). So I did this, and it did appear that he got a little better - for a while. Then, maybe 6 months later, the little blood spots started to appear again on the bathroom floor (where the litterbox is). I kept him on the Cosequin for quite a while longer, but after a while there didn't seem to be a point, since he continued to have blood in his urine. So I stopped giving it to him (but kept him on the grain-free diet), and he neither improved nor got worse. It's been this way ever since. I've never seen any evidence of him straining to pee, or being unable to pee. Whenever he's gone to the vet for a flare-up, they've checked for blockage and there never is any. That has never been an issue, although I always keep an eye out for unusual behavior related to urination. Current situation: It's been most OK, some blood spots, but nothing unusual. But lately, I've started noticing that there are more blood spots, and I'm afraid it might be getting worse. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow to get an opinion about that and see if I should bring him in. The thing is, I know that the vet is going to prescribe the special low-pH (or whatever it is) diet and I don't want to give him that. It's hard to get decent advice, because opinions about Western vs. holistic medicine are so polarized. It's worse when you're talking about human healthcare, but even veterinary care has its little war over modality. I really wish I could get good advice from a knowledgeable person who is open to both Western *and* holistic and can give me suggestions based on *considering all the options*, and not just based on prejudices or negative attitudes about the "enemy camp". I just want my boy to feel better! Thanks, -- Joyce A clean house is a sign of a broken computer. |
#2
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Concerned about Licky
My cat kim had Feline idiopathic cystitis for years. Stress was one of the
main factors , I used to havea feliway plug in and fed her wet food and encouraged her to drink . She also had cystease supplement, She had blood in her urine but she also strained to wee. One of the first symptoms was her wees getting smaller and then straining . Has the vet done any scans or investigations ? Alison "Bastette" wrote in message ... Hi - I could really use some advice, if anyone has any. History: Licky has had chronic urinary tract inflammation for years. When he was first diagnosed, the vet prescribed a special canned food for him, which I bought right there. This was several years ago, so I don't remember the specific results, but at some point I was talking about it here, and several people insisted that the prescription food was mostly junk, it just had (low pH? I don't remember what it was that made it better for his UTI), and I should feed him high-quality, grain-free food, and supplement it with Cosequin (which contains glucosamine and chondroitin). So I did this, and it did appear that he got a little better - for a while. Then, maybe 6 months later, the little blood spots started to appear again on the bathroom floor (where the litterbox is). I kept him on the Cosequin for quite a while longer, but after a while there didn't seem to be a point, since he continued to have blood in his urine. So I stopped giving it to him (but kept him on the grain-free diet), and he neither improved nor got worse. It's been this way ever since. I've never seen any evidence of him straining to pee, or being unable to pee. Whenever he's gone to the vet for a flare-up, they've checked for blockage and there never is any. That has never been an issue, although I always keep an eye out for unusual behavior related to urination. Current situation: It's been most OK, some blood spots, but nothing unusual. But lately, I've started noticing that there are more blood spots, and I'm afraid it might be getting worse. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow to get an opinion about that and see if I should bring him in. The thing is, I know that the vet is going to prescribe the special low-pH (or whatever it is) diet and I don't want to give him that. It's hard to get decent advice, because opinions about Western vs. holistic medicine are so polarized. It's worse when you're talking about human healthcare, but even veterinary care has its little war over modality. I really wish I could get good advice from a knowledgeable person who is open to both Western *and* holistic and can give me suggestions based on *considering all the options*, and not just based on prejudices or negative attitudes about the "enemy camp". I just want my boy to feel better! Thanks, -- Joyce A clean house is a sign of a broken computer. |
#3
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Concerned about Licky
On 7/21/2013 7:32 PM, Bastette wrote:
Hi - I could really use some advice, if anyone has any. History: Licky has had chronic urinary tract inflammation for years. When he was first diagnosed, the vet prescribed a special canned food for him, which I bought right there. This was several years ago, so I don't remember the specific results, but at some point I was talking about it here, and several people insisted that the prescription food was mostly junk, it just had (low pH? I don't remember what it was that made it better for his UTI), and I should feed him high-quality, grain-free food, and supplement it with Cosequin (which contains glucosamine and chondroitin). So I did this, and it did appear that he got a little better - for a while. Then, maybe 6 months later, the little blood spots started to appear again on the bathroom floor (where the litterbox is). I kept him on the Cosequin for quite a while longer, but after a while there didn't seem to be a point, since he continued to have blood in his urine. So I stopped giving it to him (but kept him on the grain-free diet), and he neither improved nor got worse. It's been this way ever since. I've never seen any evidence of him straining to pee, or being unable to pee. Whenever he's gone to the vet for a flare-up, they've checked for blockage and there never is any. That has never been an issue, although I always keep an eye out for unusual behavior related to urination. Current situation: It's been most OK, some blood spots, but nothing unusual. But lately, I've started noticing that there are more blood spots, and I'm afraid it might be getting worse. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow to get an opinion about that and see if I should bring him in. The thing is, I know that the vet is going to prescribe the special low-pH (or whatever it is) diet and I don't want to give him that. It's hard to get decent advice, because opinions about Western vs. holistic medicine are so polarized. It's worse when you're talking about human healthcare, but even veterinary care has its little war over modality. I really wish I could get good advice from a knowledgeable person who is open to both Western *and* holistic and can give me suggestions based on *considering all the options*, and not just based on prejudices or negative attitudes about the "enemy camp". I just want my boy to feel better! Thanks, I have no advice about holistic medicine. Purrs are on the way for Licky (and for you). I'd go with the prescription food only because it has served Persia so well. When she was about 3 or 4 she had recurrent bladder infections. She didn't seem to be straining but there was blood in her urine. That alarmed me. Then the vet became concerned about the frequency of her infections. X-rays finally showed a small mass in her bladder. It turned out to be a (thankfully benign) tumor. I wish you both the best of luck. Jill |
#4
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Concerned about Licky
"The Other Guy" wrote in message ... On Sun, 21 Jul 2013 23:32:26 +0000 (UTC), Bastette wrote: It's hard to get decent advice, because opinions about Western vs. holistic medicine are so polarized. It should be evident pretty quickly whether holistic is working, and if NOT (as usually the case), get traditional help quickly. Blood in the urine that's NOT helped by treatment as a simple infection often means something MUCH more serious, and likely costly (like cancer). A good Vet should be able to diagnose such a thing fairly easily. It must be very frustrating for Joyce to have taken Licky to the vet on numerous occasions for a resolution and not getting one. If it was something serious like you suggest her vets would have found it by now surely. She might like to take a second opinion to be certain, of course. Sometimes cats have things wrong that no vet seems to be able to solve. I certainly struggled with Kitty Farmcat's nose running with green stuff for the last few months of her life and so did the vet. She had every treatment known to mankind and nothing seemed to work. It isn't always as easy as you seem to think i.e. to vet - treatment - cured. Tweed |
#5
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Concerned about Licky
"Bastette" wrote in message ... Hi - I could really use some advice, if anyone has any. History: Licky has had chronic urinary tract inflammation for years. When he was first diagnosed, the vet prescribed a special canned food for him, which I bought right there. This was several years ago, so I don't remember the specific results, but at some point I was talking about it here, and several people insisted that the prescription food was mostly junk, it just had (low pH? I don't remember what it was that made it better for his UTI), and I should feed him high-quality, grain-free food, and supplement it with Cosequin (which contains glucosamine and chondroitin). So I did this, and it did appear that he got a little better - for a while. Then, maybe 6 months later, the little blood spots started to appear again on the bathroom floor (where the litterbox is). I kept him on the Cosequin for quite a while longer, but after a while there didn't seem to be a point, since he continued to have blood in his urine. So I stopped giving it to him (but kept him on the grain-free diet), and he neither improved nor got worse. It's been this way ever since. I've never seen any evidence of him straining to pee, or being unable to pee. Whenever he's gone to the vet for a flare-up, they've checked for blockage and there never is any. That has never been an issue, although I always keep an eye out for unusual behavior related to urination. Current situation: It's been most OK, some blood spots, but nothing unusual. But lately, I've started noticing that there are more blood spots, and I'm afraid it might be getting worse. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow to get an opinion about that and see if I should bring him in. The thing is, I know that the vet is going to prescribe the special low-pH (or whatever it is) diet and I don't want to give him that. It's hard to get decent advice, because opinions about Western vs. holistic medicine are so polarized. It's worse when you're talking about human healthcare, but even veterinary care has its little war over modality. I really wish I could get good advice from a knowledgeable person who is open to both Western *and* holistic and can give me suggestions based on *considering all the options*, and not just based on prejudices or negative attitudes about the "enemy camp". I just want my boy to feel better! Thanks, Sorry that KFC's beloved has a poorly bladder and hope you find something to help him. I have no advice to offer you as neither of mine ever had this problem. You are taking him to the vet's again, I know. BTW have you asked Megan? that might be worth it if she is still around. Tweed |
#6
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Concerned about Licky
Christina Websell wrote:
Sorry that KFC's beloved has a poorly bladder and hope you find something to help him. I have no advice to offer you as neither of mine ever had this problem. You are taking him to the vet's again, I know. BTW have you asked Megan? that might be worth it if she is still around. I was hoping that MaryL might have some thoughts. She often has good ideas about feline health and treatments. I haven't heard from Megan in a long time. I guess she goes by Catlady now? Thanks, -- Joyce Something you'll never hear an 8-year-old say: "Nana, will you spit on your hankie and wipe the gravy off my face?" |
#7
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Concerned about Licky
Alison wrote:
My cat kim had Feline idiopathic cystitis for years. Stress was one of the main factors , I used to havea feliway plug in and fed her wet food and encouraged her to drink . She also had cystease supplement, I've always suspected that stress was the cause in Licky's case, too. He's a very nervous kitty, always on alert, suspicious, ready to head for the hills any second. Several months ago I bought him a Feliway collar, because the diffusers are only good if the cat is in the same room where it's plugged in. I don't have a very big apartment, but it does have 4 small rooms, so if I wanted him to have the benefits all the time, I'd have to buy 4 of them a month. And just one per month is pretty costly. But I haven't had the heart to put the collar on him - I'm afraid that would be traumatic in itself! It's still in the package, unopened. I wonder how long it lasts when it's still sealed? She had blood in her urine but she also strained to wee. One of the first symptoms was her wees getting smaller and then straining . Has the vet done any scans or investigations ? I don't think radiology was ever involved, but she (the vet) definitely checked for blockage. Can blood in the urine be caused by inflammation, or does it always indicate an infection? Because if it does, then he's had an infection forever. And yet he never seems ill. He has lots of energy, is alert and often very affectionate, his appetite is very healthy, and as I said, I've never noticed him straining to pee. His main problem in life is anxiety. I like the Feliway idea, thanks for reminding me. -- Joyce The sun rose slowly, like a fiery furball coughed up uneasily onto a sky-blue carpet by a giant unseen cat. -- Michael McGarel |
#8
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Concerned about Licky
Judith Latham wrote:
Sophie (RB) was prone to bladder infections but we always managed to clear them up although the last one took a hell of a lot of antibiotics. The vet recommended Hills science diet and that seemed to help but she still had trouble occasionally. Sorry I can't be of more help. Purrs and prayers for Licky to get better soon. Thanks, Judith! -- Joyce "Riveting reading that keeps readers reading." -- The Midwest Book Review |
#9
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Concerned about Licky
jmcquown wrote:
I have no advice about holistic medicine. Purrs are on the way for Licky (and for you). I'd go with the prescription food only because it has served Persia so well. When she was about 3 or 4 she had recurrent bladder infections. She didn't seem to be straining but there was blood in her urine. That alarmed me. Then the vet became concerned about the frequency of her infections. X-rays finally showed a small mass in her bladder. It turned out to be a (thankfully benign) tumor. I wish you both the best of luck. Thanks! It seems like for most people, if their cats get blood in the urine, that means an infection. It's just hard for me to believe he's had the same infection for ages, without it either getting better or worse. I'm going to have to take him back - that's going to be fun! :-O -- Joyce "Riveting reading that keeps readers reading." -- The Midwest Book Review |
#10
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Concerned about Licky
I wish you both the best of luck.
Me too... Thanks! It seems like for most people, if their cats get blood in the urine, that means an infection. It's just hard for me to believe he's had the same infection for ages, without it either getting better or worse. I'm going to have to take him back - that's going to be fun! :-O ....but to me that doesn't look good. With no pain on peeing, bladder cancer looks the most likely explanation. Seems like there are a few very different types of bladder cancer in cats and great differences of opinion about how to treat them, though treatment can be effective. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile 07800 739 557 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin |
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