Help Help! Cat with possible kidney stones....

[kslib]

Without going into a long story, here goes....

I've had a problem with urine spraying, on and off, in my female spayed cat for about 4 years (almost since I've had her) She's 9, almost 10. I've tried every behavioral therapy I've seen/read, tested her urine about 100 times, and finally decided on medical anti-anxiety help. Anyway, my hometown vet thought it might be ovarian remnant tissue causing heat, and suggested that I try a spay, then euthanize her if that isn't the case (NO!!!) I took her to K-State vet hospital, and was told (after xray) that she probably has a kidney and bladder stone(s), that they can recur, and cause pain, which leads to the spraying. Poor kitty! I feel terrible that I didn't know she was hurting! I LOVE my kitty, but am unsure I can afford the $300 plus for the surgery. The other option is to try to disolve them with medicine (special food), then do surgery later. Since there are no clinical signs (like blood in the urine), I could wait a few months, then do surgery.

Anyway, no question really, just venting. I'm very sad about this, and a little upset that I took her to a vet for four years, and she didn't even suggest this as a possiblity! (she said "most owners find cleaning the urine inconvenient, so euthanasia is often the best solution.) UGH!

Well, I have an ultrasound for her scheduled on Tuesday, so maybe the news will be good (I can wait before surgery, or NO stone, just an anxious kitty). I hope so!

[sleepyhead]

1. Bladder stones are easy to remove surgically.

Kidney stones are another story, though. If you can get the bladder stones removed and analyzed, there is a good chance that dietary management will help prevent further stone formation. It might be worth a dietary trial - I have seen a few cats whose bladder stones dissolved after 8-12 weeks on the special diet (Hills s/d). Bear in mind that this diet will only dissolve one type of stone (struvite) and if your cat has a different type of stone, it may need surgery. This surgery is very common (we are going to do this on one of our patients next week) and cats recover rapidly with very few complications. If you do opt for surgery, make sure that your vet has the stones analyzed, so that you can make any needed dietary changes. And by the way, $300 is a bargain for this surgery. If you are strapped for cash right now (who isn't?), ask your vet about Care Credit - this is a company that will issue a line of credit with 3-6 months to pay, interest-free. Good luck to you and your kitty!

[Longhorn]

2. We're so lucky to have you in this group!

Thanks! These aren't my pets who are having these problems right now but I'm learning a lot by reading your replies! :hi:

[SW FL Dem]

4. Great Post! I have a dog with bladder stones

she came to us as a rescue who was surrendered because of incontinence. It took one simple x-ray to show she had a very large bladder stone - the vet said that is was likely a calcium oxalate stone (since it looked like bone on the x-ray) and she was right. We had the surgery to remove the stone The stone was sent to the Univ of Minnesota for analysis. Libby has been an a special diet (Hills UD) ever since. She is doing well with no evidence that the stones have recurred.

I wish the OP and her kitty the best.

[RadicalMom]

3. We had similar problems with our cat in 2003...

She also kept spraying off and on, after having been perfect the first three years. She had a little blood, and chrystals in the urine, and was put on a special diet, so no more blood, but she still kept spraying off and on. Suddenly one day she looked miserable, seemed dehydrated, uncomfortable, and just generally scared us. Of course we discovered this at about 9 p.m., and had to take her to the pet emergency hospital. They put her on fluids overnight, and we had to take her to the regular vet for treatment first thing in the morning and $600.00 later. They hadn't done much but the fluids and maybe an injection, and didn't stay open during the day to continue any treatment. So, her regular vet found that she had a kidney stone,and surgery(at an additional $1450 including hospital stay)or putting her down were the only options. We really couldn't afford this, but American Express had recently made an extended pay option available for purchases over $300, so now my daughter's adopted "free" kittie is now a $2,000 pampered exotic breed which I haven't tried to think up a name for yet. Maybe "Hairballus expensivus?" This is one of the side effects of AAD, (Animal Addiction Disease), that people rarely face when they take on nine animals. I wouldn' really want to be cured, though.

Oh, we keep her on a diet designed to minimize bladder and kidney problems, praying it doesn't happen again.

[Eurobabe]

5. Male cat with crystals in urine years ago

Was told by my vet to: change his diet to lower urinary Ph. And my cats only get filtered water, nothing straight from the tap, they don't like the chlorine. Who knows, maybe it could be something in your water?

Try putting kitty on distilled water for awhile and see it that helps. I would go the dietary and water route first, see if that helps. Good luck!

[okasha]

9. Distilled water is wonderful

I had a cat several years ago who repeatedly got plugged up and had to be catheterized. When I changed vets, she sent him home from his last spell on distilled water--and it was his last spell. He never got FUS again. I've given it to all my cats since, and none of them has ever plugged.

Okasha

[kslib]

6. Thanks everyone!

I work at the hospital my kitty goes to, so she is here with me right now, waiting to get her ultrasound. I have another kitty on a very special diet (for food allergy), that they both must eat, so I'll have to change my feeding routine (scheduled canned, free choice dry) to accomodate both animals if a special diet is warranted!

I too, have AAD, but I especially have a weak spot for the hard luck cases! I have 2 kitties, both from the shelter. My girl (with the possible stone), has been my healthy kitty. She was taken from a cat hoarder when she was four, and I've had her for five years. She's been very healthy, but had some behavioral issues from the start. My boy is sick a lot, he was taken from a man that hit him in the head with a ball bat, and broke his pelvis. He waited 6 months for adoption, but no one wanted him because he had a sore on his back, and was very slow (from the head injury) and sometimes loses his balance if he falls asleep on high places. Also, he has chronic constipation problems because of his pelvis, but that is very easily solved by adding lactulose to his daily ration of lamb baby food! So, he's not very healthy, but has absolutely no behavioral problems (other than still being a little head shy). Quite a combo!!!

[kslib]

7. Yea!!

No stones!!! She has FLUTD, so that's a much more managable dx!

:bounce:

[Eurobabe]

8. I guess that used to be FUS

they go and change the acronyms on us!

That could be a Ph issue, so make sure you get her on low magnesium food and use distilled or spring water for awhile to see if this eases her pain. I have had good luck by simply using filtered or spring water for my guys and giving them urinary health food.

Cornell has some good articles on FUS (FLUTD):
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resources/brochure/urinary.html

[kslib]

10. I'm going to try a canned food for that

in addition to the regular dry food, since my other cat has to eat a specific food (for allergies). I got a pet fountain, and use spring water in it (it also gets filtered in the system), and they LOVE it!
Thanks for the link!!!

[Eurobabe]

11. wow, pampered pets!

my cats don't even have a fountain, they have a water tower, but not a circulating fountain. Shhhh!!! Soon they will be asking for one!

[kslib]

12. LOL

I'll keep the secret. ;)