Cindy,
I don't know if the Hills SD is comparable to the Royal Canin s/d, but the RC s/d is a temporary diet (3 wks ish) designed to lower the pH of the urine in order to dissolve the struvite crystals. The Royal Canin s/o is designed to normalize the pH of urine; keep it in the neutral middle to prevent struvite (high pH) and/or oxalate (low pH). Smoky's first episode (very bloody urine, no crystals, no bacteria) was in January of last year (2005) and he did very well with his diet about half s/o, half other (CA Natural, Eagle Pack). Then the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we had to go to the ER, again, no crystals and no bacteria, but enough blood to have the urine sample clot in the tube. Symptoms again on December 8. This time there was struvite and bacteria. The first abx didn't work, so tried 2nd, that did. He was still on the medicine and diet for the dec 8 outbreak when symptoms
popped up again on Dec 22..... no crystals and no bacteria. You can see my eye twitching by this point, can't you. My poor boy was miserable during those outbreaks and even though I was doing everything I could afford to do, I felt helpless. He then was blocked on Feb 14 - another trip to the ER. THAT was scary, he was so not himself. So, diet is no longer half s/o, half other - it's completely s/o and we upped his glucosamine/chondroitin dosage (1 capsule of reg strength human stuff per day) and so far, so good.
Here are a couple of suggestions we got, if only $$ weren't an issue.
Do thorough baseline testing and start him on amitryptyline (available as a transdermal gel) to ease stress. Stress can make bodies do very strange things - it tends to raise the urine pH and then you get struvite.
Have an ultrasound done to see if
there are any stones or crystals in the bladder that could be causing the irritation to the lining. If yes, possible surgery.
With really bad cases, there is a procedure where the urethra/penis is replaced by a larger diameter tube to help prevent blockage. Part of the problem with multiple blockages is the build-up of scar tissue.
Hope that gives you some ideas to take to your vet and discuss:) I really recommend adding the glucosamine/chondroitin - it might help and it can't hurt.
B
cindy reasoner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
cindy reasoner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Barb, I have a cat named Winston that has had the same
type of urinary issues. What has your vet done for
Smoky? I had to change Winston's food to Hills SD and
we haven't had any problems since October. I didn't
know if there was anything else I should be doing. I
hope Smoky has a good checkup this week.
Cindy
--- Barb Moermond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> Thank Tonya,
> I'm doing pretty well, just really really busy so
> I've been lurking for the most part. Smoky has a
> check-up this week for his urinary issues. He was
> blocked last month - he was a very unhappy boy:(
> but that's what the emergency clinic is for and he
> saw the same vet as before and was remembered:) and
> his regular vet is awesome, so we're actually making
> some progress managing his issues with interstitial
> cystitis and also struvite crystals on occasion.
> Bandit is his usual irrepressible self:) very
> sweet:)
>
> hope all is well with you and your crew!
> b
>
> catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> Barb,
>
> My condolences to you, and your mom and stepdad on
> the loss of little Tigger. :(
>
> I haven't noticed you around as much lately. How
> are you doing yourself?
> t
>
> Barb Moermond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> Hi all, it's been a rough week all over it seems.
> This morning, my mom and stepdad had their kitty
> Tigger put to sleep. She was nearly 17 and had been
> with them since early-mid kittenhood. One night
> during a snowstorm, my stepdad had just closed the
> shop and was standing at the truck door when a
> little rub was felt on his ankle and tiny squeaking
> was heard. This little white and buff kitten with
> very noticeable injuries was at his feet.
> Naturally, he scooped her up and brought her home.
> They called her Fart for quite a while - any of you
> who have rescued mal- and/or under-nourished kits
> know this well:) She was a very pretty kitty, small
> head and delicate facial features, tiny feet,
> looooong legs:) sort of built like a race horse.
> She was an excellent hunter and lap-warmer. But
> those injuries had long-term effects. The soft
> tissue of her right wrist had completely worn out
> due to her limping from the old injury on her left
> shoulder/leg. She was flat footed on that paw.
> She also developed spinal arthritis, as another
> kitty of my mom's had. With that, it's only a
> matter of time before the nerves just don't work in
> the hind quarters. Mom had tremendous guilt about
> old Samantha; she'd waited far too long to help her.
> Tigger hadn't progressed nearly as far as Sam had,
> but she was declining rapidly. She wasn't playing
> on her own anymore, and she'd previously spent hours
> amusing herself with string tied to the back of a
> rocking chair. She was allowing Bozo to groom her
> for longer and longer sessions which was simply
> unheard of - Bozo was an interloper, no matter how
> many mice he caught for her! She also didn't know
> whether or not she'd made it to the box - messes in
> the vicinity etc. But what was far more worrying is
> that when she did make it to the box and stepped in
> a clump, she couldn't feel the debris on her foot -
> which of course dried on like cement - and therefore
> wasn't grooming her feet. The deafness she'd
> developed and the weakening
> eyesight weren't important, but when they lose
> their grooming and their playing.... Tigger had an
> amazing run of years considering the start she had
> and fortunately, my mom will have no serious
> second-guessing about doing it too soon (the vet
> agreed with the decision, which helped) or guilt
> about doing it too late and making Tigger suffer
> unnecessarily (like with Sam). It's the hardest
> decision we have to make, but the grief is worth it
> - all the moments of joy and love far outweigh the
> pain of losing a friend.. eventually anyway.
>
> So Belinda, if you could please add to the FeLV-
> list, Tigger, loved by Maggie and Dale. It was this
> morning, March 4.
>
> As always, I'm so glad I know all of you:) you
> bring joy and understanding and compassion to the
> world.
>
> PS
> Bandit says mmmmrrrrrrrrrppppppp to everyone
>
>
> Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito
>
> "My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should
> impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases
> him, and making me smile."
> - Anonymous
> __________________________________________________
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>
> Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito
>
> "My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he should
> impress. Merely living his life, doing what pleases
> him, and making me smile."
> - Anonymous
>
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