Barb, Thanks for the info. Cindy
--- Barb Moermond <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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: > 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 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 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 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 > > __________________________________________________ > > Do You Yahoo!? > > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam > > protection around > > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > Barb+Smoky the House Puma+El Bandito Malito > > > > "My cat the clown: paying no mind to whom he > should > === message truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
