Michelle-
I know its such a pain, don't you wish they'd just pee in a cup. Anyway, I
actually am a tech at a cat hospital so I hope this helps. First of all a pee
sample off the floor is just fine, it'll have excess bacteria but so would a
sample from the box with the special no-absorbant beads. Other than bacteria,
excess white blood cells, blood, and certain skin cells, the vet is looking for
crystals. They sound painful and they are thus the irritated bladder which
leads to frequent urination and blood. The reason vets don't start antibiotics
without a sample first is because based on the findings under the microscope
done at the actual hospital the urine may need to be sent out for a culture and
sensitivity to determine which antibiotics the little bugs are sensitive to.
If a cat has already been on antibiotics it negates the whole test. Urinary
tract infection is a common term loosely used. Many time prescription diet and
some antispasmodic and antiinflammatories are al!
l thats needed. You have probably heard of males cats becoming "blocked",
that is caused by crystals. It doesn't happenin females because they have a
larger urethra. It can lead to stones in both males and females. Anyway my
advice would be to stop the antibiotics (no sense using them if its not needed,
and besides being felv+ she'll be getting enough through her life) and collect
the pee off the floor :) If worse comes to worse your vet should be able to do
cystocentesis, using a syriing to get urine through the belly into the bladder.
Sounds bad but actually is often less painful than a shot. That way the
sample is sterile and there is no extra bacteria introduced. My vet usually
does this anyway if the client can afford it. 5.00 for the take home collection
kit vs. 22 for the cystocentesis at my place. alot of times cats will be in
the carrier on the way to the vet or on the exam table, we just suck it up with
a syringe- the there's no fee!:)
I hope this helped, I don't know if any of you ladies have ever had a urinary
tract infection but its the same for our little fur ladies- ouch!
I hope she feels better soon, michelle
sincerely,
Kristi
