Blocked Bladder

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David Wright - 11 Jul 2003 20:48 GMT

Hello from the UK.

Our beautiful ginger short-hair Moses (aged 16 months) was diagnosed with a
blocked bladder this evening. In retrospect I remember he had not been
passing anything for the last day or so when in his tray, but we hadn't
noticed anything was wrong until last night when his manner changed - he
started moaning if touched and was very quiet - sitting in corners, not
purring and totally unlike his normal lively self.

Anyway, the Vet was quick this evening to diagnose the blocked bladder, and
within an hour he had been anesthetised, had a catheter fitted and blood
tests taken. The vet called just now to say he was just coming round from
the anesthetic, which I hope was a good sign.

He had been an eater of solely Iams dry food - and lots of water but I guess
he didn't drink enough (although it was always clean and always available).
I am advised by the vet that dry food can cause these bladder problems - I
am just warning people now to watch it, because you can't do much to make a
cat drink water. Perhaps the bags should have more of a health warning on!
The vet said it is a disaster waiting to happen, and people rely too much on
dry food. Apparently it doesn't affect dogs as they always drink enough
water, but cats don't.

So, now we have to wait for the results of the blood tests, and he will be
at the vets for about 4 days. I have read lots of messages about cats that
get this, and the prognosis seems bleak. I am really worried, most that he
won't make a recovery, but more worried that it will happen again and I
won't be able to afford treatment next time, or that I won't spot the signs
until it is too late, or that the poor cat will have a lifetime of awful,
expensive odd diet food and will never be quite "himself" again. And my
(pregnant) wife is just as worried as I am - lots of tears from us both
already this evening.

Okay, if anyone is interested I will post back again to keep you all up to
date on his progress.

David.

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Karen Chuplis - 11 Jul 2003 21:17 GMT

David, it isn't as bleak as you might think as long as you caught it. If
he's been drained now, he should be ok though you will have to watch for
re-blockage. I switched my boy to half wet food. Believe it or not, setting
water bowls all around the house in each room helps a lot. They don't drink
water near their food as much as say a bowl that is out by you in the living
room. Also, provide bowls of different heights. I found out mine loves a
bowl that is set up about 4 or 5 inches off the ground. He uses that one
most of all. I also got a Feliway diffuser. I know they have them there too,
they were i nthe UK first. It is thought that stress (which can take many
forms in cats, you might not know what it is even) can add to the problem.
So it's not a bad idea to invest in one. Last but not least, if his blockage
happens a lot and you have to keep whisking him to the vet you will want to
consider a PU(Perineal Urethrostomy ) which is VERY successful. Though a
major surgery, it widens the opening enough that crystals do not cause
blockage. I know several people that have had it done on their chronic
blockers with complete success. If it would come to this, just find a vet
that has done them a lot. Still, he might never go back to blocking once you
change his diet and add water sources around the house. Consider also a
fountain (some cats drink more if it is running water.) At any rate, this is
just not as bleak as you think it is, as long as you watch him for blockage.
You know the signs now. (I followed Grant to the litter box for months
afterwards to watch him pee ;) Keep us posted. I hope he does OK.

Karen

> Hello from the UK.
>
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> David.

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m l briggs - 11 Jul 2003 21:28 GMT

Yes, we (all) will be waiting to hear how your cat is progressing. I wish you the very best! Now,
about food: this concerns me because my cat eats mostly dry food too. How about soaking the
pellets in water? (I intend to try this at next feeding time). Every night before bedtime, I give
Tootie 1/2 to 1 oz of water with an eyedropper. She is usually on the bathroom counter waiting for
it. She loves water from the dropper even though her filtered water fountain is right there. I
started this six years ago when she had to take an antibiotic which she liked also so I followed the
dose with extra water. In short order it became a habit.MLB

> Hello from the UK.
>
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> David.

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Chris Street - 11 Jul 2003 22:24 GMT

>Yes, we (all) will be waiting to hear how your cat is progressing. I wish you the very best! Now,
>about food: this concerns me because my cat eats mostly dry food too. How about soaking the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>started this six years ago when she had to take an antibiotic which she liked also so I followed the
>dose with extra water. In short order it became a habit.MLB

Current opinion from the vets I have spoken to is that there is nothing
to be had regarding dry vs wet food. The point is to feed them a good
quality food, IAMS is generally considered to be one of the better ones
on the market. Like anything though, it's never going to agree with all
- the OP wants to find a decent quality wet food I would suspect.

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The other 42% are made up later on.
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M-K-H@webtv.net - 12 Jul 2003 00:02 GMT

It may never happen again, but II once had a male cat (neutered) who
experienced this blockage several times. The vet strongly recommended
the surgery, which a complete success. This was nearly 25 years ago, so
it's not some experimental procedure. Whatever it cost, it was worth
it, versus the cat's suffering, my worrying, emergency vet bills, etc.

The worst part about the surgery was the reactions from the men I knew
-- "you did WHAT to that poor cat?!?"

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Kuisse0002 - 11 Jul 2003 23:33 GMT

>He had been an eater of solely Iams dry food - and lots of water but I guess
>he didn't drink enough (although it was always clean and always available).
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>So, now we have to wait for the results of the blood tests,

I hope all goes well with your cat and it certainly is news which helps cat
owners when selecting their diet.

A question - If he isn't drinking enough water, doesn't that make him
constipated too apart from not peeing which caused the bladder problem? Were
there any problems on that end?

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Mary - 12 Jul 2003 03:23 GMT

>So, now we have to wait for the results of the blood tests, and he will be
>at the vets for about 4 days. I have read lots of messages about cats that
>get this, and the prognosis seems bleak. I am really worried,

My cat got blocked but I had signs. Check his box daily while you're cleaning
it. If you see a lot of little bits of pee, he is getting blocked. If he
doesn't pee in there, another sign, check around. If you see him in there a
while, he may be straining, especially if nothing comes out. Check for blood in
the pee. IF he's licking a lot down there, another sign.

There is catfood that can help prevent crystals, if that's his problem. Check
wtih the petfood store. Also make sure he has plenty of fresh accessible water,
extra bowls if he needs it. You can add water to his food also. There are also
cranberry drops and tablets. I don't think that dry food is the main culprit
but wait to see the results of his tests. It could be an infection, stones,
crystals, different treatment for each diagnosis. I wish you both the best.

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M.C. Mullen - 12 Jul 2003 08:17 GMT

| >So, now we have to wait for the results of the blood tests, and he will be
| >at the vets for about 4 days. I have read lots of messages about cats that
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
| but wait to see the results of his tests. It could be an infection, stones,
| crystals, different treatment for each diagnosis. I wish you both the best.

A lot of dry cat food has ingredients which are meant to help maintain a
healthy urinary tract.
What sort of ingredients are they? Are they helpful?

Carola

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Katrina - 12 Jul 2003 19:36 GMT

My F cat, Java, had crystals in her urine (no symptoms, it was found while
doing a test for another reason) - although the vet didn't say it was the
cause (she didn't identify a cause), it was also true that she hardly ever
drank water. Only liked it out of the kitchen faucet, which she was
constantly licking. I got one of the PetMate water fountains, which she
absolutely loves, and now she drinks a lot of water and doesn't spend time
in the sink!

> Hello from the UK.
>
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> David.

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