trendsetter37
The Living Force
I am in a bit a quandary here and it looks like we may have to put one of our cats down soon...
I'm not sure of how to proceed. It appears as though one of our male cats has been battling with FIC or bladder inflammation for awhile now. He is around 3 or 4 years old and was a bit over weight with an accompanying skin condition.
We changed his diet around August of last year; cutting out all kibbles or processed food and switched to cooked meat and broth, as well as raw chicken legs and salmon. Probably six months later his weight had gone down dramatically and he was able to clean himself as well as play around. Despite all of these improvements from an observational perspective, A few months ago he became very immobile and depressed looking. His skin condition also worsened so we took him to the vet.
The veterinarian noticed that his bladder was the size of a grape fruit (or so she said) and that he was blocked. They determined that he had phosphate crystals (urine had a high ph) and traces of blood in his urine. The blood, at the time was not perceptible to the eye.
They unblocked him immediately and gave us advice on putting him on a special diet just for cats that are prone to phosphate crystals. This was suppose to prevent future occurrences. However after looking into what was in the canned food a bit closer and looking some stuff up on the web it turns out that there is nothing in there that we weren't giving him and further, there was ingredients or the same constituents that promote phosphate crystals.
Other literature on the topic also noted that the SD Diet for cats tended to prevent phosphate crystals but promoted calcium oxalate (kidney stone-esque) in the bladder and kidneys. This allegedly happens because the sd diet pushes their urinary systems pH to the opposite end of the spectrum. Thus resulting in stones of another kind.
So I guess I said that to say we have been dealing with this for a few months now. When he was unblocked his skin cleared up almost immediately and he was happy and running around. Even up to this day! However, as of a couple days ago we are seeing blood (it almost looks like all blood at this point) in his urine and around the house. The only confusing thing is that he is not sad or mopey like he was before when he was blocked.
Blood in the urine also seems to be a symptom of the same problem cropping up again. And judging from other peoples account some suggest that male neutered cats that are prone to FIC are sometimes better off being put down rather than suffering through this condition as this disease isn't fully understood enough to provide a full-proof treatment.
Right now we are contemplating putting him down. But I am torn...I do not want him to suffer and I understand that I would want to do what is right for him. Also keeping in mind that the last "operation"/trip to the vet was really expensive and we cannot do that perceptually at this point in time. In contrast though, even though we are seeing blood in his urine now and in different places in our apartment; he doesn't seem to be showing the same signs of distress like he did earlier. So I don't want to rush off and put elliot, my friend, to sleep if it is not something that is causing him much suffering.
This news makes me a bit sad. Out of our four animals he has been the one that picked me out of other people in my family to attach to and follow around constantly. He's my buddy! He even comes when I call too him which is pretty cool with cats anyways.
Do any of you guys have experience with this condition and / or advice? Forgive me if this comes off as a rant.
Pictures of him this morning. He looks relaxed and content despite leaving small patches of blood around the house for us to find.
Here is a picture of him this morning.
Just hanging out and showing his belly :)
which I thought was a sign that they are relaxed and trusting of their environment in this position. He didn't do this when he was really sick earlier this year.
I'm not sure of how to proceed. It appears as though one of our male cats has been battling with FIC or bladder inflammation for awhile now. He is around 3 or 4 years old and was a bit over weight with an accompanying skin condition.
We changed his diet around August of last year; cutting out all kibbles or processed food and switched to cooked meat and broth, as well as raw chicken legs and salmon. Probably six months later his weight had gone down dramatically and he was able to clean himself as well as play around. Despite all of these improvements from an observational perspective, A few months ago he became very immobile and depressed looking. His skin condition also worsened so we took him to the vet.
The veterinarian noticed that his bladder was the size of a grape fruit (or so she said) and that he was blocked. They determined that he had phosphate crystals (urine had a high ph) and traces of blood in his urine. The blood, at the time was not perceptible to the eye.
They unblocked him immediately and gave us advice on putting him on a special diet just for cats that are prone to phosphate crystals. This was suppose to prevent future occurrences. However after looking into what was in the canned food a bit closer and looking some stuff up on the web it turns out that there is nothing in there that we weren't giving him and further, there was ingredients or the same constituents that promote phosphate crystals.
Other literature on the topic also noted that the SD Diet for cats tended to prevent phosphate crystals but promoted calcium oxalate (kidney stone-esque) in the bladder and kidneys. This allegedly happens because the sd diet pushes their urinary systems pH to the opposite end of the spectrum. Thus resulting in stones of another kind.
So I guess I said that to say we have been dealing with this for a few months now. When he was unblocked his skin cleared up almost immediately and he was happy and running around. Even up to this day! However, as of a couple days ago we are seeing blood (it almost looks like all blood at this point) in his urine and around the house. The only confusing thing is that he is not sad or mopey like he was before when he was blocked.
Blood in the urine also seems to be a symptom of the same problem cropping up again. And judging from other peoples account some suggest that male neutered cats that are prone to FIC are sometimes better off being put down rather than suffering through this condition as this disease isn't fully understood enough to provide a full-proof treatment.
Right now we are contemplating putting him down. But I am torn...I do not want him to suffer and I understand that I would want to do what is right for him. Also keeping in mind that the last "operation"/trip to the vet was really expensive and we cannot do that perceptually at this point in time. In contrast though, even though we are seeing blood in his urine now and in different places in our apartment; he doesn't seem to be showing the same signs of distress like he did earlier. So I don't want to rush off and put elliot, my friend, to sleep if it is not something that is causing him much suffering.
This news makes me a bit sad. Out of our four animals he has been the one that picked me out of other people in my family to attach to and follow around constantly. He's my buddy! He even comes when I call too him which is pretty cool with cats anyways.
Do any of you guys have experience with this condition and / or advice? Forgive me if this comes off as a rant.
Pictures of him this morning. He looks relaxed and content despite leaving small patches of blood around the house for us to find.
Here is a picture of him this morning.
Just hanging out and showing his belly :)
which I thought was a sign that they are relaxed and trusting of their environment in this position. He didn't do this when he was really sick earlier this year.
