Poor kitty
I've had an ongoing battle with Phoebe peeing on the carpet for years, but it was usually on and off, and in one spot. About a month ago, she suddenly started peeing all over the place, at times as frequent as every couple minutes. Took her to the emergency vet, and after six hours, we were given some antibiotics and news we already knew. Grr. Similar results happened with my vet last year when I first suspected it was something more than a behavioural problem. They keep testing for the same things, never explain things to me, and just give her pills. Anyway, gave her the antibiotics, along with some wet food to try and dilute her urine, and the problem seemed to stop.
The past few days, it started up again, except this time: blood everywhere. :( Devastated, and frustrated with the lack of help or support from my regular vet or from the emergency clinic, I found a new vet. She's soooooo much better. She went over so many possibilities of what it could be, how it can be treated, etc. It was information overload! She explained everything to me very thoroughly, and gave me pamphlets, so I didn't leave feeling rushed, frustrated and clueless. It doesn't look like Phoebe has stones or crystals, but there's definitely inflammation along the bladder walls (she did an x-ray, something the previous vets never thought to do). The vet called it idiopathic cystitis - basically, a urinary infection of unknown origin. She gave Phoebe an antibiotic vaccination (lasts longer, way simpler than pills AND cheaper - another bonus point for the new vet!). For now, she wants me to continue giving her wet food and using pheromone sprays to help relax her, and she'll give me a call on Monday with the urinalysis report and further treatments.
I hope she's okay... my poor kitty. She's always anxious, so the stress can be attributing to the inflammation. Clem wants to build her a cat tree (store-bought ones are so expensive), so she can have more privacy from Pepper and somewhere to look out the window. I've been giving her attention before bed, as I usually do (she's always in my room, so I don't always see her during the evening), and gave her a couple new toys. Hopefully she'll be okay (and happier) without long-term treatment.
Also: I can't believe she's going to be eight this month!
Update [11:40p]: Shortly after I posted this, the vet called! The lab report came back earlier than expected. She went over everything with me. Did I mention I love this new vet? She said Phoebe's kidneys are functioning well; there are white cells present, to battle the inflammation; no apparent sign of bacteria or infection; her pH level is fairly alkaline (she expected it to be acidic, but too alkaline can be bad, too); and there are struvite crystals. The vet said these are a more promising form of crystals that can dissolve with the special wet food, and hopefully no surgery will be required. Just three weeks on the special diet, more pheromone sprays (she suggested a pheromone collar as well), followed by a check-up.
Fingers crossed!
The past few days, it started up again, except this time: blood everywhere. :( Devastated, and frustrated with the lack of help or support from my regular vet or from the emergency clinic, I found a new vet. She's soooooo much better. She went over so many possibilities of what it could be, how it can be treated, etc. It was information overload! She explained everything to me very thoroughly, and gave me pamphlets, so I didn't leave feeling rushed, frustrated and clueless. It doesn't look like Phoebe has stones or crystals, but there's definitely inflammation along the bladder walls (she did an x-ray, something the previous vets never thought to do). The vet called it idiopathic cystitis - basically, a urinary infection of unknown origin. She gave Phoebe an antibiotic vaccination (lasts longer, way simpler than pills AND cheaper - another bonus point for the new vet!). For now, she wants me to continue giving her wet food and using pheromone sprays to help relax her, and she'll give me a call on Monday with the urinalysis report and further treatments.
I hope she's okay... my poor kitty. She's always anxious, so the stress can be attributing to the inflammation. Clem wants to build her a cat tree (store-bought ones are so expensive), so she can have more privacy from Pepper and somewhere to look out the window. I've been giving her attention before bed, as I usually do (she's always in my room, so I don't always see her during the evening), and gave her a couple new toys. Hopefully she'll be okay (and happier) without long-term treatment.
Also: I can't believe she's going to be eight this month!
Update [11:40p]: Shortly after I posted this, the vet called! The lab report came back earlier than expected. She went over everything with me. Did I mention I love this new vet? She said Phoebe's kidneys are functioning well; there are white cells present, to battle the inflammation; no apparent sign of bacteria or infection; her pH level is fairly alkaline (she expected it to be acidic, but too alkaline can be bad, too); and there are struvite crystals. The vet said these are a more promising form of crystals that can dissolve with the special wet food, and hopefully no surgery will be required. Just three weeks on the special diet, more pheromone sprays (she suggested a pheromone collar as well), followed by a check-up.
Fingers crossed!