Esther Elizabeth has a UTI

[JJ]

BW I know how hard this must be but you are doing great and Esther is not running away but coming to you for help instead which should make you feel good - she knows your helping her to feel better.

[BW]

Mandy and JJ,  Yes, I feel lucky that Esther is actually coming to me for help, (at least it seems like it.)

I have been concerned today because when I got up, I found bloody urine on the white papertowels in her box this morning.  The urine had been almost clean for a couple days.  I called the vet and she said not to increase the dose, and if I was concerned about more blood to bring her in. (which I don't want to have to do.)

Later today, I saw some clean urine again, so I have my fingers crossed.  Had trouble today with getting the whole dose in again, phone rang from the vet tech, just as I had one  hand holding the pillowcase around her neck and I had to answer with the other, because I was eager to hear about whether or not I should alter the does before I gave it.  the tech went on and on, and Esther became restless, so when I just said goodbye and gave the dose, both Esther and I were off our game by that time and I lost a few drops.

Mandy, I would have to let go of the pillowcase around her neck in order to hold her by the scruff, and she would be gone immediately!!  She is good, but not that good when the syringe gets near her mouth. I have to pull the case tight around her neck at that moment and hold on for dear life.  I really need a third hand!!

I've used the thumb and finger techique with other cats I didn't have to hold around the neck and it can work well.

I already spoke to my neighbor a few months ago, discussed the whole animal control situation with him and with his mother who was visiting and who owns the house, and evidently it didn't make a big impression on him or her.
AND I spoke to him again a month or so ago, and he said he would try and keep her in more but that she annoys him so much wanting to go out.  I do not like to report him, 1)  I don't want to cause trouble for anyone. (I myself am breaking the rules by feeding Patches and the goose with the broken wing!!) so who am I to talk about breaking the rules!!
And 2) in addition, living alone, I am afraid of having someone right next door to me who is angry with me.

Just fed the hurt goose and Patches and it is going to be REALLY COLD tonight.  They got a really good amount of corn.

[Meowli]

The cats may not like the taste of the medicine but I do believe that they sense when we are trying to help them.
Poor kitty, sending continuing prayers for Esther Elizabeth, that this antibiotic works well for her. Sometimes it just takes time for results to be apparent.
I had a cat that had to be wrapped like a burrito to dose with meds. Oh boy, what a defiant glare I would get from those eyes. But once it was done and more got in the cat than on him, he was my sweetheart once again. He knew I was helping him - and Esther knows you are helping her. Hang in there.

[BW]

Meowli,
Thanks for the encouragement.  I have been concerned that the few times that I have found a couple drops here and there, or perhaps several drops that the reason I later found a bit of blood in the urine was because I had not successfully gotten the WHOLE dose into her.

I have been told not to increase the dose, but I think I am going to draw  just a smidgen more then the dose, so that if I lose a bit I will still be getting the correct amount into her.  Of course that will be the time I get it ALL into her.

She has made a couple pees today that looked clean again, and then just now a tint of pink.  Yes, I guess I will have to be patient, I have not finished the first bottle yet, I think there are 3 more doses in it. Just enough for tomorrow, and then I will be out.  I'm supposed to get a refill, so I will call about getting more tomorrow.

At least she is not going to the box continually the last couple days, so that is an improvement.  I know it must have been painful before I noticed what was going on.  If she hadn't had her one white papertowel box, I might not have noticed it for a while longer.

Since Scoutie crossed the Rainbow Bridge, she has missed him, he was her only cat friend, and it has taken all this time for her to decide that she likes me, and trusts me even though we sleep together every night.  I certainly hope I can help her heal from this infection.

[JJ]

Your doing good BW. Meds need to be in the body for a couple - three days before they actually kick in and go to work. Might be why sometimes you see pink and others not.

[BW]

JJ,  You are probably right, and I do hope that the med is really working and that as you say, it will take a few days for it to be really completely effective. 
I hate to be putting her through all the struggles, but she does seem to understand that I am helping her, and she is surprisingly cooperative, except at the moment the syringe goes into her mouth.  Can't really blame her for that, who wants something shot into their mouth. 
Thank you for your support. It really helps.

[lesliek]

BW- I think you are doing great with the meds ! Her missing Scoutie may have caused this, stress can cause crystals &/or casts & irritate the urinary tract,thats what they think is causing Punkin's problems. You might want to think about some tinkle tonic or D-mannose after she is done the meds, to prevent this until she is feeling less upset & depressed. If there are any small crystals forming, it will cause continued bleeding . Hopefully when she finishes the meds the problem will be gone , but the paper towel lined box will help you spot any further problems.

[BW]

Leslie,
I was 45 minutes late with her dose this morning.  I was on time, but couldn't get the med out of the bottle, too little left.  yesterday, I thought I had 2 doses left and could get one after the morning dose today, but nope, I couldn't get it out.  Had to call quickly and drive down and get a refill, so was 45 minutes late, BUT I got it all in her.Her morning pee had been clean, but there was a tinge of pink later on.

I'm supposed to take her for a visit on the 21st before the holiday, the vet wants to take an Xray to check for crystals or stones, so we will see what the next 5 days brings.  She said sometimes an infection can cause the crystals, but sometimes crystals can cause the infection. 
I am afraid to get the xray.  I am afraid of what it might show. 

I never heard of >>some tinkle tonic or D-mannose <<.
I have been wondering about slippery elm, isn't that good for urinary infections?  Guess I shouldn't use it while medicating.

[lesliek]

I've never heard of slippery elm for urinary problems, just for constipation & diarrhea. Tinkle Tonic is a mix of herbs to lubricate the urinary tract. D mannose is the active ingredient in cranberries & blueberries, some animals can take the fruit itself but its too strong for others. Trixsyn also works on the urinary tract as well as for arthritis. I wouldn't give any of them until she is done the meds & has had the xrays. It does sound like she may have a continueing problem since you are still seeing blood. Hopefully its not serious, & can be treated with diet & supplements.

[BW]

Ok, now I am starting to be really concerned.  She does several nice clean pees and suddenly again, I see the pinkish tint.  She is not blocked because she does do a decent amount, and she is not urinating as frequently as she was in the beginning.  I am going to try and figure out how to put a fountain in my bedroom.  I don't have any really available outlets.  I'll have to put it smack in the path I take to leave my bedroom, really small bedroom!

Now from the little reading I have done, I am beginning to think I caused this myself.  Esther has always been extremely picky about what she eats in the way of canned food.  I throw about half of what she is given away usually.  She only likes fishy flavors, and not all of them, consequently, I have resorted to giving her mostly dry food, which i now see is very bad, and can cause crystals.

I have been feeding her mostly Evo grain free, Life's Abundance, and Purina Kitten Chow (for desert, so to speak,, her daily treat.) 

Now I am going to try only canned meat, but she still is not eating enough of that, so I am still giving some dry, but no longer the EVO grain free..  I have been reading about oxalate crystals, and it seems that they are more difficult to deal with.  What can anyone tell me about them, if that is what they are?  I seem to recall I read that oxolate crystals require surgery!!!!  I pray that is not so. I'm getting really worried now. 

[Mandycat]

BW,
I think the best thing to do is to have the vet obtain a sample of urine from Esther Elizabeth to have it tested.  That would show whether there were any crystals and also the urine pH.  Struvite crystals are formed in urine with a high (alkaline) pH and oxalate crystals are formed in urine with a very low (very acidic) pH.  A good pH for cats is 6.1 - 6.5, which is acidic, but not extremely so.  It is most likely that if she has crystals that they would be struvite, not oxalate, especially since she has been eating dry food which contains grains which would tend to produce a more alkaline urine.  Meat protein in canned food and grain-free dry food help to keep the urine in that ideal acidic range.  Keep giving her the antibiotic and try to relax until your vet appt.  If you are really concerned, perhaps the vet can see her sooner, but as long as she doesn't seem to be blocked, you should be okay waiting until the 21st and giving the medication more time to work.   

[Sandi K]

BW, have you tried just putting some bowls of water around the house in various places?  Places that she frequently walks by?  If not bowls, coffee mugs with water in them sometimes attract them too.  Just a thought in order to get more water in Esther Elizabeth. 

[lesliek]

I agree with mandycat, keep giving the meds & keep the appt on the 21st. She isn't blocked if she is going without any straining & that will give the meds a chance to work. Don't stop the kibble, just try adding more wet gradually so she keeps eating. Can you mix a little water or broth into the food ? Make sure there are no onions or garlic if buying it. Clam juice might work also. Since she uses a box with paper towels, you can probably buy test strips & check her ph at home as you do the diet changes. You might want to print out the info on Tinkle tonic, D mannose & Trixsyn for your vet to look at while you are there. If her urine is too acidic, just adding grains or veggies will help make it alkaline. Getting it more acidic is a little harder because you need to remove anything that would make it alkaline [like grains & veggies]. If she is a kibble addict you may want to consider an rx dry food along with her wet food. Although the dry food can cause or worsen urinary problems, she seemed fine until she was upset. Its likely that triggered this. The fact that she is being more affectionate with you means she is recovering from her grief & hopefully her being more calm will also help her physically.

[BW]

I thought that the grain free EVO would be good for her until I read here and in that catster site that the Wellness Core (which I believe is grain free)  had actually caused struvite crystals, or so they thought.  so now I am a bit concerned about whether or not I should continue the EVO grain free. 
it is certainly confusing. Seems you have to walk a tightrope between  struvite and oaxalate crystals,   too alk you get stru, and too acidic oax.  Gee, who knew it was this difficult to feed a cat.

I did have a couple males with struvite crystals, but they both grew out of them somehow.  That was a number of years ago, and all I recall was that the SD was awful and he wouldn't eat it, and the cd wasn't much better.  Don't recall what I did that worked, too long ago.

Thank goodness ESther seems to be peeing well in good amounts.

I did have trouble tonight.  Found a big drip on the pillowcase after the dose, and am hoping I didn't squirt almost the whole dose in one side and out the other.  I did put a tiny bit more, maybe 1/4 ml too  much, (to be on the safe side)so hopefully that helped get enough in  her.
I put a nice fountain in her room now, and she was interested at first, but now won't go near it.  ESther used to love the faucets before she became afraid to go into the kitchen.

[BW]

Leslie, I will try to get a printout of those remedies for the vet.  I will try putting some water in her FF canned.  I hope she starts using her fountain.
Mandycat,  can you believe it, I tried to get those strips earlier this year,  forget why now, and I COULD NOT GET ANY.  Amazing I think.  I tried 2 different pharmacies one night when I was desperate.  I forget exactly what the problem was now except, that I was desperate at the time.  And I am glad you think that the crystals are probably struvite.
Sandi, Esther mostly stays in my room, she is afraid of the other cats.  And I am hoping she will like drinking from the fountain I just set up for her in my room.

It is snowing out, everything is white and the lake is frozen, (Glad I was able to get corn to the goose with the broken wing, Patches, and the goose with only one foot today!!) And now they are saying we may get a really bad snow storm on Sunday.  Just what I need!!