Esther Elizabeth has a UTI

[JustMe]

BW,

Maybe I missed it, but did your vet recommend an rx food?  My cats were on S/O (a male with struvite and a female with oxalate).  They loved the S/O dry and wet back then. It was made by Waltham's and then by Royal Canin.

[BW]

Just me,
I will ask her about the RC rx foods.  No, so far she hasn't recommended anything in the way of food.  But then she hasn't seen Esther yet.  She just did the urinalysis on the specimen I took in.  She may recommend something on the 21st. 
Must go to bed now, really tired out, and have to try and get some canned into Esther first.  nighty night, and thanks so much for your help and support.

[Mandycat]

BW,
Your vet most likely tested the pH of the urine specimen that you took in, so she would already know what it is and can tell you if it was too alkaline or too acidic.  It probably should be tested again anyway after she finishes the medication.  As I recall, with an infection, the urine can become alkaline, so best to test when the infection is gone to see if a diet change is necessary. 

[August]

I'm just catching up -- come on, Esther, get all the way better, you're almost there!  Your mom is doing such a great job!

It sounds like you've gained such confidence with giving the medicine.  And it really does sound like Esther is on the mend...just a bit more to really get things cleaned.

I know it's so hard to know about foods.  Why is it so difficult to figure out??

I'm sending many good wishes and hopes that Esther's urine will be clear and good as consistently as soon as possible!

[JJ]

Good advice on adding more water to the food so Esther Elizabeth has more liquid to assist the meds in helping her.

As I have said before have to give you gals/guys credit for dealing with the diet and diet changes for your cats.

[JustMe]

BW,

If it was me, I'd wait to see what the vet says before making any dietary changes.  Most of all, I'd want to keep her eating her favorite foods until your vet gets to check her out next week rather than stressing her out with food changes.  JMO

[BW]

Well, Just me, although I agree with you, it really is out of my hands since Esther has decided she doesn't want to eat any more canned food at all, and the only thing she wants to eat is Purina Kitten Chow!!! Not the nutritious Life's Abundance, or the perhaps, (but not sure lately) nutritious EVO, no, of course not, she wants only The Purina Kitten crap!
I am beginning to wonder if the Clavamox is affecting her appetite.
I am wondering if she would eat some yogurt if I got a can or two of Hills AD tomorrow. Or do I have a can or two buried somewhere deep in my closet!

She is  ignoring my Drinkwell fountain, at least when I am in the room. So I am  hoping she is drinking from it when I am not in the room or am asleep.

I think I am getting caretaker burnout.  I lost Scoutie from his THREE conditions, I lost Barkley Peeperton from CRF, I lost Tommy Tom from the big C, and all in the last couple years, and all my caregiving did no good for any of them ultimately, and at least it seems like that very short a period of time. I am tired, and
JJ, I wish Esther would eat her canned food so I could mix water with it!!

Now I must go prepare some food with L lysine in it for Hamish McDoogle who has that upper respiratory nasal snufflilng snorting, extreme amounts of mucus problem.  As long as I maintain about 500 ml of L Lysine a day, he is fine.  But I forget sometimes.  He seems so strong and healthy, and one day of the L lysine stops it for a couple days.  I should just continue it every day.  But I have to mix it up with canned, and then follow him around till I get him to eat it.
And I am just tired.
Esther is tired too of getting her Clavamox, I think.

Thank you August and Mandy for your encouragement.
I have fed every living critter in the neighborhood today, both healthy and lame, (at least the winged ones) and nowI guess I should think about feeding myself now. Wish the darned snowy ice would melt!!
At least I am sure I am getting enough fresh air and oxygen!

[Mandycat]

BW,
It is okay to just let Esther Elizabeth eat whatever she wants to eat right now.  Clavamox can have the effect of decreasing appetite, so, when she is finished with it, she may go back to eating other things again.  Just let her be satisfied with the Purina for now.  That's the best you can do, and I know you are really trying to do the right thing.  Take one day at a time!  Keeping you and all your kitties in my prayers.  {{hugs}}

[August]

Continuing to send much warmth and good thoughts your way.  I can just imagine how exhausting it is.  Well, I mean, I remember clearly learning and fretting on how to give Mooch his medicines and how awful it was (and he's a good pill taker),... but the constant worry and checking -- that is so exhausting.

Hang in there!  Get some good rest and some good food and then some more good rest!  <<hugs>>

[BW]

August and Mandy,  thank you both for your good thoughts.  Esther appreciates them too. 
Well here I am, another day.  Last evening, I gave Esther back a real litter box.  I had not noticed any pooh the last few days since I replaced the real little with 2 papertowel boxes, so I could check the urine.  Now she has one real litter box, and I am pleased to see a couple poohs.  Of course I am now not as sure about the condition of her pee.  It looks good in the one paper towel box, but not as much as usual, its probably in the litter.
Still the darned frozen lake and snow. 
Our lake is getting really low now, they are lowering it so they can repair the dam, I don't know when.  I imagine it is freezing more quickly because of the lower level, and I wonder how that will effect the  winged critters who live on it.

[lesliek]

BW- We all wish we could do everything for our pets, but you can't. Take some time for yourself to relax and just do whats absolutely necessary. If Esther only wants kitten chow, give her that. This morning I tried 5 different wet foods and 3 dry and all Punkin would eat was Purina treats. Its more important that they eat ,than what they eat. When you see the vet ask about the rx dry for her and get a few more A/D cans and just go with what she eats. Its hard enough switching foods for a healthy cat, let alone a sick one . Maybe while at the vets ask for them to give her some subq fluids if you are worried she isn't drinking enough. That way she will be hydrated when you bring her home. You are doing great, don't let it get you down when it doesn't work ! You aren't alone.

[ranger]

bw I feel for you, I understand what you are going thru and it's hard.  Try not to get too discouraged, cats will eat what they will eat.  I've had to come to grips with that, Mia will only eat kibble made out of corn and there is nothing I can do but feed her that.

Good luck

[BW]

Leslie, Oh my, all that food and Punkin won't eat any of it.  I am so sorry.  Well, you are right, we can only do what we can do. <big sigh> however, at least your Punkin will sometimes eat people food.
I actually never thought of offering  Esther any people food.  I got some FF turkey and giblets yesterday, but she wants no part of it.
I wanted to give her something besides fishy foods, Oh well.

I fed Patches up at the end of the lake where there is open water, at dusk, and got yelled at for feeding the geese, (though there were only mallards and Patches this time)  and threatened with the police, so I guess I won't try doing that again. Either she can get herself down by my bulkhead or I won't be able to give her any more corn.  Very worrisome.  IF only the lake would melt she could come back to our end where people like her.  Very upsetting.

[merrihart]

BW, there is this stuff called Kitty Caviar my pet food supply store recommended to me.  It's some type of fish, shaved very very thin.  Maybe if you buy that and put it on top of the food?

[catwoods]

Keeping you and your cats in my thoughts and prayers, BW. Caregiving is indeed very demanding and everyone gets tired and discouraged at times. Just be sure to pace yourself so you are rested enough.