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- Feb 15, 2012
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Zach has struvite crystals. LOTS of them, according to the vet, and very alkaline urine. He needs rx food for the rest of his life. Yikes.
Here's the weird part: she sent him home with rx for tramadol (for pain, nothing weird there except he won't take it) and amitryptilene, "an anti-anxiety medication because this is a very stressful time for him" she said. As an RN I know that's not an anti-anxiety drug but rather an antidepressant (which can also be used for anxiety) and it takes several weeks to work. It's not your standard short-acting anti-anxiety medication. I expressed my concern and asked what the rationale was behind this. There's a theory that stress causes these crystals and he may need this to get through this attack and prevent another one. I asked if it works faster in cats that he'd benefit from it during this attack and she said, "well, we've never been able to interview a cat to know for sure." Awesome.
1. To me this sounds like the most ridiculous garbage I have ever heard. He's the mellowest cat I've ever known, and the only time I've seen him anxious was when someone was crushing his bladder and examining his urethra. I don't want to put my cat on long-term antidepressant therapy especially when giving him pills is a nightmare. Any advice?
2. How does rx food work? Is the purpose to acidify the urine, or limit the dietary magnesium, or both? And if adding water to the diet is so important, why do they make renal rx kibble (first ingredient = corn)?
Thanks, y'all. I'm upset over here. :/ He's only 3 years old and we have a lifetime of this ahead.
Mrs. H
Here's the weird part: she sent him home with rx for tramadol (for pain, nothing weird there except he won't take it) and amitryptilene, "an anti-anxiety medication because this is a very stressful time for him" she said. As an RN I know that's not an anti-anxiety drug but rather an antidepressant (which can also be used for anxiety) and it takes several weeks to work. It's not your standard short-acting anti-anxiety medication. I expressed my concern and asked what the rationale was behind this. There's a theory that stress causes these crystals and he may need this to get through this attack and prevent another one. I asked if it works faster in cats that he'd benefit from it during this attack and she said, "well, we've never been able to interview a cat to know for sure." Awesome.
1. To me this sounds like the most ridiculous garbage I have ever heard. He's the mellowest cat I've ever known, and the only time I've seen him anxious was when someone was crushing his bladder and examining his urethra. I don't want to put my cat on long-term antidepressant therapy especially when giving him pills is a nightmare. Any advice?
2. How does rx food work? Is the purpose to acidify the urine, or limit the dietary magnesium, or both? And if adding water to the diet is so important, why do they make renal rx kibble (first ingredient = corn)?
Thanks, y'all. I'm upset over here. :/ He's only 3 years old and we have a lifetime of this ahead.
Mrs. H