Charlie's acting weird. I don't know what to do.

[Krienze]

That's a good update! I hope Charlie will be well enough to come home soon.

He can come home tomorrow if we want! We're opting to try and keep him there for as long as possible simply because I'M paranoid and want to make sure he has vet care if something goes wrong - but so far everything seems to be going okay. Of course I'm going to hyper focus on the "he isn't peeing as much as we like" and completely ignore the part where the tech said the vet didn't sound concerned though, because i'm a paranoid idiot lol

VERY glad you heeded advice and leapt out the door.

Yeah you have NO idea how relieved I was to find the two vets a little closer. They NEVER showed up on searches before, maybe I didn't search right or somehow limited myself? I'm not sure. They are still moderately far away, but it's not TOO bad and def worth the trip to ensure Charlie will be okay! I'd do anything for that cat.

Silent Meowlook, you really came through on this one!

They sure did!! I will forever be thankful! Because honestly the way he was behaving I was thinking he hurt his back leg or something just spooked him, he was not acting like Jasper did when he had a uti at all (though I suppose it's a lil different?)

 

[FriendofFerals]

UPDATE again!

I talked to the vet around 1 for an official update from him and he said if we want, Charlie could come home today. We're opting to let him stay tonight then we'll see how he's doing tomorrow and decide from there. However he DID opt to not take the catheter out a lil. He said he wasn't too concerned with Charlie not being able to urinate on his own, so the more he thought about it the more he thought it would be better for Charlie's overall healing if the catheter stays in the full ten days.

I did call tonight to get my nightly update, however, and the tech said he's doing good. He's nibbled at his food, but he's not peeing as much as they would like. Which they had stopped giving him fluids, and he's not really drinking water (likely stress related) so idk if they will put him on fluids again or not, but the tech said the doctor did NOT have a concerned tone and that Charlie is otherwise still doing good.

This is such great news I'm so happy for you and Charlie! My barn kitty made a full recovery and was 100% fine even over a year later. Years later, I've forgotten how much it all cost because I had more time with my buddy and he was so grateful. They really do know when you're trying to help them.

 

[Krienze]

This is such great news I'm so happy for you and Charlie! My barn kitty made a full recovery and was 100% fine even over a year later. Years later, I've forgotten how much it all cost because I had more time with my buddy and he was so grateful. They really do know when you're trying to help them.

I'm still worried and harping on the -few- concerns, which I shouldn't since even the vet said HE wasn't all that worried, but my brain is an ugly place and I always go to the worst case scenario /sigh

I'm so glad you're kitty made a full recovery!!

 

[Krienze]

So a bit of an update.

Charlie is still doing well, according to the vet and techs. He had a good poop this morning and is eating. They aren't sure how much he's drinking but they had him on fluids again yesterday.

The new vet I spoke to today kind of scared me by mentioning how strictures are kind of unpredictable and how most cases end up in euthanasia, she mentioned that they can happen up to months after the surgery so i'm trying NOT to panic since his normal vet and the other vet who has been taking care of him don't seem as doom-gloom about the situation (his main vet seems confident that he did the surgery well and he didn't sugar coat things BEFORE so I don't think he'd sugar coat NOW, you know?) so I'm TRYING to relax.

I'm sure they're tired of me calling by now :3

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. Yes, strictures can happen and they would most likely require surgery, but not euthanasia. This vet may not have enough current knowledge to handle one, but that doesn’t mean all vets can’t. Sure complications can arise, but take things one step at a time. The longer the catheter is in place, the better.

 

[Krienze]

Hi. Yes, strictures can happen and they would most likely require surgery, but not euthanasia. This vet may not have enough current knowledge to handle one, but that doesn’t mean all vets can’t. Sure complications can arise, but take things one step at a time. The longer the catheter is in place, the better.

Yeah, his actual vet (and the surgeon) wants it in place for 10 days specifically to lower the risk of strictures. And honestly he hasn't seemed all that concerned in general and seems fairly confident in how the surgery went, so I'm trying to keep that in mind!

The other vet was nice, just she spooked me a bit with the E word.

That said I called a few times today and he's consistently been doing great according to the techs!

 

[FriendofFerals]

A cat that has blocked in the past indeed has a higher chance of blocking again than one who never has....but there are dietary things you can do to reduce this probability and they should have told you that.

Euthanasia is for when they are blocked and nothing can be done. Surgery can always be done unless they are unable to do anesthesia for medical reasons.

There are many options for "urinary health" food for pets. Some require a prescription and some don't. Lots of water should be available and low phosphorous in the food (as much as possible).

Ask your vet about a urinary health diet and what to do to prevent a recurrence, since that is possible. Remember surgery worked so it can work again, but the goal is to keep him clear of blockages so he'll never need another.

 

[silent meowlook]

Good. That is wonderful news.

In larger hospitals, with multiple veterinarians and specialists, you can get quite a difference in opinions on patient care. You also get a multitude of different personalities. There is usually one more negative than the others.

One thing that does surprise me is that this Veterinarian would mention euthanasia regarding another Veterinarian’s patient. But, like I said, there is usually one in every bunch.

When I worked at a large specialty hospital there were different departments with different veterinarians. There was the surgery department and Internal Medicine, who I was working with at the time. Next door was a privately owned emergency hospitalIM had hired a fairly new graduate, board certified in internal medicine.

This new grad thought the sun rose and set with him. He was arrogant and egotistical, as well as condescending and just plain rude.

One day, all the other vets were out of the office and it was only him. The receptionists come running back with a medium sized dog that had trauma to the neck from a dog fight. The dog was in shock and bleeding from neck wounds. I immediately throw an oxygen mask on the dog, because oxygen is always a good idea, while someone else starts an IV line. This new internal medicine vet through a fit. He literally started whining that he isn’t an emergency vet and he only sees appointments and he doesn’t do trauma cases. Some of the other techs got huffy and were eye rolling. I immediately wanted to slap him. Then I thought, he truly doesn’t know what to do and is scared.

This all happened in about a minute. Do, I ran next door and grabbed one of the ER vets from the private practice and he came over and stabilized the dog enough to transfer.
The ER vet probably thought it was the best night ever, to hav a specialist need him. The internal medicine vet went into his office and closed the door hard. Instead of actually watching and learning. The dog recovered. I got in a little trouble, but I didn’t care. The dog was okay.

Sorry to go off on a story on your thread, but for some reason this reminded me of it.

Bottom line, listen to your gut instincts always, and trust the veterinarian that has gone the surgery and any of the other vets that have helped Charlie. Don’t worry about what one veterinarian says that hasn’t been involved in Charlie’s case until now.

Sure, there could be complications. There could not be too. Why worry about it if it isn’t a “ thing” yet.

 

[silent meowlook]

A cat that has blocked in the past indeed has a higher chance of blocking again than one who never has....but there are dietary things you can do to reduce this probability and they should have told you that.

Euthanasia is for when they are blocked and nothing can be done. Surgery can always be done unless they are unable to do anesthesia for medical reasons.

There are many options for "urinary health" food for pets. Some require a prescription and some don't. Lots of water should be available and low phosphorous in the food (as much as possible).

Ask your vet about a urinary health diet and what to do to prevent a recurrence, since that is possible. Remember surgery worked so it can work again, but the goal is to keep him clear of blockages so he'll never need another.

Hi. What I believe they are talking about is the urethra ( where it was lacerated, or torn) scarring in the form of a stricture, where the urethra will tighten down and not allow urine to pass.

 

[Krienze]

Bottom line, listen to your gut instincts always, and trust the veterinarian that has gone the surgery and any of the other vets that have helped Charlie. Don’t worry about what one veterinarian says that hasn’t been involved in Charlie’s case until now.

Thank you! Everyone keeps telling me this. I'm def trying to do my best to keep this all in mind.

Sorry to go off on a story on your thread, but for some reason this reminded me of it.

Don't apologize! I liked reading it!

Hi. What I believe they are talking about is the urethra ( where it was lacerated, or torn) scarring in the form of a stricture, where the urethra will tighten down and not allow urine to pass.

Yes! This is what I'm talking about. We're not super concerned with blocking again due to both diet change/getting a water filter/the PU surgery.

 

[Krienze]

UPDATE:
Spoke to another vet today who was a LOT less concerning and reminded me that the whole point to the cath staying in a full 10 days is to lower the risk of strictures. Charlie is pooping consistently and he's now eating a lot better. He's alert and seemingly has gotten attached to one of the techs and comes up for her to pet him (but he apparently is still grouchy with others haha) The vet said over all he believes the recovery is going very well.

I can't wait to have my boy home. I can't believe how much I miss him and how empty the house feels without him even with 5 other cats and 3 dogs.

 

[Norachan]

That's good news. Eating well and letting people pet him are all encouraging signs.

Fingers crossed that he's home soon.

 

[Krienze]

The vet says we can take him home now if we want, but we decided to let him stay there until they pull the cath - we just are too afraid of something happening with the catheter and don't want to risk damage. But hopefully he will be able to come home Tuesday!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I'd do the same thing. I'd worry about that, as well.

 

[Krienze]

I'd do the same thing. I'd worry about that, as well.

He says it's not too complicated/that I'd just have to make sure it stays in place but I know I'd panic and just not be good at tending to it BECAUSE of that, lol

 

[silent meowlook]

There are so many things that can and will go wrong with a cat at home with a U Catheter.

 

[Krienze]

There are so many things that can and will go wrong with a cat at home with a U Catheter.

Yeah, I absolutely do NOT want to take any chances.

 

[Krienze]

UPDATE:

Just got off the phone with the vet. He said Charlie, at some point last night, pulled his cath out (the lil gremlin) - but he said it's okay, Charlie didn't do any damage and one day won't hurt the healing process. It was supposed to come out tomorrow anyway. So now we're just waiting to see when he pees and if he pees in his litter box. If he doesn't pee in his box and pees outside, the vet is going to want to keep him another night to figure out if he can't control his bladder or if it's an infection - but he says he feels good and comfortable with everything and he doesn't think we'll have problems.

So once Charlie pees in his box (God willing!) he can come home. So fingers crossed and prayers up that I get that call soon, please!

He told me what to watch for with strictures, too - but he seems confident that we won't have issues there either.

Charlie is still eating and he's using the litter box to do poops!

EDIT TO ADD:

Did speak to the tech a bit ago (had a question for her!) and she said he DID pee, not in his box. But she said that's not uncommon/could be nerves/adjusting since he still has stitches in and because he had the cath in for so long. So they aren't alarmed. BUT him peeing IS a good thing.

 

[Krienze]

CHARLIE IS HOME!!!!

I repeat, CHARLIE IS HOME!!

He is currently in his super big pen. He's had his meds for the night and has access to food, water, a litter box (which he has already used and is now just sitting in crying in protest at being stuck in a pen, he's VERY angry about this.)

He goes back on Monday to have his stitches removed.

 

[Norachan]

That`s great news! So glad to hear your boy is home.