Henry was diagnosed with bladder stones today - how can they be prevented?

[Molly and Abby]

Hello everyone:

Two years ago, neighbors moved and never took their cat with them. (Well, they got dogs, threw the cat outside. I felt sorry for him, fed, watered and got him a heated kitty tube). They moved and I searched frantically for him & even called them to see if they wanted him & needed help finding him (they didn't).

I thought they changed their minds and took him - but no, he'd been in a fight and was pretty banged up when he finally showed up on my patio a week later.

Long story short - he had very less than a year bad abscesses, needed multiple surgeries, but he pulled through. I figured it was meant to be and now he's my (indoor only) cat.

I named him King Henry - after that famous English king with all of those wives. Plus, he's a big orange tabby & looks like his namesake.

Fast forward to today - Henry was diagnosed with bladder stones. He was going to the litter box frequently for the last two weeks or so (I thought he had diarrhea & was giving him probiotics and flagyl) but this morning he was lethargic, not wanting breakfast and lying on the kitchen floor.

This cat is so food motivated, I can't free feed anymore - he eats everything.

I also saw he was at the litterbox but peed in front of it. When I wiped up the pee, I saw blood.

So I dropped everything and we went directly to the vet - fast.

Long story short - no obstruction but not a UTI either - bladder stones. So Henry will have surgery to have the stones removed on Monday.

How do I prevent him having bladder stones in the future?

 

[maggie101]

What was he eating before? He needs moisture so wet only or dry wet depending if he only eats dry. Your vet may suggest a food like hills a/d after the surgery

 

[Molly and Abby]

Molly has IBD and multiple food allergies (I almost lost her three years ago due to a severe pancreatitis attack) so they all eat dry Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein now. And all of the cats are thriving on it.

The bladder surgery is so expensive and so hard to see him in pain - so I want to avoid a repeat.

He is still struggling from the anesthesia the vet gave him for the X-rays today. (He had a boatload of tests today, plus antibiotics). He keeps on going to the litterbox too (walking like a drunken sailor).

 

[maggie101]

Ask your vet but maybe he can eat the prescription mixed with wet? Add water fountains

 

[Molly and Abby]

Good idea.

Plus - he is very fat - obese even. He was always chubby, but he gained about 6 lbs in about 1 year. He's lost 2 lbs, but he's still fat at 16 lbs.

If he loses weight, will that lessen the likelihood of bladder stones in the future?

 

[maggie101]

I don't know about that but Changing his food slowly will help him loose weight and play with wand toys,cat tower,cubes so he can run and jump

 

[silent meowlook]

Hello.
Thank you for taking Henry in and providing him a safe indoor only home.
When the surgery is done, the veterinarian will most likely send the stones into a lab to determine what they are. That will help guide your treatment.

If Henry eats dry food, he should be changed to canned food, provided he eats it.
Your veterinarian will provide you with a prescription diet, I am sure.

Increasing the amount of water he drinks will also help prevent the formation of stones.

Please keep us updated.

 

[Molly and Abby]

Henry is so food motivated that he'll eat anything - dry, wet - he doesn't care. He usually wakes me up, begging for breakfast.

So when he refused to eat this morning, I knew he was sick.

 

[fionasmom]

Fiona herself had bladder stones surgically removed when she was 9 years old. There had been repeated blood in the urine, always treated, but finally it was simply necessary to remove them. We had no complications. She was a chunky little girl and when I saw the rolls of fat after they shaved her tummy I knew that we had to address that as well.

I agree that your vet will advise you on diet. If King Henry is an agreeable eater, he may be happy to use special food. Fiona was not, and even at that we did not have a recurrence for the remainder of her life; she lived to be 16.

 

[Molly and Abby]

I don't know about that but Changing his food slowly will help him loose weight and play with wand toys,cat tower,cubes so he can run and jump

 

[Molly and Abby]

The vet recommended I feed him for the weight desirable recommended by the cat food manufacturer. So I give him only enough food for a 12 lb cat - no treats, no free feeding & I only feed him twice a day. And he's been losing about 1/4 lb a month. Slow and steady.

But boy - is he food motivated! He managed to open the handles on the plastic storage container where the dry food is kept and broke into the stash. And then, he chewed through the unopened bag.

I now use masking tape to keep the plastic container shut.

 

[fionasmom]

If he is that food motivated, rearrange your cat food storage if you need to. I once had a cat, Milo, who ate 17 pounds of my emergency dry cat food before I figured out what was happening as it was in a place that he did not have access to unless he really worked at it. I guess the emergency was that he needed a snack.

 

[Molly and Abby]

Fiona herself had bladder stones surgically removed when she was 9 years old. There had been repeated blood in the urine, always treated, but finally it was simply necessary to remove them. We had no complications. She was a chunky little girl and when I saw the rolls of fat after they shaved her tummy I knew that we had to address that as well.

I agree that your vet will advise you on diet. If King Henry is an agreeable eater, he may be happy to use special food. Fiona was not, and even at that we did not have a recurrence for the remainder of her life; she lived to be 16.

How was the blood in her urine treated before the bladder stones removal?

Also - my sister was wondering if they could "blast" the stones - she has kidney stones herself &: she wonders if that technology could work for cats too.

 

[fionasmom]

Struvite stones can be caused from frequent UTI's so it can become a chicken/egg question. Fiona did have UTIs previously, but at the same time the stones can cause the irritation. She was treated for UTI's successfully (we thought) for a while but eventually lost the battle. Blood in the urine from either a non-specific cause or an unidentified one is technically hematuria and not a UTI, but this is all a moot point.

I have heard that both laser and sonar technology are used for bladder stones and that both of these have been used in some cases with cats. It would be a matter of finding someone experienced in the procedure and those vets may or may not be in your area. Once the stones are "smashed" they still need to exit the cat's bladder in some way and that usually involves some kind of extraction.

 

[silent meowlook]

Hi. You can speak to your vet about a stone dissolving diet, but they need to know what kind of stones and it is a long process. It will also depend on the size of the stones.

Veterinary medicine is way behind human medicine. Techniques and technology used for people are not available for animals, yet.

If you are interested in other options, seek a referral to a veterinary specialist.

The fact that your cat will eat canned is good. If you cut out all dry food from his diet, you can feed him all he wants of canned and he will still lose weight.

It is the carbohydrates in the dry food that will keep him fat. It doesn’t matter how little you feed, cats are not designed to eat carbs.

But, your vet will tell you what diet to use. It will be prescription, just ask for the canned variety. The veterinarian diets usually come in canned and dry.

I also give only bottled water to my cats.

One thing to note is, because your cat is overweight, it puts him at high risk for hepatic lipidosis if he stops eating. So, always make sure he eats.

 

[Molly and Abby]

He didn't eat much yesterday (he had to be sedated for the x-ray diagnosis), but I have given him Mirataz ointment (the vet said it's okay) and he's eating better. He's also eating the i/d prescription canned food when it's offered. He's been peeing and pooping too.

His surgery is tomorrow so I'll give him water & food until around 10 tonight.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

 

[Molly and Abby]

Struvite stones can be caused from frequent UTI's so it can become a chicken/egg question. Fiona did have UTIs previously, but at the same time the stones can cause the irritation. She was treated for UTI's successfully (we thought) for a while but eventually lost the battle. Blood in the urine from either a non-specific cause or an unidentified one is technically hematuria and not a UTI, but this is all a moot point.

I have heard that both laser and sonar technology are used for bladder stones and that both of these have been used in some cases with cats. It would be a matter of finding someone experienced in the procedure and those vets may or may not be in your area. Once the stones are "smashed" they still need to exit the cat's bladder in some way and that usually involves some kind of extraction.

Thank you, fionasmom. Great information. I'll know more tomorrow. That's when surgery is scheduled.

 

[Molly and Abby]

Henry had surgery yesterday and it went very well. He's been resting in the spare bedroom, away from the other cats, wearing the cone of shame like a trooper. His appetite is back and he's been pooping and peeing. The type of stone will be determined in a week. Vet has him on the u/d food.

 

[silent meowlook]

I am so happy to read this.

 

[Molly and Abby]

Thank you, everyone. I appreciate your kindness.