Hey all!
I haven't posted in a while. Pippin had a PU surgery a couple of months ago and has been doing ok. He has had issues with UTIs which I was told might be an issue, so there's been periods of antibiotics (Zeniquin), litter box straining, inappropriate urination (he's nice though and usually tries to go on a plastic bag lol), bladder spasms which we treat with valium, etc. A few days ago I purchased some urine acidifier in hopes that a more acid urine would help keep the UTIs at bay. I also ordered "Tinkle Tonic" which I've read decent things about. I haven't gotten this yet.
Well today he was acting like he has been lately. Trying to pee. Going to the litterbox frequently. But today he tried to pee on the counter in the kitchen and nothing was coming out. Not even the dribbles that seem to be his trademark spasm signs.
After several episodes of this, I decided to take him to the vet. I also pulled a small ball of sandy material off his urethral opening.
The vet examined him, no fever. She got some urine. No crystals, ph of 7 which is ok for him. Signs of a uti. She took x-rays. No sign of crystals/stones, at least the ones that would have shown up.
She gave him Rompun to sedate him so she could express his bladder. This made him vomit repeatedly but it did sedate him well. She also gave him shots of centrine, dexasone and diazepam to help him relax, stop spasming. She tried expressing him. No go.
She tried putting in a catheter twice. Still no go.
So he's blocked, again, after I was told that him blocking ever again was very very unlikely. His PU has been healed fully for a while now.
Anyways, she drained his bladder fully (over 60CCs) and suggested I take him to a 24 hour clinic overnight so they could continue trying to catheter him. I opted to bring him home and observe him and bring him back first thing in the AM. If anything horrible happens overnight, I'll take him to the clinic. If the blocking is caused by spasms, then his best chance of relaxing is being at home IMO.
He's not to eat, but he can have some limited water. The goal is to keep his bladder from refilling too quickly and to keep him comfy. He's on Metacam to help with the inflamation also and is allowed a 1/4 tab of valium every 4 hours.
It's a pretty stressful situation and I'm worried about my guy. He did "leak" a little urine while we were getting ready to leave the vet, so my hope is that he passes whatever is blocking him and we'll take him to get checked tomorrow. He's a little dehydrated from all the vomiting so hopefully that won't make things worse. :/
If anyone has any insights that would be great. Vibes for his healthy recovery would be amazing also!! I'm really at my wits end with him. I don't know if I/he can handle another surgery. Money is always an issue, but more than that is the worry that he's just going to have issues over and over until he dies.
Pippin is my most precious boy. I can't imagine him not being here.
Devlyn
I haven't posted in a while. Pippin had a PU surgery a couple of months ago and has been doing ok. He has had issues with UTIs which I was told might be an issue, so there's been periods of antibiotics (Zeniquin), litter box straining, inappropriate urination (he's nice though and usually tries to go on a plastic bag lol), bladder spasms which we treat with valium, etc. A few days ago I purchased some urine acidifier in hopes that a more acid urine would help keep the UTIs at bay. I also ordered "Tinkle Tonic" which I've read decent things about. I haven't gotten this yet.
Well today he was acting like he has been lately. Trying to pee. Going to the litterbox frequently. But today he tried to pee on the counter in the kitchen and nothing was coming out. Not even the dribbles that seem to be his trademark spasm signs.
After several episodes of this, I decided to take him to the vet. I also pulled a small ball of sandy material off his urethral opening.
The vet examined him, no fever. She got some urine. No crystals, ph of 7 which is ok for him. Signs of a uti. She took x-rays. No sign of crystals/stones, at least the ones that would have shown up.
She gave him Rompun to sedate him so she could express his bladder. This made him vomit repeatedly but it did sedate him well. She also gave him shots of centrine, dexasone and diazepam to help him relax, stop spasming. She tried expressing him. No go.
She tried putting in a catheter twice. Still no go.
So he's blocked, again, after I was told that him blocking ever again was very very unlikely. His PU has been healed fully for a while now.
Anyways, she drained his bladder fully (over 60CCs) and suggested I take him to a 24 hour clinic overnight so they could continue trying to catheter him. I opted to bring him home and observe him and bring him back first thing in the AM. If anything horrible happens overnight, I'll take him to the clinic. If the blocking is caused by spasms, then his best chance of relaxing is being at home IMO.
He's not to eat, but he can have some limited water. The goal is to keep his bladder from refilling too quickly and to keep him comfy. He's on Metacam to help with the inflamation also and is allowed a 1/4 tab of valium every 4 hours.
It's a pretty stressful situation and I'm worried about my guy. He did "leak" a little urine while we were getting ready to leave the vet, so my hope is that he passes whatever is blocking him and we'll take him to get checked tomorrow. He's a little dehydrated from all the vomiting so hopefully that won't make things worse. :/
If anyone has any insights that would be great. Vibes for his healthy recovery would be amazing also!! I'm really at my wits end with him. I don't know if I/he can handle another surgery. Money is always an issue, but more than that is the worry that he's just going to have issues over and over until he dies.
Pippin is my most precious boy. I can't imagine him not being here.
Devlyn