Vet says bladder infection. I'm not convinced

daftcat75

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Background: Krista has been on daily steroids for nearly 7 months now for IBD and lymphoma. Only in the last month, I discovered the missing trigger and we're seeing a remission of those original IBD/lymphoma symptoms. I brought Krista in because she's been showing diabetic symptoms which I understand are also symptoms of steroids themselves: increased drinking, increased appetite, failure to gain weight, and increased peeing.

I missed my vet's call this afternoon and won't be able to discuss her results until maybe not even until Monday night when vet returns off-day calls after hours.

The voicemail my vet left said high white blood count and bladder infection. No mention of diabetes or blood sugar concerns. I should feel relieved. But the symptoms aren't matching up.

I am not seeing painful urination, crying out, blood in the box, frequent attempts to pass only a little amount, cloudy or concentrated urine with a strong ammonia odor, litterbox avoidance, or urination outside of the box.

What I am seeing is frequent, but easy urination of large dilute amounts. The closest I see to inappropriate urination or pain is that she doesn't squat as low as she needs to all the time. I think this is her arthritis. I am also seeing weakness and stumbling.

I will ask if they are culturing her urine. Anything else I should ask? This still looks more like diabetes (or pre-diabetes or steroids use) than a bladder infection. What results should I ask about and are there more tests I should ask for?

Regardless of all of this, I am planning to discuss changing her steroids dose from daily to every other day.
 

FeebysOwner

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As I said on your thread -
Feeby never exuded any of the 'typical' UTI symptoms either. Her sole 'identifier' was basically just peeing over the top of the litter box, which she pees high anyway. But, her last bouts of UTIs ended up being related to e-coli. So, with Krista's BM bacteria 'stuff', could she have a UTI from that? After urine cultures with Feeby, the vet decided the best antibiotic for her was Orbax. Despite her past urinary issues, there was no blood or sediment in her urine, just e-coli.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Darko recently had an episode of drinking TONS of water, increased appetite, peeing more to match that water intake, didn't gain weight either (but I didn't feed him more, he just acted hungry all the time). Turns out he had a kidney infection. . I thought it was going to be thyroid so could hardly believe my ears. He had absolutely no symptoms of anything urinary going on. Even through treatment nothing untoward. BUT his extra water drinking and extra peeing has now ceased, so I guess they were right.

Did they do a urinalysis on Krista during her visit? I'm guessing so or else how would they have come to that conclusion :dunno:
 

cataholic07

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What type of food are you feeding her? Have you done an ultrasound lately to check and see how her ibd or lymphoma is doing?
 
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daftcat75

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Darko recently had an episode of drinking TONS of water, increased appetite, peeing more to match that water intake, didn't gain weight either (but I didn't feed him more, he just acted hungry all the time). Turns out he had a kidney infection. . I thought it was going to be thyroid so could hardly believe my ears. He had absolutely no symptoms of anything urinary going on. Even through treatment nothing untoward. BUT his extra water drinking and extra peeing has now ceased, so I guess they were right.

Did they do a urinalysis on Krista during her visit? I'm guessing so or else how would they have come to that conclusion :dunno:
So Krista can have diabetes-like symptoms without having diabetes? I assume my vet would say, “your cat is diabetic” if she has diabetes. But it just upsets me that that was my chief concern when I spoke with the vet earlier this week and all she said on the voicemail was bladder infection, pick up some antibiotics on Monday.

How does a kidney infection present differently from a bladder infection from a UTI? Or from diabetes?

I still want to reduce her steroids frequency.
 
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daftcat75

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What type of food are you feeding her? Have you done an ultrasound lately to check and see how her ibd or lymphoma is doing?
She eats Rawz Rabbit Pate and Rabbit and Pumpkin Patè. 50/50 mix for both texture and availability reasons over pumpkin reasons. Until I can get an answer or guidance on her steroids, I can at least reduce or eliminate the pumpkin portion. Should probably do so anyway with the antibiotics. I wish she could catch a break!

It was my impression that she would have to be tapered off the steroids to get an accurate ultrasound. It was also my impression that when her presenting symptoms of IBD (vomiting) and lymphoma (“poop nonsense”) resolve that she would be in remission from those conditions.

And yet here we are. As skinny as ever and presenting diabetes-like symptoms. The vet mentioned earlier this week that steroids were often continued to regain weight. But that’s not working and I’m worried about her diabetes-like symptoms. I might need a more informative or compassionate vet. Or a specialist.
 
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Jem

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I am also seeing weakness and stumbling.
I know weakness and stumbling is a symptom of bladder or kidney infection in humans (mostly the elderly), so that could be your tell that it is an infection.
 
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