Need good kitty thoughts

Message

Ritterskoop · #1 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:19 am

Dub is spending the night at the emergency vet, and will be evaluated in the morning by an internal specialist. He for sure has two stones in his bladder, but he can pee due to a surgery several years ago that widened his urethra and removed his hooter. He has a history of stones and crystals, so this is not a huge problem. If they are struvite, the antibiotic may dissolve them, as it did last year.

The larger issue is whether his kidneys are OK. One is slightly smaller than they like, and one is slightly larger. One or both of them has stones also, which I knew a year ago, but they ordinarily don't go after those, because they do more damage digging them out than the harm the stones cause just sitting there (minimal).

The very good news on the kidney front is that his numbers are only slightly above normal, which will be fixed once they get some fluids in him (he's not been drinking much). So it's possible his kidneys, or one of them, is/are working OK.

But I know one day that's what will get him. That's nearly always what gets kitties, if nothing else does them in first.

Anyway, send your spare good thoughts this direction, please, and I will post an update afternoon or evening when I can. Thanks.

Ritterskoop · #2 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:20 am

Since his pic hasn't been my avatar for a bit, here is the Dubster himself:

peacock2121 · #3 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:30 am

He has my good thoughts.

as do you.

kayrharris · #4 Post by **kayrharris** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:22 am

Good thoughts to Dub. Hoping for a good report later today.

MarleysGh0st · #5 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:29 am

Good thoughts going out to Dub!

a1mamacat · #6 Post by **a1mamacat** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:48 am

Sending Dub all our best.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #7 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:02 am

Good thoughts coming your way for Dub!

silvercamaro · #8 Post by **silvercamaro** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:16 am

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and long-term good health for Dub!

Annie says she sends warm snuggles, but she will abstain from the wet kisses because Dub might not like them.

tlynn78 · #9 Post by **tlynn78** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:19 am

Soft hugs and scritches to Dub. (hooter? - lol)
and his mom. I stilll suspect that photo of Dub is from his film debut in the Alfred Hitchcat thriller "The Eighth Life"

t.

5LD · #10 Post by **5LD** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:32 am

Good thoughts for you and Dub today....

Sid, our lovely grey cat (RIP 11/19/04), suffered thru stones too.....but it's not what eventually did him in so there is major hope here!

Ritterskoop · #11 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:52 am

Good news.

Dub just has his normal bladder stones, which we will remove with surgery at the regular vet. He's had this done 3-4 times over the years, and last year the stones passed or dissolved before surgery.

He is not entering renal failure, not yet anyway. His heart sounded fine, also.

I will pick him up in a few hours, and schedule surgery at the regular vet maybe in a day or two. The emergency clinic couldn't do it for a week, because they have far more urgent surgeries to deal with. It'll be way cheaper at the regular vet, also, though that is merely a side benefit and not a deciding factor.

So, more antibiotic and pain meds, and I will get a water fountain to entice him to drink more water, and he will be fine. Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

minimetoo26 · #12 Post by **minimetoo26** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:57 am

I'm so happy to hear he is well--he's my all-time favorite kitty pic!

Watch his feet for any sign of limping. That's the first sign we had when Ice Weasel started failing.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #13 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:59 am

Ritterskoop wrote:Good news.

Dub just has his normal bladder stones, which we will remove with surgery at the regular vet. He's had this done 3-4 times over the years, and last year the stones passed or dissolved before surgery.

He is not entering renal failure, not yet anyway. His heart sounded fine, also.

I will pick him up in a few hours, and schedule surgery at the regular vet maybe in a day or two. The emergency clinic couldn't do it for a week, because they have far more urgent surgeries to deal with. It'll be way cheaper at the regular vet, also, though that is merely a side benefit and not a deciding factor.

So, more antibiotic and pain meds, and I will get a water fountain to entice him to drink more water, and he will be fine. Thanks everyone for the well wishes.

I am glad that everything is ok with Dub!

We just bought a water fountain for the cats, who had been drinking out of the toilets. Lily and Jasper didn't have issues with the fountain, but Lucy will only use it if it isn't running.

Ritterskoop · #14 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:08 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
We just bought a water fountain for the cats, who had been drinking out of the toilets. Lily and Jasper didn't have issues with the fountain, but Lucy will only use it if it isn't running.

What model is it, and do you like it? I think no matter which one we get, we will have to clean it fairly often. I had one once before, and it gets pink stains that the water bowl gets (something about the tap water here, I guess). But we will make a renewed effort to give him distilled water, so maybe that won't be a problem. Supposed to be that distilled water helps prevent the stones.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #15 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:50 am

Ritterskoop wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
We just bought a water fountain for the cats, who had been drinking out of the toilets. Lily and Jasper didn't have issues with the fountain, but Lucy will only use it if it isn't running.
What model is it, and do you like it? I think no matter which one we get, we will have to clean it fairly often. I had one once before, and it gets pink stains that the water bowl gets (something about the tap water here, I guess). But we will make a renewed effort to give him distilled water, so maybe that won't be a problem. Supposed to be that distilled water helps prevent the stones.

We got the Drinkwell.

http://www.petco.com/product/8820/Drink ... -Cats.aspx

I don't know how timid Dub is, but our Lucy is a fraidy cat and so the motor is louder than she can tolerate. Jasper and Lily are more fearless, so it hasn't been an issue with them. Lucy is nine years old and I got the fountain because I was worried about her the most. We are using Arrowhead bottled water in the fountain.

Ritterskoop · #16 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:56 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
We got the Drinkwell.

http://www.petco.com/product/8820/Drink ... -Cats.aspx

I don't know how timid Dub is, but our Lucy is a fraidy cat and so the motor is louder than she can tolerate. Jasper and Lily are more fearless, so it hasn't been an issue with them. Lucy is nine years old and I got the fountain because I was worried about her the most. We are using Arrowhead bottled water in the fountain.

Thanks. I will ask the store people about which models are noisier.

Beebs52 · #17 Post by **Beebs52** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:03 am

Sorry so late in sending my getwell fast wishes to the Dub. We had guests last night and meetings and blah blah.

I'm glad it's nothing too horrendous to deal with. I hate it when the babies are hurting.

A nice soft ear scratch for him from me.

christie1111 · #18 Post by **christie1111** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:16 am

Glad it is good news!

Go Dub!

Bob Juch · #19 Post by **Bob Juch** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:25 pm

Ritterskoop wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
We just bought a water fountain for the cats, who had been drinking out of the toilets. Lily and Jasper didn't have issues with the fountain, but Lucy will only use it if it isn't running.
What model is it, and do you like it? I think no matter which one we get, we will have to clean it fairly often. I had one once before, and it gets pink stains that the water bowl gets (something about the tap water here, I guess). But we will make a renewed effort to give him distilled water, so maybe that won't be a problem. Supposed to be that distilled water helps prevent the stones.

The pink stains are actually "red bacteria"!

They cause respratory symptoms (to you and your critters) so it's essential that you kill them. Use bleach ot TileX.

I'll bet you have the same thing around the drains of your sinks and bathtub.

MarleysGh0st · #20 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:51 pm

Bob Juch wrote:
Ritterskoop wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:
We just bought a water fountain for the cats, who had been drinking out of the toilets. Lily and Jasper didn't have issues with the fountain, but Lucy will only use it if it isn't running.
What model is it, and do you like it? I think no matter which one we get, we will have to clean it fairly often. I had one once before, and it gets pink stains that the water bowl gets (something about the tap water here, I guess). But we will make a renewed effort to give him distilled water, so maybe that won't be a problem. Supposed to be that distilled water helps prevent the stones.
The pink stains are actually "red bacteria"!

They cause respratory symptoms (to you and your critters) so it's essential that you kill them. Use bleach ot TileX.

I'll bet you have the same thing around the drains of your sinks and bathtub.

Uh oh!

Bob Juch · #21 Post by **Bob Juch** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:00 pm

MarleysGh0st wrote:
Bob Juch wrote:
Ritterskoop wrote: What model is it, and do you like it? I think no matter which one we get, we will have to clean it fairly often. I had one once before, and it gets pink stains that the water bowl gets (something about the tap water here, I guess). But we will make a renewed effort to give him distilled water, so maybe that won't be a problem. Supposed to be that distilled water helps prevent the stones.
The pink stains are actually "red bacteria"!

They cause respratory symptoms (to you and your critters) so it's essential that you kill them. Use bleach ot TileX.

I'll bet you have the same thing around the drains of your sinks and bathtub.
Uh oh!

You too?

MarleysGh0st · #22 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:11 pm

Bob Juch wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:
Bob Juch wrote: The pink stains are actually "red bacteria"!

They cause respratory symptoms (to you and your critters) so it's essential that you kill them. Use bleach ot TileX.

I'll bet you have the same thing around the drains of your sinks and bathtub.
Uh oh!
You too?

If Dr. House ever sends his team into my place, they might be kept busy for a long time!

T_Bone0806 · #23 Post by **T_Bone0806** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:49 pm

Naturally, I am overjoyed that our Furry Friend Dub is relatively ok. Please give him some top of the head strokes, followed by side of the face rubs and some two-fingered under the chin chucks. If he is like my trio of goofballs, he should like that. Tell him they came from Uncle T-Bone.

ghostjmf · #24 Post by **ghostjmf** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:52 pm

Glad to have read through the whole thread; here's best wishes to Dub on his recovery.

kayrharris · #25 Post by **kayrharris** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:13 pm

I'm glad to hear the good news.