Conference misery::feline_v1

    Poor Pip.  How old is she?  I have my fingers crossed that she'll be
    fine in the surgery and then okay soon.
    

    She's 7 and in very good health aside from this.  Thanks, Karen for
    your thoughts.  I hope your baby is doing well and that the results are
    all good.
    
    Giudi

    Give Pip a hug...and wish her well from my gang.  You both
    are in our thoughts...and please keep us posted.
    
    Paws crossed....
    
    Sandy 
    

    I'm really sorry about Pippin.  I know what you're going through because
    my Hoover has had three bouts since April.  We are finally controlling
    it (knock on wood) with feeding him S/D for two weeks, then C/D for two
    weeks, back to S/D for two weeks, etc.  He's also off tap water and all
    four cats now drink distilled water.  He's just very sensitive to the
    minerals he ingests, what they call a "super sand former".
    
    He was x-rayed to see if he had stones or any type of physical
    abnormality, specifically what your Pippin has but they were negative. 
    He did say that if Hoover had had the condition he would have
    recommended surgery.
    
    From what I've heard this type of surgery is relatively routine and is
    very successful.  I'm sure your kitty will be fine should you decide to
    have the surgery.
    
    Good luck to you and Pippin - Hoover sends hugs. 
    
    T + 4
    

    We will be thinking of Pippin.  Let us know how she is doing.
    
    Jo

    She seemed to be doing ok over the weekend - no more blood and she was
    eating a little better ( a lot better if it's handed to her on a spoon
    and if it's chicken or turkey).  She's getting 2 Amoxi a day and I
    think it could be making her a little loggy.  Anyway, just called the
    vet to set up an appointment for a "bladder study" this week.  Waiting
    to hear back.
    
    Thank you.
    
    Giudi +3

    
    Guidi, I'm glad that she is feeling better. Just remember that I am
    here if you need me...
    
    

    Just got a call back from the vet and Pippin will be going in on
    Friday for a bladder study.  Guess I'm a little upset as I just found
    out that she'll need to have anesthesia for this and kept under for
    about 15 minutes - Dr. Stallings said that this is the step before
    surgery - Richard will drop her off Friday a.m. between 8 and 10. Can't
    wait to go home and spoil her.  She's such a little toy and so
    trusting.  I know its for the best but I just hate to see her go
    through this.
    
    Giudi +3

    Giudi,
    
    We'll be thinking of you & Pippin. Please let us know how she's
    doing.
    
    Bonnie, Tabitha, and Callie

    Well Richard just dropped Pippin off at the vets a little while ago. 
    I'll be calling Dr. Stallings around 1:00 to get the results.  
    
    She's been acting fine and eating well despite the fact that she's been
    on meds - however I did see two small spots of blood on the carpet this
    morning and I've been checking the carpet thoroughly every morning and
    night - so these must be new.
    
    Keeping my fingers crossed that she tollerates the double study well so
    we can go on from there.
    
    Giudi

    If this can happen in humans I wonder if it can happen
    with animals?  I know of a case where there was blood
    in the urine and a small amount of bloody discharge and
    the doctor said the lining of the bladder was torn. How
    this happened we do not know. Complete bed rest in the
    hospital and antibiotics is what cured the situation.
    
    I send my good wishes to Pippin and that a speedy recovery
    is just ahead.
    
    Keep us posted
    
    Barbara & her 3M's

    Just got off the phone with the vet and Pippin tollerated the double
    study well.  There were no stones, pollyps or tumors (thank you god)
    but it showed the extension on the underside of the bladder.  So it
    looks like this is the problem.  However, she wants Dr. Silverman, the
    radiologist to examine the films on Monday and I guess we'll go from
    there.  My husband called to see what time he could pick her up and
    mentioned that my two boys haven't eaten a thing all day and that one is
    just walking around looking depressed.  She's being given another
    anitbiotic - already forgot the name - so no more amoxi.  I can't wait
    to get home to her.
    
    A much relieved Giudi  

    Thank goodness.
    

    Well, a blood test was done along with the double study and one part of
    the BUN was elevated.  I've gone over the results of the blood test and
    study with both attending vets and it goes like this:
    
    There is a slight diverticulum (sp) in the bladder but they don't think
    that that's the problem.  One kidney is showing up slightly smaller
    that the other and there appears to be something going on around it. 
    The elevated portion of the BUN is pointing to infection and both vets
    and raiologist believe that it could be a kidney stone.  She'll need an
    ultra sound in about a week or two and another blood panel.  The the
    question is that if she does have a stone, is it attached or detached.
    
    There's been no more spotting and she's urinating fine.  She'll also be
    on baytrill(sp) for 3 weeks.  Guess we'll take it a day at a time here. 
    My worst fear is advanced kidney disease.
    
    Have any of you out there dealt with kidney stones before.  Would
    appreciate some input.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Giudi + Pippin and the boys

    Giudi, I think in people that kidney stones can be dissolved without
    surgery by zapping them with ultrasound.  This is a more powerful
    ultrasound than the diagnostic ultrasound, I assume...  Which is Pippin
    scheduled for?  Is the powerful kind available for cats?  Maybe the vet
    could arrange with a people hospital for it if necessary.  Is Pip
    drinking enormous amounts of water -- I have the impression that if she
    isn't, she doesn't have advanced kidney disease, but I'm not certain
    I'm correct.
    

    I'll add that Little Bit gets crystals in his bladder about once a year
    and goes on Stone Diet, which clears the situation up.
    

    Karen,
    
    I've heard of the ultrasound for disolving kidney stones in humanes and
    I think it's available, so far, only at one hospital in the South Bay,
    Community Hospital in Saratoga.  As for Pippin, she's just having the
    ultrasound test.  She's not drinking enormous amounts of water but
    she's drinking an adequate amount.  Last night I watched her go to the
    box and she made a really good pee, lots of liquid, no blood, so that
    made me feel good.  Her breath is fine which is a good sign. She's not
    in pain, her appetite is good and she's playful.  She's not vomiting,
    her coat looks real good, and her tongue is not discolored.
    
    Now one kidney is completely normal in size and the other is smaller.  In
    the X-ray it showed this fuzzy stuff around it (fuzzy to me).  As I
    understood it, the kidney could have been affected by a bladder
    infection or the bladder affected by something going on with the
    kidney.  The baytril (sp) has been up'ed to three weeks.  So now it's a
    matter of scheduling the ultrasound.  I'm having some minor surgery
    this Wednesday so it's likely that it will be next Wed. or Friday.
    
    Giudi + Pippin & the boys

    How are you and Pip doing?