The big difference is, that when "we" get a UTI, we know what to do, when are furrbabies get it they do not understand...makes you feel so helpless :-((
Cherie
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Michelle-
I know its such a pain, don't you wish they'd just pee in a cup. Anyway, I actually am a tech at a cat hospital so I hope this helps. First of all a pee sample off the floor is just fine, it'll have excess bacteria but so would a sample from the box with the special no-absorbant beads. Other than bacteria, excess white blood cells, blood, and certain skin cells, the vet is looking for crystals. They sound painful and they are thus the irritated bladder which leads to frequent urination and blood. The reason vets don't start antibiotics without a sample first is because based on the findings under the microscope done at the actual hospital the urine may need to be sent out for a culture and sensitivity to determine which antibiotics the little bugs are sensitive to. If a cat has already been on antibiotics it negates the whole test. Urinary tract infection is a co! mmon term loosely used. Many time prescription diet and some antispasmodic and antiinflammatories are al!
l thats needed. You have probably heard of males cats becoming "blocked", that is caused by crystals. It doesn't happenin females because they have a larger urethra. It can lead to stones in both males and females. Anyway my advice would be to stop the antibiotics (no sense using them if its not needed, and besides being felv+ she'll be getting enough through her life) and collect the pee off the floor :) If worse comes to worse your vet should be able to do cystocentesis, using a syriing to get urine through the belly into the bladder. Sounds bad but actually is often less painful than a shot. That way the sample is sterile and there is no extra bacteria introduced. My vet usually does this anyway if the client can afford it. 5.00 for the take home collection kit vs. 22 for the cystocentesis at my place. alot of times cats will be in the carrier on the way to the vet or on th! e exam table, we just suck it up with a syringe- the there's no fee!:)
I hope this helped, I don't know if any of you ladies have ever had a urinary tract infection but its the same for our little fur ladies- ouch!
I hope she feels better soon, michelle
sincerely,
Kristi
