Archive for the 'Vet answers Your Pet Questions' Category

Cat Urinary problems

  • Courtney Jones said on 17 Dec 2007 at 7:06 pm

  • My cat is having urine obstructions. His kidneys are healthy, but, he is still straining. My Vet is having problems catheterizing because his penis is so small. She thinks he needs a PU or put down. I don’t like any of those options. Can you give any suggestions.He is urinating on his own some time. He is in their care now.

    Thanks You
    Courtney Jones

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    Please be advised that this answer is for informational purposes only and does not take the place of your veterinarian’s advice

  • DrC said on 17 Dec 2007 at 8:42 pm

    Courtney,

    I am sorry to hear about your cat. Urinary problems can be common in cats. In male cats, urinary problems are more serious than females because their urethra is much more narrow. There is a syndrome called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.

    The jury is still out on why certain cats seem to be prone to cystitis(inflammation in the bladder). It is thought that diet can play a role as well as a decrease in water intake and other diseases.

    Blocked cats can be very difficult to unblock sometimes and if his penis is small that makes catherization even more difficult. How old is your cat? Does he have a lot of crystals or blood in his urine?

    Cats that have urinary obstructions often times block more than once and if his penis is anatomically small than he is at high risk for having continued problems. Therefore, the best option for him may be the PU. Surgery will help widen his urethra so that hopefully he will not continue to have serious problems.

    If you are not interested in surgery and he can’t be catherized than your options are limited. There is a medication called Phenoxybenzamine that helps with urethral spasms that could be tried but there are no guarantees that it will help him.

    Has he been xrayed or ultrasounded for stones in his bladder/urethra.

    Dr. C

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    admin on December 23rd 2007 in Vet answers Your Pet Questions, Cat Health, Cat

    Kitten throwing up

    Lacey said on 20 Dec 2007 at 1:57 pm

    My kitten is really thin, won’t eat or drink, and she keeps throwing up. I have been to the vet several times, the just gave me antibiotics “It is hard to determine what virus she has it could be multiple viruses.” Please help

    Please be advised that this answer is for informational purposes only and does not take the place of your veterinarian’s advice. 

     

     

    DrC said on 23 Dec 2007 at 2:50 pm

    Lacey,

    I am very worried if your kitten will not eat or drink and keeps vomiting. How old is your kitty?

    Has she had bloodwork to check her kidneys or radiographs to look for a foreign body?

    There are many reasons why she may not be doing well from different viruses, parasites, something congenital, or something stuck in her stomach or intestines.

    If it hasn’t already been done, I recommend having a fecal to look for parasites, bloodwork to evaluate her kidneys and liver, a feline leukemia and feline aids test, radiographs to look for evidence of a foreign body.

    Dr. C

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    admin on December 23rd 2007 in Vet answers Your Pet Questions, Cat Health, Cat

    Still no voice for cat

  • Terri said on 26 Aug 2007 at 12:06 pm

    Thanks for getting back with me, I took skippy to the vets and the Doctor said she didn’t have a temperature and that she might just have a hair ball and to give it some time, he didn’t seemed concerned about her voice. So is it is 11 days later and skippy is doing everything that she did before, grooming eating and kitty litter business, the only difference is that she still opens her mouth and nothing comes out ,and when she finally gets something it out its almost very horsed and just sounds bad. I voiced my concerns to the vet yet again and he said give it another week. What do you think?

  • DrC said on 26 Aug 2007 at 4:26 pm

    Terri,

    That is good that you took Skippy to the vet! It can be a perplexiing thing when a cat loses a voice. I have seen a couple cats like Skippy and although sometimes we can link it to something such as an upper respiratory virus and laryngitis sometimes we can not. As long as she is eating and drinking well without losing weight, I am not too concerned. If her voice does not improve in the next week or so, you can have you veterinariain check her throat and mouth closer for any signs of a tumor(this may have to be done under anesthesia to get the best look) and have her tested for Feline Aids(FIV) which is an immunodeficiency virus. If all checks out ok I would just wait and see. Sometimes their voice never returns to normal but at least you will know it is less likely something more serious.
    Dr. C

  • GPA requirement

    1. lauren said on 18 Jul 2007 at 1:34 pm

      hey! i was wondering if you know the gpa requrment 4 u of m? i plan to be a vet so anything helps! plus any other stuff i would need/ need to know!

    2. DrC said on 18 Jul 2007 at 9:45 pm

      There is not set GPA that I can find. Your GPA is important but it is part of a whole package(GPA, experience, classes taken, test scores, etc..).
      Dr.C

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    DrC on August 22nd 2007 in Vet Schools, Vet answers Your Pet Questions

    Cat - Hiding and can’t meow

  • Terri said on 15 Aug 2007 at 6:36 pm 

  • Dr. C I need help, I have a nine year old kitty that is an indoor cat only goes out on a screened in Patio when she wants to go out. she has been hiding lately in small out of the way places, she did that once before when she had a hair ball, but whats weird about this is that she has no voice. she use to constantly cry to go out and now she opens her mouth and noting is coming out and when something does it sounds like she has a very sore throat. can you help

  • DrC said on 15 Aug 2007 at 6:44 pm

    Terri,

    When a cat hides then she is not feeling well. Also, if she has lost her voice it is very possible that she could have an upper respiratory infection or laryngitis. I recommend that you make an appointment to take her to your vet and have her checked out. They will be able to take her temperature and look down her throat to see if it is red.
    Dr.C