urethrostomy in a cat

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

ameliakp — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:52:41 GMT

ah yes, thats one thing i do not miss! i would always get the damn stuff everywhere no matter what precautions i took id come away with orange hands and an orange work surface! oops

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Steph SVN — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:19:01 GMT

[quote user="sazzle RVN"]1/8 of a capsule and having to split them up and put in empty gelatin caps, would take ages![/quote]

Yep, oh the joys of splitting dantrium capsules! Always takes so long! x

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

bongo — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:12:15 GMT

[quote user="Steph SVN"]

[quote user="ameliakp"]Is dantrium and hypovase a bit old school? or is it just that different places using different things?[/quote]

We use dantrium and hypovase in our practice too, I think its for the cats who suffer with regular blockages although im not 100% sure so don't quote me on that but yes we use those as well! x

[/quote]

my boy had both of these when he was blocked up. I know that hypovase is a dilator and so you have to check for hypotension regularly, cant remember what dantrium did, just remember the dose being about 1/8 of a capsule and having to split them up and put in empty gelatin caps, would take ages!

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Steph SVN — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:06:18 GMT

[quote user="ameliakp"]Is dantrium and hypovase a bit old school? or is it just that different places using different things?[/quote]

We use dantrium and hypovase in our practice too, I think its for the cats who suffer with regular blockages although im not 100% sure so don't quote me on that but yes we use those as well! x

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

ameliakp — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:31:40 GMT

My little boy is back and running round all over the place like he's got new legs :)

now its been a while since i dealt with a blocked cat in practice. my old work place used to use dantrium and hypovase, iv just been given metacam and synulox-which he seems to be fine on. Is dantrium and hypovase a bit old school? or is it just that different places using different things?

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

ameliakp — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:56:33 GMT

ooh ill try both those products thanks :)

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Steph Worsley — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:49:14 GMT

Yep you could hopefully manage with diet, my uncles also give Min cranberry treats

It sounds like he's got components of FIC/FLUTD so you may want to have a think and see if there is anything stressful around that may have triggered him off. you could try a feliway diffuser and there's now a new product from protexin called cystophan (click on the word to go to the product data) which has the stuff in cystease etc in plus l-tryptophan which is converted to serotonin so will basically make him feel all floaty light lol

If he starts blocking regularly then I would cosider urethrostomy but prob not til then. I am pretty sure (but like I said will check tomorrow) we don't place urinary caths in our urethrostomies post surgery (or if we do it's for 24/48 hours)

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

ameliakp — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:20:20 GMT

he is 3years old (4 in april) when he blocked 8 months ago, it was a proper plug of sediment bloackage. the struvite was seen in the urine sample we got straight from him and tested straight away. he was on sd for a month then was crystal clear, then onto cd, when he went off cd he then went onto royal canin urinary diet

this time when i noticed him straining and passing small amounts i took him straight in, after 12hrs he hadnt urinated so they did a GA and catheterisation, the vet said he wasnt plugged up but had struvite crystals-not a huge amount. i believe this was tested straight away. she said today that she thinks he was having a spasm and thats what caused the blockage? she suggested testing the urine every 3 months if he doesnt block again, which is good as i guess if he does get struvite again i can just pop him onto sd for a bit as a better way of managing it?

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Steph Worsley — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:06:49 GMT

I know we had done several urethrostomies at work but since i am in the med dept I don't actually see them much, I can speak to our STS nurse and get some info for you.

How old is he? has he got stones i.e. is it a true blockage or is it FLUTD and struvite crystals have formed in the urine if it's been left sitting for a bit or have you looked at the urine straight away?

My uncles cat started with crystals and a few blockages about 8 or 9 years ago now when he was approx 4. he was admitted several times and catheterised and had his bladder flushed, struvite crystals found and put onto sd, there was a point where each time they removed the cath he blocked again straightaway and he ended up being referred to where I work now long before I started here, I think with a possible view to performing a urethrostomy but in the ended didn't need that (again I can check the details tomorrow at work and see what he actually had done) he is now on long term c/d but occasionally needs a few months of s/d if he starts with crystals again - urine is checked at least twice a year

It is something I wouldn't rush into, 2 blocks in 8 months actually isn't too bad really. I shall try and give more info tomorrow

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Gemma Burden RVN — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:02:35 GMT

I've only seen one urethrostomy in a cat quite a few years ago now when I first started nursing. He was a gorgeous persian that just kept blocking - I can't actually remember how many times we had him in as he was in so often in probably less than a year. In the end it was really the only option for him other than PTS and it worked well for him. However, unfortunately he was killed by a car a few months later so never found out how he did long term. Its not something I would go into lightly as others have said, due to the recovery, and I personally would want to make sure that I had done every thing else possible before hand.

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Wispa — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:02:06 GMT

I have seen several urethrostomys performed, and to be honest the ones I have seen have done very well, and that is without the placement of an abominal urinary catheter. the cats we have done are usually urinating well following surgery. yes there are several complications that can occur so it is a decision not to be taken lightly, but the results of having a cat that can pee comfortably and freely is worth it.

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

ameliakp — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:57:30 GMT

Hi, thanks for responses. Doesnt sound like my boy is there! fingers crossed he wont need one at all.

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Fuzzyduck — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:47:47 GMT

Weve done several, most successful but there can be major complications and they have always been done as a last resort when there is no other option as the urethra has been damaged either by at RTA or other trauma or been too badly damaged from repeat catheterisations.

Its not something i would consider lightly, there can be complications post surgery, the urethrostomy can seal over while healing leaving the cat unable to pee at all therefore PTS is the only other option.

Re: urethrostomy in a cat

Julie-Anne Wilson — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:40:41 GMT

I rescued a cat that was in for a blocked bladder, he reblocked 10 days after I took him home and placing a catheter wasn't an option because his urethra was scarred. My options were urethrostomy or PTS.

The main worry for a urethrostomy is the recovery. They have to have a catheter placed in their bladder coming through the abdominal wall to let the area completely heal, my vet told me it would take at least 2 weeks for the area to heal before you can let the cat pee through his new opening.

I don't think it's a surgery to be taken lightly and some thought would need to be put into the post op care and recovery time. Hopefully your boy won't need it. And yes, urinary incontinence and bladder infections are more common afterwards, or at least that's what I was told at the time.