Polyuria and Ploydispsia

[pringle 22]

I am new to this site so pleased that I have found it

Does any one have cat that has Polyuria and polydipsia and do they have flare up from time to time ?

At the moment my cat Sandy was diagnosed with this condition last year, after many test, since then she has had 2 flare up which leaves her not interested in food and lethargic , which then results in taking her back and too to the vets which is not good for her as it stress' her out again she was given 4 injection antibiotic steroid pain relief and vitamins she has been like this now for 3 weeks and today has picked up and started to eat a little she does drink a lot of water but that's part of the condition

She has her booster jab's a few weeks ago and shortly after she had a flare up , when I asked the vet they said there was no connection has it was 20 days since she had her jabs , but this happened last year shortly after the booster , she took ill and was rushed to the vets suspected kidney problems lots of test all came back negative , we ask if it was the booster was told no .

If any one be interesting to know if any other cat has this condition and suffers the same thing , Sandy is a rescue cat so we don't really know what has happened in the past but she is only 2
Thank you for reading this post
xx

[MarkB]

Although it is quite rare, there is something called Diabetes Insipidus (it has nothing to do with sugar diabetes), which also causes polyuria and polydipsia. A few years back, one of our cats started drinking and peeing a lot. His kidneys were tested and some of the values were raised, so my vet assumed it was chronic kidney disease and put him on generic Fortekor. A year later, I changed vets and the new vet wanted to run bloods again. The kidney readings were barely any different to the previous year. He said he suspected diabetes insipidus (rather than me try to explain it, probably best for you to google it) He said the only way to test for it is by a water deprivation test - we did this and it was confirmed that Lazarus had DI. I had to give him Desmopressin hormone nose drops for the next year. Sadly we lost him to something unrelated a year ago.

You may want to mention DI to your vet. If they think it may be possible, I read about a way of testing for it which is less traumatic for the cat than the water deprivation test.....the water deprivation test is awful for them as you have to gradually reduced their daily water intake over 5 days. Lazarus was crying for water by the second day. I felt terrible having to make him do it - it also meant shutting him in a room for 5 days to prevent him finding water elsewhere. I will see if I can find the link that tells vets another way of testing.

PS - Although it is a very rare condition, I have 3 bottles of desmopressin in the fridge looking for a home and will happily send them to you, although no point unless it has been confirmed. If it is given to animals or people that don't have the condition, it causes water retention.

[pringle 22]

Thank you Mark for the reply I am now going to google this , Sandy has had so many blood test one time they said her white blood cells were low but was not worried when she had the next flare they again did test and again her white count was a bit low , but all the test and x ray are clear this time When I asked what the problem was told it's the same Poly and Poly ( for short )

Thanks again

[MarkB]

Goof luck with it. Although it is very rare, it it is the cause, it can be quite easily managed long term (once a cat gets used to having drops put up it's nose twice a day - although mine didn't seem to mind) the drops are about £40 from the vets (50 doses) but I used to get prescription fro my vet for £10 and buy 6 bottles online for about £70 - which lasted ages.

[pringle 22]

Hi Mark
Have spent most of the day on and off looking up this condition ,and it like you said it goes along with Diabetes Insipidus but one question I cant seem to find is poor appetite and lethargic

Sandy has had three full lab test since Jan 2015 would these test have shown up the DI , if so shouldn't she been prescribed the nose drops for it
I am on the phone to my vet in the morning and ask if she has actually had a test for DI . all we get is we can't get to the bottom of it

Up to now we have had bill's for £85.20 £262,72 £298,02 and this latest one will be in the range of £300 plus and each time they do the same test and it comes back her white blood count is a little low, no explanation why , one thing if she is no problem giving any tablets etc

Thank you for all the information

Will let you know the out come

[MarkB]

As far as I am aware, the only way to test for DI is the water deprivation test that I mentioned in a previous post. It really is an awful thing to have to do to a cat that is desperately thirsty. After Laz had his test, which took 5 days, I found out that there is a simpler way of testing using desmopressin. I don't really understand it, but I'm not a vet. This link explains the test for a dog - I'm sure it will be the same for a cat http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/pr ... ipsia-dogs

As for the lethargy and lack of appetite, I don't really know about that. I remember before Laz had DI, he was treated for anaemia because he became very lethargic and lost his appetite. We treated him with an iron supplement over 2 months. It is hard to compare as Laz had other health issues.

Sorry I can't be any more help but I don't have much medical knowledge.

[pringle 22]

Just been on the phone to the vets and asked if all the blood test that Sandy she has had done was she ever tested for DI, " well no because , her symptoms did not fit in to that condition , how ever if she has any more flares we will send her to the small animal hospital ",

at the moment she has picked up a bit and has started to eat a little more

Thank you for the offer to post the medicine and for replying