Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

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Minnow3
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Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Minnow3 »

I am in desperate need of guidance, hopefully from a pet owner who has been or is in a similar situation.

Approximately, 3 years ago my 6 year old cat was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory cystitis, believed to be triggered by stress. We were given Metacam to treat her symptoms.

Then I February of this year (2017) she was diagnosed with Feline Kidney Disease. Since this time, she also had a challenging urinary tract infection and received 2 long term courses of antibiotics.

This past Wednesday, she finished the second course of antibiotics. Then, by Friday evening she was exhibiting signs of cystitis. Now, I am no longer able to treat the inflammatory cystitis because of her kidney disease.

Today, I spoke with her Vet and he agrees with me that she is not having a quality of life as she is either suffering from cystitis or on antibiotics. Keeping her on antibiotics is not sustainable long term. His only other suggestion at this point is a specialist. However, in the mean time I am going to get a weeks course of antibiotics and provide a urine sample just in case it is another infection.

We have done everything we can to reduce her stress in the home, including Feliway and having her on Cystaid tablets 2 times per day.

I am looking for advice from anyone who has or is in a similar situation, as I am feeling completely overwhelmed.
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Antonio »

Hi Minnow3,
Has some specialist pointed out the cause of this stress?
Is it related to the presence of another cat in the house, or to loneliness during the day or to lack of activity?
As long as you do not address the cause of stress and take action against it, your kitty will be under psychological pressure.
My cat would lick and groom her tummy to bare skin, and in a certain moment of her life this baldness extended to her hind legs, even on the outer side.
I spent a fortune on Feliway to no avail, also tried Zylkene and Anxitane, same null effect. She just needed some more attention, some more quality time and outdoor access.
In some cats the stress is causing cystitis.
Metacam isn't the best choice in the long term because gives problems to kidneys, as it is probably your case.
For my other cat who had recurrent cystitis three times a year I tried Cystophan, nearly the same thing as Cystaid, and it worked fine, though I can't tell you whether it would have worked in the long term because my cat passed away a few months ago :(
I hope you find the cause of this stress, we can work on this cause afterwards.
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Minnow3 »

Thanks for your response.

We have yet to see the specialist.

We have another cat, but she was present before the cystitis began. I work from home so she receives a lot of attention during the day and play time. We had a big move about 4 years ago and I think that's what triggered the cystitis.

In the past, she seemed to trigger when we went away and I believe she has separation anxiety.

This time, it may have been triggered by the arrival of my husbands daughter (she's with us bi-weekly). My step-daughter does not harass her and is an older child, so it would have been caused by her mere presence. What can I do?

I'm sorry to hear of your loss :(
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Antonio »

I suggest you to see what the specialist will say. Is he/she a behaviourist?
We had a specialistic visit with one of them and she found out the cause in the lack of attention and environmental stimuli.
I advice you to draw a plan of the house, with all furniture and cat spots (bowls mats, litter tray position, and so on) to show to the the specialist. If your cats are indoors only this may help the doctor understand where you can intervene to improve their environment. Sometimes what is obvious for us it's weird for someone else, and what we like in our house might be not pleasant to a cat.

The cat with extra grooming problems arrived in our home where the other cat was already present and the signs of her stress appeared 5 years later, so sometimes it can be very hard to tell what the trigger is. What you think is a standard situation might trigger a stress some years later.

Can I ask you when the visit with the specialist is scheduled?
Minnow3
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Minnow3 »

I only spoke to my vet this morning about referring. I would imagine a date will be confirmed in 1-2 weeks.

I don't know anything about the specialist at this point. However the vet wants to rule out any underlying medical probs.

I will have a look into behaviouralist.
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by booktigger »

What antibiotics have they been using to treat the cystitis? I'm surprised they are saying they can't treat because of kidney disease. Before going to a specialist, I would ask them to do an ultrasound, chronic cystitis can be caused by bladder stones, which can only be diagnosed by a scan.
Minnow3
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Minnow3 »

She's been taking Kesium.

She has undergone ultrasounds, etc.

I am completely onboard with seeing a specialist.
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Alice
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Alice »

While the various investigations are ongoing you could email the catchat behaviourist to see if their advice helps. It's worth a try.

email: [email protected]

I do hope you can get the solution to your problems as soon as ever possible.
Keep in touch.
booktigger
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by booktigger »

I've not heard of that antibiotic, are you in the UK?
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greenkitty
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by greenkitty »

Have they tested the urine to determine the type of bacteria she has? This will narrow down where the infection is coming from (bladder or higher up in the kidneys) and determine whether they're using the right antibiotic. I have a cat with polycystic kidney disease (I assume ultrasound has ruled this out?), he was having ongoing bouts of cystitis, it wasn't until the vet tested the urine they discovered they'd been using the wrong antibiotic and the infection was in his kidneys and not his bladder, a switch to the right medication and a 7 week course and it finally cleared up. I believe many of the bacteria are immune to antibiotics so you really need to narrow down which it is so you can target that specific type.
Minnow3
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Minnow3 »

Hi all,

Thank you for all of your opinions and advice! Lucy, has been to the veterinarian specialist. Overall, there is nothing new to report. They did extensive testing and found that she does not have any secondary disease or illness. Also, no secondary infection. Overall, does indeed have Cronic Kidney Disease with the complication of Cronic Inflammatory cystitis. Moving forward, if she does show any symptoms of cystitis she is to have a urine sample taken directly from the bladder to ensure a more pure result.

Whilst with the specialist, Lucy had a urinalysis done, which showed that there was no infection.

After finishing her antibiotics on Saturday, 12/08/17 (August 12, 2017), the vet specialist had asked that we get a sample directly from the bladder a few days later to ensure Lucy's E. coli Infection was gone. I received a call today, letting me know that the infection was indeed still there.

We will now be putting Lucy on a higher dosage of Kesium for 8 weeks.

The specialist seems to think that Lucy is having a harder time ridding of the infection because she has Cronic Kindey Disease in combination with Cronic Cystitis, therefore her diluted urine is not able to protect her from infection.

Has anyone gone through this? Meaning having a cat with Cronic Kisney Disease with Cystitis battling a stubborn or chronic Urinary Tract Infection and been successful in treating it? My concern is not being able to get rid of the infection and of course we can't sustain Lucy by just keeping her on antibiotics.
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Antonio »

An incorrect urine pH can be cause of infections and other issues.
Does your urine test report say anything about the pH level?
Has your vet told you anyting about changing Lucy's diet to something that can control the pH level in her urine?

As greenkitty asked earlier, has the precise type of bacteria been pinned down so to give Lucy the right molecole of antibiotic?
Kesium might not be the best one for her issue.
Minnow3
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Minnow3 »

Hi Antonio,

Thank you for your response.

I've checked her Urinalysis and her PH level is 6, which I think falls within the "normal" range.

Right now, she is on Royal Canine Renal wet food, which is used to manage her Chronic Kidney Disease.

The vets have told me it's an E.coli infection.
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Re: Kidney Disease with chronic inflammatory cystitis

Post by Antonio »

Hi Minnow3,
pH is normal according to the range levels I have for my cats, so yes it's alright.

E. choli is nasty, as far as I know. I don't know the antibiotic your vet prescribed, hopefully it will solve the issue quickly.

Hugs!
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