Please pray for Starsky

[WithLVoe]

Praying for Starsky! Praying he doesn't need the surgery. Just wanted to chime in, my Elmo had that same surgery about 4 years ago, and he is doing great.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@ZiggyStardust how is Starsky today?

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Lather, rinse, repeat. Though he had tried to go many, many times through the night, he only left little spots. This morning the vet expressed his bladder and it came out fairly well. A little while later they tried and it didn't. To make a long story short, they tried something that proved there's some sort of blockage in his urethra, however now instead of slow drips, or a nice stream, it's coming out at fast drips through expression. So he's home again to give him one more night of trying, with a test expression scheduled in the morning. How everything comes out will determine surgery, though the vet says we're at 90% chance of needing surgery. My oh my oh my how I wish we had insurance on him. The bills have already been racking up and we haven't even gotten to the surgery. :depressed:

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Sorry to hear it is looking like surgery. I will not give up hope though... A lot can happen over night.

Hugs,

Patti

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Praying for Starsky! Praying he doesn't need the surgery. Just wanted to chime in, my Elmo had that same surgery about 4 years ago, and he is doing great.

That is wonderful to hear! Our vet says that the outcome is usually good once you get them past those first few days of recovery. I did have fun though, texting my son and telling him that Starsky may have to have a sex change operation.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

I know you are savvy here on The Lair. You might want to search urinary blockage and Luigi. He recently had that surgery and @joeturbo26 might have some great tips to share and be a great support system as he has been through it with Luigi.

Patti

 

[GizmosMommy]

Fingers crossed for your guy!! I really need to look into insurance for Gizmo. This is scary stuff!

 

[susi794]

Still praying for Starsky and for your family. Hoping no need for surgery, but praying for some relief either way.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Lair prayers work!!!
He is not out of the surgery woods yet, but his bladder was empty this morning which means he is doing it on his own. The vet canceled the surgery for today (the tech was already prepping) and sent him back home with instructions to continue the spasm and pain meds and monitor the litter box. We have his cell if things go critical again, but we're certainly hoping not as that would now be emergency hours.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Hurray!!! Will keep those prayers going. I hope he continues to do it on his own.

 

[Lickleone]

That's awesome news

 

[GizmosMommy]

Wonderful!!!!

 

[FeyAngel]

Fantastic news!!!

 

[Yoda mom]

(((Hugs ))) for the great news! Kisses to Starsky!

 

[1sphynxlover]

Great news! Hugs!

 

[Helsinki]

Hoping for good Starsky news this morning!! Feel better soon, buddy!

 

[joeturbo26]

I hope Starsky is making steadfast improvements without needing surgery! I am the member that Patti was referring to with Luigi--who recently had the PU surgery (sex change). Louisa (lol) is doing great and so will Starsky!

The one thing I learned through this whole ordeal, which it seems as though you're doing...is realizing that time is of the essence. With these urinary issues it seems to be a matter of hours between kidney failure and death. So it's great that your vet and you are totally prepared and vigilant.

I shared on my post that it is truly incredible how much of a recovery Luigi had made. I think a positive of having a Maine Coon with fur is that you won't see the horrible black and blues after the surgery as a hairless cat would have!

Your vet is so right the days immediately following surgery are certainly challenging with all the medication and trying to get your cat comfortable. Since the location of the incision is so central to where a cat sits etc finding a position to be comfortable in is tough. Hopefully Starsky has the same personality as my parents Maine Coon and will sleep on a fence if you let him! It will help with recovery vs the energy of a Sphynx.

I'm guessing the medication for the bladder he's on is Prazosin? It did seem to help with luigis urethral spasms so I hope it's helping Starsky. I will tell you, pill pockets may just change your life if you aren't already familiar with them... Even if Starsky takes pills no problem like Luigi does, they really make giving pills completely effortless.

At any rate, I am truly here for you if you need any advice or have any questions... Please count on me!

In retrospect I am glad I waited until all unblocking or catheterization efforts had been exhausted prior to moving forward with the surgery---but I will say, I feel bad that Luigi had to go through so many "attempts" to ultimately have the perineal urethrostomy, so if Starsky hasn't had the surgery yet.. I strongly recommend doing it sooner than later, as most people claim it's a 3 strike rule... Block 3 times and it's off to the OR.

KEEP US POSTED!

 

[joeturbo26]

Ohhhh one other thing! Has the vet suggested a diet change? If surgery doesn't happen it is highly recommended that blocked male cats go on a Rx diet of wet food. I've read many reviews for the one Luigi is on now called Royal Canin Urinary SO and quite a few people mention that their cats haven't blocked after switching to this diet without having had surgery!

 

[Sphynx Asylum Mom]

Just to add to the recommendation of Royal Canin Urinary SO, I have a Toy Fox Terrier who was developing crystals in her urine and on the verge of major issues, vet had us put her on the Urinary SO for small dog and she has been great ever since.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

I hope Starsky is making steadfast improvements without needing surgery! I am the member that Patti was referring to with Luigi--who recently had the PU surgery (sex change). Louisa (lol) is doing great and so will Starsky!

The one thing I learned through this whole ordeal, which it seems as though you're doing...is realizing that time is of the essence. With these urinary issues it seems to be a matter of hours between kidney failure and death. So it's great that your vet and you are totally prepared and vigilant.

I shared on my post that it is truly incredible how much of a recovery Luigi had made. I think a positive of having a Maine Coon with fur is that you won't see the horrible black and blues after the surgery as a hairless cat would have!

Your vet is so right the days immediately following surgery are certainly challenging with all the medication and trying to get your cat comfortable. Since the location of the incision is so central to where a cat sits etc finding a position to be comfortable in is tough. Hopefully Starsky has the same personality as my parents Maine Coon and will sleep on a fence if you let him! It will help with recovery vs the energy of a Sphynx.

I'm guessing the medication for the bladder he's on is Prazosin? It did seem to help with luigis urethral spasms so I hope it's helping Starsky. I will tell you, pill pockets may just change your life if you aren't already familiar with them... Even if Starsky takes pills no problem like Luigi does, they really make giving pills completely effortless.

At any rate, I am truly here for you if you need any advice or have any questions... Please count on me!

In retrospect I am glad I waited until all unblocking or catheterization efforts had been exhausted prior to moving forward with the surgery---but I will say, I feel bad that Luigi had to go through so many "attempts" to ultimately have the perineal urethrostomy, so if Starsky hasn't had the surgery yet.. I strongly recommend doing it sooner than later, as most people claim it's a 3 strike rule... Block 3 times and it's off to the OR.

KEEP US POSTED!

Thank you so much! Sorry I hadn't PM'd yet - busy times. We also took on 2 visually impaired kittens right before this happened so we now have 6 out of the 8 cats at home on meds.

Anyway, he was on Prazosin, but it didn't seem to work for him so he was switched to Phenoxybenzamine which seems to be doing the trick. Unfortunately so far all of his meds are liquid, so no pill pockets for him. He's also been switched to Purina UR wet with no dry offered.

He did do 2 strikes and seemed to be headed for a third, but since Starsky was still dribbling, the vet opted to wait just a little bit longer since he had switched the spasm med shortly before taking the catheter out for the third time. It seems to have worked because he finally had an empty bladder. We've been keeping watch on his litter box and behavior as well as pressing on his bladder area to check for discomfort and the vet has been calling daily. He's been acting and eating fine with no signs of discomfort but we'd been concerned that he'd only been leaving little spots in his litter box though there have been many of them. HOWEVER - tonight he left a normal sized one!!!! :wooty) Hoping this means he dodged the surgery - at least for a while - we know that it's always a possibility to occur again and will probably have him have the surgery if it does.

Sorry your baby went through this but it is nice to have information from others when you're faced with the same thing.

 

[Cleopatra Beers]

Poor Starsky! Hopefully this new med will work for him and you. With 8 cats and six of them on meds, it sounds like you really have your hands full. Has Sammy stopped hissing at the babies at least? Hopefully things will get better for you very soon.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

You have had your hands full. So happy to hear Starsky is urinating fine right now and fingers are crossed surgery can be avoided.


Patti

 

[joeturbo26]

Thank you so much! Sorry I hadn't PM'd yet - busy times. We also took on 2 visually impaired kittens right before this happened so we now have 6 out of the 8 cats at home on meds.

Anyway, he was on Prazosin, but it didn't seem to work for him so he was switched to Phenoxybenzamine which seems to be doing the trick. Unfortunately so far all of his meds are liquid, so no pill pockets for him. He's also been switched to Purina UR wet with no dry offered.

He did do 2 strikes and seemed to be headed for a third, but since Starsky was still dribbling, the vet opted to wait just a little bit longer since he had switched the spasm med shortly before taking the catheter out for the third time. It seems to have worked because he finally had an empty bladder. We've been keeping watch on his litter box and behavior as well as pressing on his bladder area to check for discomfort and the vet has been calling daily. He's been acting and eating fine with no signs of discomfort but we'd been concerned that he'd only been leaving little spots in his litter box though there have been many of them. HOWEVER - tonight he left a normal sized one!!!! :wooty) Hoping this means he dodged the surgery - at least for a while - we know that it's always a possibility to occur again and will probably have him have the surgery if it does.

Sorry your baby went through this but it is nice to have information from others when you're faced with the same thing.

This is AWESOME news! So happy to see this!

 

[Yoda mom]

@ZiggyStardust ,
Sending healing hugs to your babies- please give all the kitties hugs n kisses from us! We are sending healing thoughts you way and look forward to continued good news! Please be sure to give yourself some TLC too!

 

[joeturbo26]

Any updates? How's Mr. Starsky doing?!