Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

If you have a male cat you may already be familiar with FLUTD. Thankfully I was well aware of it after having researched some of the serious medical issues that can happen to a male cat when we adopted Simon a couple of years ago. Sat night he was "off", just not himself but I put it down to him being annoyed with us for having "abandoned" (his word not mine)  him for a week while we were on vacation in Mexico.. Sun morning I let him out as per usual but kind of kicked myself for doing it without giving him the once over, but knew he would be back in a an hour so let it go.. Well he wasn't back in an hour, so I kept looking for him. Simon has better recall that my dogs, I swear he comes immediately when I call. By noon I began to look seriously and it took another 3.5 hrs to find him or until he found us.. It was the longest 3.5hrs in a long time. I knew as I carried him in the house he was very sick. He went to the litter box and did nothing then laid down on the dog bed. I checked him and he had blood on his penis. I knew he was blocked so I called the Vet and met Dr. Ted at the clinic.
Dr. Ted confirmed the blockage and showed me how to check the bladder, it was the size of and orange (damn that had to hurt). Dr Ted cleared the blockage and placed a catheter, gave him fluids and meds.  He was able to come home today a little earlier than expected because he refused to eat at the clinic.. He was quite stressed there and would not even eat for me.
He had xrays today that did not show any bladder stones so that's good. The likely cause of the FLUTD is cystitis. The basic treatment is lots of fluids and feeding wet food.. Simon however HATES wet food so that is going to be a challenge. He has eaten a small amount since he came home this morning and had several drinks so I am feeling a little better about it but he has not peed.. The catheter came out this am and then Dr. Paula expressed him before he came home so we know he was not blocked... so now all we need is some PEE...

I took this just after he came home and he assumed his place! He has barely moved from there since he got home.

Here is a link to some good info from Cornell on FLUTD

If you have a cat, especially a male cat you should be very aware of FLUTD. It is a true emergency for a cat if they become blocked. Do NOT wait if you see these symptoms, take your cat to a Vet immediately.

The symptoms you need to look for:

1. Straining to urinate.
2. Frequent and/or prolonged attempts to urinate.
3. Crying out while urinating.
4. Excessive licking of the genital area.
5. Urinating outside the litter box.
6. Blood in the urine.
7. Lethargic
8. Refusing food or water
9.  Vomiting

MACh Aidan Video's

Ok now you all get to see the the video's of Aidan's runs!! Just click on the links below.

 

28 Jan JWW Aidan QQ MACH

 

28 Jan Std Aidan Q

 

28 Jan Std Aidan Q

 

 

 

 

MACh Aidan

MACh Aidan

by Karen Selbert

It’s with great pleasure that I am proud to introduce MACh Aidan!  At the incredibly pleasant and wonderfully run Nashville Dog Agility Club trial, in front of friends old and new, Aidan not only performed flawlessly, but placed well in the smoking fast 20” division.  Judges Diane and Robert Fyfe provided the enjoyable and challenging courses for the day.  Diane was most understanding when I stooped in tears to hug Aidan at the end of our run.

The teamwork behind our success belongs to more than just my tiny tribe.  I owe a huge debt to an immense group of people, and it is impossible to measure everyone’s contribution.  But it won’t stop me from trying:

Thanks first to Pam, an incredible breeder of westies and one awesome litter of whippets, for gifting me with this wonderful dog.  You were able to see with clarity that Aidan was the right dog for me.  And thanks to Piper and Katie for insisting I not pass up this auspicious opportunity!   

To Elizabeth, from the Addison’s group, for getting me through the first sleepless nights of Aidan’s diagnosis.  Your absolute wisdom, patience, and encouragement were priceless. (For the group: diagnosed 3-20-2010, Percorten 0.5cc q 24 days, pred 1.25mg am :)

To Leo, breeder and trainer of Borzoi Oxota, for leading me to Dr Tomasic.  This apparent happenstance probably did more for Aidan’s soft tissue recovery than anything else.  Sometimes we are introduced to the right people at the right times in our lives, but for reasons we don’t always realize at the moment.

To my parents, who have now turned into our raving fans.  It’s amazing how our dogs have shaped our relationships over the years, and have given us the opportunity to share so much more of our lives together.

And of course, my husband, who understands without knowing, who sees without the vision, and who loves me in spite of the challenges.  Can’t thank you enough.

And thanks to everyone else out there who had a hand in our development and success over the years; there isn’t enough time, words or space to appropriately honor you all, but we appreciate you nonetheless. 

*********

Video coming as soon as I can get it...

I met Karen in March 2010 when she turned up on the Addison Dogs Yahoo Group I am on and she was looking for the latest and most up to date info on Addison's. She was devastated that she had diagnosed Aidan with canine Addison's. She was feeling exactly like any other pet parent of a newly diagnosed ADog. It is overwhelming. Her precious Aidan was sick.

Aidan sure doesn't look sick now..

Here is another post I did on Aidan when he was at the Nationals.

Thank you Karen for sharing Aidan with me!