Idiopathic/Interstitial Cystitis

Well I had my first experience with idiopathic cystitis, aka insterstitial cystitis, with my cat Sam. This is a inflammation of the bladder or unknown origin.

Sam is a DSH brown tabby and white 5yr old male neutered and up until now has had no problems. Last week he decided the best way to let me know there was a problem was to pee on my bed! With my RVT background and experience working in clinic I recognized this as him telling something wasn't quite right. Luckily I had a syringe at home and quickly collected the sample and took him to the emerg vet.

His urine sample showed no infection, normal amount of bacteria, high specific gravity, acidic PH and lots of RBC's. All pointing towards idiopathic cystitis.

Sam has always eaten a dry diet and has never been a big water drinker. He has always been consistent with his litter box habits.

There is no exact reason why this happens and can be brought on by stress. So I was racking my brain for things that may have changed that could have created stress for him. Then I remembered that I tried adding a litter deodarizer to his litter starting just 2 weeks before! I am sure this was the problem. The poor little guy probably couldn't stand the strong smell and was holding his bladder, which I think then irritated it.

Of course there are other contributing factors such as low water intake as a result of not drinking much water and being on a dry diet that prevent the bladder from being flushed out as often and increases the urine concentration. These affected cats seem to have more neuro transmitters in the bladder wall as well which I suppose makes them more sensitive as well as the fact they they seem to shed the lining of thier bladder( which is there as protection) more frequently.

Sam is now doing much better after limited treatment with metacam ( off label), using non-scented litter, adding canned food to his diet mixed with water to increase his water intake. I even went out and bought one of those fountain dishes to encourage him to drink more water. He was not treated with antibiotics as there was no infection present.

I am hoping that this change is what he needed to keep his bladder healthy and happy.... although this can be a recurring problem, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this was a one time deal!

For more info on idiopathic cystis....

http://www.medi-cal.ca/pdf/doreennotes/idiopathiccystitis2005_en.pdf

DNA sexing KeKe & LuLu

The birdie girls are doing great since KeKe's arrival. Although they don't seem to want to live in the same house, being both females they are too territorial, they sure do like to spend time playing outside of their cages together. LuLu is still the more dominant bird and will let KeKe know when she has had enough.

Earlier in the month I couldn't take the suspense any longer and decided to have them DNA sexed. After collecting a blood sample by trimming a nail and sending it to the lab I had a result in just a few days. I suspected they were both female and sure enough that's what the tests said too. I used a Canadian Company named Health Gene and found them quite efficient.

http://www.healthgene.com/

Somehow I feel better know that they are both girls.....At least I know I am not giving them a complex with their cute girlie names!