How can I help my cat with kidney stones?
My 11-year-old male cat (neutered and indoor) has kidney stones. For the past couple days he's been having a lot of trouble urinating, and when he does manage to urinate there's been blood in his urine. He's also been vomiting and doesn't have an appetite.
He's had kidney stones a couple times before, and when I took him to the vet, they gave me these pills to give him, but he would just throw them up. I don't remember what was in the pills they gave me, but I know they were an antibiotic.
What can I do to help him until I can get him to the vet? Is there any way I can help him break up the stones, like a special diet I could give him? I know I shouldn't give him dry cat food — are there certain vitamins that could help break up the stones, or ways to encourage him to eat and drink more? Also, what can the vets do to help him, other than surgically removing the stones? Is there something like an antibiotic shot they could give him?
Thanks in advance!
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4 comments
old cat lady on May 31, 2009 at 9:10 am
What possible good effect could come from giving a cat antibiotics for kidney stones (from calcium)?
A urine that is too acid causes the stones to form. I am sure Dr. Hill has a formulation for that in his Science Diet special food and that is what your cat should eat until the problem with the stones is resolved. If the diet doesn't correct the acid urine then surgery to remove the stones is the only recourse.
There is nothing you can use in the interim to help your cat. Get him to the vet as soon as possible and try the special diet.
Lost_Fan82 on May 31, 2009 at 9:10 am
The best way to help your cat is take him to the vet. The worst way to help your cat is to help him yourself. There are millions of ways that you could injure your cat worse. Taking him to the vet will insure your cat perfect help and health. They might give you different pills or maybe shots. They might also recmmend surgery for your cat. Please keep in mind that your helpless cat's health is in your hands.
chai! on May 31, 2009 at 9:10 am
go to the pet store and ask, they can give u cat food specially formulated to help cats not make stones as much. also, make sure he drinks LOTS of water. be careful, my cat had to have a really expensive procedure because he kept getting stones and he couldn't pee and almost died, now he's got girl parts…lol but hes happy
to get him to drink water, try taking him into the bathroom and turning on the faucet and letting him drink from that, my cats love that
study77 on May 31, 2009 at 9:10 am
I'm not 100% positive, but I think there may be an injectable antibiotic he could take. Or ask for a liquid antibiotic. It's not as hard on the cat to swallow it. Sometimes they throw up because of the stress of being forced to take these pills. Do what you can to get him to drink more water so it is easier to flush the kidneys. If he isn't drinking at all, you may have to force water with an eye dropper just to make sure he doesn't dehydrate, which would cause him a lot more pain on top of what he already has.