I'm so sorry Mel. I wish I had some help for you. I had to syringe water for my FIP kitty for a while, it was no fun - I was afraid she'd aspirate. The vet always said as long as you go real slow it's pretty safe though cuz the swallow reflex is so strong. Those fluids are so important though - what else do you do? SubQ? That stinks too, and would it even help as much in this situation? I don't know - I suppose it's worth asking.
You may also ask referral to a specialist. From a brief internet search, it seems like there can be underlying physiological reasons for reoccurring UTIs, too.
Here are some articles from the following link, but a specialist would know all about this stuff.
iknowledgenow
2. PROBLEM URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS ($4.95 USD, 173 KB) 97%
Dennis J. Chew DVM, Diplomate ACVIM; CA Tony Buffingon, DVM, PhD Diplmate ACVN, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Boyd Jones BVSc, Diplomate ECVIM, FACVSc, MRCVS, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
ACVS Symposium Equine and Small Animal Proceedings , October 6, 2004
This session investigates the causes of recurrent UTI – reinfection, relapsing infection, and persistent infection. Anatomical, metabolic, and functional predispositions for recurrent UTI are addressed. Effort must be made to exclude the possibilities for previously undetected uroliths or neoplasia, urachal remnant, polypoid cystitis, and ectopic ureters as anatomical considerations that could be addressed surgically. The use of vulvoplasty or episioplasty to reduce reinfections is reviewed. The controversial role of vestibulovaginal stenosis and suggested surgical correction is also considered.
3. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Urinary Incontinence ($4.95 USD, 59 KB) 96%
Shawn Ann Kearns, D.V.M., Angell Internal Medicine Service
Angell Animal Medical Center CE Seminar Notes, May 22, 2006
Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence are two of the most common conditions diagnosed in patients exhibiting signs of lower urinary tract disease. Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is a common cause of incontinence. Although medical management with α-adrenergic agonists and estrogen therapy is the mainstay of treatment of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence, assessing response to standard medical therapy is often indicated prior to pursuing other less available diagnostics and treatment options. Other therapies, herein discussed, may be indicated as related to other possible concurrent diseases and /or congential defects.
4. ROLE OF SURGERY IN THE TREATMENT OF UTI ($4.95 USD, 16 KB) 96%
Dale E. Bjorling, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
ACVS Symposium Equine and Small Animal Proceedings , October 9, 2003
Urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs commonly in dogs; As many as 15% of all dogs develop UTI during their lifetime. It is estimated that urinary tract infection is present in 5% to 43% of cats evaluated for lower urinary tract disease. The presence of renal failure or metabolic disorders such as hyperadrenocorticism or diabetes mellitus predisposes animals to urinary tract infection. Accurate determination of the specific bacteria present and their pattern of sensitivity to antimicrobials are critical to successful treatment of UTI. Recurrent or persistent UTI may be the result of: use of an inappropriate antibiotic; use of an appropriate antibiotic but for an insufficient length of time failure to perform urine culture after antibiotic therapy has been discontinued for at least 7 days to confirm control of the infection, presence of calculi; undetected pyelonephritis; prostate disease or anatomic abnormalities which interfere with treatment of UTI. Surgery, as appropriate to the underlying disorder eg. prostate problems, urolithiasis, diverticulum, etc. may prove to be a useful adjunct to medical treatment of UTI. It should be emphasized that in most instances, surgery will facilitate treatment of UTI, but definitive treatment will require microbial culturing and antibiotic therapy.
5. Surgical Management of Urinary Incontinence ($4.95 USD, 22 KB) 95%
Dale E. Bjorling, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
ACVS Symposium Equine and Small Animal Proceedings , October 1, 2002
Urinary incontinence refers to inappropriate retention or discharge of urine, although urinary incontinence is commonly assumed to refer to inappropriate discharge of urine or an inability to retain urine. Under normal circumstances, urinary continence is maintained by a variety of forces acting upon the urethra, including the tone of smooth and striated muscle, elastic tension within the wall of the urethra, intraabdominal pressure acting on the outer surface of the urethra, and the length of the urethra. These combined factors comprise the urethral sphincter mechanism. Various possible treatments are described.
6. AVOIDING AND MANAGING COMPLICATIONS FROM PERINEAL URETHROSTOMIES IN CATS ($4.95 USD, 33 KB) 95%
Daniel D. Smeak, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
North American Veterinary Conference, January 7, 2006
In male cats, perineal urethrostomy is performed to alleviate chronic or recurrent obstruction of the distal portion of the urethra. It is most commonly performed for urethral obstruction associated with what was once termed feline urologic syndrome, or feline interstitial cystitis. In the hands of most experienced surgeons, perineal urethrostomy is not an extremely difficult procedure but technical errors are not uncommon.
We're trying one more round of antibiotics and then x-rays.
