JUST TODAY CHANGE OF INGREDIENTS

[Mary K]

Geff, Check your personal messages

[lacy]

Im glad to hear about collecting the sample from them in the cage. Makes me feel TONS better. I dont think he is having too much trouble getting urine to pass. It just takes him a minute to get if flowing. I watched him yesterday and he peed just as much as the other kitties, so the cage thing will work. If they dont offer that, then I will change vets! It might be time to find a closer vet sometime anyway. The kitties HATE that car ride. Im pretty excited because right outside my neighborhood they are building a veterinary hospital. Now lets just hope the docs are good! I thank you ALL you guys again for your helpful information.

Geff Im sorry about your eye. Right before I get migraines I go blind in my right eye. Lasts a while..then I get vision back. All this talk about kitties goin to the vet, looks like you need to go too! (not the vet, to the doc..)   I hope it gets better!! Let us know.

[Geff]

Garypen--I think we are saying the same thing.  Maybe I wasn't being clear--sorry.
I agree, I think they go thru the skin and into the bladder.  It's hard to count all the times I've had to do this between both cats, but it must be at least 10 and no problems so far.

Lacy--I'm sorry if we are scaring you--sounds like I feel needle collection is safe and Geff feels squeezing is safe, but we both agree the vets will do free urine collection when possible.  So, I wouldn't let that stop you from getting to the cat to the vet.

Geff--I'm glad about the good outcome for your cat.  Mine's an indoor and was kind of girly to start with, so he doesn't seem to miss his member.  I guess we were lucky he came home so soon--I think he was so sick prior to surgery that he was very cooperative and just felt a ton better afterwards.  What do you think the problem with the Hills was?  Their food tends to be heavy in grains, maybe it raised the pH to the point where it was easier for bacteria to form?  Gosh, sorry about your eye problem!

Hi CC - I think both needles & squezing are potentialy unsafe; at minimum they're traumatic to kitty. Where possible I reccomend the collecting method where they put kitty in a cage with a grid underneath & lots of water & collect his urine below it.  The exception would be a blocked up cat would require either the needle or a cathater.

I don't have the background to know what Hills ingredients caused the problem. My female actually did pretty well on it; but I have since learned that Hills has a less the good reputation.

[Geff]

You mentioned this before Geff.

What's going on with your eye if you don't mind me asking?

I'm about 3/4 blind in my left eye at the moment. This just started. I've had "floaters" for a couple years. I don't remember the technical diagnosis but it basically no big deal; learn to live with it. About 9 days ago I started having part of my vision blocked by something brown that looked like my pupil. It was intermittent. There were also intermittent periods of liquid, where my vision without glasses looked like glasses with rain on them.

The pupil shaped blockage has grown to cover 3/4 of the vision in my left eye. Usually brown, but sometimes bright green. Also getting something that looks like modern art scribbles in the same area. No pain at all. I'm a MEDICAL WEENIE, but I finally called my doc & left a voice mail earlier today. I hope it doesn't need surgery, or i will be terrified. Actually, I'm already terrified!

[Cindy Nevarez]

Thanks for sharing.

If you do need surgery, try to do some relaxing techniques...it will be so much better for you, if you can teach yourself to relax regarding this.

In 93' I had the eye surgery that cuts your eyes to improve vision in both my eyes. Nowadays they do it with lasers...which is probably what they would do with you....so much better I hear.

If you research the doctor, and find that he is "the best in his field" or something like that...it goes a long way to helping build confidence in yourself too. That's what I did, and at that time there were very few to choose from in that field!

Let me know how it goes at the doc's if you feel like it.

[Davis]

Geff, so sorry to hear about your eye. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say that we're hoping the very best for you. Please let us know how you are doing as soon as you find out what's going on.

[garypen]

Geff - You're just going to the doctor NOW, after losing 75% in that eye? You're like those pet owners who posts that their animal ate a can of recalled food, is throwing up continuously, and are wondering whether to bring it to the vet or not.

Get yer ass to the doctor!

[Geff]

Thank you all for caring. I've had some issues with that eye for 2 years that the doc told me at that time I would have to learn to live with so I was hoping this would go away by itself. I'm under the impression that laser surgery tomorrow is a distinct possibility.

As far as choosing the best...... while I live in the 4th (I think) biggest city in Washington state, there are only 2 doctors in my city that do this. I remember that this person isn't as patient as I'd like, but I suspect I'm a very difficult patient to deal with.

As far as relaxing while I'm there, my motto in this situation is, "Xanax, don't leave home without them!!!!" Some people are terrified of spiders & snakes....... This one is my #1 other then maybe physical torture (Which I've fortunately never had!!).

[Cindy Nevarez]

OK, ok xanex it is!

You'll be fine Geff.

The good news is that laser surgery makes it possible to recover super fast. I had the old 'slice and dice' surgery, and it took 6 months to recover...I was not happy. But 'm still glad I did it.

[Geff]

Thanks again to all for your concern. I am going in for "emergency" surgery Wednesday that has an 80% chance of saving my left eye. I'm told the bill will be $20,000-$30,0000 with no overnight stay. Wish me luck. I am terrified. I was told that I shouldn't expect to be up to being on a computer again after the surgery until Monday.

                                                    Geff

[Cindy Nevarez]

I (we all) DO wish you good luck Geff!

Take lots of slow, long, deeeeeeep breaths. It'll help.

Talk to you soon!

[garypen]

Geff - You have insurance right?

BTW, if Xanax isn't doing it, try good old-fashioned Valium or the very pleasant Atavan. Guaranteed to relieve your anxiety. (Won't help pay the hospital bill though. But, you won't care.)

[Geff]

I (we all) DO wish you good luck Geff!

Take lots of slow, long, deeeeeeep breaths. It'll help.

Talk to you soon!

Hi Cindy - I'm going to have to take the deep breaths this time, they said no Xanax 

[Geff]

Geff - You have insurance right?

BTW, if Xanax isn't doing it, try good old-fashioned Valium or the very pleasant Atavan. Guaranteed to relieve your anxiety. (Won't help pay the hospital bill though. But, you won't care.)

Nope, no insurance, self employed & can't afford it.. Sad that the cat gets better care then i do......

The last time I had surgery they did give lots of valium (30+ years ago). I'm normally opposed to drug abuse, but in this case I'll make an exception.........!

Unfortunately my biggest phobia is any invasive medical procedure & of that my eyes are the worst.

I really wanted a few days off work, but not quite this way!'

Thank goodness kitty's health is stable.

I'll report back asap; the doc seemed to think it would be painful & that I wouldn't be up to the pc until Monday. Hope he's wrong. Somehow I don't think the cat's into taking care of me!

[jenny]

Oh, Geff.  I hope all goes well - just said a prayer for you.