Bleeding after my cat was spayed

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

I’d like to get your thoughts following my last two visits to the vet. Maybe I’m being a bit overprotective, but I believe that when you have a pet, you have a duty to look after them properly.

I have a little 10-month-old female kitten called Vaïana. She’s very cuddly, lovely, playful... she’s my baby! After her first season, I decided to have her spayed on 23rd March 2018. In the fortnight following the op, I noticed little droplets of blood on the floor tiles. The blood was coming from her vulva. When I took her to the vet, he took a urine sample and tested it with a dipstick and under a microscope. He told me she had haemorrhagic cystitis (apparently very common in cats...), but that it had nothing to do with the operation. He gave her an antibiotic jab and I gave her antibiotic tablets for 15 days.

My problem is that Vaïana is still bleeding despite the treatment. It’s just a few drops that can last for two or three days. She isn’t cleaning herself properly down there. And when we pick her up or when she sleeps with us, we often end up with blood stains on us. That said, she’s eating and drinking well, has no issues using the litter tray, doesn't seem to be in any pain, and her behaviour hasn't changed. After a month of this bleeding, I’m really upset because she was in perfect health before the surgery.

So, I’ve just taken her back to the vet, but unfortunately, he couldn't send a urine sample to the lab because she wouldn't go. In his opinion, there are several possibilities:

- some kind of trauma related to the operation.

- a specific type of urinary tract infection (I can't remember the name).

- something like a *****’s season (again, I can't remember the name), like a hormone imbalance. However, since she’s been spayed, he thinks that’s impossible, especially as she’s a cat.

So that’s where things stand. No progress made, and I just have to wait again. Even though he’s assured me it’s not serious, I’m sceptical. What do you think? Have any of you dealt with this kind of thing before?

Translated from French
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    • ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Good idea, yeah, I’ll mention it to the vet, thanks!
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    D
    Domiaramis Icon representing the flag French
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    If they need plenty of wet food to protect their kidneys as much as possible, it might be worth investing in a water fountain to encourage them to drink even more.

    Have a word with your vet about it and see if they think it’s a sensible purchase.

    Best of luck to both of you!

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thanks for your reply. Do you have a cat with the same issue?
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    R
    Ragnar Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, to avoid crystals under normal circumstances, you should be giving as much wet food as possible, if not an exclusively wet diet. I’m not sure if that applies in your case, but in my opinion, it likely does. The best way to prevent kidney issues is wet food, wet food, and more wet food.

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    G
    Greylox Icon representing the flag French
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    No, as far as I’m aware, there aren’t any crystals that are more serious than others; some are just rarer than others.

    [Link to information on urinary stones in cats]

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I’m so worried and I just bombarded the vet with questions... I asked him what the worst-case scenario would be, and that’s when he mentioned kidney failure. On the other hand, he doesn't want to be too definitive because every animal, just like every human, handles illness differently. I get that. I just want to stay informed and be prepared for every possibility.

    I’m going to find out what type of crystals they are tomorrow when I get the lab results. Is there one type of crystal that’s more serious than others?

    As for monitoring, he said we'll do a blood test every year.

    Thanks again for your message, you’ve no idea how much better it’s made me feel reading it! It’s such a relief to know I might have caught this in time!

    Translated from French
    G
    Greylox Icon representing the flag French
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    No, I don't have the brands to hand, but basically it works by affecting the acidity of the urine to dissolve the crystals. As there are several different types of crystals, it’s better to let the vet tell you which one is best. Kidney failure is something that develops over the long term but can be monitored (via blood tests). Weight loss, vomiting, and lethargy are the most obvious symptoms (but they're also quite generic symptoms that could point to another, less serious issue). I think your vet is being both very alarmist and not particularly reassuring. Now that you know your little girl is prone to urinary issues, you know it's something to keep an eye on. The real problem is healthy cats with no warning signs, where no monitoring is in place, who develop kidney failure without anyone noticing. In your case, you’ve been warned she might be prone to it, so there’s much less chance of it creeping up on you. And the earlier kidney failure is detected, the "easier" it is to manage. edit: I'm not going to lie to you though, kidney failure is still a terminal condition for cats. BUT a cat's life expectancy and quality of life can be very good if it’s caught in time and they're on the right diet. One last thing: you aren't at the kidney failure stage yet, and there’s no proof you ever will be ;)
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Thank you. Just changing her diet felt like a bit of a small step after hearing that news... do you have any particular brands in mind? I’m seeing my vet tomorrow to discuss the next steps now we have the results. He also mentioned that cats who get kidney crystals can develop kidney failure in the long term, but that the symptoms are really hard to pick up on. I’d never forgive myself if I didn't get her help in time because I failed to notice she wasn't feeling herself. She means the absolute world to me... Thanks, I’m going to follow your advice and get a second opinion from another vet.
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    G
    Greylox Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, Unfortunately, kidneys have always been a bit of a weak spot for cats. I know some are more prone to stones or crystals, but I wasn't aware of the genetic factor. From what I know, yes, a specialist diet can help manage these kinds of issues. However, whenever it comes to a chronic illness, I usually go to a second vet for another opinion, if only to compare the proposed treatment and the care plan.
    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone, Thanks for your replies. I’ve had the lab results back. As it turns out, it wasn't cystitis, and it doesn't seem to be linked to her operation after all... Vaïana has crystals in her kidneys, and apparently, it's down to a birth defect 🤧 The vet told me that unfortunately there’s no medication to cure this condition, but we can limit the crystals with a special diet. He wouldn't give me a straight answer on whether it would shorten her life expectancy because it’s so unpredictable. I’m absolutely devastated, she’s not even a year old yet... Does anyone else here have a cat with the same condition?
    Translated from French

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