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In case you missed it on social media over the weekend: we have a diagnosis for Pita!
She’s been diagnosed with Patent Urachus, and she goes for surgery to correct it tomorrow!
Nearly 4 weeks ago, when I was scooping the litter box, Pita climbed in and peed. I happened to glance down and saw that she was passing bloody urine. She was started on antibiotics immediately because it seemed a pretty textbook urinary tract infection.
When there was no improvement after several days, she saw vet #1. The vet took a urine sample (saying it looked “really weird”) and sent it off to the lab. The results didn’t really show anything aside from blood in the urine, so the next week Pita went to vet #2, where they examined her, did bloodwork, and we didn’t really get any clear answers. Michelle consulted with vet #3, who had a thought on what it could be, and suggested an ultrasound to see if he was right. She went for that ultrasound (and a follow-up vet appointment right after), and it was pretty clear: Patent Urachus.
(The urachus acts as a passageway from the fetal urinary bladder to the allantoic cavity. When the umbilical cord is transected at birth, closure of the urachus occurs. If the urachus does not close after birth, then an animal has a patent or persistent urachus.)
She’s going tomorrow for a relatively simple surgery, which will fix the problem. And yes, she is still adoption pending!
I can’t tell you how relieved I am that we HAVE a diagnosis and that there’s a fix for it. I’m so grateful that I happened to glance down when Pita was in the litter box and realized there was something going on! Patent Urachus is so rare that neither the vet nor the doctor who did the ultrasound had seen it before. Usually in kittens (from what I’ve read) Patent Urachus usually causes urine to leak from a kitten’s belly button, and that obviously isn’t how it presented in Pita’s case (always gotta march to the beat of her own drum, that girl). I’m both relieved and anxious to get tomorrow’s surgery done and over with. Unless they find something they’re not expecting (I mean, it is PITA we’re talking about here, right?) she should be home again tomorrow evening.
Tomorrow’s also Meander’s spay surgery – Pita and Meander are being operated on by two different vets at two different locations, but the locations are relatively close to each other – so it’s a big day for the Love & Hisses kitties!
Note: Pita’s surgery (and tests so far) are estimated to add up to about $1,500. If you’d like to donate, you can do it via PayPal at this link right here. (If you’d like to donate via Venmo or check, email me – mizrobyn (at) gmail.com and I’ll tell you where you can do that.) Whether you donate or not, your good thoughts aimed toward that silly girl tomorrow as she undergoes surgery will be MUCH appreciated!
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“Bring it on, kid!” says Pita to Bolt.
“I SAID, bring it on!”
Bolt waited ’til Pita was distracted by a toy to BRING IT ON (which she did by grabbing Pita’s tail, and then running away).
Dillydally in the heart basket.
Skitter gives Pita the eye.
Meander keeps an eye on things from a distance.
It’s Skitter on the Fancy Sofa.
Two trees, six kittens. Skip, Dillydally and Mosey on the top left, Lollygag on the top right, Bolt on the right middle, and Skitter on the right bottom.
You’ve heard of avocado toast, but have you heard of Skitter toast? Just a dab in the corner of the toast will do you.
Pita shows off her jumping skills, and Lollygag and Skip are watching closely.
Leapin’ Pita.
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Pita takes a nap with Uncle Newt.
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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr) yesterday.
Pita shares her breakfast with Uncle Newt.
Bolt is so busy trying to get mama to make some space in the pie plate and keep an eye on me that she has no idea she’s about to get the ol’ chomperoo from Skip.
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Bolt watches Pita bat the dangling toy around and then he spits at her, which – if you can’t tell – absolutely delights me. I love it when the little ones give her some attitude.
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Pita and Dillydally play a round of Slappy Paws and then Dillydally remembers she’s got an important appointment elsewhere.
Good night innernets. (Mosey & Bolt)
In short: Pita has been diagnosed with Patent Urachus and she goes for surgery on Tuesday to correct it. It’s RARE (of course it is), but it is correctable, and she is going to be FINE.
The long version: 3 1/2 weeks ago, when I was scooping the litter box, Pita climbed in and peed. I happened to glance down and saw that she was passing bloody urine. She was started on antibiotics immediately because it seemed a pretty textbook urinary tract infection.
After 5 days there was no change in the color of her urine (otherwise, she was acting completely fine and in fact has acted 100% normal this entire time), so she saw vet #1. The vet examined her and took a urine sample to send to the lab. She said the urine looked “really weird,” which I did not love hearing. The results weren’t really helpful, so the next week Pita went to vet #2, where they examined her, did bloodwork, and… well. Ultimately, it wasn’t helpful either. Michelle consulted with vet #3, who did some research and had a suggestion on what it might be, but Pita needed an ultrasound to confirm. That’s what her appointment yesterday was for, an ultrasound and a follow-up with vet #3, and it was clear: Patent Urachus.
(The urachus acts as a passageway from the fetal urinary bladder to the allantoic cavity. When the umbilical cord is transected at birth, closure of the urachus occurs. If the urachus does not close after birth, then an animal has a patent or persistent urachus.)
If the explanation of the surgery the vet provided yesterday had stuck in my head, I would be able to tell you exactly what he’s gonna do. Unfortunately I was so relieved that my brain turned to Teflon™, and the explanation slid right off. Rest assured: he’s going to fix it. She’s going to be fine.
I’ve been so worried that we were just beginning down a road that would require weeks and weeks of tests and no answers, that to HAVE an answer and a way to fix the problem is just – I can’t even tell you how relieved I am. I slept like a rock last night.
So those are the details; I think I’ve covered everything, and I am sorry if I made you worry and wonder this past week, but it’s all good. She’s going to be fine… not that any of this has slowed her down ONE TINY BIT! (She will be glad to have me stop hovering over her while she’s using the litter box, I’m sure.) 😻
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The kittens are playing, and along comes Pita. She and Dillydally (orange tabby girl) are becoming friends, I think. Though Pita doesn’t realize she’s twice Dillydally’s size and needs to be GENTLE. She’ll figure it out! (Don’t miss the part about 45 seconds in when she hops at Pita.)
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I would never have believed any of the kittens would be able to get up there. They’re still so tiny! (But very determined, obviously.)
Also, Pita and Dillydally are playing slappy paws, and how cute are they?
Pita and Dillydally discuss who that mouse belongs to, while Skip is ready to mediate (or steal the mouse for himself.)
Good night innernets. (Skitter & Dillydally)
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Pita likes to just hang out in the foster room and watch the little kittens play (and she’s always on standby in case someone is in the litter box and needs her “help” to cover things.)
I’m sensing a bit of attitude from this Dillydally Skip pie. (My favorite!)
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Napping with Pita. She is just the BEST napping companion.
Pita makes herself comfy on Uncle Newt’s scratcher couch.
Good night innernets. (Bolt)
From left: Dillydally, Lollygag, Mosey, Bolt, Skip and Skitter.
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Previously
2023: No entry.
2022: No entry.
2021: The foster room is packed!
2020: Have I mentioned I could squoosh him all day long? I really really could.
2019: Charles, on the other hand, fretted and wailed and stuck his paws through the cage to pat at my shoulder, and paced as best he could, and then to top it all off, he used the litter box so stinkily that I had to stop and scoop the litter box.
2018: No entry.
2017: No entry.
2016: With the tufts on the end of his ears, Felix reminds me of a lynx.
2015: Pile of kittens on the rug in Fred’s room indicates that there was a recent drive-by nursing.
2014: “Dennis, my butt! Did you see it? Did you see my butt?”
2013: Apparently Norbert’s ears are a delicacy.
2012: No entry.
2011: “WHERE MY FOOD, LADY?”
2010: No entry.
2009: No entry.
2008: First visit: not such a rousing success.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: Greetings from Kitten Town, And3rsonville, USA, where I’m currently on Poop Watch.