I brought Ramsay (2.5 year old neutered male) to an ER vet earlier today as I suspected that he had a partial blockage. Since yesterday he has been straining to urinate. He goes to the box several times and hour, squats for 2-3 minutes and leaves a clump of urine/litter behind about the size of a grape. He has no other symptoms. He has not gone out of the box, does not cry when trying to urinate, he's still playful, eating, drinking, etc. He has no history of UTI, but I know how serious it can be, so we took him in right away. Now, here's where I get really confused.
ER vet:
Vital signs were all good. Bladder was enlarged. Gave Ramsay pain medication and put under sedation and tried to express the bladder and establish a good stream but was unsuccessful. Diagnosis was likely obstruction of the urethra. Method of treatment was to catheterize and flush urethra and bladder, take a full blood panel and keep him overnight for fluid therapy and in case of reblockage. After seeing Ramsay unsuccessfully attempt to urinate 2-3 times while in the clinic determined treatment should be immediate.
The price quote was VERY high, and the vet gave us another clinic close by in which we could transfer him to for the catheter and overnight hospitalization.
Vet 2:
Did not feel the bladder was enlarged when we arrived. Catheter passed "with ease". Bladder was drained and 3cc's were collected. Sample showed a microscopic plug containing mucus and crystals, as well as red blood cells. Urine was concentrated and cloudy. No free floating crystals were seen otherwise in urine. Vet did not feel that Ramsay was blocked, but had severe cystitis with straining causing him to pass only drops of urine. Ramsay received an antibiotic injection as a precautionary measure from the catheter, and Prescription Diet s/d, and was discharged. Recommends recheck of urine in 2 weeks.
So, that information was very conflicting in my mind, and I'm wondering what other peoples experience have been. I have never had a cat with this problem, so my knowledge is minimal. I don't know which vet was correct, and my regular vet is 4 hours away at the moment.
ER vet:
Vital signs were all good. Bladder was enlarged. Gave Ramsay pain medication and put under sedation and tried to express the bladder and establish a good stream but was unsuccessful. Diagnosis was likely obstruction of the urethra. Method of treatment was to catheterize and flush urethra and bladder, take a full blood panel and keep him overnight for fluid therapy and in case of reblockage. After seeing Ramsay unsuccessfully attempt to urinate 2-3 times while in the clinic determined treatment should be immediate.
The price quote was VERY high, and the vet gave us another clinic close by in which we could transfer him to for the catheter and overnight hospitalization.
Vet 2:
Did not feel the bladder was enlarged when we arrived. Catheter passed "with ease". Bladder was drained and 3cc's were collected. Sample showed a microscopic plug containing mucus and crystals, as well as red blood cells. Urine was concentrated and cloudy. No free floating crystals were seen otherwise in urine. Vet did not feel that Ramsay was blocked, but had severe cystitis with straining causing him to pass only drops of urine. Ramsay received an antibiotic injection as a precautionary measure from the catheter, and Prescription Diet s/d, and was discharged. Recommends recheck of urine in 2 weeks.
So, that information was very conflicting in my mind, and I'm wondering what other peoples experience have been. I have never had a cat with this problem, so my knowledge is minimal. I don't know which vet was correct, and my regular vet is 4 hours away at the moment.