how to get a sample

from a cat?? Smooch wont use his litter tray with no litter in it, the vet gave my mam them ball things but he hates them, we have tried putting the balls into his tray with a litter bag in also so he can hear the rustling sound like what it would be if his litter was in there. we have left more water out than normal to but nothing seems to be working

the vet has said that if we cant get a sample then to leave him with her all day, but what would she be doing different to us?

I had an issue like this with my Dante - he absolutely would not use the litter with the cool little plastic beads the vet provided me. And, he gets totally upset when I leave him all day at the vet, and lets the vet know it - we tried that one time. What the vet and I agreed to try, and which actually worked, was for me to make a late afternoon appointment. Luckily, Dante is a pretty regular pee-er - morning and evening - so his bladder was full enough for her to get a sample when I took him in at 5:00 pm (involves a needle, but you end up with a nice untainted sample). I wonder if something like that might work for you?

What my vet did when I did leave him all day was basically put him in a boarding cage with the little litter box and hope kitty eventually decides to pee - a lot of them will, but, in my case, my boy held it til I got him home.

Good luck, believe me I know it's frustrating!

the vet wont do the needle thing but she said she could get a sample so im a little intrigued to how she would get it

They take the sample straight from the bladder. It's called Cystocentesis, and is much the preferred method. Urine changes as soon as air hits it.

A good clean sterile sample is much better for diagnositcs. It doesn't hurt the cat, and is not not too expensive.

but shes checking for cyrstals so can they still do that by taking it straight from the bladder

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

but shes checking for cyrstals so can they still do that by taking it straight from the bladder

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Yes. They'll be able to see crystals under the microscope. Getting a sample through cysto guarantees the cleanest sample, thus making any problems (bacteria, RBC's and WBC's, and crystals) easiest to see under a microscope.

so really as she knew we couldnt get a sample by letting him go himself (tried last week same thing happened) she should of said then that this process would be easier and probably less painfull than him holding it in all day

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

so really as she knew we couldnt get a sample by letting him go himself (tried last week same thing happened) she should of said then that this process would be easier and probably less painfull than him holding it in all day

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True enough. If I had a cat who was suspected of having crystals, I wouldn't want to dilly dally around, taking days to try and collect a urine sample and if my vet realized I wasn't having luck getting one, I'd hope that he'd be sharp enough to suggest something like the following........feeding him a good bit of canned food, putting him in a room without a litterbox for a couple of hours ...then taking him into the the Vet so that they could either collect a sample by massaging the bladder or better yet, as others have suggested; cystocentesis. It's extremely quick for them to do this. My young cat just had this done on saturday and it wasn't more than 5 minutes from the time they took her into the back and the time they brought her back out to me. I would call your Vet first thing and tell them you want this to be done, no more messing around and wasting time. I could never get a cat to pee in the tray like you're trying, either. If your Vet acts clueless about doing a cystocentesis or tries to talk you out of it, I'd seriously consider getting kitty into another Vet ASAP. Let us know how things go. Possible crystals in a cat are nothing to fool with, prompt diagnosis and treatment is key.

Vets can also squeeze the bladder manually and induce urination in the cat and collect it in a little pan right there on the exam table if your cat will let them! My vet does this all the time and it works great! You have to be really careful when doing a cysto because if the cat moves at all, you risk damaging the bladder.

Usually when we send clients home with the beads to collect their own sample, we recommend they keep the cat in the room for a full 24 hours so they have no choice but to urinate. Though this is usually a last resort since normally we try squeezing, then cysto if they're a good candidate for it. If not, we recommend they drop off with us for urine collection. Very last resort, we'll send the client home with beads. The at-home collection works about 50% of the time, I'd say.

well we spoke to the vet again hes booked in for monday to be sqeezed and to stay all day to see if he pees

she is not going to be sticking a needle in to get a sample! if she acnt get one he has to go back in a month to try again

I used a dust free aquarium gravel you can get at any pet store. Some people use uncooked rice, but I was concerned it might soak up the little bit my cat was eliminating.

There are many sizes. I used the smallest, roundest gravel I could find. He had no problem using the box and I got a fine sample.

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

well we spoke to the vet again hes booked in for monday to be sqeezed and to stay all day to see if he pees

she is not going to be sticking a needle in to get a sample! if she acnt get one he has to go back in a month to try again

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A month! If crystals are suspected a month may be too late. Monday may be too late! What is all this delay? Urinary tract problems are very painful in cats, and in males very serious and dangerous, a blockage means death within 24 hours.

The cat does not feel the needle taking urine from the bladder. It is not dangerous. It doesn't hurt the cat (whereas squeezing the bladder most certainly causes discomfort) I'd find a new vet, this is ......I never heard of such delay in a cat wiht possible urinary tract problems.

hes already been treated they want a follow up sapmle to make sure the crystals have gone

I missed the month part. WHAT? Uh, get a new vet. Like yesterday! I've never heard of anything so medically inept!

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

hes already been treated they want a follow up sapmle to make sure the crystals have gone

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OHHHHH. Well, that's a little more reassuring. Still the best way is through the bladder. As soon as air hits the urine, it changes.

The month follow-up makes sense to me, especially if the cat has been peeing pretty well since treatment was started.

You know, don't freak about about the needle (yes, I know that's easier to say than do). At least with my boy, he is much less stressed out by the needle draw than either staying at the vet or being locked up at my house with the plastic litter. He's actually had the needle draw done four times over the last few years, and he seems ok with it - less stressed. At my vet's office, they warm up the old ultrasound to guide them into the bladder, so it's usually pretty straight forward - at least so far with me and my two.

For me, the tricky part was figuring out a good appointment time so my guy didn't pee just before we left for the vet

the vet refuses to do the needle procedure so taking that option away

hes going in on monday so we will see

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

the vet refuses to do the needle procedure so taking that option away

hes going in on monday so we will see

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But, why?

......

no idea but she wont she dont seem half a good as the vet i use but my mam doesnt understand that yet

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo

finally got a sample off Smooch to get it to the vets so will update when we hear for the vet