Urgent Advice neededfor blocked cat...

My cat Levi became blocked a few years ago and he was placed on a prescription diet. He became blocked again and I took him to the vet yesterday and after the assessment they estimated cost of $1000. I told them all I could afford was$300, so they cut everything they could to get it down to that price (including in hospital stay/treatment). They "unblocked" him and I took him home with some medicines but he hasn't gone to the bathroom since he's been home... He's tried. He's just very lethargic and uninterested. I don't know what to do, I can't afford to do any extensive treatments, as I'm still paying off treating my other cat (who had to be put down) from kidney failure between November and February.

I'm very sorry but if he's been blocked and unblocked and then sent home, shame on the Vet. He should have stayed a minimum of 3 days to continually flush the bladder and kidneys with IV fluids or sub-q. Did they say what the blockage was caused from? Crystals/mucous or stones? Can you look into care credit?Would they do a payment plan with you? Red Rover also offers emergency relief grants if you qualify. Right now though, he should be in the hospital. I'm hoping he is not re-blocked. I am thinking if they sent him home that soon they don't even know if he can pee or not. I'm very sorry about this, I am hoping his kidneys are alright. Would they run a blood test to see how the kidneys are?  I'm very sorry for Levi. I hope you can get him help.

@nansiludie, he was sent home because there wasn't anything more I could do financially. I don't think I would be approved for care credit and the hospital does not do payment plans. They told me when they let me go it is possible for him to get blocked again, but there's not much more I know I can do with my lack of funds.

Okay, I see. Will he eat? If he will not eat and won't/can't pass any urine by tomorrow you might have to think about putting him down. I'm so very sorry to say it but sometimes, that's all that can be done. 

Oh my, what a dilemma. As you probably know, when a cat is blocked, it is life threatening. So if he is home & he isn't urinating at all, despite the medication, this is an urgent scenario. I understand that you have spent what you can afford & believe that you wouldn't get approved for care credit. But could you perhaps try to apply? Or perhaps borrow some money from a friend/family member? I wouldn't normally suggest that, but under these circumstances, it's life or death. 

@rlavach, I just tried, not approved. I am still paying my mom back for the treatment of my other cat who passed, which totals almost $1000. It is a nightmare... But I think I may have to put him down.

I was able to borrow the money for further treatment and the vet was able to discount about 20% off the estimated bill. Levi went in at 8am PST and is doing well so far. He will be kept for a maximum of 2 days from when he was admitted. I will post an update.

I'm so glad to hear that! I really hope your little guy feels better. What type of food does your kitty eat? You probably already know this from looking around this site, but cats with urinary issues have to eat an all wet diet with water added in. Since I switched my boy over in fall, he's been doing great. 

So happy to hear you were able to get him in for treatment!! Sending good vibes your way!! 

Great news. I felt very bad about him being ill. Hopefully he'll be as good as ever and ready to go home at that time. I'm glad you got a discount too. I was wondering if you were feeding canned or dry rx food?

Levi was eating dry food. The wet food is just too expensive... He is on a prescription diet for urinary tract disease. I forget the brand, but it's the "c/d" formula.

c/d sounds like Hills to me. I really do sympathise with you about financial issues, but if you could afford to feed him even a little wet it would be a good idea. If not, then take extra measures to boost his fluid intake - hydration is extra important at times like this. One of the easiest ways I know is to make flavoured water. Poach some chicken and give him the poaching water, or get a can of tuna in spring water, empty it into a bowl and cover with more water. Let it steep for a bit, then remove the tuna and serve the water. Keep the tuna or chicken for yourself

This article has some other great ideas too http://www.thecatsite.com/a/tips-to-increase-your-cat-s-water-intake

I really hope Levi recovers soon.

Columbine said:

c/d sounds like Hills to me. I really do sympathise with you about financial issues, but if you could afford to feed him even a little wet it would be a good idea.

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It is made by Hills.

JB68711 said:

Levi was eating dry food. The wet food is just too expensive... He is on a prescription diet for urinary tract disease. I forget the brand, but it's the "c/d" formula.

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There is a canned C/D formula but it's expensive, as are most prescription foods. You can actually feed regular commercial foods for a lot less over time than the prescription stuff. Most prescription foods don't have any magical ingredient that helps with a particular issue anyways. C/D dry has zero water and water is needed to keep the urinary system and body healthy.

Even one 3 oz can a day with extra water added would be hlepful. You don't need some expensive fancy brand. Fancy Feast and Friskies are affordable for many people and are often on sale at supermarkets and chain pet stores. Plus there are always coupons, in the Sunday newspaper and ones you can print off the Internet.

But feed whatever works for your budget and situation Dry, while not ideal, can be fed. Do your best to encourage the cat to drink more water on his own. Columbine posted some good suggestions.

Some cats get urinary issues due to stress. Try to keep stress levels low. I've heard of people using Feliway to keep such cats as stress free as possible.

I wasn't sure to post here but I'll share my experience with my cat and leave a link to another site written by Dr. Pierson which I use for my cats. My oldest male, Whiskers was blocked last July, he is the first male I have had that ever blocked and he could not pee so after a week in the hospital he was sent home. I kept him on the RX food but for me too it was far too expensive as well, even with coupons. He's a large cat so he was eating 3 to 4 cans a day. I decided to see what there might be and I came across Dr. Pierson's website/cat blog. I took her advice and I feed him canned food, Friskies Pate Turkey and Giblets with extra water added, at least several tbsp. This coming July will be a whole year, thankfully without any blockage. I also make him some food according to Dr. Pierson's recipe. I don't feed him any dry. I've moved away from dry all together. As I had another cat, a colony cat, block and end up being put down. His kidneys failed him.

Here is the link. http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth

I know this may not work for every cat but its worth a shot given your cat blocked again on C/d dry. 

My cat was to have had P/U surgery, a rearranging of sorts of the uretha and that area. For me, it was too expensive and thankfully it was as I probably would have had it done when he did not need it. Now again, some cats do need it but I think sometimes it may be done too soon but in other cases it saves lives.

Agreed very much with LTS3

Another thing I learned about cat urine is that meat-based diets like canned food make cat urine acidic naturally, whereas dry/carb based food, such as one with a lot of grain or corn makes it alkaline which doesn't dissolve crystals. I do not feed him fishy flavored food as its high in phosperous because it has its own bone but he gets tuna on his birthday as fishy flavored food is his favorite.

Thanks for your responses, I didn't realize there were more replies to this post. I got some canned c/d from the vet for free, but he's not eating either one anymore (I started a new thread on that)...
the c/d dry worked for a long time. He was blocked around this time in 2012 and was put on that diet, but when I lost my job a year ago I started feeding him cheaper food, and after I got a new job I still fed it to him because he wasn't having any problems :/