Question. Please read. (update: Doesn't seem good...)

[slleipnir]

I phoned the vet.

He said it's good he's atleast peeing a little, and that his bladder just might be empty but still a little irratated which makes him want to pee. He said he could have been tired because he was up all day at the vet.

He said I need to keep an eye on him for the next few hours and make sure he's not straining to pee. Problem is I have to work tonight...

(edit)
He just "peed" again...no luck, he's straining again and only dribbled a little pee...I think I'll take him in tonight with him to be sure...*bigsigh*

I'm at a loss here. I have NO idea what to do. i don't have 700 bucks everyday for this...whatever they do. Urg, he's doing it again now. He just went like 30 seconds ago with no pee, and he went right back. Again, just a tiny speck of pee.

What do I do if he is blocked again? Is it really fair to him to give him this surgery? What if it's too expensive? Will it still come back? I honestly don't know what I'll do if it costs too much. I don't know how I could even have him put to sleep...that's what will happen if I can't afford it, right? I'm so worried...plus I have to work tonight and I really don't want to. I just want to be with my Butter. What do you guys think is best for him?

(edit2) What I mean is, if the surgery helps it go away for good, then he's gonna need that, because ifI get him cathetered again and it just comes back in a day, then I definetly can't help him...so I guess I only have the money for one more thing...should I try the catheter again, and hope, or should I get the surgery and hopefully be done with it? But is that really fair/humane? Plus if he has a heart problem then that's hard to do...Why me? I can't handle this

[slleipnir]

*sigh* hejust tried to pee on my clothes with no luck, and now back in the box....I'll definetly take him in when I go in a couple hours.

[jazzcat]

I'm so sorry. I've not experienced this with a cat so I don't know what advice to give. What did the vet recommend?

I know several PT cats have had the operation with success. Maybe they can help you decide.

Prayers and good thoughts for you and Butter.

[slleipnir]

I'm so sorry. I've not experienced this with a cat so I don't know what advice to give. What did the vet recommend?

I know several PT cats have had the operation with success. Maybe they can help you decide.

Prayers and good thoughts for you and Butter.

I haven't had him in yet, so I don't know for sure what's going on. I'm sure the vet would recommend the catheter again...but I don't think I can do that. I would rather have the surgery and know he'll be fine...They must think I'm rich or something

[Kirsten]

I just read this entire thread, and I'm so sorry that you and Butter have to go through this.

First of all, let me say that I'm more than relieved that you brought him to the ER that weekend, and it's totally beyond me how the first vet you've called could tell you it doesn't sound serious! The symptoms you described in your first posts sounded VERY serious!!

I understand your worries about the financials. But I know, none of us here would give up on his cat for that reason!

I hope there will be a way to prevent further blockages, maybe a penis amputation would do? (I know they do that sometimes with male cats that are prone to blockages).

I know you cannot compare this as my Luna is a girl, but she's having problems with UTI/struvite crystals for years. Her urine needs to be regularily checked to make sure she doesn't develope a blockage. As soon as she has problems peeing, off to the vet we go.

This year, one vet recommended some homoepathic remedies (Berberis and Cantharis) as an addition to her diet food and her UROPET paste, and she's doing much better since. Maybe homeopathy would work for Butter as well? I think it may be worth a try, and it's not expensive.

I really hope that Butter's current behavior is still coming from an irritation of the bladder tissue. I'll keep him in my thoughts, hopefully he will feel much better soon!

Kirsten

[slleipnir]

I was talking to my dad.

He said it doesn't make sense to keep paying 700 everyday for nothing. Then have a surgery which will cost like what, $2000? I mean if it costs 700 just to stick a tube in him, I can't imagen what the surgery will be. So I guess I will try this one more time, my dad said he could pay for half of it, but then I should not put anymore into it.

Has anyones cat actually had the surgery? how much did it cost compaired to being catertized?

What are the chances the second time being caterized will actually work? Especially when he never actually got over the first one? I mean, he was home for one day and already couldn't pee.

I'm really frightened. I honestly don't think I can have him PTS, but I honestly don't think the money thing is going to work. He might also need heart surgery...and that/s after a $200 ultrasound. I know you all think I should do that payment thing, but I have xmas coming up and 3 other pets with a lot of high payments for them. I honestly do not think I can pay for this. I'm sorry if I let you all down, but I don't know what to do. I can't stop crying thinking of it. He hasn't pee'd all day so if there is no pee by morning I'll have to take him in.

[Catty1]

Is he drinking and eating?

If he is not drinking a lot, a much less expensive thing might be for the vet to give him sub-q fluids to fill his bladder quickly, and see how he does then. See what your vet says.

I am sure they must have known he could pee okay before they sent him home?

Also - TELL them how scared you are and that you don't have a ton of money. If the one vet is nice, I am sure something can be worked out.


HUGS

[slleipnir]

The vet said he WAS peeing fine...I saw him have a little to drink atleast. He was eatting last night. I think I would like the vet to check just to be sure..

[sandragonfly]

sweetie, I'm praying hard and harder!

I feel bad not having this experience with one of my cats so I don't really have much advices to share. I know one person who's really expert at this problem, who PMed me when I thought one of my cats had crystals...I'll have to find her right username! shoot, I forgot.

I think, well if I were you, by aly's description and experiences in basic vet's offices before - if nothing else more than blockages - a surgery probably would be better, especially less painful (and less expenisve) for your dear butter-boy going through this over again and again.

don't feel bad making a decision, I trust you love this boy with all your heart and I know you will find out the best for him soon! just give yourself some more time thinking on this while butter is being taken care of.

edit ~ curious.. do you feed butter RAW or what food?

[slleipnir]

I took him out again, and the vet had a quick look. He said his bladder doesn't feel big or hard or anything which is good. But he did an x-ray or something and there is a lot of "grit" in there He said if he doesn't pee by tomorrow then it's a problem...and of couse, the vet is closed tomorrow so that will be another $100 just for the visit. He said they will have to do it all over again, and if it comes back yet again, then there is the surgery. I told him I really can't afford that. He just look sorta sympathetic. I really don't want to go through all this just to have to put him to sleep in the end. I know that's a mean thought, but...

[Glacier]

What do I do if he is blocked again? Is it really fair to him to give him this surgery? What if it's too expensive? Will it still come back? I honestly don't know what I'll do if it costs too much.

(edit2) What I mean is, if the surgery helps it go away for good, then he's gonna need that, because ifI get him cathetered again and it just comes back in a day, then I definetly can't help him...so I guess I only have the money for one more thing...should I try the catheter again, and hope, or should I get the surgery and hopefully be done with it? But is that really fair/humane? Plus if he has a heart problem then that's hard to do...Why me? I can't handle this

Unfortunately, I have tons of experience with this problem. My vet recommends the surgery after the third blockage. He told me that 30% of all male cats will block at some point in their lives. Of those cats, it happens to 10% more than once and about 5% of them will eventually need a PU surgery.

Pete blocked five times in four months. By the time I sent him for the surgery, he was blocking every 36 hours. My vet flat out told me, "you put him on a plane tonight, or bring him back tomorrow tonight and I"ll end this for both of you." My vet can't do the surgery and Pete had to travel to Saskatoon where it was done at the UofS vet school clinic.

The surgery does not solve the underlying problem. Whatever is causing the blockage will still be there. It does solve the lifethreatening problem though. A blockage is painful and can be fatal in a hurry. The surgery stops that entirely.

However, it does leave the cat more vunerable to infections. Pete gets on average 2 UTI infections a year. As he gets older, they seem to get less frequent. Twicket had the same surgery and lived to be almost 15. He had one infection in the 2 years I had him. Pete still has litterbox issues. He associates it with pain so sometimes he pees in the wrong spots(like the laundry basket!) He also still eats a special diet(Royal Canin Urinary formula).

If you have a teaching hospital or a vet school near you, contact them about doing the procedure. Pete got truly exceptional care and the bill was about half of what it would have been at a private clinic. It was still very expensive, but at least is wasn't as pricey as it could have been.

I was very nervous about doing the surgery, but now I wouldn't hesitate. If my other boys develop the same problems, they are off to the surgeon! Pete came home happy, affectionate and his life expectancy is the same as any other indoor cat now. Worth every dime of the bill and the interest Visa charged me!

I hope you don't have to deal with any of that though and that Butter is back to health very soon!

[ramanth]

Poor Butter.

I'm sorry he's not feeling well.

[Catty1]

Is there a vet hospital anywhere? You are in the Maritimes, right?

Not to nit-pick - but did they make sure poor Butter was grit-free the first time they sent him home?

Although - his bladder isn't enlarged or hard...so something is getting thru.

Try this - get some good cranberry capsules. Put about 1/5 of the powder in one of them in wet food, yogurt, pumpkin, whatever he might eat. That will make the urine more acidic and will help.

Also, get more water into him. Add warm water to his wet food...having anough bladder pressure might be enough to get the rest of the grit out. The pH food for urine will do this also, help dissolve stuff, and fairly quickly.

Please try to not panic (I know), and get lots of water into Butter.

Poor baby Butter!

[slleipnir]

Unfortunately, I have tons of experience with this problem. My vet recommends the surgery after the third blockage. He told me that 30% of all male cats will block at some point in their lives. Of those cats, it happens to 10% more than once and about 5% of them will eventually need a PU surgery.

Pete blocked five times in four months. By the time I sent him for the surgery, he was blocking every 36 hours. My vet flat out told me, "you put him on a plane tonight, or bring him back tomorrow tonight and I"ll end this for both of you." My vet can't do the surgery and Pete had to travel to Saskatoon where it was done at the UofS vet school clinic.

The surgery does not solve the underlying problem. Whatever is causing the blockage will still be there. It does solve the lifethreatening problem though. A blockage is painful and can be fatal in a hurry. The surgery stops that entirely.

However, it does leave the cat more vunerable to infections. Pete gets on average 2 UTI infections a year. As he gets older, they seem to get less frequent. Twicket had the same surgery and lived to be almost 15. He had one infection in the 2 years I had him. Pete still has litterbox issues. He associates it with pain so sometimes he pees in the wrong spots(like the laundry basket!) He also still eats a special diet(Royal Canin Urinary formula).

If you have a teaching hospital or a vet school near you, contact them about doing the procedure. Pete got truly exceptional care and the bill was about half of what it would have been at a private clinic. It was still very expensive, but at least is wasn't as pricey as it could have been.

I was very nervous about doing the surgery, but now I wouldn't hesitate. If my other boys develop the same problems, they are off to the surgeon! Pete came home happy, affectionate and his life expectancy is the same as any other indoor cat now. Worth every dime of the bill and the interest Visa charged me!

I hope you don't have to deal with any of that though and that Butter is back to health very soon!

The problem is, I cannot afford to do it again, THEN do the surgery. It's way to much money.

We have a very good vet collage here, which is where I took him. A lot of people come from different places to come to our vet collage.

[Catty1]

I am just wondering if it is possible that they didn't do everything right the FIRST time - like making sure he was peeing ok before being sent home - that might give you leverage on the price?

I'm not saying be a pain....just get the facts.

HUGS