Well, we are back from the vets. She was her usual cantankerous self, but I will say they were able to take her temperature (which is normal), which is actually saying a lot....he still had to do everything with a towel over top of her...but he spent a lot more time listening and feeling... under great protest from ms Ritz, but he's used to it.

Here is what he did. He is familiar with her history. He did not do blood work yet. About an hour before I took her, she actually peed a pretty decent amount two times in an hour....not as much as normal still, but a lot more than she has been....which is a good sign. Knowing this, he said he wanted to give the antibiotics a chance to do their work.

He switched her from Clavamox to another antibiotic. He said that his experience has been that Clavamox doesn't always attack the stubborn infections as well, so that is the plan. He wants me to watch her over the next 2-3 days and call him back with a progress report on Friday morning. If she still is sitting and straining, they want her to come back in for a day under mild sedation to do a full battery of tests, including full blood work---specifically looking for stones in the bladder. Fortunately, I'm doing work from home this week so I can keep a close eye and stay on "litter watch"

Since she is otherwise active, eating, playful (to a point) and not having other problems, he felt he wanted to give the antibiotics a full chance to do their work. He is a very good vet and we have used him foryears - I've been pleased and do trust him, the only down side is that he doesn't have any emergency hours and the vet 45 miles away is the only choice.

So, phase 2....keep the paws crossed, Ritz is back home and perfectly happy again....thanks again for all o fyour kind thoughts and input!