Phred thank you for giving me some more information on what needs to be done. I'm not sure what is going to be done after they do the needle. Right now I just know what is happening up to that point. When I speak to the vet in the morning I will make sure to ask the questions that you have told me to ask. I know that they still haven't actually been able to get a urine sample from him, so I don't know if they are just doing that to test his urine since the vet has been unable to touch him since he's been there. How do vets normally test for crystals? Is this a common procedure to test if they are unable to get a sample? After that will they need to install the catheder?