Originally posted by Uabassoon

... 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,

... How do vets normally test for crystals?

After that will they need to install the catheter?
Don't panic!!

As long as Corky ism't the FIRST male kat the Vet has treated -
chances are s/he has done this Test & Treat MANY times!
"Blocked urinary tracts" on MALE kats is a very common problem!!

You don't have time to read up on it right now; but if you read
deeply enough, and talk to enough Vets; you'll find they have
MANY "theories" of how & why crystals, stones, and other blockages
form in the males...
And the "How do we Treat" question gets many theories
and different answers, too!

MY Vet suggested an IMMEDIATE "release" of the backed-up
urine in Boots by IMMEDIATELY installing the Catheter - AND
making the "installation" secure enough that he could
Keep It IN for several days - allowing time for the Bladder to be
completely *flushed out* - and hopefully he'd "never" plug up again.

And when the Catheter is inserted - *whoosh* - he gets the Urine sample
to test for WHAT is plugging things up!

*IF* your Vet did the Needle Insertion - they HAVE a sample.
If they DIDN'T do the needle withdrawal,
I HOPE they're sure poor Corky does NOT have a full bladder;
but let's give the Vet the benifit of the doubt -
I'm sure they know what they're doing!

Boots forgot to "Read da Plan"... he plugged up again a couple
weeks after the First Flush!

Catheter #2 was installed, he flushed, tube out;
all was OK for a day or so - then another morning of
DAD! I can't *PEEE* - an it HURTZ!

Back to the Vet ~ for ~
Catheter #3 and he was transferred to the Hospital for Sir Jury!

In Hind-Sight - we should have taken Option #2 that Doc Mike
offered on Plug-Up Day #1 - which was to do the Sir Jury and
not "hope" he'd flush out and have no more problems.

If you don't know what the Sir Jury IS -
they remove the penis completely, and reconstruct him (INTERNALLY)
so that the urine is discharged through a tiny opening
near where the penis WAS on his belly.

MOST Kats (thankfully, Boots is one of the "most") -
have NO Problem "controlling" their elimination =
no *dribbles* or inability to "hold it" till a litter box visit
can be scheduled. He *pees* when HE wants to.

And even if crystals or stones RE-form in his bladder -
the "New Plummin Route" has a larger opening and is a little bit
shorter than God designed him the first time -
much less chance of a "plug" forming and preventing the
flow of urine.

So the Big Question for You & Dr Vet to hash out IS:

Is the "plan" being followed a sure fix - or a "maybe"??

The Operation (Forget WHAT the medical term is ) - is pretty
much a sure fix - and very easily done by an experienced KAT Vet.
Patient (Corky) should tolerate it just fine.

Trying to flush and medically "treat" the crystals or stones
that form in the urine - to prevent their formation -
is not quite such a sure thing. And -
if the Non-Surgical remedies don't work - you're faced with
additional rush visits to the Vet IF he plugs again.

BEST thing for you to do is ask the Vet to EXPLAIN what your options are.

Hang in there!

{{{HUGS}}}
/s/ Phred
.