I'm worried about Corkscrew

[Uabassoon]

I really had no idea exactly what was going on until I talked to the tech a few minutes ago. But tomorrow they are going to give him the anestisia and take a needle to take out the urine from his bladder. After that he should be sent home with some medicine. So the cost will include yesterday's visit, the procedure that they will do to him in the morning, boarding, and the medicine he will need to bring home with him.

[AmberLee]

Phew. As bad as it is, it could be so much worse.

{{{hugs for you, and the Corkster, and all his many friends who are concerned too}}}

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by Uabassoon

... give him the anestisia and
take a needle to take out the urine from his bladder.

After that he should be sent home with some medicine.

Did they mention installing a temporary "Catheter" ??

Boot's got the Catheter Treatment twice -
and was Sent Home WITH it installed (and a Cone to make sure
it STAYED installed!)

Vet said the catheter needed to stay in place for several days
to allow the blocking "crystals" to flush out of his system.

The "needle removal" of built up urine is usually an emergency procedure -
and doesn't *open up* the blocked urinary passageway.

I'd suggest a more lengthy discussion with his Vet -
ask WHAT the condition is that's causing the problem;
AND if the procedure is a "good fix" - or just a temporary remedy.

There are Several PT Kats that have had urinary blockages -
and they all wound up with the Sir Jury to re-route things

[Uabassoon]

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?

[Uabassoon]

It kind of sounds like this is what they are doing to him

On occasions your veterinary surgeon may want to collect urine directly from the bladder. This is most easily achieved by passing a needle into the bladder. It sounds a bit unpleasant but it’s surprising how well the majority of cats tolerate the procedure. The cat is positioned on its back or side and the skin in the area over the bladder is shaved and disinfected. A fine needle attached to a syringe is passed through the skin, into the abdomen and into the bladder. This method avoids the risk of the urine sample being contaminated.

http://www.catclinic.co.uk/health/urinesamp.htm

While I hate having to worry about cost, in all honesty I'm young and I don't really have a whole lot of money. Of course I will do whatever it takes. At least right now with what is going on the bill is still pretty low and I still do have some more money saved up should he need sir-jury.

[NoahsMommy]

Hopefully, them not having time means he isn't bad enough where they need to do something NOW.

Is he peeing more today? Is he on pain medicine?

I've seen them do that needle thing. In fact, Livvy had it done and it didn't bother her at all. It sounds much worse than it is.

I'm so sorry you're without him another night. Soon, this will all be over and he'll be home under the covers with you.

Take care, we're here if you need to chat.

[auggie]

Laura, did they tell you that his bladder was enlarged?
Why do they suspect urinary crystals if they haven’t been able to get a sample?
If they suspect a blockage, they should flush him out now and not wait until tomorrow morning.
Phoenix had his bladder flushed twice. The first time by my vet with a cost of over 300$
The second time at the emergency vet’s for more than double that amount.
He was in the hospital for two days with the catheter installed.
This happened last year and he’s been ok every since.
I hope poor Corkscrew is going to feel better soon.
Hang in there and keep us updated.

[leslie]

Laura, I have twice brought male cats to vets with symptoms of possible crystals. In both vet visits, they took urine from the bladder with no anesthesia at all. the needle is very tiny, the cats did not mind at all. Are they afraid of little Corkskrew and trying to get extra money out of you with anesthesia? (and wasting prescious Corkscrew time?). Do you like the vet? I have never gotten updates from techs, always directly from the vet with full explanations and plenty of time for me to ask questions because they know I don't understand the medical terminology. I pay a pretty penny for it but it is worth a life saved. Still hoping for rapid recovery for your family!

[Cinder & Smoke]

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
.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Laura, I'm so sorry to hear that Corkscrew is still at the vets and that he may have crystals. I sure hope that the procedure goes well tomorrow.
Cirrus was so blocked up in March that he had to have a catheter and then he went through the surgery to make him pee like a female. It also cost me more than the average cat because he's semi-feral and becomes very scared and vicious at the vets so they have to put him under to do simple procedures. Even though my vet knows this, he tried to give him his meds without putting him under and he bit him so he's now known as "killer" at my vets office.
Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way. Please take care and keep us updated when you can.

[Uabassoon]

Are they afraid of little Corkskrew and trying to get extra money out of you with anesthesia? (and wasting prescious Corkscrew time?).

In all honesty I can understand why they would want to give him the anesthesia. Corkscrew is a big and strong cat and while he's tame with me and people who he knows he's very different around people he doesn't trust. When I placed him into the cage at the vet yesterday I could almost immediatly see the change in him, I was even afraid to touch him. I just quickly closed the cage door because I was scared he was going to attack me.

Laura, did they tell you that his bladder was enlarged?

They didn't say it was enlarged but he said it was very tender. Corkscrew would also yowl with pain when the vet would touch his bladder.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Laura ~

(Hope you haven't *signed off*!)

READ this article -
it's one of the best web write-ups on the subject.

Towards the bottom, there's info on the Surgical Remedy ~
Called THE PERINEAL URETHROSTOMY

You could even *print* the article and take it with you
to the Vet tomorrow as a reference.

Article >>>

marvistavet.com ~ Urinary Blockage

/s/ Phred ..

[Uabassoon]

Thanks for the link Phred.

[leslie]

When my cats act out at the vet so to speak, instead of using anesthesia, they take em in the back room where I they use a restraining devise that I have never seen (to my own joy). It's better than waiting- I would prefer blood work be done NOW than do an overnight because so and so is being weird and hissy!. My vet is Dr. Kat (Katherine) Ternes. She specializes in cats. I moved to Boston in 1985, went though a series of vets that tossed my cats around like puddy till someone told me about this vet who does house calls. She has been my vet since about 1987. She no longer does house calls because she was fresh out of vet school at the time. I love her because she hugs and kisses the cats, is sensitive, gives me loads of time for my money, is available 24 hours a day (she has met me at her office at midnight before with a dying foster kitten who was not under her care but was kind enough to see us), and has been available during off hours for me when I've called her regarding Jan's sick cats who have no vet. My point is, she could possibly give a referral to a good cat vet in your area should you ever feel you are not being heard. Or not being told the whole story. She is expensive (office visits are up to probabably $40 - I dunno cuz i dont do annual visits since she told me on the sly that distemper and rabie vaccines last a lifetime- keep that to yourself- she said it's known among vets but not state laws yet). Just fyi for future- I prefer a well informed female vet who goes to all the feline conferences regarding new info and expects all her female (for some reason, all the vets -2- she hires are women!) are always well informed with latest info and spend at least 30 minutes per office visit and kiss and hug all the cats. Its no wonder there is a waiting list to get in at The Feline Hospital at Salem MA

[Kater]

Laura, I'm sorry Corky is so sick. He has been in my prayers and will continue to be. Hopefully his problem is only temporary and responds well to this course of treatment!
{{{BIG HUG}}}
We are all here for you!