Hello all,
Buster has been my steady companion for 15 years, since he was a kitten. He's never had any major health issues until recently.
3 weeks ago I had to take him to the vet for an emergency visit. He was straining to urinate and only released bloody drops outside the litter box. 1 overnight stay, 2 days and $1500 later, I was told it was a blockage and bladder infection. No kidney stones, no UTI – just a blockage and bladder infection. He had contracted E coli, which caused the bladder infection.
This morning, I had to take him in again for more straining while he was trying to pee. He could only manage to get bloody drops out and wasn't using the litter box. He's been acting fine otherwise - eating, purring, active.
He also passed some bloody tissue in his urine which I took to the vet. Unfortunately, the vet couldn't get a urine sample because his bladder was empty by the time I took him in.
She said she was able to detect a pulse behind his bladder. I was told that pulses indicate some sort of mass or vein blockage (hence the pulse). She wants to get a $500 ultrasound so they can see what is exactly happening. I'm not sure what to do.
If there is indeed a mass that needs to be removed, it would require surgery. He's 15 years old and healthy for his age. I cringe at the thought of his being operated on. I'm trying to get some input before I spend $500 to possibly have an elderly cat operated on when I'm not even sure of that would be a good answer, either.
Thanks in advance for listening.
CS
Buster has been my steady companion for 15 years, since he was a kitten. He's never had any major health issues until recently.
3 weeks ago I had to take him to the vet for an emergency visit. He was straining to urinate and only released bloody drops outside the litter box. 1 overnight stay, 2 days and $1500 later, I was told it was a blockage and bladder infection. No kidney stones, no UTI – just a blockage and bladder infection. He had contracted E coli, which caused the bladder infection.
This morning, I had to take him in again for more straining while he was trying to pee. He could only manage to get bloody drops out and wasn't using the litter box. He's been acting fine otherwise - eating, purring, active.
He also passed some bloody tissue in his urine which I took to the vet. Unfortunately, the vet couldn't get a urine sample because his bladder was empty by the time I took him in.
She said she was able to detect a pulse behind his bladder. I was told that pulses indicate some sort of mass or vein blockage (hence the pulse). She wants to get a $500 ultrasound so they can see what is exactly happening. I'm not sure what to do.
If there is indeed a mass that needs to be removed, it would require surgery. He's 15 years old and healthy for his age. I cringe at the thought of his being operated on. I'm trying to get some input before I spend $500 to possibly have an elderly cat operated on when I'm not even sure of that would be a good answer, either.
Thanks in advance for listening.
CS