Blocked Bladder HELP!

Fluffyfatty

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Few days ago, my 2 year old healthy boy started straining to pee and I was worried when I saw that he was not releasing any pee. I rushed him down to the vet almost immediately and they said it was indeed a blocked bladder and that I caught it really early.

Vet did a urine analysis and blood test. Thank god his bloodwork all came back normal and levels within healthy range. The urine sample showed some crystals (not a lot) in it which possibly caused the blockage in the first place. They took my boy into insert the catheter and unblock the obstruction. The vet said the catheter went in so smoothly that he doubt the obstruction was a severe one. After that, they flushed him with fluids and the urine became clear in no time. The prognosis was so optimistic that the vet even discharged him 1day earlier. My cat was not peeing voluntarily on his own (discharge requirement) so they expressed his bladder and according to them, “there was a good steady stream of pee” hence the early discharge. They sent him home with antibiotics and anti spasm medication. No pain relief.

*THIS IS WHERE IT GETS FRUSTRATING*

When I took my cat home, he didn’t pee so I thought perhaps they squeezed all his pee out that he had nothing left. His appetite was still good so I left it at that. Next day came, he finally tried to pee but to my absolute horror, he was leaking/dribbling drops of pee. Not a stream of pee but dripping drops of pee slowly! He was still straining and looks like he’s in discomfort. He then went on frequenting the litter boxes around the house every minute and dropping drops of pee around. I was worried sick! Sometimes, I’d even find bits of blood in the drops of urine he left around the house. Sometimes, it’d be one drop of urine and if we’re lucky, sometimes it’s a small puddle. I was hysterical because they unblocked my cat for $2100 only to return me a cat that still has the same symptoms?

I brought him back in again and the doctor pressed on his bladder and told me that it was not full. The vet said it was not a blocked bladder because those feel hard and firm to touch and his bladder felt small and empty, meaning he technically is not blocked for the second time like I thought he was. My poor boy actually emptied his bladder but painfully through drops of urine?!

I got so frustrated because here they’re telling me my cat is not blocked again but how is dripping drops of pee normal?! And now what? Is he going to be straining and dripping urine his whole life? What happened to my optimistic prognosis?!

At this moment, I felt the vet got lazy, took the easy way out and pushed me for the Perineal Urethrostomy surgery. I always assumed that surgery was for more severe cases or repeated obstructions! My cat only blocked once and technically the second time he wasn’t blocked as his bladder is empty. It’s just the way he’s emptying it is worrying.

I left. Took my cat home. I kept him drinking water to stay hydrated while I seeked a second opinion. That night was tough, watching him pee so uncomfortably sent me crying. Next day I saw another vet and she said the surgery is something to consider as it’d give me a peace of mind. She weighed my options and explained the pros and cons for me and made me feel better about the PU surgery. She was upset that the first vet didn’t prescribe my cat any pain relief medication (probably because they felt my cat had such an excellent outcome). So she sent my cat home with some pain relief and a booked PU surgery with a specialist for next week.

I don’t know how else to explain this but literally right after I took my cat home from her clinic, he started peeing normally. A good uninterrupted stream of pee and decent amount. That day was the 3rd day ever since we’ve had the unblocking procedure done. Today’s the 4th day and he is starting to pee better.

Someone please help. My dilemma now is whether I should still go on with the PU surgery? The vets told me cats that have a history of blocking once almost always get blocked a second time. Even prescription diets won’t help prevent that. What should I do? Do I put him for the surgery at this point or wait till he gets blocked a second time? I wish he would never get blocked a second time. My heart would break!
 
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Fluffyfatty

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Are the symptoms improving only because of the pain + anti inflammatory medication the second vet gave me? What happens when I stop the pain medication and he gets the dribbling urine back again?
 

okeelady

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My daughters cat Bert had the same exact problem several years ago. She's has him on a prescription food (Purina prescription UR I think) and he hasn't had any problems since changing diet. One of my boy cats many years ago had the PU surgery because of blockage and he lived many years after that but that surgery is a big deal. If it were me I'd check with the vet again about diet and now that you know it could happen again just watch him really good but if it happens again RUSH to the vet. This is just my opinion.
 

okeelady

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The only real problem I had after my cat had the PU surgery is he would pee drops of blood for a few days clear up and it went on for months. After many vet visits and money I found out he was having idiopathic cystitis. The emergency vet (after about $500) told me it would clear up in about 5 days without any antibiotics which it did.
 
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di and bob

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Did they check him for a urinary tract infection, bacteria in the urinary system, any antibiotics? (inserting a catheter can introduce bacteria there too.) Peeing small amounts or none, with or without blood can be a UTI. His problems right after the vet stay could have been from inflammation of his urethra from the catheter. It subsided the next day. The catheter could cause blood too. I myself would observe him closely for the next few months, change his diet, and give him some supplements, found on Amazon for felines, that help with crystals. to tell if it is a UTI or a blocked bladder, press upwards with all 4 fingertips all along his lower abdomen. A UTI will have the abdomen feeling soft and normal (practise now to know what normal feels like), a blocked bladder willo have a hard, large mass present (the bladder) which you cannot miss. Since his was a mild case of crystals, I think the vet is jumping the gun. You may want a second opinion. My cat had these exact symptoms, it ended up being a UTI with small crystals, and he never had another episodes with supplements.
 
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Fluffyfatty

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The only real problem I had after my cat had the PU surgery is he would pee drops of blood for a few days clear up and it went on for months. After many vet visits and money I found out he was having idiopathic cystitis. The emergency vet (after about $500) told me it would clear up in about 5 days without any antibiotics which it did.
How did you decide it was time for your boy to have the PU surgery?? The recovery sounds so unpleasant and painful for the cats, dripping blood each time they pee...and for months.
 

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How did you decide it was time for your boy to have the PU surgery?? The recovery sounds so unpleasant and painful for the cats, dripping blood each time they pee...and for months.
I had no choice. This was probably about 18 years ago and the vets in my town weren't high tech (and still aren't). The vet said his bladder was like cardboard and if I hadn't had it done he would have died. This was before they started suggesting food changes etc. I would like I said just monitor him and check into diet and what previous people have said. I still break down in tears because he was my favorite cat and did live about 12 years after the surgery .
 
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Fluffyfatty

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Did they check him for a urinary tract infection, bacteria in the urinary system, any antibiotics? (inserting a catheter can introduce bacteria there too.) Peeing small amounts or none, with or without blood can be a UTI. His problems right after the vet stay could have been from inflammation of his urethra from the catheter. It subsided the next day. The catheter could cause blood too. I myself would observe him closely for the next few months, change his diet, and give him some supplements, found on Amazon for felines, that help with crystals. to tell if it is a UTI or a blocked bladder, press upwards with all 4 fingertips all along his lower abdomen. A UTI will have the abdomen feeling soft and normal (practise now to know what normal feels like), a blocked bladder willo have a hard, large mass present (the bladder) which you cannot miss. Since his was a mild case of crystals, I think the vet is jumping the gun. You may want a second opinion. My cat had these exact symptoms, it ended up being a UTI with small crystals, and he never had another episodes with supplements.
He was diagnosed with UTI a month ago (found him peeing tiny amounts but he wasn’t straining or going frequently) and antibiotics cleared that right up. But it was my fault, I should have restricted his diet right from that moment. I didn’t know how tricky UTIs can get with complications (potential blockage) so after his UTI cleared, I let him be.

A month later, he had a blockage. I personally didn’t feel for the hard bladder that night & I regret because I would’ve liked to know the difference so I can watch out in future. And who knows, maybe like you said it could have been a UTI and not a blocked bladder. But the vet said it was a blocked bladder did so let’s take his word for it.

After they discharged him, nobody mentioned a thing to me about how the catheter, urethra or bladder could cause inflammation. They made me think it was extremely unlikely that a healthy cat would pee so badly straight after the obstruction was removed. So they suspected it was a second obstruction hence they jumped the gun and pushed for the Pu surgery. Even though my cats bladder was clearly empty and small! The vet frustrated me because they kept blaming stress for everything! Yes I get that cats are sensitive creatures but come on, do some more digging before you blame every symptom on stress.

Thank god the second vet I saw prescribed some pain and anti inflammatory medicine that seemed to at least put my cat at more comfort while he pees. But she did also suggest the PU surgery...

I dont understand why. Isnt the PU surgery only considered for cats with reoccurring blockages? My cat didn’t have a second blockage, he just has a hard time peeing ever since they unblocked him!

update: Today is the 4th day since they unblocked my cat. He doesn’t like the Hills prescription food but at least he’s still showing interest in food and water. He is peeing better now (a stream instead of slow drops) but the amount of pee is smaller than what I would like. My other cats all have huge pees.
 
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Fluffyfatty

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Did they check him for a urinary tract infection, bacteria in the urinary system, any antibiotics? (inserting a catheter can introduce bacteria there too.) Peeing small amounts or none, with or without blood can be a UTI. His problems right after the vet stay could have been from inflammation of his urethra from the catheter. It subsided the next day. The catheter could cause blood too. I myself would observe him closely for the next few months, change his diet, and give him some supplements, found on Amazon for felines, that help with crystals. to tell if it is a UTI or a blocked bladder, press upwards with all 4 fingertips all along his lower abdomen. A UTI will have the abdomen feeling soft and normal (practise now to know what normal feels like), a blocked bladder willo have a hard, large mass present (the bladder) which you cannot miss. Since his was a mild case of crystals, I think the vet is jumping the gun. You may want a second opinion. My cat had these exact symptoms, it ended up being a UTI with small crystals, and he never had another episodes with supplements.
What do you feed your cat and can I have the names for the supplements? I’m going to get them straight away from amazon! I appreciate this so much! My boy deserves a second chance before they butcher him away and put him in needless endless pains.
 
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Fluffyfatty

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I had no choice. This was probably about 18 years ago and the vets in my town weren't high tech (and still aren't). The vet said his bladder was like cardboard and if I hadn't had it done he would have died. This was before they started suggesting food changes etc. I would like I said just monitor him and check into diet and what previous people have said. I still break down in tears because he was my favorite cat and did live about 12 years after the surgery .
You did great for him. You did everything you could and he lived 12 more happy years because of you ❤ Hoping I won’t have to come to that one day but if I do, I hope I have your strength to give my boy another 12 years!
 

Foundkitty

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I cant speak about surgery but I had a male cat that blocked and Vet. Unstopped him. He told me no dry food and no treats. I didnt completely follow his advice and he stopped up again. He unstopped him again and I cut out the dry food and treats, no problem after that! Maybe I was just lucky
 
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