I talked to another vet this morning. He had all the right answers. He was a classmate of my wife's in high school 35 yrs ago. She remembered him as very studious and at the top of the class ( at John Castle High School in 1974, a very large class). He is the vet I wrote about in Newburgh, 35 miles away.
He asked me if this or that had been done. Many things that people on this site told me should have been done but weren't. Also some things we haven't discussed here but should have been done.
When I described the situation he said he would only do a perineal urethrostomy as a last resort. He said we should give diet a chance. A PROPER diet. A diet such as prescribed by many of you. He thought the surgery was jumping the gun. Vet; " if he's cathertered now then he is not obstructed. Did the vet put him on an IV to dilute urine and flush his bladder for a day or two?" Answer; "no".
He talked to me for at least 15 minutes. He was in his truck making rounds of the "barns". I met one of his associates at the clinic. She listened to everything I told her, she even asked me to clarify some of things I said. When I made a chronological error she caught it. We had a discussion for about a half hour.
Get this. The struvite crystals that the original vet diagnosed, (the "normal" crystals. Remember them?) They look exactly like oxylate crystals. When I was describing the crystals I saw under the microscope as 'long and pointed like the shape of fence pickets', she stopped me and went and got a book and gave me a 'photo lineup' I ID'ed the oxylate crystals. Bizarre. I did tell her to not take my word for it. To please check for herself.
I was stressed to the max this morning. Retrieving Sasha from the other vet went well but it took alot to make that move. Credit my wife Becky for insisting. Sasha himself seemed to take it all in stride. Wearing the collar and the catheter still in, he even dozed a bit during the long drive up. I really believe he sensed my calmness after I got him out of the vet's office where he had been scheduled for surgery. I was ashamed of the anxiety I displayed to him on the way to the clinic last night. I'm sure he felt my relief after talking to his new vet.
Will it all work out for the best? I hope so. I feel we made the right choice at this point. No matter what happens now I won't look back and second guess myself. Thank you to everyone who helped to educate me and to those who kept prodding me to seek better help. I was slow but until I met these vet's today I didn't know for sure what I was looking for.
PS, they said to call and check on him as much as I wanted. Also to come and visit too, just call ahead.
He asked me if this or that had been done. Many things that people on this site told me should have been done but weren't. Also some things we haven't discussed here but should have been done.
When I described the situation he said he would only do a perineal urethrostomy as a last resort. He said we should give diet a chance. A PROPER diet. A diet such as prescribed by many of you. He thought the surgery was jumping the gun. Vet; " if he's cathertered now then he is not obstructed. Did the vet put him on an IV to dilute urine and flush his bladder for a day or two?" Answer; "no".
He talked to me for at least 15 minutes. He was in his truck making rounds of the "barns". I met one of his associates at the clinic. She listened to everything I told her, she even asked me to clarify some of things I said. When I made a chronological error she caught it. We had a discussion for about a half hour.
Get this. The struvite crystals that the original vet diagnosed, (the "normal" crystals. Remember them?) They look exactly like oxylate crystals. When I was describing the crystals I saw under the microscope as 'long and pointed like the shape of fence pickets', she stopped me and went and got a book and gave me a 'photo lineup' I ID'ed the oxylate crystals. Bizarre. I did tell her to not take my word for it. To please check for herself.
I was stressed to the max this morning. Retrieving Sasha from the other vet went well but it took alot to make that move. Credit my wife Becky for insisting. Sasha himself seemed to take it all in stride. Wearing the collar and the catheter still in, he even dozed a bit during the long drive up. I really believe he sensed my calmness after I got him out of the vet's office where he had been scheduled for surgery. I was ashamed of the anxiety I displayed to him on the way to the clinic last night. I'm sure he felt my relief after talking to his new vet.
Will it all work out for the best? I hope so. I feel we made the right choice at this point. No matter what happens now I won't look back and second guess myself. Thank you to everyone who helped to educate me and to those who kept prodding me to seek better help. I was slow but until I met these vet's today I didn't know for sure what I was looking for.
PS, they said to call and check on him as much as I wanted. Also to come and visit too, just call ahead.
