It's scary hey?? I know blockages can be quite a bit worse with cats, and males at that. But my female beagle just had to have stones and crystals removed a few months ago. Her bladder was 80-90% full of stones and crystals. Expensive, painful, scary for sure.

My best advice on the diet thing - is to go with what the vet says. I was very resistant at first because I don't like the brands most vets sell - however, the prescription diets ARE specifically made to aid prevention of certain problems, and really it's not something I am willing to mess around with, when the consequences are severe enough to warrant surgery.

Since then she's had her urine retested a few times, the first food she was put on elevated her urine PH too much - so we switched, and everything looks great now. The food is doing the job - and if they know what food she is on, they're better able to help me figure out how to solve a problem, if one arrises.

I'm sorry you have to go through this, and I hope recovery is quick for your little furry guy. I also hope your vet is able to answer your questions for you and ease the confusion.

I know about the financial pressure. I am happy you can tell us you will have your boy again.

Another suggestion: Whatever food you put him on, add wet food to his diet. Wet food provides more fluid to flush the kidneys and bladder, sometimes helping prevent the accumulation of crystals and stones

best of luck.

The blockage, crystals and all sound like the same thing we went through with our cat Buddy. Yes, we paid the money and yes, he is okay now.

He eats Royal Canin - Control Formula now, from the vet, and has not had any further problems. He doesn't like the canned version, so we feed him the dry with water mixed in.

I am glad you were able to get your kitty fixed. I hope that he is well-controlled with his new diet +/- medications.

Thank you everyone. He went to the hospital and had surgery this last Sunday, then to the vets for observation, and as of 2pm Thursday, he is still there. I don't know when he is coming home.

I visited him yesterday, and he was curled up in the litter box with tubes in him. It took me a while, but I did get him purring.

Well I got to bring him home last night. He is so happy, and I will be too once I get over the sticker shock. $1,000.00 for 4 days of "observation". Not including the surgery itself.

They sent me home with a case of Prescription Diet canned food. Is that good or is there something else better. I want to make sure he gets exactly what he needs.

Thank you for any suggestions you may have.

Alexis

Like I said before - I think when it comes to something like this, the best thing to do is to go with the vets advice.

The first food the vet put my dog on, she didn't do well with. She got itchy, chewing her feet, loose stools. So the vet switched her. She did better on that one, but it elevated her urine PH too much, so we switched her once more - and everything is where it should be, no itching, firm stools, etc.

Had I gone off on my own and picked out a food my vet knew nothing about, we'd have no idea if it was the food causing problems, or if there was still something wrong, what food I could switch her to, etc. It makes me more comfortable that even though the food isn't the highest in quality, especially compared to what she was on - I'm on the same page as the vet.

Depending on the type of crystals or stones found - certain things need to be done to alter the urine to prevent them from re-occuring. The diet for each type is different - so it's safest to not do too much on your own, without running it by the vet first.

I asked about food when she was first put on this food, on this forum - and was pretty much told to stick with it, it will be OK.

You can ask your vet which other foods he could be on, should this one cause trouble - and then do some research on your own, or ask us a few questions, and make a decision from there.

The quality of the food my dog is on now - is 100x better than the first food they put her on, and it shows, so it was definitely worth bringing up to the vet.

Welcome to the forum! We have been there, last year with our oldest girl. She had kidney stones, and she had one surgery to remove them and 4-5 ultrasounds. The last ultrasound revealed the stones were still forming and the vet said it was our decision, another surgery or take her home and hope for the best. I took her home and had a heart to heart talk with her. I told her it was up to her whether she wanted to stay here with us or if it was time to go. I told her I loved her and wanted her to stay but she needed to choose.

We took her home, gave daily sub-Q fluids and Prescription canned food, and within a week she was like a kitten again. She has put on about 3 lbs (she was down to 6 lbs after surgery) and is healthy and happy.

Follow your vet's food prescription. We do pay a lot for the Hill's canned food, but it keeps her kidneys healthy.

Best of luck, and give him a snuggle for me!

My boy, Micah, is doing very well after his surgery.. Almost. He stopped eating Tuesday morning, it is now Thursday. The vet sold us a case of Prescription Diet which, up to now, he has been eating very well. We are 2/3rds of the way through the case and he always seemed to like it. Could he have decided after all this time that he doesn't like it? I think he has lost weight and his coat is not as nice as it should be. I will call the vet but am trying to avoid a visit if possible since I am still paying off the surgery

Thank you for any and all thoughts.

Alexis