Reply #32: pushing lots of water isn't the solution

[yo-yo-ma]

because it doesn't sound like a kidney problem

I mean - I don't know exactly but I'm a human doctor and have had many cats. From the xray you said that his bladder was grossly distended. This means that his kidneys are producing urine. Sounds loike he has urinary retention and filling him with IV or sub q fluids will only make that baldder fill faster. Most of the prior posts refer to the treatmetn kidney diseases in cats (rather common) different, I think, from whats going on with you.

It's unclear what's caused the urinary retention. It doesn't sound like the vet knows. It could be an infection, but, with the proper antibiotic, he should get better not worse. Other things that could cause it are stones (as mentioned above), if a stone lodges blocking the urethra, these tend to be quite painful. (Here is a situation where heavy hydration would work) Other things are neurological, the nerves to the bladder aren't functioning well (doesn't sense when its full - from something in the spinal cord)-- very very rare; or a growth or tumor inside of the bladder -- also very very rare and perhaps could have been seen on xray.

You need a diagnosis, and if the cat's getting worse, take him in. Tests that could help would be (and they might have done) - looking at the urine for both stones and infection, urine culture, blood tests for infection - a panel like that costs less than $50.

Bottom line - if he's drinking (normally - cats don't drink a lot, compared to dogs) but peeing less, he could easily still have urinary retention. Cathing the bladder just makes it go away temporarily. Then the urine accumulates and the bladder expands, until finally it can't grow any more and then it literally starts to spill over - which you see in small bits of urine.

Please take him in. And please don't force the water.

You're a good person to care -

It is very hard to read a sick animal.

Best of luck