Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 11/30/2009

Question
Hi,  my 17 yr old female cat is at the vet as I write,  she had trouble urinating yesterday and is very dehydrated.  She also has Hyperthryroidism and will start her on meds asap. They gave her a sub Q bag to palpate her bladder.  My concern is if its a stone which she has had before what measure should I take since she is 17 and frail.  I am praying that she will only need an IV and she will flush her system out and I can bring her home and get her back on track.  Should an xray be done also to be able to view possible stones? Since she is getting fluids what if there is a blockage, how dangerous is it for her body?  thanks so much.

Answer
Lis -

There are several things you can do if she has bladder stones.  The therapy depends on the type of stone.  Some stones can be dissolved with diet.  Other stones must be removed surgically.  Your vet will tell you what type of treatment is necessary dependent upon the type of stone that is removed from the bladder.  

Consult with your vet to determine if a radiograph is necessary -

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM