Should I have done this differently? Slow build up to urinary block

[WNT]

3 yo neutered male cat started showing signs of a low grade UTI about a month ago. Got put on Clavamox and Dasuquin. Finished course of Clavamox, and signs showed up again about a week after finishing. Returned to vet, not blocked but still irritated and was given another round of Clavamox. Two days later drastically increased pain level, trying to hide all over house to strain to pee. Call vet Thursday AM expecting “bring him in ASAP”, get prescribed pain meds for pick up instead. In hindsight, feel like I should have gone for a second opinion, but trusted vet’s call.

Feeling better with more pee spots for about 36 hours after pain meds until pain breaks through late Friday evening. Straining, laying down with occasional abdominal spasms. No one local had availability Saturday so we head 45 minutes away to closest emergency vet where he’s triaged to the front of the line. Blocked, but kidney and urine values still thankfully normal. Stays 24 hours for catheterization, fluids, etc. and sent home feeling better but not quite 100%. We’ll follow up in a week, but I’m not keen on going back to our local vet.

My question is should I have done anything differently with my local vet on Thursday? I realize every vet is overbooked and short staffed, but I feel blown off in regards to getting the pain meds without anyone seeing my cat, which led to me delaying things since he was acting better the next 30-some hours until he wasn’t.

[2DogsFarm]

I’m so sorry, but I just went through this same scenario for the 3rd time in as many years.
My sweetie was the Poster Child for FIC (per the first vet who saw him as a 5yo).
Fat orange neutered male.
I got him as a 6mo kitten from a shelter, intended to be a barncat, but he had zero interest in being outside.

Sadly I had him pts just a week ago today, after a flareup that had him hospitalized overnight Saturday with catheter & IV fluids.
He’d been fine up until Saturday afternoon.
Home Sunday, a bit better Monday-Tuesday, then late Wednesday night back to Square 1.
TG, Emergency vet is 10min from home & open until midnight.
I’d already promised myself (& him) I wouldn’t put him through another occurrence.
Vet attempted to catheterize, but found his belly filled with fluid.
She agreed letting him go was best.

There is an expensive surgery that basically removes penile tissue to make a wider opening for the bladder. But it’s not 100% successful.

I wish I had better information & a success story, but I wanted you to know what you may be facing.
Jingling the COTH curbchain for you both.

[shiloh]

Sometimes pain meds will get them to “loosen” up and be able to pass blockage. Does not work all the time.

My Duncan always goes from 0 - 60 in a matter of hours. And of course, after regular vet is closed, When I have to travel over an hour to the nearest one.

Sounds like the Clavamox just postponed whatever was cooking. Sometimes you just have to insist.

I hope kitty is feeling better. Also, sub-q fluids are easy to give. Have the vet tech teach you and you can do it at home and save some $$.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

It’s easy to second-guess ourselves. Having gone through urinary blockages with two of my cats, I’m definitely in the camp where I will push the vets to test and run a catheter if necessary. I get that they’re busy, but to me, a urinary blockage is as much an emergency as a broken leg.

Is he drinking enough? Is he on a urinary diet, or if not, has the vet suggested putting him on one? At this point, I’d want the vet to be working with me on preventing more blockages. Does that mean a new diet, sub Q fluids, or perhaps surgery? Whatever it means, your vet needs to be working on this with you NOW, before the next flare up.

If it comes to surgery - do it sooner, not later. I could have had it done to one of my cats, but I waited too long.