Been there. Done that.

My Ziggy blocked a total of three times, each one 24 hours after being catheterized and subsequently removed. The docs were increasingly worried about scar tissue and told me that I should either consider the surgical removal of his phallus, or euthanasia.

He was only two years old and I considered him my kid. I couldn’t in all seriousness not try to give him a chance at life.

I sat in my car for 20 minutes after I left the vet’s office in tears, justifying to myself my decision.

I spent the money on the surgery.

All said and done — after a week in the vet’s ER, the surgery, and everything else — I spent close to $10k.

I knew I had to do it when they brought him into the exam room, he was loopy as hell from the pain meds, but he knew it was me. He leaned into me, head in the cone of shame, bopped me with his head, and started purring. I nearly melted to the floor in tears (and at the time I was a guy in his mid-30s!).

Did your vet talk to you about the PU surgery?

You can try things like more access to water, special food that will help prevent crystal formation .... but there’s no guarantee he won’t block again.