Molsen’s owners brought their five-year-old cat to VREC after reluctance to eat, vocalization, and no urination. The Emergency department quickly realized Molsen was blocked. After quickly unblocking him, clinicians suggested to Molsen’s parents that he have surgery to lower the risk of blockage in the future.
Once qualified for the Angel Fund, Molsen was transferred to the surgery department for a PU (perineal urethrostomy) procedure. During a PU, the surgeon removes the tube that transports the urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body, also called the urethra. This allows easier urination for the cat. It also lowers the risk of re-obstruction. PU surgeries are most commonly performed on male cats with a urinary obstruction.
In addition to the PU, Molsen also had a cystotomy – a fancy way of saying the surgeon created an opening in the wall of the urinary bladder. Doing so allowed the surgeon to evaluate and gather the bladder stones causing the blockage. This lucky boy recovered uneventfully and went home to a relieved family!