What test are necessary for a vet to conduct in order to test for a UTI?

Question

I just tried a new vet, and I am not sure if he is trying to add in a bunch of extra tests. He was fairly certain that my cat has anxiety before he ever met him, then I found out that in order to test for a uninary tract infection he wanted me to pay for an ultrasound to find my cats bladder, a bacterial test and an entire wellness test in order to make sure every organ in his entire body is functioning properly. Is this normal/necessary?

Answer 1

GET ANOTHER VET!!!!!

I have always had several cats at a time all my life. So I have spent many hours with the vets when any of them got sick or needed a check-up.

If your vet was certain that your cat had anxiety before he met him, I would be concerned; unless you described the cat in a way that made his assumption correct. I can't know that.

However, I DO know that to test for a UTI, he does not need to do an ultrasound to find the cat's bladder. It can be found by touch. My cats have their urine tested as they get older, to rule out UTI's. This is how it's done: obviously, the vet can't hand the cat a cup & say "go pee in this". What they do is use a thin needle & inject it right into the cat's bladder & withdraw urine. They use this to test for a UTI.

If by a bacterial test, he means he wants you to bring in a stool sample from your cat, that's normal. If he's still referring to the urine, and it's a separate test, he's adding on; because you normally get billed for a urine test, period. That means they take out urine & test it for bacteria, which would mean a UTI. It's one complete test.

What does he mean by an entire wellness test? All the vets my cats have seen said they would examine them, do, a urine test and a blood test. That's a complete exam for a cat. The vet comes in, checks the cat's temperature, examines his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Then she feels the cat's body, up & down, feeling the organs to make sure nothing is enlarged, etc. When that's done, she takes him to draw some blood & some urine for testing. That's all!!!

I pay the bill for the exam, the blood test & the urine test; also I pay for any shots he needs. Unless the cat has been showing signs of being ill, nothing else has to be done.

When I call the next day for results of the blood & urine tests, if they are normal, nothing else has to be done. If the urine test showed a UTI, I'll pick up medicine, usually an antibiotic. If the blood test shows an abnormality, the cat will possibly get another medicine or the blood test will be repeated a week later. The only further testing I've had to get for any of my cats when they got sick was an extra blood test, for something special. But that's rare.

If this vet insists he needs to do an ultrasound to find your cat's bladder, he's ripping you off and/or is a lousy vet.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Preliminary test would be a urine sample. From there, if test is inconclusive, or still need a further investigation, then maybe do a sterile urine test, bacterial test, blood test, or x-ray. Ultrasound will be last on the list, however, it is needed if your vet suspects that your cat is having some structural anomaly. You have every right to ask your vet what the ultrasound will detect, besides those from other tests I mentioned earlier.

Answer 3

Usually only a urine sample is needed initially and depending on what is found they might recommend X-Rays to see if she has bladder stones.

Answer 4

I think I would find a new vet he or she does not sound competent . I would think that the only thing needed would be a urinary sample . other than that i think is unnecessary. good luck