Dear Dr. Forsythe:
My 10-year-old cat has occasional bouts of blood in her urine.
My vet has run urine tests to check if she has an infection or crystals, and both the
the tests have come back negative. Now they are suggesting an ultrasound. I’m not so keen on doing this because of the cost and I’m not really sure she needs all that fancy stuff. What is your opinion?
Virginia, Sonoma
Dear Virginia:
I think it is very important to discover the cause of blood in the urine of a cat, especially a 10-year-old cat. If the urine tests are “clean,” then it would be very smart to take an X-ray and make sure visible stones or masses don’t appear to show in the bladder or the kidneys. Ultrasound is an excellent way to examine the internal organs of a pet without having to be invasive. Although it can be costly, it is a quick and painless procedure that allows veterinarians to place a small transducer onto your pet and use soundwaves to get clear images of all the internal organs. We can see if there are masses, foreign bodies, thickened areas, or any irregularities inside your pet. There are many people who feel that this is way too “fancy schmancy” for veterinary medicine, but I feel strongly that we owe it to our veterinary patients to offer high-quality care and the best diagnostics possible.
While it is possible that your kitty has a recurring infection or is simply bruising her bladder while jumping up and down, it would be reassuring to rule out a bladder tumor or more serious problem through the use of ultrasound. I would recommend running the test if you can afford to do so, as it is in the pet’s best interest.
Good luck.
Dr. F.
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