Last night around midnight I found Icharus urinating in the bathtub, and there was a substantial amount of blood in it (not like pure blood, but a lot more than just a pink tinge to it). So I immediately called my vets emergency number and was told by the tech, based on my description, that he could wait till morning to be seen. I spent the following 6 hours watching him like a hawk, he was still eating, drinking, and playing with Isis. Just every 45 minutes or so he'd go back to the bathtub to urinate again. Then this morning I had to waste 30 minutes chipping all the ice off my car, and drive for an hour just to get to the vet because of how bad the roads are right now (this is normally a 20 minute drive). My normal vet wasn't working today, but the vet we saw was very nice and knowledgeable. After a few hours urinalysis, x-ray, and gram stain they determined that he had a bacterial infection. He was given an antibiotic injection and prescribed antibiotics. On the x-ray there was an anomaly though, just an odd 'ghost' or something. The vet thinks he might have a tumor, but it's not related to his urinary problems. In a week when he finishes his antibiotics the vet wants to check him out again to make sure it's all cleared up, and possibly do an ultrasound to check that 'thing' and determine what it is for sure... This has me really stressed out, Icharus has been extremely healthy (aside from being overweight), in the last six years he's never had to go to the vet for anything other than routine checkups. I really want to get the ultrasound done, but right now at least I'm pretty darn broke, I just paid all my 1st of the month bills (rent, car payment/insurance, ect). I might be able to pay for it now, but I think I'm going to have to wait, and waiting sucks... Should I push my budget to get this done? The vet didn't seem to think waiting a little would hurt him...

So sorry to hear that. I would go with the vets advice, if they don't think it needs to be taken care of right away then I would wait until you finish treating his infection. Hopefully that will help keep you within your budget by waiting. Of course you could always get a second or third opinion if you want. Either way, I think it's probably easier to treat one thing at a time anyway so if it can wait then that may be better for both Icharus and you. I know, waiting stinks to high heaven. I hope it's not really serious, Icharus is in my thoughts and prayers.

Good luck Icharus!

I would be the same, anxious, but I would go with the vet's advice as well.

Keep us posted!