Plugs, etc.--one can never get complacent

Just the night before last, I was sitting here thinking I
would write a post saying Mingy has been fine since he blocked
and was diagnosed with Struvite crystals in January 2005.
Well, the next morning, I ended up calling the Vet, which led
to a quick trip to the Vet's and the finding that he was
plugged. Aaaargh. His bloodwork and EKG are fine though,
thank goodness.

It is really odd. Before he was blocked, I noticed he spent
lots of time in his litter box, and he was doing much licking.
This time, neither was the case. Just he hadn't used his
box in more than 24 hours. (This is tricky, because he
normally only pees once a day--much to my dismay.)

I am praying he doesn't replug over the weekend.... He peed
four times after we got home yesterday, because he had been
given fluids. But since then, Mingy has only eaten a tiny
tad, and I haven't noticed him drinking at all.

Now I am back to contemplating foods. Of course, the Vet
wants him to eat c/d or some other food that only vets can
provide. He gave me samples of three types, none of which are
mostly chicken, which seems to be Mingy's main food. (Had I
just not noticed before that the c/d is mostly pork?) Per
usual, my main concern is that Mingy eat. I will tinker later.

I was pleased that the Vet didn't give me dry c/d, although I
did see some there. I was perplexed though, because he spoke
of manganese, and then went on to the possible problem of
oxalate crystals forming. So, is it even advisable to try to
get Mingy to eat a c/d-type diet even right after he plugged?
Do mucous plugs necessarily indicate the presence of crystals?

And what is the feeling re pain killers and antibiotics post
visit? I was unhappy that they said to give Mingy a
painkiller when we got home, since they could have given him
on before we left. I brought my daughter home to help with
that. :-( And the Vet seemed to indicate there were all
possible thoughts re antibiotics--yes, no... That some vets
do nothing post plug--and that they don't really know. Sounds
like some human maladies, and how they thoughts re them keep
changing.

Will Mingy really deign to pee in a litterbox that only has a
tiny amount of special pellets in it? (The Vet expressed all
the pee, and then couldn't get more pee to test it. I am
thinking, if necessary, the Vet can get some pee when we go in
in two weeks for Ming's rabies shot.)

--
Jean B.