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Author Topic:   Please help! Sick cat...
jello123
unregistered
posted 07-13-2003 06:22 PM           Edit/Delete Message
Hello.

I have a 15-year old Male neutered cat. He is brown and white. Before he got sick (about 2 weeks ago) he was 16 pounds and had a hearty appetite. He lost about 2 pounds and he started to lift up his left paw as if he was in pain. The limp lasted for 3-4 days and began to sleep alot. During the following days after the limp appeared, he has severe trouble getting up and didn't want to walk at all. It was as if his legs were hurting. He had very labored breathing...it was 90 degrees in NYC for several days last week. He stopped eating and drinking and looked lame and pathetic.

We took him to the vet, where they said he needed to be hospitalized. We paid over $900 for hospital stay and just to have general blood, urine, thyroid, etc. tests done. His thyroid, kidney and liver looked good. He had a few crystals in his urine. He had a slightly high white blood cell count.

The doctor said that he was concerned b/c he found a large mass underneath his tongue. He said it could be a benign cyst or it could be cancerous but that he would need to take an EKG (to test if he was a good canidate for surgery b/c he was having labored breathing), chest X-ray (if it was cancer, to see if it had spread), head X-ray and anesthisia (during the process). For the EKG alone, it would cost us $350 + $240 for the X-rays and $78 for the anesthesia.

We suspect it is cancer plus possible heart disease (b/c he had a blue-ish tinge to his gums and his limbs were affected). We cannot afford to pay any more for just X-rays and additional tests.

We took him home and the vet gave us torbutrol, cefa drops, and a vitamin supplement. He said that if we don't get the X-rays done, since the mass seems to be causing him some pain so he can't eat...he might starve to death or dehydrate.

Can anybody recommend a place where I can get a reasonably affordable EKG and X-rays done for my cat in the Queens, NYC area?

I dunno what to do. I am very upset. He is sleeping but seems to be very tired and in some discomfort. I don't know when I should put him to sleep. He is still walking around a bit and cleaning himself. WHAT SHOULD I DO????

I am concerned that if I go through with the X-rays and EKG, which require him to be under anthesthesia, he may never come out of it. Plus, if he requires surgery...he will need to be put under again...will this sick cat survive?

I think my cat is going to die. We are providing him with lots of warmth and are trying to force feed him his medication and food. Any advice would be grateful. Thanks in advance.

[This message has been edited by jello123 (edited 07-13-2003).]

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cat fish food
Member

Posts: 76
From:
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 07-13-2003 09:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cat fish food     Edit/Delete Message
man im totaly stump but ask pet stores cause they help me alot of times

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nern

Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 07-13-2003 09:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nern     Edit/Delete Message
Im very sorry to hear about your cat.
Can you try calling some shelters or rescue organizations to see if they can help you or direct you to a clinic that helps when people can not afford things like this? Just an idea..its worth a try.

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Sparkycat
Member

Posts: 22
From:Staten Island, NY, U.S.A.
Registered: May 2003

posted 07-13-2003 09:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sparkycat     Edit/Delete Message
I too am from the NYC area (Staten Island). The prices of vets here are crazy. It cost me $1,500 in Jan. for one of my cats with FUS. It just cost me another thousand dollars for my sick cat. I even feel that he was mis-diagnosed. He passed away 3 weeks ago. All that aside, it really seems that your cat needs help. Is there any way that you can work out a payment plan with your vet? What are we supposed to do when one of our animals get sick and we can't afford the vet bills? Try calling the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan. They are somewhere in the 70's and First Ave. (right off the FDR Drive).Maybe they can help you. I really hope that everythig works out for you and your cat. Please take care and let us know how things work out.

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lucidity03
Member

Posts: 201
From:Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 07-14-2003 03:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lucidity03     Edit/Delete Message
A couple years ago my cat has $1000 surgery and we didn't have the cash on hand.

I don't live in NY, but we signed up for a payment plan. It was like a no interest credit card that we paid off over a year or two. I think most vets have payment options if you ask.

Also, if you have any local animal shelters that have vets as a part of them, the costs may be less. Our local shelter in Pittsburgh offers low-cost vet care.

That's all the advice I have, but good luck to you and your kitty! I hope it all turns out well.

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sgs_jenjen
Member

Posts: 13
From:Calgary, Alberta
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 07-23-2003 04:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sgs_jenjen     Edit/Delete Message
Hi.

My heart goes out to you .... this is a horrible situation to have to endure. It sounds like you love your cat a lot and seem to be in a situation many other pet lovers have had to endure.

I have read all of the other postings and everyone certainly is trying to help but it all boils down to one thing - your cat's quality of life. Your cat is 15 years old which puts him in the senior citizen category and if somehow you were able to get someone to do a battery of tests to determine the extent of the mass and whether it was in fact cancer - aside from the fact that in the meantime your cat is suffering - is this fair to your cat? And another question to ask yourself is how much additional time are you buying your cat in regards to life?

I apologize if I'm bringing up questions like this but I have been there with a few cats I had for over 16 years. One was well on her way to kidney failure and the other had diabetes for several years. I knew in both of the cases that my babies were extremely ill and I had to do a lot of soul searching to decide whether to try and keep them alive by force feeding and other treatments or let them go. The criteria I used was their age and their current quality of life as well as was I the true nature of my trying to keep them alive. Was it for them or for me?

It is so difficult to make a decision regarding euthanasia with a pet that has been an integral and large part of your life - but you really need to do what is best for your pet.

From what you had mentioned in your posting, I had thought it was cancer right away and unlike humans who get cancer and are made to suffer until the cancer claims them - we have the choice of not putting our loved pets through this.

You have to keep in mind that you have done your best to help your cat but sometimes we have no control on what nature's plans are. You don't want your cat to continue to suffer and die from dehydration or other side effects of this situation.

I wish you all of the best and if you decide it's time to let go - you will be doing it because it is what is best for your pet. It will definitely hurt for some time but you are also making this decision for the right reason - to alleviate your cat of further unnecessary suffering.

SGS

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