my cat nearly died
SANDY WOOD
This has been a difficult week for me. My cat, Salty, nearly died of
lipodosis, a liver disease. She was a bit passive and just out of it a week
ago Friday (before the holiday weekend), so I took her to the vet, who could
not determine what the problem was. He said she needed to eat, though,
because she had stopped, and told me just to feed her as much as possible.
I tried to get her to eat (feeding her wet food which she usually doesn't
get) and she did okay. However by Tuesday she had turned yellowish and was
difinitely ill. They determined then it was the lipodosis (either as a
primary or secondary effect) and told me she must eat. But I couldn't get
her to eat at all on Tuesday night, so on Wednesday my vet referred her to a
surgeon in Dallas (we live outside of Dallas) and she operated and put in a
feeding tube. She also confirmed the diagnosis. She has been at the vet
since then and has stabilized and is eating (and keeping the food down). I
hope we get her back today, but the vet wasn't sure about that. I am so
relieved; it was awful to think that she might die (she is only 10). Now we
will have to feed her through the tube until she starts eating on her own.
Has anyone else has experience with this disease?
Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
Anyway, I am so happy that she is better!
Sandy
Stuart
: Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
: though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
: she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
: family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
: of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
: exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
: Anyway, I am so happy that she is better!
: Sandy
We spent over $600 last summer when our cat was shot in the eye. Everyone
we know thinks we're crazy anyway, so they never question how we spend
our money, but I got the impression from the emergency room vet that it
is not uncommon for people to have a pet put down rather than pay
expensive vet bills.
I'm so glad your cat is getting better. When I was a kid we just adopted
litters of feral cats and actually got used to having them disappear or
die, but now that I have my own cats in my house, I don't know what I'd
do without any one of them. I know how scary it is when one of them is
sick; it is just like a sick child. I couldn't even sleep the last time
one of them was at the vets overnight to be neutered.
I guess people without cats look at the vet bills and compare them to the
actual cost of a cat (I've never paid for a cat yet.) and don't
understand the actual rewards of having cats. (Mine are now working as
diet coaches by opening the refridgerator once a week and removing
anything that looks edible.)
Debra Thorpe
Denise Arehart
SANDY WOOD <san...@wooten.unt.edu> wrote:
>Has anyone else has experience with this disease?
>
>Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
>in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
>though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
>she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
>family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
>of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
>exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
We are caring for a once-homeless cat who was diagnosed with
moderate lymphocytic enteritis (vomiting, bloody stool). She
then turned anorexic and lost over 30 % of her body weight--
I tried everything to get her to eat. The vet recommended
euthanasia but I wanted to give this poor cat one more chance.
We put her on prednisone (I can't remember what dosage) and within
three days, she began to eat. We feared she would die from
lipidosis but she has now gained her weight back fully and
eats dry food by choice. She is starting to play a bit and likes
to go outside on weekend mornings when we have coffee on the
patio. We maintain her condition with 2 1/2mg of prednisone
daily--if not, she will vomit. Someday, she may be able to
get off the meds.
BTW, this cat needs a home. She is a DSH, declawed (front),
black and white cat (looks sort of like "Socks"). She only
eats dry food and likes to be petted but is not a pest.
She is older (5ish) and would make a great companion in a calm,
loving home. Our home is too much for her but we were her
last and _only_ hope. She is up-to-date on shots but will
need to be maintained on the low dosage prednisone, probably
for the rest of her life.
History: Her people moved and left her with a collar and her
name tag "Precious." She was frightened (and declawed) and living
in the alley. Some nice folks took care of her for a while but
could not adopt her. They brought her to Animal Orphanage in
Denver where she promplty went into a funk for a few months where
she hid and wanted no human or other cat companionship.
I couldn't take it and brought her home. She stayed with a
foster rabbit I had at the time and they go along well.
I found a good home for her (and one for the rabbit :-))
even though she was terribly shy. The people later had a baby
and Precious couldn't deal with it. This either caused her
enteritis or aggravated it and she would vomit and have
bloody stools all around the apartment. They called me and
brought her back (this had been over a year since I had
placed her). After biopsy of the colon and consultations,
the vet suggested we euthanize her (this was the first time
he suggested it) since these cats "can't get homes." This was
a low cost clinic and we had to use them at the time. Then she
nearly was euthanized around Valentine's Day due to her anorexia.
She now is doing very well and would love a home of her own.
I am always hopeful (it is the only thing that keeps me
being able to take in these poor critters). Sorry to ramble
so shamelessly but I want Precious to have a good life since as you
can see, she has already used up a few of her "seven lives."
Thanks,
Denise
--
Denise Arehart --- email: mond...@du.edu (Hubby's account)
"Our egocentric view that we are unique from all other forms of animal
life is being jarred to the core." Rumbaugh & Savage-Rumbaugh (1978)
Tony Pelliccio
(Stuart) wrote:
> We spent over $600 last summer when our cat was shot in the eye. Everyone
> we know thinks we're crazy anyway, so they never question how we spend
> our money, but I got the impression from the emergency room vet that it
> is not uncommon for people to have a pet put down rather than pay
> expensive vet bills.
I have something of a similar case. When Randy was 5 moths old he broke his
hip. This was at roughly midnight so I had to drag him about 15 miles away
to an emergency vet hospital. It cost me over $100 just to find out he had
a broken hip.
The vet told me what it was and I asked what we could do for the kitten. He
said that we could let it heal naturally in which case Randy might get a
touch of arthritis starting when he was about 4 years old (which he is now,
and occasionally it gets bad.). The other option was surgery to grind down
the bone spur so it would be ok at a cost of $400+. I can't justify
spending this on a cat so Randy now has arthritis. Perhaps when I make a
bit more money I'll have some corrective surgery done but right now it's
just not possible.
--
== Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR
== Anthony_...@brown.edu, Tel. (401) 863-1880 Fax. (401) 863-2269
== The opinions above are my own and not those of my employer.
Heather VanHorne
>>Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
>>in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
>>though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
>>she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
>>family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
>>of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
>>exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
I too, got strange reactions from friends and family members when they learned
that I spent nearly $1000 on my cat. My kitty got a urinary tract infection
and nearly died. He was only 3 years old at the time. He spent 1 week in
intensive care. He is much better now. We only feed him prescription food
and haven't had a problem since.
I was fortunate enough to have a family member pay for it though. (I was in
college and had to put the bill on my Visa only to wait till I graduated to
pay it off) Bootes and I spent a summer with my birth-father (an avid cat
hater). Anyway, he fell in love with Bootes, so when he got sick, he offered
to pay the medical bills. A life saver for both of us since I was at least
two more years from graduation (major interest). Needless to say, my
birth-father missed Bootes when we left so we got him a kitten of his own
for Christmas. Now he is truly owned!
Heather
--
*****************************************************************************
Which way did they go?
How many were there?
How fast were they going?
I must find them... The opinions expressed are not of
...........I'm their Leader! my employer.
Bootes: AL B+W Y+G 6 Y L++ C-- I+++ T/-- H+ S+ V++ F Q++ P-
*****************************************************************************
Liorah Golomb
>Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
>in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
>though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
>she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
>family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
>of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
>exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
I'm glad to hear that Salty seems to be out of danger!
I don't think one can put a dollar value on a cat's worth. To my way of
thinking, when we adopt a cat we're making an agreement with it that
we'll give it the best life we can.
When my cat Cassie was diagnosed with cancer I even brought her to an
holistic vet, with my regular vet's blessing. I remember that the roots
and berries treatments *alone* cost about $135 - this of course on top
of his fee and Cassie's visits to the regular vet. I had to prepare an
infusion which took me all night to make - it involved several rounds of
boiling, cooling, and straining. In the end I don't know whether it
helped or not - she died last August. Anyway, I don't think any amount
of money or effort we spend on our cats is a waste if there's at least a
possibility it will help.
-Liorah
--
Liorah Anne Golomb, "The path of my life is strewn
Professional Student with cowpats from the devil's
lgo...@epas.utoronto.ca own satanic herd." -Blackadder II
Sallijan Snyder
|> We spent over $600 last summer when our cat was shot in the eye. Everyone
|> we know thinks we're crazy anyway, so they never question how we spend
|> our money, but I got the impression from the emergency room vet that it
|> is not uncommon for people to have a pet put down rather than pay
|> expensive vet bills.
Well, some people have children and have to choose between new shoes for the
kids or saving the cat. Some people have to pay the rent/mortgage and don't
have a pet-emergency fund--or some kind friend or relative to borrow from.
It doesn't necessarily mean they don't regret the decision, or love their cats less.
Of course there ARE some people to whom a slight inconvenience is a good enough
excuse to "get rid of the animal." They shouldn't bother having one in the first
place.
|> I'm so glad your cat is getting better. When I was a kid we just adopted
|> litters of feral cats and actually got used to having them disappear or
|> die, but now that I have my own cats in my house, I don't know what I'd
|> do without any one of them. I know how scary it is when one of them is
|> sick; it is just like a sick child. I couldn't even sleep the last time
|> one of them was at the vets overnight to be neutered.
There's a bit of difference between "livestock" animals--which feral barn-cats
are more like--and close companion animals. You can distance yourself from
livestock because it's going to be eaten, or sold, or it might just disappear.
I couldn't even give one of my "regular guys" away when I had a chance last
week! A lady came to look at the kittens, and fell in love with Rags instead,
but after thinking about it for a minute I told her no. She went home with a
kitten anyway. (thank goodness!)
|> I guess people without cats look at the vet bills and compare them to the
|> actual cost of a cat (I've never paid for a cat yet.) and don't
|> understand the actual rewards of having cats. (Mine are now working as
|> diet coaches by opening the refridgerator once a week and removing
|> anything that looks edible.)
|> Debra Thorpe
Agreed. And how did you train them to do that??
--
-
Sallijan Snyder |=>My employer shares my opinions. NOT.
Santa Clara, California | Coming in 1995 from Largo Entertainment
(408)765-9068 wrk (408)629-5909 hm| THE SAILMAKER
Internet: jsn...@td2cad.intel.com| A Richard Attenborough Film
=>Internet Z-Car Club Member #42<=|Screenplay by Barry Schneider & Ron Montana
DEVERELLE
(SANDY WOOD) writes:
// But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?//
My cat was seriously ill with a liver problem in January and it took me
until June to get her fully well. The liver problem came about as a
result of hyperthyroidism. Once the liver was stable and she was eating,
we put her on Tapazol for the thyroid until she gained enough weight for
the I-131. Chelsea is 13 and better than ever. It was a horrible five
months (off and on) and $3500 but she is more valuable to me than
anything. If I had listened to my obnoxious coworkers I would have put
her to sleep. Instead I listened to my heart and did the only thing I
think I could have. I promised myself as long as she wasn't suffering I
would do anything I could to get her well. It was money well spent indeed
and I have never had a moment's regret.
Good luck with your kitty (have the vet run a blood test checking for T4
values to make sure her thyroid is functioning normally, sounds a bit like
Chelsea's problem...)
You can make it, hang in there!
Denise
Clifton T. Sharp
>I guess people without cats look at the vet bills and compare them to the
>actual cost of a cat (I've never paid for a cat yet.) and don't
Most of them are the same people who will go out and buy a used car for
$800, then spend $1200 to have the carburetor replaced, then come to you
and say "You spent WHAT on a *CAT*???" Or buy a $1200 couch and then
never sit on it so as not to wear it out.
--
Optimists say, "The glass is half full."
Cliff Sharp Pessimists say, "It's half empty."
WA9PDM We realists say, "Before I decide,
cli...@indep1.chi.il.us tell me what's in the glass."
Young, R.
>This has been a difficult week for me. My cat, Salty, nearly died of
>lipodosis, a liver disease. She was a bit passive and just out of it a week
>ago Friday (before the holiday weekend), so I took her to the vet, who could
>not determine what the problem was. He said she needed to eat, though,
>because she had stopped, and told me just to feed her as much as possible.
>I tried to get her to eat (feeding her wet food which she usually doesn't
>get) and she did okay. However by Tuesday she had turned yellowish and was
>difinitely ill. They determined then it was the lipodosis (either as a
>primary or secondary effect) and told me she must eat. But I couldn't get
>her to eat at all on Tuesday night, so on Wednesday my vet referred her to a
>surgeon in Dallas (we live outside of Dallas) and she operated and put in a
>feeding tube. She also confirmed the diagnosis. She has been at the vet
>since then and has stabilized and is eating (and keeping the food down). I
>hope we get her back today, but the vet wasn't sure about that. I am so
>relieved; it was awful to think that she might die (she is only 10). Now we
>will have to feed her through the tube until she starts eating on her own.
>
>Has anyone else has experience with this disease?
No, but good luck with it!
>Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
>in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
>though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
>she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
>family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
>of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
>exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
It's YOUR money. You can spend it where you like, and the opinions
of others are just that: opinions. Ignore them.
-Rich Young
(The view expressed herein may not reflect that of Eastman Kodak Company, Inc.)
Rob Lith
>Subject: my cat nearly died
>Date: Mon, 11 Jul 1994 15:09:08 GMT
>Hi y'all,
>This has been a difficult week for me. My cat, Salty, nearly died of
>lipodosis, a liver disease. She was a bit passive and just out of it a week
>ago Friday (before the holiday weekend), so I took her to the vet, who could
>gh we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
---cut ---
>she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
>family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
>of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
>exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
>Anyway, I am so happy that she is better!
>Sandy
My cat Tinky has just come back from the vet, he was fine on Saturday and
suddenly on Sunday he was constipated and off colour. We took him to the vet
on Monday morning and he was put straight onto a drip and given an enema!
I was shocked at how quickly this happened (he was absolutely fine on
Saturday) as it seems to have caused some "short term" kindey damage and other
urine an kindnet tests are abnormally high. He is only 5.
My wife Lynn and I will also go to any expense to get him well, it is money
well spent. Cats give you their total devotion, its the least one can do.
Regards Rob
__________________________________________
Rob Lith - Internet admin: r...@cstat.co.za
Phone: 27-31-2073547 (2hrs ahead of GMT)
Fax: 27-31-285012
Compustat (PTY) LTD
__________________________________________
Jeff Makey
>(SANDY WOOD) writes:
>
>// But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
>exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?//
>
>Denise
People are always amazed at the lengths we will go to help our fur friends.
When Tiger was ill two weeks ago (~$250 ago), my sister reminded me of my
childhood dog, Katrina (minature schnauzer/poodle mix). She had a [lump/
tumor/thingy] removed from behind her ear one summer. The next Christmas
morning, she started having seizures. The vet (Huffard Animal Hospital in
Glen Burnie, MD-excellent people) was not comfortable doing additional
surgery and refered us to a vetrinary oncologist in Gaithersburg, about
1.5hour drive. We took her there twice and they did their best, but she
died on the operating table.
People are different and I don't understand some of their choices, so why
should they understand mine?
Laura (not Jeff)
Owned by Shadow Dax & Tigeretta Paula
Kellie Ploeger
>
>Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
>in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
>though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
>she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
>family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
>of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
>exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
>
I just wanted to say that I think it's wonderful when people love their
pets enough to consider them a part of the family. I myself could not
ever think of any of my pets as "mere animals". They're a huge part of my
life and deserve the best medical care I could give them (as would any
other family member). Bravo, Sandy, for being a loving pet owner!
Kellie...
... and Maynard (cat) and Suncrest (cockatiel)
Kathy S Leggitt
>We spent over $600 last summer when our cat was shot in the eye. Everyone
>we know thinks we're crazy anyway, so they never question how we spend
>our money, but I got the impression from the emergency room vet that it
>is not uncommon for people to have a pet put down rather than pay
>expensive vet bills.
[Clip]
>I guess people without cats look at the vet bills and compare them to the
>actual cost of a cat (I've never paid for a cat yet.) and don't
>understand the actual rewards of having cats. (Mine are now working as
>diet coaches by opening the refridgerator once a week and removing
>anything that looks edible.)
> Debra Thorpe
Hi Debra, and others,
I think that you're right in your first statement, that people may put
the pet down rather than pay expensive vet bills.
I love my cat and dog dearly, and I take care of them well. I budgeted
carefully the cost of vet care and animal care before taking on the
responsibility of animals. I certainly understand the rewards of having
cats, (and dogs). However, my budget sadly wouldn't allow the cost of
continuing care of a sick animal. So, unfortunately, if one of my
animals were to develop an illness that would require huge vet bills
on an ongoing basis (as opposed to say, a one-time bill for an injury)
I would seriously have to consider putting my pet to sleep.
I hope I don't have to face something like this! It truely would break
my heart. But I don't think all pet owners ought to be required to be
able to afford budget breaking vet care to have the rewards that pet
ownership brings. (I do, however, think that all pet owners ought to be
able to afford basic pet care, immunizations, and neutering before they
take on the responsibility of a pet.)
Anyway, just wanted to say that those of us who might choose to put an
animal down don't love and appreciate our animals any less.
Kathy
"Mom" to Kari (6 mo. Wheaten Terrier), Casey (5 yo. Kitty Cat); and
John and Kyle (9 and 6 yo. human litter mates)
k...@adc.com
obiwan
$ We spent over $600 last summer when our cat was shot in the eye. Everyone
$ we know thinks we're crazy anyway, so they never question how we spend
$ our money, but I got the impression from the emergency room vet that it
$ is not uncommon for people to have a pet put down rather than pay
$ expensive vet bills.
Don't forget, though, that some people honestly can't afford expensive
vet bills (whether these people should be "allowed" to own cats or not
is a debate I am not going to get into). When I was a teenager, one
of the family cats was run over. We took her to the vet, and he said
her entire back end was permanently paralysed, and the only way she
would ever walk again was to attach one of those gadgets with wheels
to her back end. This would have cost around $3000 (including the
surgery and everything). This was a price my family could not afford,
and although we were saddened, we had the cat put down.
I'm not trying to flame or anything. I would pay as much as I could
to keep my present cat alive, but sometimes the cost is just too great.
But there seems to be an attitude in general on r.p.c that if you can't
afford vet bills, no matter what the situation or price, then you are
somehow an unfit cat owner. (Apologies to those who think otherwise.)
OK, just wanted to get my two cents in... back to lurking. :)
--
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Lezlee Beckstead
san...@wooten.unt.edu (SANDY WODD) writes:
// But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is exactly
what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?//
Two years ago in June my Punky cat go hit by a car. I wasn't home at
the time and the neighbor moved her from the side of the road to the
grass. He thought she had a broken back and left her to die. When I
got home he told me she had been hit, so I grabbed a towel to put her
in, thinking she was dead. When I walked over to her she started to
meow and try to get away from me.
I rushed her to the emergency clinic, where I had to pay up front.
They estimated 323.00, but by the time we got done it was only 188.00.
I stayed all night with Punky - she seemed to need me. At 3:00 am her
breathing changed and it worried me. She kept trying to move closer
to me and make sure she was touching me somehow. They had her in a
cage close to the floor so I could sit by her.
The next morning I rushed her to my vet. Her breathing would not
stablize. I spent the next three days at the vet holding oxygen on
her head. The vet would have to "tap" her chest with a needle and
syringe, which at first she didn't mind because she was so out of it.
The vet would take her home every night with him to check on her
during the night. The vet, Todd finally decided he should operate on
my Punky cat. Punky had a small leaker in her lung. So Todd put a
tube in her to relieve the pressure from the air leaking from the
lungs to the outside of them. After about three to four days her
lungs were finally okay. Now we had to deal with her back left leg
was broken. She had quite a few things that were skinned up and another
foot that would be okay to just let fuse. She made it through all of
this ordeal. Nobody ever once said to me that she was suffering and
should be put to sleep.
My vet bill was totaled around 800.00, which I don't think he charged
me for everything. He might have given me a discount because I took a
whole week off and spent it there at his office watching Punky. My vet
did work with me where I could pay so much a month for Punky's bill,
which was the only way I could do it.
People at my work teased me, but they know that my cats are my kids
and my manager was great with me. Punky is now 9 years old and doing
great. She hunts, climbs trees, and still is as fast as ever.
I would do it again in a second.
Cats are worth saving. A house is not a home without a cat.
Lezlee
Lori M. Sulik
> Hi y'all,
> This has been a difficult week for me. My cat, Salty, nearly died of
> lipodosis, a liver disease. She was a bit passive and just out of it a week
>
> Has anyone else has experience with this disease?
Sorry, I'm not familiar with that disease.. Sounds horrible for the little
tyke!
> Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
> in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
> though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
> she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
> family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
> of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
> exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
Yes, I know exactly what you mean! Annoying, isn't it?
I had a cat that had a heart defect, that we spent around $1500 to make him
well. Unfortunately, it didn't last but a few days, but I'd spend it again
in a second, just to see him back to his old self!
I don't understand how people can be so cold/cruel towards their pets.
If they "disciplined" their kids the way they "discipline" their dogs/cats,
they'd be locked up for child abuse!
>
> Anyway, I am so happy that she is better!
It sounds like she's in good hands -- TLC goes a long way in
rehabilitation, and I'm sure she's going to get a lot of it!
(your babies sound as spoiled as mine!)
Good luck.
Lori
/------------------------------------------------------------------\
| Lori Sulik | '66 Mustang -- one of these days |
| Engineer | |
| General Dynamics | I'm leaving GD as of: 20 JUL 94 |
| (810) 825-5029 | E-Mail will be lost. |
| Internet: su...@gdls.com | |
| "GD doesn't know what I do & say. Don't blame them" |
\------------------------------------------------------------------/
CatCrazy
<my cat nearly died of liver disease
I had a cat, jake, with a failing liver. It is critical to make sure your
cat both eats and drinks. Try feeding a liquid diet, if he/ she refuses
food. You can also use some drugs to stimulate appetite. We gave a
valium like substance to do this. Jake lived nearly a year with careful
care from our vet.
Good luck!!!
Julie Rhodes
>We have spent : in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this
>is money well spent, even : though we won't be going on vacation
>now (anyway, we can't leave her until : she is more stable with
>her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the : family and I
>could not live with myself if I just said let her die because :
>of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated
>that that is : exactly what they would have done. Anyone
>else experience this?
When my Pusskin became ill with kidney problems and eventually passed
away from liver failure, I think the bills came to around $400 or
$500. I've looked my vet in the eye and said, "Whatever my cat needs,
the cost is not important. Just do it." I never regretted spending a
penny of it. You are in the right, and I'm glad she is still with you
and feeling better.
|\/| ---- _ .........................julie....@asacomp.com
=(--)=_____ \ ...........owned by Sasha and Kesa, the Blue Cats
c___ (______/ .................................................
CatTag: ş For love of the Ivory Prince and the Ebony Princess.
---
ş SPEED 2.0c #1394 ş Animals have rights too; and we must speak for them.
Krista Smith
My cats are part of the
family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
I agree with you. A previous cat of mine (God rest his soul) had FUS. I'll
spare everyone the long story as to how he acquired such a severe case.
Anyway, I spent well over $600 on surgery, vet boarding, medication etc and
since at the time I didn't have a car, I also spent an hour on the bus every
day to get from my apartment to where the hospital was (across town). The vet
felt that he'd recover sooner if I was there to soothe him, so I also brought
my old housecoat that he like to try to suckle on (I guess because it smelled
like me) and I'd cram the top half of my body into his cage, petting him, talking
to him, hugging him and all the rest. That money was more than half my paychq
every month and equal to my rent so I certainly didn't have money floating around.
He was my kid and I would have paid whatever was necessary to get him well again.
I would do no less for my cats than I would if I had a child. My family all thought
I was crazy but I told them "he's my baby and it's my choice so buzz off."
Even now, we've had several of them contract Upper Respiratory Disease and although
for one it's not too expensive for 4 it can add up. It doesn't matter, I'll give up
my social life and live off Kraft Dinner the rest of my life if that's what it takes!
Krista
-Haplo, Samah, Pooky, Puff, Paithan and Drax
S. Mudgett aka little gator
>
> I'm not trying to flame or anything. I would pay as much as I could
> to keep my present cat alive, but sometimes the cost is just too great.
> But there seems to be an attitude in general on r.p.c that if you can't
> afford vet bills, no matter what the situation or price, then you are
> somehow an unfit cat owner. (Apologies to those who think otherwise.)
>
i agree with you so far, but then there's the opposite extreme. a young adult
cat came to my vet's with an injury, treatable but costly. the owners had him
put down, weeping, saying there was no way they could ever pay the bill. (we
did offer a delayed payment plan but they said they could *never* afford to
pay that much.) we weren't happy about doing it but they insisted.
the next week they had a new kitten, and spent more on shots and spaying
the kitten(within a month of cat 1's death) than it would have cost to repair
the old cat. and that's not even considering the euthanasia fee!
--
-- little gator aka s. mudgett email: s...@harvee.billerica.ma.us
-- friend of a gator is a friend of mine
Shari Bernhard
:: Also, I have been amazed at some of the reactions of friends. We have spent
:: in excess of $800 to get her well. To me, this is money well spent, even
:: though we won't be going on vacation now (anyway, we can't leave her until
:: she is more stable with her feeding and so on). My cats are part of the
:: family and I could not live with myself if I just said let her die because
:: of a bit of money. But a lot of people we know have indicated that that is
:: exactly what they would have done. Anyone else experience this?
:: Anyway, I am so happy that she is better!
:: Sandy
: We spent over $600 last summer when our cat was shot in the eye. Everyone
: we know thinks we're crazy anyway, so they never question how we spend
: our money, but I got the impression from the emergency room vet that it
: is not uncommon for people to have a pet put down rather than pay
: expensive vet bills.
I read all the reactions and have to add another. Cassandra contracted a
liver fluke from eating a lizard which carried the parasite. It was a
month before it became clear she was sick. After the diagnosis, we treated
her for a month with everything you could think of, and we had to give her
subcutaneous fluid because of the dehydration. Jeff and I went on our
honeymoon after leaving Sanders at the vet with a note to put her down if
a scheduled biopsy determined that her liver was irreparably damaged. We
could have had a better honeymoon.
But when we came home, Dr. West was all smiles while telling us that Sanders
had turned the corner. She was eating and drinking on her own and the yellow
tint was clearing up. It cost us $1000 and was well worth every penny.
Cassandra is now a very chubby and happy kitty. You all did the right thing!
Shari Bernhard
Mom to Gray One, White One, Little One and Cassandra - sweet kitties all!
Also Mom to Raven the WonderDog and Frieda the Hurricane Andrew RescueDog
Nancy Lyons
SANDY WOOD
>From: na...@rolf.stat.uga.edu (Nancy Lyons)
>Subject: Re: my cat nearly died
>Date: 20 Jul 1994 03:31:39 GMT
>In article <obiwanCs...@netcom.com> obi...@netcom.com (obiwan) writes:
>>USENET maniac Stuart claimed:
>>$ We spent over $600 last summer when our cat was shot in the eye. Everyone
>>$ we know thinks we're crazy anyway, so they never question how we spend
>>$ our money, but I got the impression from the emergency room vet that it
>>$ is not uncommon for people to have a pet put down rather than pay
>>$ expensive vet bills.
>>
>> Don't forget, though, that some people honestly can't afford expensive
>> vet bills (whether these people should be "allowed" to own cats or not
>> is a debate I am not going to get into). When I was a teenager, one
>> of the family cats was run over. We took her to the vet, and he said
>> her entire back end was permanently paralysed, and the only way she
>> would ever walk again was to attach one of those gadgets with wheels
>> to her back end. This would have cost around $3000 (including the
>> surgery and everything). This was a price my family could not afford,
>> and although we were saddened, we had the cat put down.
>>
>> I'm not trying to flame or anything. I would pay as much as I could
>> to keep my present cat alive, but sometimes the cost is just too great.
>> But there seems to be an attitude in general on r.p.c that if you can't
>> afford vet bills, no matter what the situation or price, then you are
>> somehow an unfit cat owner. (Apologies to those who think otherwise.)
>>
>> OK, just wanted to get my two cents in... back to lurking. :)
>>
t afford to pay the vet bills. There is. We don't have unlimited credit.
But for us $1,000 is one month's mortgage (about) or what we paid for a
dining room table (a little less actually), or a nice short vacation. In
other words, it is NOT food on the table or the cat, but some luxury or the
cat. And my husband and I basically agreed, this year, that we have our cat
and not a vacation. That's a sacrifice that both of us are willing to make
because we love the cat. But I understand that for some, $1,000 might be a
considerably larger chunk of income than it is for us.
Sandy
Augusta Eller
>
I lost a 12 year old cat to liver failure almost 4 years ago. The vets
never did know what caused it. She quit eating and was never able to
eat again. They didn't offer to install a feeding tube into her.
They just kind of acted as if 12 was an old cat and left it at that.
She spent the last week of her life at the vets on intravenous. I spent
several hundred dollars on her. I considered it money well spent. I
wish she had been able to recover but it wasn't to be. I wished
later that I had had them do a necropsy on her to give me more information
on what happened to her. I wish you the best of luck with your cat.
Isn't it strange how some people can't understand why we do what we
have to do for our beloved pets and why we get so upset when something
happens to them. Augusta
SANDY WOOD
>From: Augusta Eller <ael...@delphi.com>
>Subject: Re: my cat nearly died
It may be that they didn't have the same knowledge then that they do now.
My vet said that if this had happened a few years ago they would not have
known how to treat it. In addition, she gave me a copy of a scholarly
article on the disease, treatment, etc. that was dated 1992, and nearly all
of the references cited were from 1991 or later. The technique that they
use now might not have been available when your kitty was sick.
Salty is getting noticeably better. She accepts the feedings pretty well,
and even eats a bit on her own. Although I get tired of arranging my
schedule to feed her three times a day, I don't really mind the
inconvenience. I am just happy that she is really better.
Sandy
susan h allen
for 2 nights and gave her valium to induce an appetite. She also took
some antibiotics for about 10 days. She is eating on her own now, and
although she is still not quite herself, she is doing much better.