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Hello Dr. Magnifico!
I found you on YouTube! I wanted to tell you how wonderful I think it is that you are going above and beyond to help pet owners worldwide!
I have a 4 year old female cat named boots. For over a year now, she has been having pretty severe coughing attacks daily. I have taken her to multiple vets that can’t tell me what’s going on. I have heard both upper and lower respiratory conditions could be involved. We got a chest X ray 2 weeks ago and it came back negative. Tried asthma medicine with no help. Tried an antibacterial in case it was an infection, and only very mild relief. Using 5mg Zyrtec daily has some relief. My vet suggests it may be nasopharyngeal polyps. I visited your page and saw your video removing these polyps in a cat, and the symptoms I have found for polyps don’t seem to quite match Boots. She doesn’t have a snorting sound while breathing, but her breathing is sometimes audible at rest. I am very fearful to proceed with further testing or procedures because I don’t want to spend so much money without knowing the problem will be fixed. Any suggestions?! THANK YOU!!
Good afternoon, I have a 3 years old cat, neutered male. Last Monday he had an obstruction, I went to ER, could not afford to hospitalize him, therefore, they just unblocked him and we went home with meds. 6 days later my cat became more alive, however, he is using litter box frequently and producing small amounts of urine. My question is- is this because of the medications that he cannot hold it and empties it little by little or is this because he is getting blocked again? Current medications are Buprenorphine, prazosin, gabapentin. Also, because he has not been hospitalized for 2 days, does that mean I have to try to find someone who will keep him on fluids for 2 days or there is a chance he can recover?
Hello- I definitely would take him to your regular vet…. they know him best. They run some tests to determine if it is blockage or not. I can say that years ago, we had a male cat who had to have expensive surgery to be unblocked and he then had to be on Rx food for the rest of his life. Please get him in to see your vet ASAP. I hope he recovers and is ok????????
Hello,
Cats who block always (I know I am not supposed to say that but I have found it to be true!) always reblock, or at least struggle for weeks to months with urinary complications. In my experience it is not uncommon to unblock them numerous times over the first few months. They need lots of fluids and TLC along with medications. We have a cat now who had a stone (found on Xray). We spent weeks trying to get him better only to discover the stone was the underlying problem and we did surgery two days ago. It is a long road getting to being blocked and an equally long road to getting cured.
Thank you so much for the response and for clarifying everything. For some reason, I thought that they were supposed to get back to normal right away. I saw your video that you uploaded a few years ago on Youtube that you have a cage that can keep him there even at night. I live about 4 hours drive from you and I was wondering- if I don’t find anyone who can help me around my area, is this possible that I can bring him to your clinic? Thank you!
Hello!! I found Dr Krista’s YT vid (Stripes the cat re nasal polyps) while researching my kitty’s condition. I have had Percy out to Pet ER w. initial thick mucus that became tinged w. a bit of blood. He was prescribed Doxy to treat the infection… it wasn’t until during the course of treatment that he began the “snoring” at which point I rushed him back to Pet ER. Having limited funds and no experience w. these issues ever before, I opted for Labs (figuring that would be a start). Unfortunately, the results did not “tell me anything unusual” and I am not a vet. It was then that I learned about these polyps … and I feel confident that this could be what Percy is suffering from (unless there may be a foreign object obstructing his airway). At this point I have no dx!! I’ve been on the veterinary roller-coaster ride trying to determine the best course of action between my local vet (Dundalk Animal Hosp), Pet ER or another vet altogether… at this point not knowing the cause of his breathing issue or how much the costs may be… I guess I can understand why “estimates” can’t be given … I am just trying to determine the LESS COSTLY route and there seems to be no clear answer. My head is spinning and I want the best for Percy and to NOT have to lose him, that’s the bottom line… my heart is hurting as this was so unexpected!! Would it be possible to fit Percy into the clinic’s busy schedule ASAP?? I called this morning and was told that Monday is already full. Emily advised to reach out on Pawbly … I also sent a pm on FB.
I really need help, I cared for 2 cats last year both former strays, one Main Coon mix w. Hypercardiomyopathy and the other cancer of his paw which was eating away. Both these babies tore my heart in 2 but I did what I had to until it was time to journey on RIP… we had a family of 6 at that time along w. my deceased uncle’s dog. My Care Credit card was easily almost maxed out… my boys and I are pitching in together as many ways as possible for Percy. He is the last of our most recent feline family and I do NOT EVER want to stop caring for animals!! Thank you for my restored faith in humanity!! ~Love~ Shelley & Percy
Hello,
I am happy to meet you and your cat at my clinic. If that would help. We work very hard to provide affordable options to help people with their pet care needs. I am at the clinic Sunday thorough Thursday.
Thank You so much, you are a blessing to ALL pets and their humans!!
My cat died outside the house with blood in her mouth. And I touched and look for any marks or injuries. There’s no mark she was hit by a car, or someone hit her. And she is not going to any other house. Please, someone, say it’s a natural cause. I was thinking about this whole day. I’m stressed because of this. I worried that someone did something to her. She lived with us for 13 years.
A few days ago she couldn’t eat and vomited time by time. So we took her to the vet, and they gave saline and a few injections. She was fine after that.
The only thing that happened is before she died, she sneezed continuously at night and morning when she is sleeping with me.
I can try to make up my mind if this is due to natural causes.
First, and most importantly, I’m very sorry for your loss. It’s hard when we don’t know the cause of our pets’ death.
Unless you’re watching her at all times – literally 24 hours a day – or you keep her inside, where she should be, there’s no way to say she isn’t going away from your home.
That said…due to the blood from the mouth, I would wonder if this is the result of rat poisoning. Is there ANY chance of rat poison around your home?
My cat is home from a 3 day stay at the ER with FLUTD. He was partially blocked. His kidneys suffered slightly. He was sent home with pain medication, antibiotics, and something to relieve him of urethral spasms. It has already cost me $2700 and I cant possibly offered another stay as he isn’t peeing too well already after 24hours being home. He is still only trickling pee rather than fully expressing his bladder. What do I do? I can’t afford another hospital visit.
You need to call the vet who did the surgery and speak with them. Is it possible your cat was not ready to come home? Are there signs you should be looking for… signs of milestones or setbacks? Explain that your cat is still struggling with no improvement and you’re concerned if it should have been sent home at all. Are you already scheduled for a follow up appointment? Also explain your budget concerns and ask about options of payment as well. Hope he is ok !!! ????????
My tabby cat male had PU surgery 2 weeks ago He’s currently squatting every 3 minutes like he has to go but nothing he pees a lot at first but just keeps squatting over and over again he’s eating drinking and cleaning but seems to be obsessed with the squatting his stitches are due to come out tomorrow help us ?????
Good morning- if the stitches are scheduled to come out, I would definitely bring these symptoms up at the visit. Make sure that the vet is aware of what is going on… unless have you already spoken to them about this? If you have, then explain your concern as there is no improvement. Best of luck- hope your cat recovers and is ok????????
My foster cat, who I am now considering adopting, has been struggling to breathe properly for about 3 months now. He came into the shelter with a suspected URI. However, after months of treatment with antibiotics and a whole swath of other anti viral medications, the vet determined that he wasn’t getting any better and euthanasia is on the table. I want to get a second opinion before we make any drastic decisions. I am doing online research and suspect that perhaps he has a polyp, a tumor, or foreign object in his throat/nose.
While I am dying to explore these other solutions, the shelter told me if I adopt him and take him to a specialist costs could go up to $5,000. I don’t have that kind of money. I am in Olympia, Washington State. Does anyone recommend any veterinary hospital that is more affordable and can explore other resolutions at a more reasonable price? I don’t want to give up on him, but can’t afford to spend that kind of money.
Thank you so much.
Hello,
I always advise that you ask your vet for affordable options. If they can’t provide that ask the local rescues, shelters and pet centered foundations. Post online on all social media sites. There are affordable and accessible vets around but often it takes a lot of asking. If you do find someone please post your story on our storlylines section. It will help someone like you down the road. Good luck.
Hello, my cat just had 2 polyps removed today. One from his throat and one from his left ear. I noticed when we got home his left eye looks a little funny. His inner eyelid is covering half the eye and it doesn’t seem to be dilated the same as his right eye. I’m worried they caused damage to the eye while in his ear?
Hello-
It could be swelling possibly… from the surgery? I definitely would call the vet who did the surgery as they know your cat’s exact situation and possible side effects. Plus, they will want to know the status of their patient I am sure. I would call first thing when they open- they may even want you to bring your cat in to take a look. Best of luck!!
I gave them a call as soon as we got home from surgery and I noticed it. They said it’s probably due to inflammation. They didn’t seem concerned but I still can’t help but be concerned.
Hello,
Please call the vet who did the surgery and notify them. I would suspect Horners Syndrome. It has happened with a few of my cases. It resolved over time. But your vet needs to be notified. Please also add your cats story and procedure (with cost of care too) so that others can benefit. We get a lot of question from people looking for qualified vets who will do this procedure. Ty!
I called the vet as soon as I got my cat home and noticed his eye. They just said it is probably from inflammation and said they can prescribe me something for it but I couldn’t drive back out there because that vet is an hour from me. They were the only vet I could find who was familiar with polyps. This is actually my sisters cat. She got him from a rescue center about 2 years ago and he’s been sick since day one. She started vet care right away but they kept treating kitty for an upper respiratory infection and ear infection. He would seem better for a month or so but always got sick again. after 8 failed times treating for these two things my sister called me crying that she can’t afford anymore but she doesn’t want to put him down so I agreed to take over. I took him to my vet, who I’ve always trusted, and explained that the treatment he’s been getting hasn’t fixed him and she said it’s most likely a polyp but she said she had to send him to a specialist for polyps. I got the quote from the specialist for a polyp removal and it was going to cost me $2,684. I was fully prepared to pay this and even had his appointment set. But then I came across YouTube videos by Krista Magnifico showing how simple this procedure actually is so I started calling around. Sadly every vet I called said I have to go to that specialist my vet referred me to. Finally, 12 phone calls later, I found a vet who was very familiar with polyps and he got me in within 2 days. The Total bill there was only $809. 99!! What a relief ????. I should probably add that I live in Minnesota. Pice could be different from state to state.
**Update**
My cats eye is back to normal. His eye issue only lasted about 24 hours then went away on its own. Must have just been inflammation from surgery like his vet said. My kitty is doing great since his polyp removal. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome!!
hi, i got my cat spayed two weeks back, and she has developed this swelling behind her skin sutures one week after the surgery. there’s no discolouration, or tenderness, or drainage of any kind from the sutures. the swelling itself feels firm, and soft tissue-esque. my cat herself doesn’t show any signs of discomfort/pain either. no loss of appetite, no diarrhoea or change in bowel movements, no change in behaviour, no lethargy, etc.
this is my first pet, so i don’t have any experience in the post-op recovery of cats, and what is considered normal or not. also i live in a super remote area, and the vets in my town are more experienced in cattle, so taking her to them was of no help. they think it’s an infection or hernia. i don’t think it’s either because there are literally no signs of infection, the wound is absolutely clean, and it’s not hernia because it’s doesn’t reduce (and if it were at a strangulated/irreducable stage, there are no systemic signs to support that diagnosis).
the hospital where i got her spayed at is in a different city, and i talked to the surgeon who performed the surgery on the phone, and going by the pictures, he thinks it’s probably a seroma. he absolutely shot down the hernia possibility, because he says they put uninterrupted sutures, so the chances of hernia are very rare.
my local vet has put her on a ceftriaxone plus dexamethasone (intramuscular) regimen, for 4 days to see if the swelling improves or not. but i am not super confident about their judgement since they are not experienced in cat physiology, at all. they didn’t even consider it could be a seroma, i had to explain it to them. i just need to know what are the chances of it being something serious, because if it’s only a seroma, or a reaction to the internal sutures getting dissolved, i’d rather not have her uselessly medicated.
so, tl;dr how does a seroma swelling feel like? and how do you differentiate between a swelling due to seroma, or because of the body’s reaction to internal sutures healing?
Hi there-
When is her follow up visit to the surgeon? It is very hard to tell from a photo, but her incision looks clean- not infected. Is it warm to the touch at all? Nothing painful? You said no lethargy, etc? If she is acting normal, eating normal etc., then I would just wait until my follow up to discuss directly with the surgeon. Unless there is no follow up at this point? If that is the case and things do not improve, then you may have to take a ride I. To see the surgeon anyway to make sure things are healing properly. Hope things go ok- ????????
thanks for responding.
the surgeon didn’t plan any followup visit initially, since i was visiting from out of town. he said the local vet could take out the skin sutures. but when i talked to him yesterday, he said to give the antibiotic/steroid regimen, and wait.
it’s not warm to touch, and not tender either. she’s eating, and drinking just like she used to.
if the swelling is a normal reaction to sutures, how long does it take to settle down? is it alright to give her more antibiotics, she was given a 5 days course of co-amoxiclav (156.25 mg, 1.5ml twice bd) post-op? is seroma supposed to be a firm swelling, because the surgeon suggested aspirating the fluid, but the vet that saw her today advised against it because the swelling was firm in consistency. sorry for bombarding you with all these questions.
I have a cat who needs a nodule removed from his liver as well as a bladder stone. Can anyone pleasee help find me a surgeon for this procedure? I can have all his recent test results and ultrasound sent from this vet to one who can do this.
Hi Amanda – it looks like you’re in Glen Arm? Did your vet have any suggestions? Are you willing to drive up to Philly, and would your vet be willing to consult with UPenn? UPenn treated us very well when we had a puppy who needed specific care we couldn’t get locally.
Hello,
I’m sorry for the delay. Covid has had me working like crazy.
I think that a polyp should always be considered and your vet, or some credible accessible vet, should be willing to sedate to look behind the soft palate. It is a quick and easy thing to do, but, they also have to be willing to try to remove it. There are a fair number of vets around who love this procedure. Call everyone you can and ask for help. We are out there. You just have to dig. The other helpful tips are to call the local shelters and rescues and ask them if they have someone they can recommend. You can also try to find a feline exclusive practice. If you do find someone locally please (please!!) add it to our storylines section so we can pass along the info to the next person who asks.