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Jim | 5 years ago
My Ex-feral Cat Has Been Diagnosed With A Tape Worm That The Vet Had Us Treat …

My ex-feral cat has been diagnosed with a tape worm that the vet had us treat with a round of Cestex (25mg – 1 1/2x’s day for 2 days) this knocked the fecal test from a 4+ to a 2+ and they recommended the same meds again, knocked it from a 2+ to a 1+. Now they say do it again or come in and the cat can get a shot. The cat has had check up’s every year since coming inside, and tape worm was noted once before and meds given at the vet. Now they think she has had it for as long as she has been inside. Told it is a type of worm not normally seen in SE USA, more Pacific NW and could be caught from eating dead fish in a pond or frogs. When she was feral and coming to the door at night she would bring us frogs so this makes sense. Question is, is this type of worm bad for the cat long term? And does it pose any health risks for us? She really gets upset when being given the pills and does not travel well to the vet for shots. Any thoughts are appreciated, wish I could remember the name of the worm the tech told us on the phone.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    First if this is a tapeworm I consider them more gross than dangerous. So there’s that. Second they are caused by ingesting a flea so we start with treating fleas and tapes. And third (and best of all) all of this can be treated in one easy monthly application of revolution plus monthly. Easy-peezy!
    Xox
    Krista.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    I should add one more thing. If your fecal is being sent to a lab they can help to diagnose it, assist with treating and help with any kind of zoonotic issues. I call them for help a lot. Hope this all helps. And in general very few cat parasites are dangerous to people. But you need to get the exact name of the worm to confirm this.

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Maria Martin | 5 years ago
On Monday My Cat Slid Off Our Grill, And His Back Paw Got Caught In Between …

On Monday my cat slid off our grill, and his back paw got caught in between the handle and grill cover. He was hanging by the leg, the back paw bent over, unable to get free. (He’s 15 pounds). Went to local vet. X-rays taken. Told nothing broken. I called the next day, since he wouldn’t walk on it. Was told they didn’t get good X-ray of foot, so I brought him back in. Was told 1 bone broken, no need to cast. Was sent the X-ray. Appears to have 2, maybe 3 breaks. Not sure if this can heal without casting. Don’t feel comfortable just giving him pain meds for 2 weeks, and then find out it didn’t heal correctly. Already spent $350. Does he need a second opinion, or casting?

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  1. Sarah

    Hi-
    I’m sorry no one got back to you sooner! I would get a second opinion. It sounds like you are wary of what the first vet office told you…. I would bring the xrays with me, but they will probably want to take more, so be prepared for that expense. I hope everything works out!

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AJ | 5 years ago
My 14 Year Old Female Cat Had Surgery Yesterday To Remove A Tumor On Her Right Side. …

My 14 year old female cat had surgery yesterday to remove a tumor on her right side. She has been doing very well until about 1 hour ago. Something about the surgical site is bothering her. It may be itchy or something, but she tries not to bite at the bandages at first. She will growl & run around, but will bite at the surgical area. Is there anything I can do to help her?

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  1. AJ Post author

    I asked my question already. Is there anything I can do to help her?

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Sounds like pain or discomfort? I would call the surgeon in the morning and ask them to help. Cats are terrible with bandages. I usually only use them if the cat is stating in the hospital to be monitored. Please call the vet ASAP. .

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Chelsey | 5 years ago
My Cat Is A Domestic Long Hair. She Gets Occasional Hairballs Every Couple Of Months But …

My cat is a domestic long hair. She gets occasional hairballs every couple of months but tonight yacked up an almost 6 inch hairball. She has been eating, drinking, and defecating fine. Should I be concerned about a bowel obstruction? I have never seen anything like this before. At first I thought there may be a long worm inside of it but threw on some gloves and discovered its just matted hair. I have called multiple vets and can’t get her in for nearly a week. Is this worth an emergency vet visit?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It’s very hard for anyone remotely to know whether a pets condition is truly an emergency or not. In general we go by the rule that “if they are acting completely normal it probably isn’t an immediate emergency”
    If you have a regular vet I would call them first thing tomorrow and ask to be seen ASAP after explaining what happened. I would also keep the vomit sample and collect a fecal sample to bring in. If you don’t have a regular bet or can’t be seen soon I would go to the ER for peace of mind. I hope this helps. Let us know what happens

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Michelle | 5 years ago
Blocked Cat Cannot Urinate After Catheter Treatment. Brought Our Boy (age 6) To The Vet Friday 9/13/19 He …

Blocked Cat Cannot Urinate after catheter treatment. Brought our boy (age 6) to the vet Friday 9/13/19 He was totally blocked. Vet did catheter and IV overnight. Showed great improvement. Still a bit slow to urinate but peed beautifully (on the toilet bowl–yes he often does this). Vet wanted to keep him for observation while we were at work, but again his urination was only dribbles. He’s back at the vet for 2nd night of overnight catheter again. Any insight?? Vet is saying the slow urine stream/lack of urine is due to inflammation. Then how did he pee so beautifully on Wednesday? Very confused, frustrated, and want our baby back home! Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated Thanks.

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  1. Sarah

    Good morning-
    The one time that we had this with one of our cats was many years ago. I wish that the vet we saw them (not who we now see) had kept him for observation and sent us home with better instruction. We ended up having an extremely costly surgery and luckily no recurrence after that. I also researched and changed our litter and we did a diet change. I feel that if our vet at the time had given us better instruction after the first occurrence, as well as had kept him overnight to make sure he was ready to go home, we may possibly have been able to avoid the second visit. I would talk to the vet you are seeing. Ask about diet and litter recommendations. There is a good Rx catfood. Ask for advice on early warning signs to look for. Best of luck.

    1. Michelle Post author

      Thank you. Yes, we are now aware of early warning signs and diet has been changed to Rx cd wet food only. The problem now is that Sebastian can’t seem to urinate more than tiny amounts at a time. Vet keeps saying the cause is inflammation, but he’s had catheters on/off for a week now and is getting meds… Why can’t he urinate??? Vet says cath goes in with no problem and urine at that point is clear. He’s stressed at the clinic and that can’t be helping matters. Thanks again.

  2. Michelle Post author

    Thank you. Yes, we are now aware of early warning signs and diet has been changed to Rx cd wet food only. The problem now is that Sebastian can’t seem to urinate more than tiny amounts at a time. Vet keeps saying the cause is inflammation, but he’s had catheters on/off for a week now and is getting meds… He’s stressed at the clinic and that can’t be helping matters. Thanks again.

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Suzanne Cannon | 5 years ago
Feline Spay (OHE) In River, A Domestic Shorthair
Treatment Cost (USD): $188.00
River is a 9 month old domestic shorthair cat who presented for a spay surgery (OHE, or ovariohysterectomy)
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Suzanne Cannon | 5 years ago
Feline Spay (OHE) In A Domestic Shorthair: Lemon’s Story
Treatment Cost (USD): $188.00
Lemon is an approximately 2 year old domestic shorthair cat who showed up as a stray at her owner's home. Shortly after arriving, she gave birth to a litter of 4 kittens. Lemon's owner decided to keep and care for her, so the decision was made to spay Lemon so she doesn't have more kittens. At Lemon's first exam appointment, it was noted that she had some enlarged mammary tissue.
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Mel | 5 years ago
Please Help!! Over Labor Day Weekend We Had To Hospitalize Our 1year Old Cat For A …

Please help!!

Over Labor Day weekend we had to hospitalize our 1year old cat for a bladder blockage. We didn’t have the funds for the procedure and we didn’t want our cat to die. He’s really my son’s cat who is 7 and would just be heartbroken.
He got his bladder flushed, came home 3 days later. We had to open a line of credit on carecredit that is now maxed out. Finished all his medications and seemed fine until today.
He isn’t peeing, seems lethargic. I tried manually expressing him but to no avail. Nothing but some drops of blood come out.
I’m crying as I’m writing this because we can’t afford another costly procedure and this is can obviously be fatal.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. I know how costly and devastating this can be for pet parents. I think it’s time to call everyone you can think of to see if anyone will either help you out financially or help you out to see if he is blocked again. I think he needs to be seen by a vet immediately as he can die if he is blocked. We all dread these cases. I have had so many over my career. When I get them the first time I always warn that they often have repeat episodes for months until we can get the diet changed and the urinary system happy. I won’t euthanize a blocked cat but I am the exception these days in vet med I fear. I recommend you see a vet immediately add call everyone you can asking for assistance. There isn’t anything else I can offer. I’m sorry.

  2. Sarah

    Hello- I am so sorry. The only other advice I can offer is to plead with your vet to help you in any possible way … paying a little at a time, paying as soon as you can, anything.

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Pam Brooks | 5 years ago
My Cat Lucas Is Still Sick With Horner’s Syndrome. After Many Tests Have Not Been …

My cat Lucas is still sick with Horner’s syndrome. After many tests have not been able to determine a definitive cause. I would like to look into getting a myringotomy for him so I can know what the fluid in his middle ear is. It is causing him to have serious nasal issues every time he eats. Does anyone know if this procedure – myringotomy – is ever done by a regular vet, or does it require a specialist. And what have others paid. Any information would be helpful. See recent photo of Lucas – with his good eye. The other eye is affected by Horner’s syndrome.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I don’t know enough about your cats case to offer any real advice. I have seen horners take months to resolve. And I’m not sure what triggered your cats condition. My best advice is to see a feline specialist or neurologist to discuss diagnostics and options. I don’t think you will find anyone outside of then to discuss this procedure. I would also strongly recommend that you ask yourself why you are worried about it and what potential side effects you might see if you pursue treatment plans without confirming the underlying cause. I leave Horner s alone unless a pet parent wants to do a CT scan. And I refer them if so. If your cat is happy and eating and ambulatory well I would leave well enough alone. As long as infection does not look like the underlying cause. I also rule out polyps. As these are treatable easily. In my opinion.
    Please let me know what happens. Good luck.

    1. Pam Brooks Post author

      Thank you. I read this article http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/skills-laboratory-how-perform-myringotomy?pageID=1 and because Lucas does have Otitis Media bilaterally – as diagnosed from a scan (not an MRI but a less expensive scan done by Sonopath) I wondered if treating it would help resolve the Horner Syndrome. I spoke with my cat’s regular vet earlier and he agrees with you – to see a neurologist before attempting to do anything with the middle ear issue.
      Lucas is on gabapentin for nerve pain in his face. It is keeping the pain away. But he hypersalivates and his respiratory system seems to go haywire when he eats. After he eats his nose and face are wet to the touch. He sneezes and flings thick mucous. Then he bathes his face with his front paws and they become wet so that he looks like he’s been doused with water on his head and front legs. That is why I am trying to find out what is causing the Horner syndrome – which seems to be triggering this hyper response to eating and creating nerve pain on one side of his face – the side where one eye has Horner syndrome.
      Pam

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Allie | 5 years ago
What Can I Give My Cat She Cant Pass A Hairball! Help!

What can I give my cat she cant pass a hairball! Help!

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  1. Sarah

    Good morning…
    Sorry for a late response. Hoping that your cat finally coughed up that hairball. If not- are you positive it was a hair ball? I only ask because the constant trying to clear her throat of it can be a symptom of other, more severe circumstances. If she is still showing signs of distress and coughing to clear “something” out of her airway, I would get into the vet as soon as you can.

    1. Allie Post author

      I talked to the vet and he gave us laxatone and she loves it. It has helped her through up two times but more mucus which makes sense because she is unber congested and sneezing. So that may be what is going on. We are keeping a close eye on her and there is some improvement but minimal.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m worried that the hairball might not be a hairball. If you have a long haired cat I recommend daily brushing. Or even twice a year shave downs. If you have a short haired cat you can try OTC cat lax or watered down canned food. I have even heard of people adding petroleum jelly to help lubricate. But I have also seen cats vomiting from intestinal parasites (please only diagnose with your vet don’t use an OTC dewormer as they aren’t safe enough in my opinion. I also talk about increasing fluid intake either by iv fluids or sq fluids. But these need to be discussed with your vet. My concern here is that coughing for hairball relief can look exactly like coughing for heart disease, respiratory disease and a huge host of other problems. Please see your vet before assuming a diagnosis and instituting your own treatment plan. I hope this helps.