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Krista Magnifico | 5 years ago
Canine Neuter And Umbilical Hernia Repair Surgery, Meet Beau And Baxter. Brothers With The Same Surgery, Same Day!
Treatment Cost (USD): $357.00
Beau (black) and Baxter (brown) are brothers. They are 8 months old and their parents wanted to neuter them to try to help the urine marking, aggression which can sometimes occur with brothers, and surgically correct their umbilical hernias. The hernias were found on physical exam with the veterinarian who gave them all of their puppy vaccines. hernias can be small and benign to large, severe and in need of immediate (or as soon as possible) surgical intervention. The severe hernias allow abdominal contents (usually intestines) to "slip" out of the abdomen. If this happens, and, if the intestines stop working, strangulate, dilate, or twist (torse) it can be life-threatening. For Baxter and Beau the hernia was small, (about 1/2 inch) but a pinkie finger could go into it, and the fat coming out of it could be pushed back into the abdomen. It is best to fix these and always spay/neuter as this is a congenital issue that can be passed on to the offspring.
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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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Kayce | 5 years ago
My Kitten Had A Nasopharyngeal Polyp Removed A Month Ago, What Can I Expect In The Future?

After many attempts to resolve one of my foster kitten’s URI, I learned about nasopharyngeal polyps and low and behold that was the problem with Lindy. My vet’s team removed the bulk of the polyp behind Lindy’s soft palate with a CO2 laser rather than with traction using forceps, the doctor estimated she removed 90%. I see you have had much experience with these nasty growths. Lindy is a foster and I am getting ready to turn her over to the adoption center to find her forever home. I’m not exactly sure what to write about Lindy’s polyp and what might happen in the future. I hear they can recur. Do you have any advice to give me. Thanks so much.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    If your kitten begins to have loud breathing or making snoring sounds, or if you notice open mouth breathing or any kind of discharge from the nose then I would go back to the vet. In my experience these recur about 10% of the time. Good luck. If you don’t mind I would love to have you share her story on our storylines page. It helps other people learn from the members experience and also helps understand prices in vet med. if you have any questions just let me know.

    Good luck.
    Krista.

    1. Kayce Post author

      Join the discussion…Hi Krista – thanks so much for your response. Yes please share my story. The vet removed the polyp at the same time Lindy was being spayed. I think the polyp removal added about $200.00 to the bill. I normally use a low cost spay/neuter clinic for my foster cats but because of Lindy’s unique situation I paid the my vet’s cost for spay so her total bill for the day’s surgery, spay and polyp removal, was $700.00. My vet was wonderful working through this problem with me but it was the first time she and her colleagues had encountered and removed this type of polyp. I bet they find a lot more of them now that they know they are out there. Thanks again.

    2. Kayce Post author

      Join the discussion…Thanks again and I just made a donation. This gives me great peace of mind.

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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.

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Tracey Grumbach | 5 years ago
My 4 Year Old Cat Had A 3 Year Rabies Shot And A Distemper Shot At About 11:30AM …

My 4 year old cat had a 3 year rabies shot and a distemper shot at about 11:30AM this morning. It is now 9:25 PM and she is having tremors in her leg muscles. It is NOT a seizure but I’ve never seen muscle tremors like this before. She is also lethargic and not eating too, which I know is fairly normal…I’m just worried about her muscle tremors. Does she need to be seen immediately or is it ok to wait until morning to call the vet?

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It is very hard for me to answer this safely. The advice always has to be to err on the side of caution so that safety comes first. A veterinarian will listen to heart and lungs, take a temp, and assess neurological function and probably give an injectable steroid. We also check mucous membrane color. All of this is done to assess severity of the condition and be prepared to halt it from progressing. The tremors can be pain or anxiety due to pain or discomfort. But without all of the rest of the physical parameters to use as an assessment I can’t tell you whether or not to be worried. I’m sorry. I know that is not cut and dry. But it’s the honest truth. I think you are a Jvc client. If so please pm me on the Jvc fb page and I will call you for immediate help.
    Krista.

    1. Tracey Grumbach Post author

      Thank you so very much for your quick response and the phone call. Your help is very much appreciated!

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Krista Magnifico | 5 years ago
Kirra’s Mass Removals And Dental Cleaning.
Treatment Cost (USD): $1028.52
Kirra had two masses growing under the skin over her spinal area. They larger one was about the size of a lemon and the smaller, just a few inches from the first closer to her tail, was about the size of a grape. The larger one was beginning to cause the skin to stretch to the point where rupture was eminent. When a mass ruptures the area is very unlikely to heal closed as this is abnormal tissue. A nonhealing wound or ruptured mass can result in chronic bleeding/exudate, infection or even maggots. Large masses that are about to cause skin rupture should be surgically excused before they get so large the skin opens or the mass removal is too large to close, or is causing the pet discomfort or ambulatory difficulty.
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Becky | 5 years ago
My Dog Had Surgery 3 Days Ago To Remove An Abscess. Then He Was Sent Home With …

My dog had surgery 3 days ago to remove an abscess. Then he was sent home with a drain. Today he had the drain removed; 3 hours ago. Where the stitches are above the drain hole has become swollen; a ping pong ball sized ball right where the stitches are. It was not this way before the drain was removed! Do I need to be concerned. My vet isn’t open until Monday and today is Saturday night

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I can’t tell you whether or not this is an emergency. I don’t know if this is a return or the abscess or something else like a seroma. The best advice I can give is to monitor your dog very closely. Any sign of lethargy, inappetance or indication of infection at the site like pain, swelling, redness or discharge and you should see a bet immediately. Also it is always better of to be safe than sorry and see a vet as soon as anything abnormal occurs. Whether it’s an emergency is hard to tell and impossible to diagnose online. I hope this helps. Good luck. Let us know what happens.

    1. Becky Post author

      Thank for your opinion & advice. The swelling hasn’t gotten bigger overnight but is still there. Our vet opens tomorrow & I’ll definitely take him in first thing in the morning.

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Alyvia | 5 years ago
My Cat Has Herpes & Has Had Worms In The Past. She Has Had 3 Litters Of …

My cat has herpes & has had worms in the past. She has had 3 litters of kittens before. The first litter was 3 stillborns. The second litter was only 2 babies (one of them being boo of course.) The third happened recently about 4 weeks ago & there was 3 of them (we’re not sure if it was the same father as the last two.) The kittens seemed very healthy but with having other outdoor cats we had to often give them flea baths & even then the fleas would still be there & climb up to their faces but obviously we were hesitant getting their faces. Their mother fed them very well (I could even say maybe over fed them) & they got plenty of rest. The only concern I would say I noticed is how one of them only seemed to use three of her legs, but I didn’t think much about it because I assumed she was young & just still learning how to walk. Then all of a sudden a few hours before she passed she kind of just really wanted nothing to do with anything & just keep sleeping. When I saw she was dead later I noticed brown squiggly things on her, I figured it was either flea eggs or some type of worm. It couldn’t have been the same worms her mother used to have because those were white. We obviously took her away from the others, and then their mother seemed to not want much to do with the two ones still alive. She’s done this in the past when she had her stillborns, she was depressed for a while. I figured it could either be that or my mother read online that it could be because she knows they’re sick & she doesn’t want anything to do with it. So me & my family purchased kitten formula, a bottle, & turkey wet food made specifically for kittens. We’ve made an effort to feed them 15 ml of the formula every 4 hours. We also provided them with warm blankets and shelter since they are lacking their mothers body heat. One of them was acting like the kitten that had just passed, just really not up for doing anything. The next morning we saw them & they seemed fine, then we check on them about 15 minutes later & that same kitten was from before was dead. We’re now making an effort to really keep an eye on this one & do everything we can. He was doing so well this morning, & we’ve been holding him to our chest for more intense warmth & continued to feed him 15 ml of formula every 4 hours. Now for the past 4 hours or so he’s starting to look really lazy like the other two. We’re scared he’s not going to make it very long

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  1. Sarah

    Good morning. My advice would be to get to a vet. I would also advise spaying this cat in an effort to prevent this same event from repeating itself as this is the third time you’re going through this. Best of luck.

  2. Laura

    I agree with Sarah. You need a vet for the litter as well as for your queen – spay her, speuter the kittens when they’re ready for their new homes. Stop the cycle of producing sick cats.

  3. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m sorry to hear about your kittens. There are so many things that this could be. It’s really almost impossible for me to even speculate. I think it would be really helpful to provide basic medical care. Like parasite control and treatment and vaccines. And yes of course spaying and neutering to prevent future litters and the high mortality associated with them. I would guess that it is probably a few simple things. Parasites, disease, exposure are the big killers for cats and kittens. I applaud your compassion but I think it’s time to start providing more medical intervention. If it helps it was a story much like yours that compelled me to become a veterinarian. I was determined to never watch another pet die without being able to intervene and do all I could to save them. I wish you all well.

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Kaitlin | 5 years ago
My One Year Old Cat Threw Up Twice On August 23rd, But She Was Not Acting …

My one year old cat threw up twice on August 23rd, but she was not acting lethargic and was still eating and drinking normally so I thought she maybe threw up because of a hair ball. She threw up again today twice, with one being a very small amount. She is not acting lethargic and is active and playing. She is also drinking normally but she has not eaten as much as normal. Both times she threw up when I was not at home. She did start eating when I got home today though. I also free feed her but haven’t had issues with her vomiting due to eating to fast or vomiting in the entire time I have had her (one year). I’m not sure what the cause of her vomiting could be.

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  1. Sarah

    Hi there-
    I hate to sound gross, but was her food fully digested? Was the event close to when she was finished eating? If that is the case, she may have just eaten to fast. Also- have you switched foods? Sometimes that can upset a stomach. If she is acting normally and going to the bathroom and being her normal self, I would just keep an eye on her and make sure she stays that way. Any sudden change, I would call the vet. If you have an appointment soon, I would mention it to them.

    1. Kaitlin Post author

      Hi! Thank you so much for your comment! Her food was fully digested I believe. And both times it happened in the hallway outside my room. I live in a shared apartment and keep her food in my room, so it didn’t happen by her food bowl. I’m guessing it was not close to when she was finished eating since her food looked fully digested. I can’t say for certain because both times it happened when I was at school or at work. I did switch her food but the first time that she vomited she was on her old food (which was kitten food) and after that I switched her to an adult cat food since she turned one that month. I’m not sure if stress could cause her to vomit, but I was home with her a lot this summer and now that I am back at school, she’s home by herself a lot. When I come home she meows a lot and rubs up against me, wanting to be pet for a while. I think she may have some separation anxiety, but I am not sure if that could possibly cause her to be sick or if I’m just overthinking it.

  2. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Based on age alone I think that if I were your vet I would talk to you about intestinal parasites (best diagnosed with a fecal exam sent to the lab) and a discussion of food and environment. I think these are really good places to start. And best for your cats well being. Hope this helps. Please let us know what happens.

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Gevin | 5 years ago
7 Month Old Puppy Has Raw Skin Possible On Upper Lip. Does Anyone Know If I Should …

7 month old puppy has raw skin possible on upper lip.

Does anyone know if I should be concerned or if this will take care of its self. I just noticed it today.( It was not there before)

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  1. Gevin Post author

    Also he does not seem bothered by it at all he’s walking around normally, still very playful, and not lethargic at all.

  2. Sarah

    Good morning- it’s always hard to tell from a picture. To me, it looks a little bit like a small injury/scrape… like from a a stick or a toy possibly? If he is acting normally and eating, playing, drinking, bathrooming, etc. as usual, I would watch him and check on it periodically. If it changes or gets worse at all, I would call the vet to have it checked. Cute pup!!