Regular Vet Visit
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Pam Brooks | 6 years ago
Cat With Allergies
Treatment Cost (USD): $335.50
Took my cat was taken in to the vet in May to treat allergies, difficulty breathing (snoring sounds) and a head tilt. Eyes don't look the same. One eye's pupil is smaller. Was given an exam, anti inflammatory, antibiotic (convenia), vitamin b-12, ear drops, and an X-ray of lungs. Vet did not communicate with me about any of the issues. I've been a client for 5-6 years. Vet tech said she hoped cat didn't have Horner's syndrome. I didn't know what it was or what to say. She said the "next step" would be seeing a specialist. I did not know what that meant either, as they had never said this to me. They were busy I had dropped off the cat between appts and came back to pick him up.
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  1. Pam Brooks Post author

    New vet today. Practice is for cats only. Vet spent a LOT of time checking Lucas. Going to try an antibiotic for possible middle ear infection.

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Pam Brooks | 6 years ago
My Cat Was Taken In To The Vet In May To Treat Allergies, Difficulty Breathing…

My cat was taken in to the vet in May to treat allergies, difficulty breathing (snoring sounds) and a head tilt. Was given an anti inflammatory, antibiotic (convenia), vitamin b-12, ear drops, and an X-ray. Diagnosed with asthma brought on by allergies. Lungs ok. Three weeks later breathing and itching had improved, but third eyelid started showing.
Vet would not see him and said to go to a specialist.
Took the cat for a second opinion. That vet said we should check for nasal polyps. Was sedated and had an exam of ears and throat. No polyps were visible. Vet felt a small enlarged area under the soft palate, but could not confirm this was a polyp. Head tilting stopped after first visit. Recurred a few days ago. Not present now. Second vet recommended going to a specialist for ct scan. It is cost prohibitive and I’m not sure it is necessary. Third opinion from an online site recommended we try antibiotics for the respiratory issues. Started on one antibiotic today for ten days. And started on purina fortiflora.
Looking for any other advice or experience with issues like this. I’ve never had a cat with these problems.
Thanks.
#cats #nasal #headtilt #respiratory #polyps

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    This is a tough one. The problem really lies in the inability to localize and identify the lesion causing all of the clinical signs. I would look into Horners Syndrome and see a cat specialist. I also would consider a long discussion with a trusted vet on what is treatable and what isn’t based on most likely diagnosis. That’s really what you need. Help from someone who will talk about your case within your budget and comfort zone. I have to add one more thing. It really bugs the heck out of me to have a vet who won’t talk to you further after you discuss and confide in your inability to see a specialist (who will likely want a ct that you also can’t afford). Sorry. Soapbox moment.
    Keep me posted on your cats status please.

  2. Pam Brooks Post author

    Thank you. I just found your videos on removing nasal polyps on you tube. Was so hopeful yesterday that the second opinion vet who did the exam with Lucas under anesthesia would find a polyp in his throat and remove it. But instead she said she felt something kidney bean size under his soft palate. She wasn’t real confident of what it was. I went for the second opinion and told them I could not do the specialist route due to cost. Then I ended up being told I need to go see a specialist and spend 1-2 thousand for a CT. After that I could not pay for anymore treatment. So I searched around and had a vet online recommend the antibiotics. No one yet has given me options. Although the second vet said well he could live with polyps. I said but he is getting worse. The head tilt went away and came back. She said nothing else. I feel like I’m in an airport being moved through the system in the midst of storms that no on wants to discuss. And when I ask questions like can we give him steroids for inflammation – she says oh no I wouldn’t do that.
    I am scheduled for a consult with a vet from Cornell on Sunday. Maybe that will help.
    The other option I’m considering is just paying for a consult with a specialist – internal medicine I guess. When you call they won’t tell you what anything costs until you beg them. So I am leary of spending more money twith a specialist who may tell me they can’t do anything until I spend even more money on a ct.
    Sorry, frustrating week.

  4. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I completely understand your frustration. For al of the reasons you mention we added a storyline section to this site. If you can please add a story of your experience at each vet you went to and include the prices of each visit. I hope it is a way for others to see what the cost of care is and even which bets are affordable and helpful. Stories are entered by service provider. So each visit is entered separately but reference that you added one for each. It is a new feature so let me know if you have any questions or problems. We really are working hard to help people like you. Keep us posted. Good luck. Ps I think Cornell is a great option.

  5. Pam Brooks Post author

    For more information on this subject please see these credible resource pages; ACVS Nasopharyngeal Polyps; https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/nasopharyngeal-polyps

    Dr Magnifico, this is the link you posted. Figure 5 sounds like what Lucas has – a small polyp under his soft palate. Is this a surgery that a general practice cat vet could perform. Or only a surgeon. Cost is an issue for me. But I want to help Lucas before things get worse. Thanks.

  6. Pam Brooks Post author

    It says the mass will regrow with the simple removal shown. But it would be some relief and I’m not sure how fast they grow. Thanks.

  7. Pam Brooks Post author

    Went to a new vet today. What a difference from the others! Quiet, calm environment. Cats only patients. The vet was so thorough. Spent a long time with Lucas. When Lucas got anxious, he allowed him to go back into his carrier and calm down. Then he continued the exam by removing the top of the carrier. Lucas stayed in the corner and was much calmer. Going to try a new antibiotic – to hit what might be a middle ear infection. Onward!

  9. Pam Brooks Post author

    Thanks Dr Magnifico,
    The consulting vet from Cornell recommended I find a good vet interested in pursuing what is going on with Lucas, and listening to me regarding my budget. That was the same advice you gave! By the way the Cornell consult was excellent. The vet was very familiar with nasal polyps – and did not feel like this is the problem.

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Jillian Fouts | 6 years ago
I Have A Senior Cat Who Goes Into Labored Open Mouth Breathing When He Is…

I have a senior cat who goes into labored open mouth breathing when he is in a hard purr and also has wheezing and snoring but otherwise acts normal – eats, drinks, and is active for his age. The snoring is even when he’s not in a deep slumber and it can be an airy rattle if that makes sense and he has a little squeak when he swallows. I saw your video on the cat with a polyp and thought maybe this could be what he has except that he’s almost 17 so the vet suggested it probably isn’t since that’s more of a young cat thing but did suggest a scope and CT which will cost me 2500-3500 and he will have to be put under. In reading about breathing, heart disease can also cause breathing problems and since he has heart disease I would hate to spend all the money and put him through that to be told the scope didn’t show anything. I’ve also been reading about asthma, but my regular vet nor the specialist even mentioned that it could be that and from what I’ve read, it’s hard to diagnose. He’s a flame point Siamese and he has early ckd and some heart disease (stage 3/4 systolic murmur and hypertension), so I’m nervous about putting him under. Aside from these “old man” things, the specialist and my regular vet say his labs are spectacular. The specialist said when she is presented with a cat that has these conditions, they bloodwork and labs never look this good. So I certainly don’t want to put him down if he looks good but I also feel like he can’t be comfortable with these breathing episodes. One thing to note, when they did bloodwork a couple of weeks ago, his eosinophils were elevated which I have read can be linked to upper respiratory and asthma. Im putting the link to videos of the wheezing and purring to see if you’ve ever seen such a thing in a cat. I sure wish I had you closer by. Thank you so much!
Jill

Wheezing https://youtu.be/gaf7WCRzu80

Purr/breathing https://youtu.be/kqnd4YORenY

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    hello,

    i reviewed your videos, i think that it is appears as if the wheezing is in the oropharynx area. It also appears to be primarily it the inspiratory phase of the purring/breathing.
    There are internal medicine specialists who focus on this kind of clinical sign. I am not sure if there are any in your area though? I think the best place to start is at a feline specialists office. They tend to be more affordable and accessible. See if they can help start to rule out things before you jump into a scope.
    In my practice for cases like these a typical work up looks like this;
    1. exam,,, use your brain,, its your best diagnostic tool.
    2. radigraphs,, to look at the lungs.. lots of older cats have chronic lower resp disease,,, and unfortunately, we are also looking for signs of cancer.
    3. blood work,, a full cbc, chem, urine and t4.
    4. oral exam under anesthesia,, i look at the whole oral cavity, remove a polyp if i find one, flush the nares if the patient has had chronic nasal discharge, and then I also take skull rads, esp of the nose/nasal passages.
    if all of this fails to produce any helpful info endoscopy is the next step.. or CT, but endoscopy allows helpful info and you can do something (biopsy, etc) if you find something.
    I hope this helps..
    PS i agree about your theory and feelings about the corp practices..
    good luck,
    please keep me posted,, i would love to hear about how things turn out.
    PSS i do think that your kitty is a little old for a polyp.

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Krista Magnifico | 6 years ago
Nasopharyngeal Polyp Exploratory Surgery. Inky Was Suspected To Have A Nasopharyngeal Polyp And His Vet…
Treatment Cost (USD): $605.00
Inky was a rescued feral kitten. From the time his family found him he had what seemed to be an upper respiratory infection (which is very common in feral kittens). After multiple rounds of antibiotics there was little change in his snoring/snorting nasal noises. After doing some research they wondered if he might have a nasopharyngeal polyp? They asked their vet about the possibility? Their vet wanted to send them to a specialist for this. They could not find anyone locally to look and help them with Inky in a price range that was affordable.
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