Over the past two months (since the middle of January), Petra has gotten sick. (See previous thread) Again. And again. She goes on antibiotics, she gets better and acts fine. She goes off, within a few days she is sick again. This last time she was on 3 weeks of antibiotics and got sick within 2 days after going off. I finally bit the bullet, called the vet, and made an appointment for this afternoon. That was on Tuesday. Between Tuesday afternoon and last night, Petra got REALLY sick. Not eating or drinking, wheezing, sneezing, coughing/spitting up mucus and saliva. Really unhappy kitty. She sounded like Darth Vader all night and the things that had helped before, like putting her in the bathroom and running the shower on hot so the steam could clear her pipes, didn’t help anymore. I decided she couldn’t wait any longer and we took her in to the vet at 7:30 this morning. My boyfriend and I were both really worried that she had Feline AIDS or Feline Leukemia or something that was affecting her immune system. We were really scared.
They did X-rays. They did bloodwork.
Vet calls me at 8:30 (while we were at breakfast) and says the X-ray shows that Petra has a NEEDLE AND THREAD loged in her windpipe (well, in the flesh around her windpipe). She SWALLOWED A NEEDLE AND THREAD two months ago, and has been sick from the secondary infection of having a foreign body in her windpipe for two months.
So he gets the needle and thread out, and tells me that he also thinks she may have a bowel obstruction from more thread that could have traveled further down, and wants to do exploratory surgery to find out what’s causing it. I give the go-ahead. He calls me back and says it wasn’t thread (yay! no necrotic tissue! nothing unhealthy in her bowel!), but that she had a bunch of scar tissue that had kind of rerouted her bowel, back from when she had whatever accident caused her leg to get mangled (and the ultimate reason why she lost the leg). He fixes that up, so it doesn’t cause her problems later, sews her back up, and tells me she is resting comfortably and we can bring her home tomorrow.
Vet visit, 2 months worth of antibiotics: $200
Xrays, bloodwork, surgery, medicine, vet time: probably more than $1000!
Knowing she’s finally going to be OK and won’t keep getting sick: Priceless.
oooOOOooo wait until the little thing gets to licking those stiches, you are in for a fun time. [insert sarcastic smilie] I know full well what you mean about a healthy animal being priceless, I will refrain from once again going on and on about Sasser the big buck dog. But she is better now. So I am happy your little one is doing well.
I was initially reluctant to open this thread because I was afraid it would be a sad, sad story of how someone’s beloved pet was going to/had died. My only family member within reach is a small dog named Buster, and I find that sort of story strikes very close to home. I am ***so ** * glad your kitty has been successfully treated by modern veterinary science.
Of course, I’ll bet Kitty isn’t too happy about all that stitching you won’t let her lick, either. (She’ll get over it – isn’t that wonderful?)
Yay! That is such great news. Here’s wishing Petra a full and speedy recovery!
You might want to ask your vet if they accept the Care Credit card. They offer up to 12 months interest free financing on veterinary services. It’s the only card I use for my kitty’s vet bills, and have had nothing but wonderful service from them (and Miss Mew has Chronic Renal Failure, so we have lots of vet bills).
Shayna, I’m sorry to hear about Miss Mew. Has she gone on LRS yet, and if so, do you administer yourself? I have about 8 or so bags left over from my Harley I’d be happy to send you if you need. As well as some cans of K/D wet (the kind with minced chicken). Let me know!
mlerose: I’m very happy to hear there’s a happy ending for Petra.
Aw, Mauv, that’s so sweet of you. Mew was actually diagnosed a little over 3 years ago (and given 2 months to, maybe 2 years at the outside), and bless her heart, she’s hanging in there just great. In fact, today is her 20th birthday! Yes, she is on fluid therapy (I actually posted about it before, and put up pictures when cadolphin’s kitty got sick). Her kidney values have stayed pretty stable, and even improved slightly on her last doctor’s visit (though we’re having to watch her white blood cell count right now – could be nothing more than a virus though, so we’re crossing our fingers). I’ll pop you an email about the fluids – thanks!
Phew. I’m glad that your kitty is doing well now. My dog has had to have a few surgeries, and it’s amazing how fast the price adds up but it is DEFINITELY money well spent. I just wish I had thought of buying pet insurance though.
Shayna, thank you so much for the information! I got approved immediately. This will really help, and the best news is that my vet accepts Care Credit.
lavenderviolet, we’re actually going to get pet insurance for her, but since all this started before we applied, it wouldn’t have covered any of it (no pre-existing conditions). As soon as she’s all better she’s getting pet insurance. It will be well worth it.
One of my coworkers asked me yesterday why I’d spend so much money on an animal. My answer? She’s 10 months old, got a full life ahead of her, and she’s the most awesome cat I’ve ever known. Why should I give up on her for something that was probably my fault in the first place? That needle and thread didn’t just appear out of nowhere, and I will be extremely vigilant from now on about having anything thread-like or shiny within kitty reach. Luckily, her 3 legs preclude her from getting up on certain furniture.
She’s family to me now, and any price is worth it to have her be a healthy and happy kitty again.
Count me amongst those who were scared to open this thread. But I had to come offer condolences in case of a worst case scenario. I’m so glad that’s not necessary!
Headbutts from the jscats, except for Cosmo who would rather bite someone.
That is excellent news! I’m so glad I could help. It always amazes me how many times I recommend this card to people whose vets accept it, but didn’t tell them about it themselves.
And I may have spoken too soon about Mewkitty doing so great. It’s looking like this low white blood cell count may be more serious than just a viral infection, as she threw up during the night and it was filled with blood. I’m taking her in at 4:00 today. Let’s hope that she just irritated her stomach lining when she coughed up a fur ball earlier in the evening. Send some good kitty vibes her way, please?
It must be quite a relief to finally have the mystery solved, and know kitty is on her way to being well again. I’ll send good vibes her way. My little imp Rhiow sends some gentle ear nibbles and grooming Petra’s way. Hazel sends cuddles and purrs, and an offer to romp later on.
Sending good healing kitty vibes for Shayna’s kitty!
And thanks for the well-wishes, everyone. We get to take Petra home today at 5 PM. They said she hasn’t bothered her stitches so far, so I’m hoping she won’t have to become a Cone Kitty.
Tarot is a jerk, so I didn’t tell her about your kitty (she pretends she is the only kitty in the whole world)
Charlie on the other hand, hopes that all the sick kitties feel better soon. And makes a note to tell his owner that the needle-thing might be his problem. (my mom went through a similar round of sickness with her cat. He eats weird stuff too - and she’s quite the sewer…)
I think you’d have done the same if she was 10 years old.
I can’t tell you how much money I’ve spent in the last couple years on my two kitties. First Harley had kidney problems (CRF) and a heart condition. I lost him just before Christmas. And two months later his sister (actual littermate) was diagnosed with lymphoma. I started her on chemo and she got a URI. Stopped the chemo and a series of costly blood tests reveals that she is FIV positive (how, I have no idea) in addition to the cancer.
She will be 11 in October (kitty gods willing). I didn’t hesitate to pay money I didn’t really have to make her as well as I can. As you said: they are family; I couldn’t do anything but.
Shayna, Tawney and I are sending lots of good kitty vibes to Mew - keep us posted.
(She’ll get over it – isn’t that wonderful?)
Has she gone on LRS yet, and if so, do you administer yourself? I have about 8 or so bags left over from my Harley I’d be happy to send you if you need. As well as some cans of K/D wet (the kind with minced chicken). Let me know!