Can someone help my sick kitty?

Question

My cat has been vomiting a few times a day for the last 4 days. It mostly consists of food, although from time to time she wretches and only saliva come out, sometimes saliva with fur. So I took her to the vet, they want 500 bucks to tell me what wrong with her. I know pet care is expensive, but to put things into perspective, I drive a twelve year old sub compact car, and theres no way i have that kind of money. Plus of course whatever they charge to actually fix her, I would have to declare chapter 7. But enough about me, the doctor was not too helpful as I didnt have a moneybag sign over me, i'm hoping the smart folks here can, or at least can give me some advice. I did get a prescription from the doc (Metoclopramide syrup) to help her from vomiting. I have also heard of using Activated Charcoal. Does anyone have experience with this? Will there be problems with mixing the prescription and Charcoal? Thank you for your responses.

Answer 1

Activated charcoal is used to suck up anything and everything in the stomach. Do not give this to your cat after her medication since it will bind to the medication and your cat will not get any of it. How activated charcoal will help with vomiting that isn't associated with eating something bad (poisen or rotten food) I don't know but I would assume that this isn't the case since it's been happening for a few days. Remember, activated charcoal binds to EVERYTHING so no nutrients, medications, food, etc that is in the cat's stomach will actually get to your cat after administering the charcoal.

Does your kitty seem sick? Sometimes this sort of thing passes on it's own. If she seems relatively healthy then I'd personally just keep an eye on it.

Also, if your strapped for cash but it's determined you need to bring your cat to the vet you can get a CareCredit card if you are applicable. It is a credit card that many vet offices take that has plans like no interest for 6 months as long as you pay the whole sum within 6 months. Check it out at www.carecredit.com

Finally, some cats are just "pukers" and will do this forever for no good reason. I have a dog who is a puker and he's healthy as a horse (and about as big as one too).  

Answer 2

Go to a pet store and get hairball medicine, sometimes the hair will get backed up, the medicine isn't expensive at all and all you do is put it on your finger and they should just l**k it off.

Answer 3

Ask friends for references to their vet, is there a low cost vet care provider in your area.  Do not use petroleum jelly.  Do not use activated charcoal.  You should have an exam and blood work to rule out kidney/liver/infection issues.   Has you cat lost weight, stools normal?  It could be as easy as a hairball or serious as kidney disease.  I drive a 22 year old truck and still haven't declared chapter 7 yet and have 3 cats.  

Answer 4

omg i am so so sorry that I cant help but I hope someone can bc ur story is so sad!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!! god bless

Answer 5

i've found from personal experience, in larger centers like cities, the vets tend to over charge, and tell you you cats needs (a), (b), (c), and (d) in order to be fixed, allowed into the clinic for check-ups, etc.  whereas vets located in small, rural towns charge significantly less, and don't require every vaccine under the sun to spay neuter the cat.

when my cat got sick, a vet in the city told me it would cost in the range of $2000-$3000 just to stabilize my cat, let alone try to fix the problem.  where a rural clinic where i eventually took my cat only quoted me $400 for it all.

definitely look into a second opinion if you can... call around to a couple other clinics and see where that takes you...

Answer 6

try some vasaline (petroleum jelly) ... for hair balls

yogert ... for intestinal upset.

good luck  

Answer 7

sorry but no normal vet would charge $500 for a consultation so I don't know where you went! if you had taken her to see a good vet they would have charged you a small consultation fee and then discussed what to do-find another vet.and don't use charcoal-it will absorb the prescription

Answer 8

Well, there can be a number of issues. No one can diagnose what's wrong with your cat over the internet. :/

I would recommend finding a vet that would help you, there's lots of practices that help out low income people.

Answer 9

do NOT try and treat this at home...without knowing the cause you could end up killing her...

instead

take her to a new vet.

$500 for a diagnostic is VERY high (even in my area)

id expect to see up to $100 for an office visit and another possible $100 for a blood test with full panel...$500 is a rip off unless there also doing xrays, ultrasounds ect!

take her to a different vet, explain your concerns and see if theyd also be willing to do a payment plan!

good luck.