My cat is ill :( Need advice

[Medusa]

Thanks, I was unable to reach any vets with today being sunday aside from the few I have already contacted which were 24hr facilities that I had to contact the first time so I will attempt that again tomorrow.

We have been giving him only half a tablet of aspirin and even that he bites off pieces and don't force him to eat the whole thing. All of our cats are indoor, and there was only a 3-4 hour window between me leaving for work and my wife getting home, which we all know can be plenty of time for anything to happen. I'm beginning to question the pneumonia theory because he hasn't been coughing at all during this whole spell, but he has been a once and a while cougher before. Pupils dilated with heavy eyes still, but his breathing has improved slightly as I noted earlier.

I'm really frustrated in that I don't know what brought about this and I can only conclude down to heart worms, cancer, or some type of throat infection since I've noticed him gag a couple times while drinking and the gurgle his throat makes when swallowing. I have money for issues like tapeworms,simple medicines and likewise, but here is a list of the estimate they gave me. I live in Dallas btw

exam- 52
radiograph thorax- 170
oxygen supplem- 176
fluid therapy set up- 162
fluid pump- 36
hospitilization- 130
intensive care lv. 1- 41
injectable ampicillin- 26
clavamox- 35
Range- 837-1255 and this is without even knowing whats wrong yet


So obviously if you do one of those and find something, the prices are quickly going to stack. We only had an extra 100 that night so we could only get the clavamox with the exam already eating half of that. So at this point our hands are forced to find a cheaper x-ray and continue from there, or continue and hope he pulls through, but I'm no expert so I am going to vigorously search tomorrow.

Coming to your own conclusion/s and administering drugs w/out a vet's advice is dangerous. Aspirin can be toxic to cats because they can't break it down as quickly as humans do. Read info at these links:

http://www.petplace.com/cats/aspirin...ats/page1.aspx

http://www.petplace.com/cats/aspirin...ats/page1.aspx

I think that I can speak for most of us here on PT when I say that we know what it's like to have large vet bills. I'm praying that your cat's illness is something simple and easily treatable but w/out the proper testing, you'll never know and can be causing your cat further complications and costing you more money in the long run w/these delays by trying to save money. Sometimes it's the action that we don't take that causes us the most heartache. Most vets, if you talk to them about a payment plan in advance, will agree to it. After this situation has calmed down and your cat is well (I'm thinking positive here), please do some research and find a vet that you're comfortable with and who is affordable so that when one of your cats becomes ill again, you'll be able to get it the good vet care that it needs w/out delay and worry.

Please let us know how Cat is doing.