senior cat vomiting

[steel]

james, I don't know where your sis is...I Googled free vets in Yucaipa CA, and that is what I got. I was hoping she or a friend could drive you there.

Maybe just call or email them and see if they know someone near you.

Hugs and prayers for Buddy!

Sacramento is in central ca & over 300 miles north. Im in southern ca about 45 mins from palm springs.
I did email cal davis but no reply. Their is a pet assist program here in yucaipa. The place is called YAPS (yucaipa animal placement society) But im not a senior so they wont help me out. Im more or less going to be forced to have buddy put down. Some jerks have said "hes old so put him out of his misery". Its not easy letting go a companion you have had for 12 yrs.

[Catty1]

Did you check the link TommyCat posted?

Call YAPS back and see if they know of another organization that will help. Call any shelters/humane orgs and see if they know anyone.

If NOTHING else - will any of the vets take a payment plan? If so - maybe your sis can help out to get it started.


If it comes down to a choice, surrender Buddy to a no-kill place so he can at least get treatment.

HUGS.

(Think of what a vet will charge to put him down! Try to find a payment plan)

[TommyCat]

I'm thinking with your senior kitty his teeth could be bothering him, and the dry food may be difficult to chew. My kitty is 11 years old and has had two dentals recently with infected teeth. Have you tried some wet food like Fancy Feast or another brand just to see if it makes a difference? Try mixing some of his usual dry brand with the wet and see if this helps.

Catty has given you some good advice. I hope you can get him to a Vet.

[steel]

Buddy stopped throwing up & is holding his food down. Now he has a cold. Today is day 3. I was told that if he still has it by day 7 then to get him to a vet or the humaine society. I guess he had a stomach virus for 4 days but his appetite is back. You dont have to take your pet to the vet everytime he/she gets ill. The vets want you to so they can make money. Had i taken buddy to the vet for the throwing up it would of cost $33.50 + meds. I did ask the vet tech about giving me a break due to being broke but she said no. A vet charges anywhere from $50.00-$100.00 to put a cat or dog down. Yrs back i paid $30.00 to put my 12+ yr old cat put to sleep. Since then i have had 3 of my cats put to sleep at no charge at the humaine society of san bernardino, ca. They are terrific people. Its been almost 2 yrs since i was last their (bootsy/age-15).

[Catty1]

I am glad Buddy is holding his food down. I hope his cold gets better...does the Humane Society also have a vet that could have a look at him if it gets worse?

Best of luck in your job, and I hope Buddy has many more years with you.

[Catlady711]

Buddy stopped throwing up & is holding his food down. Now he has a cold. Today is day 3. I was told that if he still has it by day 7 then to get him to a vet or the humaine society. I guess he had a stomach virus for 4 days but his appetite is back. You dont have to take your pet to the vet everytime he/she gets ill. The vets want you to so they can make money. Had i taken buddy to the vet for the throwing up it would of cost $33.50 + meds. I did ask the vet tech about giving me a break due to being broke but she said no. A vet charges anywhere from $50.00-$100.00 to put a cat or dog down. Yrs back i paid $30.00 to put my 12+ yr old cat put to sleep. Since then i have had 3 of my cats put to sleep at no charge at the humaine society of san bernardino, ca. They are terrific people. Its been almost 2 yrs since i was last their (bootsy/age-15).

Glad to hear Buddy's vomiting has stopped. If he's eating good now just keep an eye on him. If you see yellow or green discharge from his nose, drooling, not eating, raspy breathing sounds, unusual litterbox activity, or anything out of the ordinary, then don't wait to have Buddy looked at.

Vets (or at least good vets) don't tell you to bring the pet in just to make money. They do that because legally they cannot treat a pet they haven't seen, and there are many causes, and treatments, for things non-specific like vomiting. It would be unethical for them to dispense general medication for an unseen pet for something they have not properly diagnosed. If they gave the wrong medication for that particular illness they could cause harm to your cat, could be sued, and have their licenses suspended or revoked. They are simply doing what they need to do by law and those laws were set up to protect your pets.

I know that doesn't make you feel better when it's your pet that's suffering and finances aren't plentiful. But I did want you to understand that most vets aren't doing it to be mean or empty your pockets, they truely are doing it for the best interest of the pet.

Vet prices will vary all over the board based on the area you live in, the number of doctors and staff at the practice, the size of their building and the amount of equipment they have. In general a vet hospital is going to cost you more for the same thing than a vet clinic because of overhead costs. If there is a clinic in your area they'd most likely be less expensive. You might want to call around to different ones and get their pricing to compare.

Many vets don't take payment plans except with good, long standing clients. Too often many of them have been burned when unknown clients were given a break and offered payments but then didn't pay or wrote checks that bounced and incurred additional fees. The hospital still has to pay the bills from that themselves and wouldn't be able to stay in business if that happened very often. So many have opted to limit or accept no payment plans to keep the doors open for others. I know that has to be frustrating to some pet owners to understand when their pet needs help. From a hospital's point of view it's kinda like loaning money to a total stranger while you still have to pay your own bills.

Humane Societies can do things cheaper because they often have vets that volunteer their time, or work for cut rate to help out, and the H.S. get donations that help cover expenses that a vet hospital or clinic does not get. The biggest difference would be in the amount of equipment they have available to help your pet. Some H.S. are large and well funded some only have the basics.

[steel]

Buddy is looking better. Hes not weezing anymore & doesnt have watery eyes. He still sneezes time to time. My bro has multiple cats & his friend is a vet in colo. He told me to give buddy a lil bit of amoxicillin in his food. I opened the capsule & sprinkled a tiny amount in his small amount of tuna. Each capsule is 500 mg but i would never use the entire capsule. I lucked out cause i had a toothache & infection so my doctor gave me some amoxicillin last aug 2010. The prescription only drug works. I have 4 other cats so if they get buddys cold ill know what to do. I have 6 capsules left & they exp 8/4/11. My cats are strickly indoors & i dont plan to get anymore. Their ages are 4-14 (?) yrs. Thanks for all the advice. Cal davis did reply back to me & they are the only ones in the state of ca that offer free vet care to the homeless & poor.