Post # 32
Member
2543 posts
Sugar bee
@Sweet_Tea: Sorry you are going through this! I just wanted to chime in about Care Credit. We have had Care Credit for a couple of years now and it’s the smartest thing we ever did! Used to be we never took the animals to the vet because we just couldn’t afford it in an emergency but that’s all changed now. You should look into it…the apr is high but you get six months no interest as long as you pay off your bill within that six months. Plus, you can even use it for yourself! I just visited a dentist out of state and found out that they took Care Credit and that was awesome! Good luck with your poor baby!
Post # 33
Member
1009 posts
Bumble bee
@PakiBee03: I debated, but I simply don’t know enough people that could possibly donate. 🙁
@Peacockhead: See above lol (I’m probably going to see what vets offer payments. Last one I talked to were sending me to the CareCredit page).
@jlc3: We actually don’t use credit cards at all. Got enough bills and debt as it is. His parents have a regular vet, we may go there if noplace else seems to be willing to accept payment plans.
@boogiewoogies: Thank you! I mentioned it to Fiance again last night, but I think I may need to work on convincing him. I did point out that a majority of the bees on this thread were ‘for’ rather than ‘against’ the idea that CareCredit worked for them.
ETA: Gerry is eating small amounts of canned food, seems to be going potty regularly as well. I’m sleeping in 4-hour shifts basically, keeping an eye on him. The drops I ordered are due to arrive today, so if those work, then awesome. Fiance stated that we may have to wait til the 15th to take him to the vet, but I told him there is NO guarantee that Gerry is gonna be able to hang on that long if he doesn’t improve with the UTI drops. So if he seems to be getting worse, I’ll call Future Mother-In-Law to take me to the vet she goes to.
Post # 34
Member
963 posts
Busy bee
I hope the drops work! Please keep us updating. Happy thoughts going to your kitty for a speedy recovery!
Post # 35
Member
1009 posts
Bumble bee
Update on my kitty:
The drops arrived later than expected, but when I did get them, I immediately gave some to him. Been treating him for a couple of days now, and he seems to have improved considerably. Hasn’t squatted in a corner, seems to move around more (chased a laser a few times). I also have been continuing giving him canned food and filtered water.
Post # 36
Member
6937 posts
Busy Beekeeper
- Wedding: September 2011 - Boy #1 12/2015, boy #2 02/2018
@Sweet_Tea: Is the cat under more stress recently? My vet said that could add to the problem of forming crystals in the urethra and prevents them from urinating properly. My cat had that, and it became a recurring problem. He is now under prescribed food and seems to be working fine. My cat gets nervous easily and doesn’t know how to cope with added stress well.
Post # 37
Member
2959 posts
Sugar bee
I am a tremendous fan of homeopathy and have been using on us and the cats for about 15 years. I currently have 11 in the house and 30 more in their own two-story barn and play yard. In fact I started using homeopathy because of two cases of FLUTD/FUS. Prior to that point, I poo-ed poo-ed homeopathy just as any good scientist should. But then I got desperate. After multiple visits to the emergency vets (with two different male cats) and consulting with three different conventional vets, the problem was not resolved. I probably spent 2 K (and that was 15 years ago!). A holistic vet was recommended to me. He started his career as a conventional vet and added holistic therapy to his practiced. He is published and is actually known for agricultural veterinary work – which proved useful to later for preventative care of large numbers of animals. He prescribed their first remedies and also sold me my first homeopathy kit, Later I consulted with a veterinary homeopath who teaches for the British Inst. of Homeopathy.
ANYWAY, even after consulting with him, the urinary issues were not completely resolved. It was during one blocking incident he told me about Tinkle Tonic. This is an herbal combination and it really has worked wonders. I have recommended it to several of my former students who had the same issues with their cats. Cays HATE the taste, but I have actually unblocked a cat (a medical emergency) using Tinkle Tonic following his precise instructions.
What really solved the issue for good was a complete change in diet and nutritional supplements. I have cared for dozens of cats and have not had a case since. No urinary issues at all. Bot a single case since 1998.
I stopped feeding supermarket pet food altogether. The kitties now get a meat-based diet and quite the list of nutritional supplements. They get home-cooked food and occasionally canned. They have water fountains to encourage drinking. I consider the addition of probiotics to wet food to be essential.
I have gotten pretty decent at first-aid type prescribing but homeopath is really tricky medicine. If the drops seem to be helping, great! But if you see your cat straining to urinate frequently ad no urine being produced, then more than likely conventional treatment will be required. Usually catheterization, blood tests, and urine analysis. Homeopathy will not help if he kidney or urinary stones.
At the sanctuary usually a conventional vet is consulted first, usually for diagnosis and sometimes the treatment. That treatment may be supplemented with holistic treatment. If conventional treatment does not work, I have seen , nutrition work do wonders.work. And yes, the holistic and conventional (DVM) know about each other!
DO keep up with canned and filtered water. You may want to check out Tinkle Tonic – it is available on the internet. If the homeopathic drops (more than likely an homeopathic combination) helps, well keep it up. I would continue to watch him closely
Hope he improves soon!
Post # 38
Member
2959 posts
Sugar bee
OK, no moe wrriting in the dark! I simply can not correct all the spelling mistaakes of my previous post!
Post # 39
Member
1963 posts
Buzzing bee
@Sweet_Tea: So glad to hear your cat is doing better! I hope it continues to improve.
Member