My cat is dying maybe.. I need help?

Question

Tell me how this world can be so ******* cruel
I know my cat is dying I can tell
he is sleeping in spots he wouldn't and he just looks drousy and in pain
For the past week there has been a bump on his lower front paw
but normally he hasnt complained about it
I guess it must be cancer...
My family has no money
so I guess he just has to die doesnt he
why is it that with proper medical treatment he can live but because we have no money he has to die...
yes Ive gone to the vet without 1000 they cant even tell us anything..
3 vets have said this....
how the **** is this right
tell me how do I watch my pet die because I dont have the money to save him....

Answer 1

You should have money stashed away for this very reason. But I do sympathise with you. Vets tend to put money ahead of ethics. You would think that they would try and save the animal first, then chase you up for payment later.

Answer 2

Maybe your SPCA or animal rescue services would be able to give you some advice, that isn't right though to get treated like that by three vets. We have two vets in our town, we are lucky though we have one vet that just charges for medical treatment If my cat needed antibiotics for an abscess I would be looking at about $35 and we are able to arrange payments but If I went to the other vet who charges $40 just for consultation I would be looking at $75 for the same problem and I would be expected to pay on the day. Pet insurance is available now but it would be alot easier if you could just claim some of the money back through a system like Medicare God knows the money that is spent at most vets is almost the same as what is spent at the doctors on medical treatments anyway.

Answer 3

Show up at the veterinarian's office, regardless of your ability to pay. While a few vets will turn you away, most will recognize that helping an animal that is obviously in pain, regardless of the owner's ability to pay, is their professional obligation. Many areas have emergency vet clinics-- this may be the best place to appear with your animal.

While the situation is not entirely the same, think of the uninsured person who shows up at the Emergency Room of a local hospital, unable to pay. If the situation is acute, the hospital is obligated to meet the need.

Veterinary standards are obviously different than human standards. However, many vets are compassionate people, and will see a animal who is gravely ill, and allow you to work out payment arrangements with the office staff.

Answer 4

Where do you live that a vet exam costs $1000? I've never heard of a vet that would charge that much. They're supposed to do the exam for about $50 and then tell you the damage and how much it will cost to treat. Then they give you the option of doing the treatment, or putting the animal down. Most vets will let you make payments.

Answer 5

IF your vet said that they can't even tell you what's wrong without 1000 then you shouldn't be going to them. My veterinary bill is only about 300 for shots and stuff. And if your cat is in that much pain it probably is better if you just have as good of a time with it as you can when it's still alive. Just think about how you would feel if you were in that much pain. I know it's hard because I have had to go through the same thing. but it's the best thing to do.

Answer 6

When pet rescue clinics are not available and you have not been successful in finding help on the internet or in your neighborhood or circle of friends, the best you can do is make sure your pet has adequate nutrition, plenty of fresh water, a clean litter box, and a soft place to sleep... and plenty of love. Even after spending huge sums of money, the survival of your pet would not be guaranteed. Sometimes cats give no indication they are in pain until it is too late to do anything about it. To make your pet feel better, you might try an herbal treatment to keep him calm (pet store or internet source). To make yourself feel better about the situation, you need to assure yourself you've done the best you can for your cat. Your local humane society might also be able to give you some advice. Please watch the quality of your cat's life. If your cat cannot eat or it seems in a lot of pain, and you love your cat you won't want him to suffer. Even though it will be painful for you, this will be the time to say good-bye.
I was in a similar situation several years ago when I lost my dear cat Mimi, who was only 3 years old.

Answer 7

There are lots of options for assistance with vet bills.

1. talk to all the vets in your area and find out which of them will do a free exam, will set up a payment plan, etc.

2. Do you have a local vet school? Try there. They may offer free/reduced cost vet care, and you get the benefit of their expertise and equipment.

3. See:
GENERAL:

The Animal Foundation: http://www.theanimalfund.com
Help-a-Pet: http://www.help-a-pet.org/index5.html
In Memory of Magic: http://www.imom.org/
United Animal Nations: http://www.uan.org/lifeline/resources.html
The Pet Fund: http://www.thepetfund.com/
Cats: http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/

AREA SPECIFIC:

California
Los Angeles area: http://www.actorsandothers.com/emergencyhelp.html
http://rescueguide.com/aid.html
Redwood City area: http://www.petsinneed.org/Services.html
Bay Cities area: http://www.narfrescue.org/services/veterinary_support.htm
Colorado: http://www.dreampower-arf.com/ffriends.cfm
http://www.hmah.org/pageinpage/whatwedo.cfm
New York: http://www.nysave.org/
North Carolina: http://www.ashleyfund.org/
Oregon: http://www.bearenfoundation.org/
Rhode Island: http://www.defendersofanimals.org/
http://www.rivma.org/financialaid.html
http://www.volunteerservicesforanimals.org
Washington state:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-prd/gsf.asp

BREED SPECIFIC:

Assistance dogs: http://www.iaadp.org/VCP.html
Bernese Mountain Dog: http://www.behaf.com/index.html
Corgi: http://www.corgiaid.org/
Doberman: http://www.doberman911.org/
Great Pyrenees: http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/pyramedic/summary.html
Labrador retriever: http://www.labmed.org/ http://www.labradorlifeline.org/
Pit Bulls: http://www.pbrc.net/fund/financial.html
Westies: http://www.westiemed.com/

DISEASE SPECIFIC:

Diabetic Pet Fund: http://www.petdiabetes.net/fund/
Special Needs cats: http://www.catsincrisis.org/crisisFund.html
Feline kidney disease: http://www.catsincrisis.org/mesaFund.html
Feline heart and thyroid: http://www.catsincrisis.org/stripesFund.html
Feline neurological disorder: http://www.catsincrisis.org/gillieFund.html

ADVICE:

HSUS: http://www.hsus.org/ace/11875
IMOM: http://www.imom.org/fa/others.htm

Answer 8

You need to check with another vet. $1,000? Don't believe it.

If you don't have the money to take care of your pet, then you should surrender him over to the humane society or your local animal shelter. He will get the medical attention he needs and if it is cancer (which I'm thinking it's more of an abcess), but if it is cancer, they will euthanize him and put him out of his misery.

In any case, for the cat, its the best thing to do. If you love him, you'll give him the chance he deserves.

Good Luck

Answer 9

If you have noe money, but you feel really desperate about getting him some help, try looking up doctors who will give free exanminations. My vet will not charge anything for and examination, (I live in jefferson ga.) If you would like to email me and try to get to her, I might can help. I have no guarantees though....I am so sorry..But do try to make him comfterable in every way that you can. That is very important. My cat had lukemia, and we spent hundareds of dollars to fix it, but it went into recession for about 5 years, and finally one summer he had a seizure and we had to have him put down. I understand if you love your cat....I do. Just make sure he knows you love him, while you can. I can ask my vet for you and see if she has any ideas. Email me, and I will tell you what she said to do, (she is VERY smart, and she has done LOTS of surgeries on our other animals... I am sure she has some suggestions...VERY BEST, DANIELLE

Answer 10

put $5-$10 a month in a vet fund so you will always have some money incase of pet emergency.