Hello, I've read many threads for help with my Buddy but never posted before. This time he seems to have many possible problems and I have no idea where to begin. I'm sorry if this is too long but he has a lot of history for the year and a half that I have had him.
Buddy showed up in my front yard in November of 2009, I'd never seen him in the neighborhood before that day. I was driving my dad to the V.A. hospital for his last set of stints. He showed up every morning on the back porch for breakfast, I fed a feral cat at the time, but Buddy wanted love as much as food. In December I spent 3 weeks away from home caring for my father and helping my mother with his care. When I came home Buddy showed up with a green discharge from his right nose and eye. He was living under the house next door during one of the coldest winters in a long time with a week of freezing temperatures.
Even though I was loosing my home, traveled 200 miles each weekend to care for my father and had no money I couldn't turn my back on this sick boy. I brought him inside in January and he became an indoor only cat. I
got some antibiotic tablets from the feral rescue lady and followed her directions carefully. Unfortunately, they didn't work and I had to take him to the vet the feral rescue used as he was a little cheaper. He gave an exam and said that Buddy was about 5 years old. He gave me a liquid antibiotic, but again it did not kick the infections. Our next step was a large shot of antibiotics and eye ointment that lasted 30 days each. These seemed to do the trick. The vet said he had chronic respiratory infection and would always have it. Buddy seemed to get better though he had a very picky palate, usually going off a food, wet or dry, after a week. Finally found one he would eat, Evo high protein. After the infection was cleared up I took him with me to my parents and found out that he had worms. We got wormers for my parents cats and Buddy and all was better. This is the trip in which my father named my cat after I left him there with them for the week; Buddy hates the car. I subjected him to a couple more trips with me to my parents as I had no one to stay with him at home and he is a "needy" child. He had to have been someone's lap companion as he is miserable when he is alone. All was well with Buddy outside of a horrible habit of biting me when he wanted love and attention or if I stopped loving him up.
In May of 2010 my father passed away and then in June I lost my home. Buddy and I moved into a friends home and have a room upstairs. Buddy developed a raspy or wheezy sound in his chest. As he hates the car I chose a vet closer to home. This vet said that Buddy was at least 9 and he would put him closer to 11. The wheezing was probably an allergy not the respiratory infection and gave directions for an over the counter benadril remedy that would help. I never gave him the benadril as I couldn't stand the thought of drugging him up like that not to mention the risk of falling down the stairs in a semi-sleepy state. He seemed to get over it. The vet also noted that the chip that Buddy had on his right canine would need to be removed at some point, but not this time. We seemed to do well until January when he got stressed out and had a relapse of the URI. It didn't go away but secondary infections didn't seem to pop up too badly until later in February. Another trip to the same office but a different vet and she said that she thought the runny eye and nose where more likely from the tooth that was now a bit loose. She prescribed a liquid antibiotic with hopes that it would work long enough for me to save up the money for an extraction. About this time I remember he was a little wobbly footed on the bed and I thought it was the cushy mattress. I didn't think much of it. In April buddy had his tooth removed and seemed to do alright but the clear nose and eye fluid though not excessive, have not gone away. I am not sure about the date but around this time he snuck outside and I quickly brought him back inside. He jumped out of my arms and landed on a tile floor with wet paws. His legs seemed to go out from under him. I watched him for several days and he seemed to not be injured from the "fall".
About 3 weeks ago I began noticing Buddy was not able to jump all the way up on the bed, his hind legs missing the mark by about 3 inches. About a week and a half ago I changed the height of the bed and put a chair next to it and this seemed to help him. I figured it was probably arthritis. About a week ago I began noticing Buddy was slightly wobbly on his back legs on the floor not just on the bed. This seems to have slowly progressed this last week to his hind legs looking like the "knees" are week. They look almost like they may give out on him but they don't. During this week I have noticed that has lost weight. He eats and drinks about his usual amount maybe a little less food but other wise he seems hungry as normal. About two months ago I switched from Evo, California Natural and Organix wet foods to Tiki Cat because of the contents. Buddy likes it and he has begun eating tuna. He uses the litter box and buries his business.
Buddy seems to have feeling in his feet and tail and doesn't seem to be in any pain when I check his body and extremities.
As I am on an extremely fixed budget I am worried about having unecesary tests and procedures done at the vets. I am a bit leary about trusting the vet we have but I don't have a lot of reason to distrust them either as well as the fact that Buddy doesn't like the car. I do want to take him to the vet but can't until next week when I get paid.
Does anyone have any ideas about what this might be, or have any of you experienced this before? Any suggestions about what I should have the vet look for and what may be useful for them to know?
I feel so badly watching him and feel like I am such a poor mom that I can't afford to take him now. Thank you for any help you can offer.
Buddy showed up in my front yard in November of 2009, I'd never seen him in the neighborhood before that day. I was driving my dad to the V.A. hospital for his last set of stints. He showed up every morning on the back porch for breakfast, I fed a feral cat at the time, but Buddy wanted love as much as food. In December I spent 3 weeks away from home caring for my father and helping my mother with his care. When I came home Buddy showed up with a green discharge from his right nose and eye. He was living under the house next door during one of the coldest winters in a long time with a week of freezing temperatures.
Even though I was loosing my home, traveled 200 miles each weekend to care for my father and had no money I couldn't turn my back on this sick boy. I brought him inside in January and he became an indoor only cat. I
got some antibiotic tablets from the feral rescue lady and followed her directions carefully. Unfortunately, they didn't work and I had to take him to the vet the feral rescue used as he was a little cheaper. He gave an exam and said that Buddy was about 5 years old. He gave me a liquid antibiotic, but again it did not kick the infections. Our next step was a large shot of antibiotics and eye ointment that lasted 30 days each. These seemed to do the trick. The vet said he had chronic respiratory infection and would always have it. Buddy seemed to get better though he had a very picky palate, usually going off a food, wet or dry, after a week. Finally found one he would eat, Evo high protein. After the infection was cleared up I took him with me to my parents and found out that he had worms. We got wormers for my parents cats and Buddy and all was better. This is the trip in which my father named my cat after I left him there with them for the week; Buddy hates the car. I subjected him to a couple more trips with me to my parents as I had no one to stay with him at home and he is a "needy" child. He had to have been someone's lap companion as he is miserable when he is alone. All was well with Buddy outside of a horrible habit of biting me when he wanted love and attention or if I stopped loving him up.
In May of 2010 my father passed away and then in June I lost my home. Buddy and I moved into a friends home and have a room upstairs. Buddy developed a raspy or wheezy sound in his chest. As he hates the car I chose a vet closer to home. This vet said that Buddy was at least 9 and he would put him closer to 11. The wheezing was probably an allergy not the respiratory infection and gave directions for an over the counter benadril remedy that would help. I never gave him the benadril as I couldn't stand the thought of drugging him up like that not to mention the risk of falling down the stairs in a semi-sleepy state. He seemed to get over it. The vet also noted that the chip that Buddy had on his right canine would need to be removed at some point, but not this time. We seemed to do well until January when he got stressed out and had a relapse of the URI. It didn't go away but secondary infections didn't seem to pop up too badly until later in February. Another trip to the same office but a different vet and she said that she thought the runny eye and nose where more likely from the tooth that was now a bit loose. She prescribed a liquid antibiotic with hopes that it would work long enough for me to save up the money for an extraction. About this time I remember he was a little wobbly footed on the bed and I thought it was the cushy mattress. I didn't think much of it. In April buddy had his tooth removed and seemed to do alright but the clear nose and eye fluid though not excessive, have not gone away. I am not sure about the date but around this time he snuck outside and I quickly brought him back inside. He jumped out of my arms and landed on a tile floor with wet paws. His legs seemed to go out from under him. I watched him for several days and he seemed to not be injured from the "fall".
About 3 weeks ago I began noticing Buddy was not able to jump all the way up on the bed, his hind legs missing the mark by about 3 inches. About a week and a half ago I changed the height of the bed and put a chair next to it and this seemed to help him. I figured it was probably arthritis. About a week ago I began noticing Buddy was slightly wobbly on his back legs on the floor not just on the bed. This seems to have slowly progressed this last week to his hind legs looking like the "knees" are week. They look almost like they may give out on him but they don't. During this week I have noticed that has lost weight. He eats and drinks about his usual amount maybe a little less food but other wise he seems hungry as normal. About two months ago I switched from Evo, California Natural and Organix wet foods to Tiki Cat because of the contents. Buddy likes it and he has begun eating tuna. He uses the litter box and buries his business.
Buddy seems to have feeling in his feet and tail and doesn't seem to be in any pain when I check his body and extremities.
As I am on an extremely fixed budget I am worried about having unecesary tests and procedures done at the vets. I am a bit leary about trusting the vet we have but I don't have a lot of reason to distrust them either as well as the fact that Buddy doesn't like the car. I do want to take him to the vet but can't until next week when I get paid.
Does anyone have any ideas about what this might be, or have any of you experienced this before? Any suggestions about what I should have the vet look for and what may be useful for them to know?
I feel so badly watching him and feel like I am such a poor mom that I can't afford to take him now. Thank you for any help you can offer.
