URI?

We think Rusty may have an URI and plan on taking her to the Vet today. She is sneezing a lot and looks like she doesn't feel good. How much does the treatment normally cost? We have $300 set aside that I was going to use toward a new computer but Rusty is more important. Dusty is fine, not sneezing at all. I cannot afford to pay anything more since I am on disability due to my cancer. Please help!!

This is bad timing! I don't know how much they'd charge, but it seems a very common ailment and I'm assuming you'll just start with a course of antibiotics?

Yes, bad timing and maybe Rusty was a bit stressed over your surgery and that caused his resistance to drop. :dk: I have a couple of Herpes kitties that get that way from time to time. I just put them on Lysine powder. I know how to take a temperature too so I always do that just in case. Can you take Rusty's temp? I honestly do not think it would be that much to take Rusty to the vet. An office visit and some medication if they think it is bacterial. Sometimes the L-Lysine is all they need to get them better quickly if there is no fever, that is, and they are eating, drinking. for Rusty and for you.

When mine got URI's, they just had some fairly inexpensive antibiotics I had to give them. Swanie is prone to sneezing and the vet said if there's no discharge from his nose and his eyes aren't running, it's okay to just give him the L-Lysine powder and he doesn't need the antibiotics.  If it is a URI, I'm pretty sure it's contagious for your other cat too. But it shouldn't cost more than a vet visit and the antibiotics.

And, if antibiotics are needed and the antibiotic is one that humans can take, ask your vet to write an Rx for the GENERIC form of the drug and then take it to your local grocery store/pharmacist.  Cheaper.

Well, we are back from the Vet. She does have an URI and maybe the beginning of pneumonia! She also has a slight temp. They gave her an antibiotic injection, anti-inflammatory injection, fluids injection and some Clavamox Drops. It only cost $146.50. 

We will take her in again in about 3 weeks and then they will update her shots. We have not taken them in for their boosters since they are indoor cats but will do so from now on. Dusty will be going in for her shots too.

What was different is that Dusty was sneezing a lot but got over it in a couple of days. Rusty did not get over it.

Very bad timing indeed. that Rusty is feeling better soon!