Third eyelid infection?

Two weeks ago, I woke up to find my cat had something terribly wrong with her left eye.  Her third eyelid was showing (at least 1/3 of her eye blocked by it), her pupil was tiny and her face around her eye seemed to be swolen.  I took her to our regular vet who examined her and did a couple of tests, but didn't know what was wrong, so referred me to a nearby emergency vet.  I went there where kitty was examined by another vet who did the same tests as the first (tear production, dye test, etc) and said she didn't know either.  After brief discussion, I opted to call in the veterinary opthomologist.  She examined kitty (same tests again) and told me that she didn't know what it was either.  Could be something as simple as an infection of some sort or could be as bad as a tumor behind her eye, or something anywhere in-between.  She suggested a battery of tests including an ocular ultrasound and ct scan.  Now I love my cat, but by this time I've now met with three different vets and have a bill of almost $1000 and no answers.  I'm not trying to make this about money, but at some point it does weigh in.  After breaking down in tears, the vet opthomologist suggested that we treat it as an infection first and prescribed an antibiotic and some ointment to keep the eye moist.

Kitty was on the medicine for a week...saw little improvements (pupil went back to normal size, eye color appeared to be back to normal), but third eyelid still protruding and swelling not reduced.  Took her back to my own vet who did another exam and decided that we should continue the antibiotic treatment for two more weeks since we'd seen some (if even just a little) improvement.

It's been another week now, and no signs of improvement.  Kitty seems to have energy and had been eating/drinking/acting like normal for the last couple of weeks...until today when she decided to stop eating.  We're trying to decide if she's just figured out that the meds are in her food...or if she's just gotten worse.  I've tried a couple of different food options (and no meds mixed in), but have had no luck.

Here are my questions:

1.  How long until I should be seriously worried about her not eating?

2.  Should I force liquids (syringe) just to keep her hydrated?

3.  I obviously need to take her back to the vet, but it's the weekend and I honestly can't afford another $1000 day at after-hours vet clinics, so am hoping to get through the weekend so that I can get her in during normal office hours to get some advice from our vet.

4.  How much is too much to spend?  I hate myself for having to ask, and please don't tell me that there isn't a limit.  The simple truth is that there is at some point a time when we have to be financially responsible.  I take my cat to the vet for regular exams, she is up to date on all of her shots.  I simply don't have thousands of dollars in discretionary income for people to keep telling me "I don't know" or for a bunch of super-expensive tests to maybe find out more.

I'm hoping someone has some other ideas that I can try from home.  I love my kitty, but I also have to be able to feed the family and pay the bills at home.  Trying to do the right thing here.

any ideas/suggestions/most comments appreciated

thanks

Antibiotics given orally can cause nausea eventually. I'm glad you didn't opt for the controversial Convenia shot though (google search). Is she drinking? If it has only been one day then I wouldn't force anything into her until late Saturday. 3rd eyelid showing usually indicates something is wrong...and not necessarily something really bad. Exactly how long has she been on antibiotics? What kind? Have you missed any doses?
Sounds like she may have been bitten by something? The swelling can cause stress in the eye and it does take a while to settle again.....with or without antibiotics.
Was a blood test done?

I'm stumped on this......

I don't believe she is drinking anything either and she hasn't used the litter box at all today.  She is on Clavamox (antibiotic) and Proviable (probiotoc) along with an ointment that we put on her eye twice per day.  I thought maybe she just had an upset stomache, but I'm not quite sure how to tell.

She has been on the antibiotic for two weeks (as of tomorrow) and the probiotic just four days so far.  I think she's only missed one dose of the antibiotic and that was because she is really good at hiding and I couldn't find her before work one morning.

Like I said, she is acting pretty much normal aside from this.  She runs away when we try to catch her (she's a pretty shy kitty normally, and has caught on to the medicine routine).  She purrs loudly when we pet her, jumps up on our laps when we sit down to relax at night, etc.  Nothing out of the ordinary otherwise.

I don't know what she could have been bitten by.  She is a 100% indoor cat (unless there's somehting else in my house that I don't know about)  No blood test done and none of the three vets we saw even suggested blood tests.

I just used a medical syringe to give her some chicken broth (just a little, but was pretty worried about dehydration).  hoping that at least she'll use the litter box so I will know that she isn't having issues in that department.

Is the ointment getting to the eye....or around it? Drops are much better IMO. She may need a stronger antibiotic. If your vet is open tomorrow I would just give a quick call and give an update....especially the not eating or drinking. I think you'll do fine till Monday by giving fluids. Mash up some wet food, add water and syring feed too if you have to.....

There are threads here that mention "3rd eyelid"....quite a few diagnosis done. Do a search. Sounds like you're doing all that you can and you caught her right at the beginning of her food/water avoidance.

I know there are others here who have gone through this same thing....be patient and they will trickle in....

Update on Kitty-she ate once over the weekend (I was feeding her liquids with a syringe a couple of times a day) on her own.  Not very active, mostly just laying around the house.  I've noticed a large lump on her head above the bad eye.  Took her back to the vet today to try to get some advice/information.  Vet suggested CT Scan to look behind the eye and at the lump to try to figure out what's going on.  Would require surgical procedure to really get an idea of what's going on.  I called the vet opthamologist and asked more questions.  Basically, the only way we can figure out for sure what's going on is to see behind the eye and into her head.  Once they know what's there, they can determine next steps.  Possibilities include removal of abscess to possible removal of the entire eye depending on what they find. Quoted cost (depending on how far they need to go) ranging from $1500 up to $2500 or more (can't give me a clear quote as they don't know what to expect).

Here's the heartbreaker-I don't have the money.  I do know about care credit and I've considered this as a possibility, but it would still be pretty tough for me to afford.  My issue is that I have no idea what they are going to find or how far this surgery is going to go before they are able to find the problem.  I feel like Kitty is declining although I just wish she could tell me if she's in pain.  My heart breaks for the decision I feel I need to make, and I really don't know where else to turn.  I simply can't put myself and my family in a difficult financial situation that we can't handle right now.

I've even contact the University Vet School nearby to inquire...same basic info, same cost range.  Same unknown of the outcome even if I do find a way to pay.

I don't want to stand by and do nothing but cross my fingers that she shows signs of improvement.  Do I surrender her to the humane society?  Do I make the difficult decision to put her down?  Do I continue with the antibiotics that don't seem to be making any difference?  Is there another option?

I've never been in this situation before. I don't know what the right decision is, and I don't want to be judged for making what some people might consider the wrong one.

Advice?

In tears over a very tough decision..

I'm so sorry! I hope it is a cyst....or infected gland (are there scent glands above eyes? Anyone?) . That is a lot of money to put out
on a surgery! Before I did anything, I would get a second opinion. The not eating might be a sign that it is very serious.
There was no sign of lump before....while she was on antibiotics? Could the antibiotics still be making her nauseous?
Why can't you get a simple biopsy? This is a big mystery and a mess. Only you can decide your financial ability. You're doing the best you can.
Don't let anyone guilt trip you.

I have actually had 4 opinions in all...my family vet, the emergency vet we were referred to, the Veterinary Opthamologist, and another vet referred by a friend. (plus two phone conversations with yet another vet, and the head of veterinary opthamology and the University Vet School).  All have given me pretty much the same info--don't really know without the procedure to be able to see what's behind the eye.

The lump on her head is either new or just getting bigger that it hadn't been as noticeable before now.  Her eye to pushed quite a bit forward compared to the good eye.  The lump is hard (like bone hard) and is located between here eye and ear at the top of her head.

We considered that the antibiotics could be making her nauseous.  Vet prescribed a pro-biotic to try to offset any digestive issues.  Everything I've read says the cat not eating for more than 24 hours is a bad sign.  Like I said, I've been trying to feed her very watered-down chicken broth just to keep her hydrated.

None of the vets mentioned a simple biopsy.  Not sure if that's an option as they think whatever it is is likely located behind her eye which is causing it to push out so far forward.  I will call again tomorrow and clarify.

Thank you for your supportive words.  I've enjoyed owning Kitty for five years now.  Can't believe how much love I have in my heart for this cat.

<3

It is heartbreaking. Something pushing the eye out is not good. I can't believe how expensive it is....probably because it is so delicate?
This is probably very rare too. She needs solids as well as liquids. You have a very big decision to make. Whatever you chose to do is the right decision.