eldercare?

I was chatting on the phone with my dad earlier today. He mentioned our Grand Dame of the Yard, Skunk. She's thin as a rail, hip bones showing, She's about 17 or 18, 95% outdoors. She's been outside so long, she's not too keen on being inside for long. She'll go in, but within minutes she wants back out.

She eats plenty. My dad gives her wet food as well as dry. She finishes the wet, and eats a healthy amount of dry. It's not the intake that's the problem here. My dad htinks it's a worm of some sort. He's bought pills, but, as with most cats, he has a heckuva time getting them in her. He's crushed one up and put it in her wet food. She wouldn't eat it... so Max (the boy o' the yard) ate it up. Other than her weight, she's rather spry for such an old maid. She's a miracle kitty for the fact she's stayed alive for so long being outdoors.

He can't afford to go to the vet. Despite my insistence that many vets do offer senior discounts (Dad is 78), he still believes he can't afford even a basic vet visit.

So, I have two questions:
1. What possible health issues could there be?
2. Does anyone know of a vet in the SF/Bay Area (prefereably East Bay: Hayward, San Leandro area) that can quote a senior rate that might help me convince my dad to take Skunky in?

I want to do whatever possible to help my dad. Skunk is like a little sister to me. We got her when I was in high school. Here's a pic of her from a few years back:



Amanda

Honestly at her age, your best bet is to get ahold of the SFASPCA and take her in to their vet. they are skilled at handling all sorts of cats from domestics to strays to ferals. She has certainly survived the odds, but without a proper exam no one will be able to tell you for certain what is wrong with her.

I just sent an email to the East Bay SPCA. SF is a bit much for my dad to get to. Neither of my parents drive much. And they don't drive to SF.

Hopefully I'll get a timely response from them.

Thank you for the advice.

Amanda

Originally Posted by hissy

Honestly at her age, your best bet is to get ahold of the SFASPCA and take her in to their vet. they are skilled at handling all sorts of cats from domestics to strays to ferals. She has certainly survived the odds, but without a proper exam no one will be able to tell you for certain what is wrong with her.

Click to expand...

Do your parents have someone who can take it to a vet >>??/ I would call for them if I was you... Throiugh the internet white pages for there area

If the vet is close enough, they can drive. My mom goes out every day. San Francisco is a little much. My mother has never like SF.

I think the main concern of cost for my dad is that he's seen my vet bills here in Chicago with Jack's dental surgery, Each of those visits has totalled around 400 bucks a piece. I think that's what he's afraid of Skunk's visit being.

He's fairly sure it's not dental. He's managed to check her teeth (she's very content to get attention... even on her mouth) and he says they seem to be fine. They don't seem to hurt her.

I'll await a response from the East Bay SPCA. If nothing else, I may ask my sister to help. She's in Oakland and she loves Skunky as much as I do. I may talk to her about it. But I'll talk to the SPCA first. Work on my dad.

I know Skunky isn't going to live forever. I'd rather find out what's wrong, and if it's terminal, I care about her quality of life. She's lived a wonderful life at the house. If it's not terminal, help her get better so she can keep going and prove the statistcs wrong about outdoor cats. Though she really already has by living as long as she has lived. She's a sweet, wonderful cat.

Amanda

Originally Posted by sharky

Do your parents have someone who can take it to a vet >>??/ I would call for them if I was you... Throiugh the internet white pages for there area

Click to expand...

While I can't tell you what is wrong, here are two common issues for ladies and gents of that grand age that will have thinness as one symptom...hyperthyroidism (treatable with methimazole aka tapazole, a very tiny pill), or chronic renal failure.

Here is a good site on hyperthyroidism in cats and here is my favorite site on CRF - www.felinecrf.org

Hope this helps, and I hope you do find a vet or shelter that will work with your dad.

I just received a response from the East Bay SPCA. An exam is $36. I wish my vet was that affordable. I forwarded the email to my dad, in the hopes that he'll take some action.

Amanda

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

While I can't tell you what is wrong, here are two common issues for ladies and gents of that grand age that will have thinness as one symptom...hyperthyroidism (treatable with methimazole aka tapazole, a very tiny pill), or chronic renal failure.

Click to expand...

Call the vet, and give them your phone number. Have them call you when the vet visit begins, and tell them to charge the cost to your credit card. Let your parents know that you would feel better if you paid the cost. This way you will have some involvement with the visit, and if there is an extra charge for a tooth cleaning or labwork, it won't go over your parents budget. Also, it gives you a way to stay involved, as you certainly would be if you lived closer!

Best of luck with Skunky. I hope it is something simple like worms. She is lucky to live with someone who lets her be herself-a mostly outdoor cat, even if they would rather she stayed inside!