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
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
