Don't need a diagnosis...Just ideas.....(long)

I guess I'm just irritated with "It could be cancer so why bother?" There are so many types of cancer and while some are aggressive and quickly fatal, there are others where the removal of the tumor can enhance and extend the cat's life.

Much had a tumor between her shoulder blades. Didn't feel that big and she wasn't showing any discomfort, but the tumor was removed (it ended up being the size of a small fist) and she had been doing wonderfully ever since. I'm just glad I ended up with a vet who keeps up with all of the latest research because feline medicine has made a lot of strides in the last 15-20 years. I'm not sure that some of the teaching facilities and practicing vets have kept up with it.

This whole situtation is getting sketchier and sketchier.......

One of them is lying..........

Its either the vet clinic....or Johns mom............

She is really slacking on getting Yinnys records...I wanted them like yesterday...But all shes done is complain about money......"Well I have her on special food...which costs like 16$ a bag..Hello...Not that I mind Paying it"....

:censor::censor::censor:.....

Ok well John and I are going to pay for anything that needs to be done...The more I have read about IBS the more it seems to mirror Yinnys symptoms....and If this is the case this poor girl has been suffering needlessly for 2 freekin years.....

I cant get her records myself...They wont relase them to me because she is not my cat......And Trish (Johns mom)...is dragging her heels........WHY????

So I have a few questions....One thing was that the vet "supposidly" told Trish that Yinny most definitly had cancer...However they werent going to check because 1. because it was a waste of time......but like Jana said what if it was just a easily operable tumor..... 2. They said they would rather not do it because the proceedure to test for cancer will cost $4k.........

Ummmm now something doesnt make sence here.....The head vet at this office is Trishes friend, and she gets great deals from her on Vet visits....But why wouldnt the Vet office try to collect on a possible $4k proceedure????

And what freekin type of test costs freekin $4k any ways..............

I have been reading about IBS....thanx to Bengalbabe and an artical that Hissy posted in another thread......And it seems that one fo the only ways to diagnose IBS is through a Biopsy....which even though I didnt get a definite figure, I was lead to believe the proceedure was simple, safe and cost effective.......

So...Let me ask you.......Why would a cancer biopsy cost $4k and a IBS biopsy cost soooo much less.......

Someone is lying to me....and god help them when I find out which one....If its the clinic....then errrrr I will make sure they never practice animal medicine again......

And if Trish is lying.....welll I can't really do anything to her.....But I will rehome those cats right quick.........

In other words if this poor kitty has been suffereing over money........

Well now I wanted to know if anyone had any info on either cancer biopsys or IBS biopsys and thier cost.......One reason I would like to know this is so I can get to the bottom of this grotsque mess.......and also so I know how much money I need to get up for either possibility.....

Thanx again for all your support....you guys are great....

I can't share what the cost of a biopsy would be as Patrick wasn't a good candidate but we went to probably ibs by his response to medication, and what an ultrasound showed (under $300 to do an U/S).

Something does sound puzzling about all this, that is for sure!

Those costs sound out of line with what I experienced. Much's surgery was not more than $1k here in Denver. That included the removal of the tumor and all of the biopsy tests. The vet really should be able explain why the difference.

I wish you lots of luck and good vibes that you are able to get to the bottom of this and help this little one.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

I can't share what the cost of a biopsy would be as Patrick wasn't a good candidate but we went to probably ibs by his response to medication, and what an ultrasound showed (under $300 to do an U/S).

Something does sound puzzling about all this, that is for sure!

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Geeze an ultrasound.....why didnt anyone do an ultrasound......We get ultrasounds done all the time on emmet to check his bladder...they are lik nothing like $50 where I go....

I'll have to check her records when I finally get them to see id they did one...I would think cancer or IBS they should have done one.......

The plot thickens

Originally Posted by katachtig

Those costs sound out of line with what I experienced. Much's surgery was not more than $1k here in Denver. That included the removal of the tumor and all of the biopsy tests. The vet really should be able explain why the difference.

I wish you lots of luck and good vibes that you are able to get to the bottom of this and help this little one.

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Seee thats what I am saying 4K is rediculous...My sisters knee surgery didnt cost 4K

Thanx for the vibes sweetie....I will let you know how it goes....

Originally Posted by Nebula11

Geeze an ultrasound.....why didnt anyone do an ultrasound......We get ultrasounds done all the time on emmet to check his bladder...they are lik nothing like $50 where I go....

I'll have to check her records when I finally get them to see id they did one...I would think cancer or IBS they should have done one.......

The plot thickens

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And you will have to keep us updated. You know we are all pulling for you and Yinny.

Originally Posted by Nebula11

Geeze an ultrasound.....why didnt anyone do an ultrasound......We get ultrasounds done all the time on emmet to check his bladder...they are lik nothing like $50 where I go....

I'll have to check her records when I finally get them to see id they did one...I would think cancer or IBS they should have done one.......

The plot thickens

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Wow, an ultrasound here in Sacramento costs about $450.00! A c-section costs $1500.00. I would LOVE to only pay $50.00 to have an ultrasound done, i'd have it done with every cat pregnancy.
I wonder why it's so much more expensive here in Sacramento? Maybe im just not calling/going to the right vets. It cost me over $400.00 just to have a vet give my cat oxytocin and an xray when she was in labor

I'll bet her vet is doing what mine does. He doesn't say a test costs $4000, but will advise you if the test shows cancer, the total cost will likely be $4000. He offers what tests can be run, but also what the cost to treat what he suspects is wrong.

Maybe your mil misunderstood, or is just telling you what the total would be. Just leave the mil issues to John, because trust me it will just cause trouble between you otherwise.

Are you going to be keeping Yin, or is she staying with your mil? Poor kitty to have diarrhea for so long!

I would vote with everyone else on IBD - and NO the vets
don't know that much! I mean, look at what Diablo went
through - he was sick as a dog because of him being wormed
at a higher strength than he probably needed. Did he vet
mention that "hey, this might be really tough on his stomach??"
NOOOO.... so he was sick and vomiting and in pain all night long.



And yes, if it is cancer the cat could go on for years, or
just drop dead. But to my money, if she managed to
stay at the same weight she is now... then it ain't cancer.

Also, have you thought about thyroid or pancreatitis?
Either can cause rapid weight loss... pancreatitis is
hard to pin down, but one way it can show up
is on some enzyme level test (blood I think).

diablo and shebs were both tested for, when they
went through their bout of bad dirreah and vomiting
(bad chicken - it resolved on its own, after an agonizing
week!)

Food allergies ought to be considered too. And yes, raw
diet might help if it is/was IBD...(or so my friends with
cats on raw food tell me..)

Good luck and please let us know what you find out!

Originally Posted by bengalbabe

Wow, an ultrasound here in Sacramento costs about $450.00! A c-section costs $1500.00. I would LOVE to only pay $50.00 to have an ultrasound done, i'd have it done with every cat pregnancy.
I wonder why it's so much more expensive here in Sacramento? Maybe im just not calling/going to the right vets. It cost me over $400.00 just to have a vet give my cat oxytocin and an xray when she was in labor

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Hmmm...maybe I was thinking of a sonogram......

They use it so they can see if his bladder is enlarged.....

But that plus a cystocentesis, plys the urinalisys, plus the vet visit only costs up a bit over 100$.....Maybe my vet is better than I thought

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

Are you going to be keeping Yin, or is she staying with your mil? Poor kitty to have diarrhea for so long!

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I would love to...but she is 13 and my oldest cat is 4.....plus for a bit of time her and emmet did live together...and they loathed eachother......

But if I dont feel she is getting adequet care I am going to have to do something

I read through the thread, so forgive if this was already mentioned, but I didn't see it.
Normally one of the first things Vets do when a cat presents with chronic diarrhea, is a fecal float. Checking for parasites and protozoa. Was that done 2 years ago?
If not, I think you could probably take just a stool sample down to the new Vet and ask them to test it, without even taking the cat in.

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

I read through the thread, so forgive if this was already mentioned, but I didn't see it.
Normally one of the first things Vets do when a cat presents with chronic diarrhea, is a fecal float. Checking for parasites and protozoa. Was that done 2 years ago?
If not, I think you could probably take just a stool sample down to the new Vet and ask them to test it, without even taking the cat in.

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Yeah I just assumed that's what they did too...but cociddia is a BIG culprit to diharrhia.

Originally Posted by bengalbabe

Yeah I just assumed that's what they did too...but cociddia is a BIG culprit to diharrhia.

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Yeah I thought about coccidia....However I am just assuming at this point that they checked for this..and all parasites....concidering shes indoor/ outdoor......but who knows I wont know till Johns mom gets off the pot and gets me those records

I don't know if you could pull this off or if they do it where you live, but when a new client is coming to our clinic, WE call and get the records transferred from the other vet, not always does the owner do it....Could you call the vet that Yinny went to, and say "Hi, I'm calling to get some records transferred for one of your patients." They'll ask who for and all that, and if they ask why, just say "it's for a second opinion, and they have an appointment today so could you get it over this morning?" Call your vet ahead of time and get their fax number so you can give it to them. (OR, give them a fax number that YOU have access to, and you won't have to do anything else.) Then have Yinny's vet fax the records over. THEN call your vet clinic and tell them they'll be receiving a fax for a pet that you might be adopting, and could they make you a copy of the records so you can look them over? Tell them that if the fax doesn't come through, to call and let you know so you can have them fax it again, that way they won't call the other vet themselves. Ask when they'll be ready and tell them you'll pick them up! A little deceitful, yes, but it should work!! Otherwise, ask me and I'll call them and get the records for you. All this is assuming they have fax machines, otherwise you could have them sent by mail.

Originally Posted by menagerie mama

I don't know if you could pull this off or if they do it where you live, but when a new client is coming to our clinic, WE call and get the records transferred from the other vet, not always does the owner do it....Could you call the vet that Yinny went to, and say "Hi, I'm calling to get some records transferred for one of your patients." They'll ask who for and all that, and if they ask why, just say "it's for a second opinion, and they have an appointment today so could you get it over this morning?" Call your vet ahead of time and get their fax number so you can give it to them. (OR, give them a fax number that YOU have access to, and you won't have to do anything else.) Then have Yinny's vet fax the records over. THEN call your vet clinic and tell them they'll be receiving a fax for a pet that you might be adopting, and could they make you a copy of the records so you can look them over? Tell them that if the fax doesn't come through, to call and let you know so you can have them fax it again, that way they won't call the other vet themselves. Ask when they'll be ready and tell them you'll pick them up! A little deceitful, yes, but it should work!! Otherwise, ask me and I'll call them and get the records for you.

All this is assuming they have fax machines, otherwise you could have them sent by mail.

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Oh wow...what an absolutly sneaky idea....I will have to remember that one.....Fortunetly I have gotten the records, and have set up an appointment for Yinny next week....We will get to the bottom of this believe you me...

Thanx again for everyones support, prayers and ideas......I will update you w/ any news I get....Thanx again

So can you make anything of the records?

It is so good to hear you have made progress on this. I'm sending more positive vibes that what you find with Yinny can be healed or at least her discomfort alleviated.

I look forward to hearing more news.

Don't have any advice, but just wanted to say how lucky Yinny is to have people in her life that care so much and are doing so much to help her. you are brilliant.