It's been a while since I have posted in regard to Smokie. He was throwing up a lot when he was on the dry food. Since I've been putting him on 1 can a day of wet cat food. The vet took a wait and see approach to the weight loss because she couldn't feel anything on his Thyroid three months ago. But since he's lost weight. This time last year he was 9.5 lbs and when I brought him in three months ago he was down to 8.5 lbs. The doc said that he was not under weight as of yet. She thought it could be because he is getting older he's 9.5 years old. Will be 10 this May. I weighed him today and he's down to 7.5 lbs. She told me to put him on a senior formula when I went in last, as his throwing up may be due to constipation. But that didn't help. So he's on friskies (what I can afford right now) 1 can a day and the rest dry. No more throwing up. Yay. Has been free from throwing up for about 5 months or so. Smokie is going to the doc tomorrow for a full blood workup. The vet said that she's pretty sure he's hyper T. Otherwise he seems healthy and happy. Just very vocal when he's hungry.
So far the only signs are the weight loss, he's always hungry, and soft stool or diarrhea. It makes things difficult because I have one cat who needs to loose weight, and I can't leave the cat food bowl up anymore because if he doesn't have food when he needs it he's constantly crying because he's hungry. That and he starts loosing more weight. If I put him in a room by himself, he stresses out from being away from the other cats and won't eat or drink properly. I don't want that. The cat that's over weight I can't put in another room because she'll stress out and stops eating and drinking all together. That's not good for her. So I can't put her in another room.
They are all currently on Chicken Soup Senior Formula. Out of the 6 cats I have 4 considered Seniors or nearing Senior age, and the other two will be reaching senior age in about 3 years or so. Smokie is 9.5yrs, Lucky is 9.5 years, Sassy is between 12-14 years old, Faith is 6.5 years old, Charlie is 6.5 years old and Callie is 4.
I do have some questions as to Hyper T treatment costs. I did some research and I've read that the medication is about $25 a month. Ideally, in the many articles that I've read, the best treatment for the animal is the Radio Active Iodine Treatment. Which can cost around $1200 depending on where you live and is less invasive and cures the Hyper T. (Anyone had this done? What was the cost?) The medication works, but then requires multiple vet checkups to check how the medication is working. The other option is a surgery which fixes the problem too, but it is not really recommended for older cats.
I would really like him to get the Radio Active Iodine Treatment, however, problem is, it's too expensive. Right now I'm trying to figure out how I can afford the medication alone. My budget is so tight that I don't even have an extra $25.00 for the medication (if that's what it costs.) What is everyone paying for the Hyper T meds? I might be able to afford maybe $5 a month for medication but not much more than that. Plus, my vet fund account is pretty much depleted after taking smokie in for this visit. So, I'm trying to figure out how I'll be able to afford future visits to see how the meds are working.
I have looked into places that would help with medical bills etc, but most only do a grant of $100-$200 for vet costs. Not for medication. Right now I can only work no more than 3 hours a day. I've checked into seeing if I qualify for disability even temporary or partial and I do not qualify. I don't qualify for SSI at all either. So those are no help. Can't do care credit because I wouldn't be able to pay them back as I have no extra money every month to pay them.
I've looked into trying to find homes for some of my cats but the responses I got were horrifying. Most of my cats (4 of the 6) are special needs cats. Which means they need special food, and require vet visits regularly (partly why my vet fund is now depleted) So humane societies I've called around here say if an animal is old or is ill requiring medications and such I was told that there was a 90% chance that they will just get put down right away. Because of all the animals that they are taking in now they can't home them all and don't have the funds to take care of the chronically sick. The Sick, or too old are put down right away. I've tried no kill animal shelters and every one I called within my area even some an hour away are not taking any more animals in, and they especially can't take in special needs cats because they are not getting in the funding they need because of the economy. I've tried putting fliers out, and listing them on Craigs list etc. With no luck. I talked to the vet and told her if she knows of anyone, and she said no but that she'd put the word out. But told me that most people especially with the economy now only are looking for healthy young cats. They can't afford a cat who has special needs like mine. So, now I'm in a situation where I feel that I have to do something to raise the funds I need myself
.
Not sure if I can post it in this area or if I will have to post it in the Market Place, but I am now working with my friend who runs an animal sanctuary in Michigan to make photo collectibles, and I'm working on making Custom Screen Savers to sell to help raise funds. I need a way to have some kind of way to raise the money I need to make sure that all my animals have what they need.
I have been looking for other work that would fit into what I can and can't do, but no luck in my area. The closest place that has jobs available are 45 minutes away. I will probably have to sell my trailblazer for a more economical vehicle, if and when I get a job that's further away.
Kind of stressed out right now trying to figure out where this money is going to come from. I've already sold what I could. I have a few big ticketed items that I'm trying to sell but no body is even biting on them because they are high ticked items (rings, collectible animation art etc). I've even asked my vet if she could help out and I could pay her what her costs are and then volunteer my time to help work off the rest, but no. She's a small area vet and only has one other assistant there with her. She said if she could help me she would but doesn't have anything she needs help with. I've tried calling the other vets in the area and no one is willing to help me.
I'll be placing a link to some of the items I'm making and selling in the Market Place. Hope that maybe you guys could spread the word. It would be greatly appreciated. I need all the help I can get right now.
Sorry for the long post.
So far the only signs are the weight loss, he's always hungry, and soft stool or diarrhea. It makes things difficult because I have one cat who needs to loose weight, and I can't leave the cat food bowl up anymore because if he doesn't have food when he needs it he's constantly crying because he's hungry. That and he starts loosing more weight. If I put him in a room by himself, he stresses out from being away from the other cats and won't eat or drink properly. I don't want that. The cat that's over weight I can't put in another room because she'll stress out and stops eating and drinking all together. That's not good for her. So I can't put her in another room.
They are all currently on Chicken Soup Senior Formula. Out of the 6 cats I have 4 considered Seniors or nearing Senior age, and the other two will be reaching senior age in about 3 years or so. Smokie is 9.5yrs, Lucky is 9.5 years, Sassy is between 12-14 years old, Faith is 6.5 years old, Charlie is 6.5 years old and Callie is 4.
I do have some questions as to Hyper T treatment costs. I did some research and I've read that the medication is about $25 a month. Ideally, in the many articles that I've read, the best treatment for the animal is the Radio Active Iodine Treatment. Which can cost around $1200 depending on where you live and is less invasive and cures the Hyper T. (Anyone had this done? What was the cost?) The medication works, but then requires multiple vet checkups to check how the medication is working. The other option is a surgery which fixes the problem too, but it is not really recommended for older cats.
I would really like him to get the Radio Active Iodine Treatment, however, problem is, it's too expensive. Right now I'm trying to figure out how I can afford the medication alone. My budget is so tight that I don't even have an extra $25.00 for the medication (if that's what it costs.) What is everyone paying for the Hyper T meds? I might be able to afford maybe $5 a month for medication but not much more than that. Plus, my vet fund account is pretty much depleted after taking smokie in for this visit. So, I'm trying to figure out how I'll be able to afford future visits to see how the meds are working.
I have looked into places that would help with medical bills etc, but most only do a grant of $100-$200 for vet costs. Not for medication. Right now I can only work no more than 3 hours a day. I've checked into seeing if I qualify for disability even temporary or partial and I do not qualify. I don't qualify for SSI at all either. So those are no help. Can't do care credit because I wouldn't be able to pay them back as I have no extra money every month to pay them.
I've looked into trying to find homes for some of my cats but the responses I got were horrifying. Most of my cats (4 of the 6) are special needs cats. Which means they need special food, and require vet visits regularly (partly why my vet fund is now depleted) So humane societies I've called around here say if an animal is old or is ill requiring medications and such I was told that there was a 90% chance that they will just get put down right away. Because of all the animals that they are taking in now they can't home them all and don't have the funds to take care of the chronically sick. The Sick, or too old are put down right away. I've tried no kill animal shelters and every one I called within my area even some an hour away are not taking any more animals in, and they especially can't take in special needs cats because they are not getting in the funding they need because of the economy. I've tried putting fliers out, and listing them on Craigs list etc. With no luck. I talked to the vet and told her if she knows of anyone, and she said no but that she'd put the word out. But told me that most people especially with the economy now only are looking for healthy young cats. They can't afford a cat who has special needs like mine. So, now I'm in a situation where I feel that I have to do something to raise the funds I need myself
.
Not sure if I can post it in this area or if I will have to post it in the Market Place, but I am now working with my friend who runs an animal sanctuary in Michigan to make photo collectibles, and I'm working on making Custom Screen Savers to sell to help raise funds. I need a way to have some kind of way to raise the money I need to make sure that all my animals have what they need.
I have been looking for other work that would fit into what I can and can't do, but no luck in my area. The closest place that has jobs available are 45 minutes away. I will probably have to sell my trailblazer for a more economical vehicle, if and when I get a job that's further away.
Kind of stressed out right now trying to figure out where this money is going to come from. I've already sold what I could. I have a few big ticketed items that I'm trying to sell but no body is even biting on them because they are high ticked items (rings, collectible animation art etc). I've even asked my vet if she could help out and I could pay her what her costs are and then volunteer my time to help work off the rest, but no. She's a small area vet and only has one other assistant there with her. She said if she could help me she would but doesn't have anything she needs help with. I've tried calling the other vets in the area and no one is willing to help me.
I'll be placing a link to some of the items I'm making and selling in the Market Place. Hope that maybe you guys could spread the word. It would be greatly appreciated. I need all the help I can get right now.
Sorry for the long post.