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Aisha | 14 hours ago
My Cat Has Been Having Audible Breathing Noises For A Few Months. No Open Mouth Breathing, …

My cat has been having audible breathing noises for a few months. No open mouth breathing, just audible through the nose, on and off throughout the day. She’s developed some weird other noises especially while sleeping or falling asleep some snoring, random sneezing as well. She isn’t overweight or old.
We’ve tried antibiotics but it didn’t help. The vets are quoting between $2-10k for just imaging for polyps, not even removal, if they see any. It’s impossible to afford it. She’s eating and playing and acting normal otherwise. I’m wondering what it can be, is it likely polyps and if I don’t go into debt to see, am I going to make her like unliveable?
I’m wondering if I can even rent a car and come down to a cheaper clinic in the US (I’m in Canada) which may be cheaper than doing it locally. There are very few low cost vets here and they only work with people on welfare so it wouldn’t apply. There’s a huge gap between people who are on assistance and people who aren’t but still can’t a afford $10k in imaging.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Without knowing more details I would say keep looking into finding a place that will help you affordably. I do t know why vetmed has gotten so unkind or unwilling to help people and pets like you, but there are still places and vets who will offer care to help patients. Please keep asking for help. I have lots of videos on polyps and I write a lot about them. In almost all cases I recommend a n exam under general anesthesia to look behind the soft palate. I also take skull X-rays and flush the nares if I don’t find one.
    Polyps are most commonly found in young cats. It can be a life saving procedure to remove them. I charge about $500-700

    1. Aisha Post author

      Hi Krista,
      Where are you located? If I were able to get to the States (I’m assuming you are there) would it be possible to book in with you? There are no lower cost vets here I’ve been looking for a long time and am willing to travel, at this point it seems likes my only option, or not doing anything.

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Jessica | 2 days ago
I Have A 7 Month Old French Bulldog And She Has Developed A Growth On Her Lower …

I have a 7 month old French Bulldog and she has developed a growth on her lower lip. It is not bothering her that we can tell but it doesn’t look very nice. Her vet said that it could be surgically removed but that is pretty pricey and we are just not in a position to be able to do that at this time. Please help are there other options for this to go away or be taken off.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    Based on age my first suspicion is that this might be a papilloma. If it is there might be more that arise. They typically are found around the mouth. They will resolve on their own but they can be spread to other dogs so your dog should be kept at home until they go away.
    Your vet is correct that the only way to diagnose them is to remove them and submit the tissue sample to a pathologist.
    Ask your vet if they think this could be a papilloma virus?

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Tiffany | 2 days ago
Hello. I Have A Grey Kitty Who Is 3 Experiencing A Lot Of Wheezing. She Has About 4…

Hello. I have a grey kitty who is 3 experiencing a lot of wheezing. She has about 4-5 spells a day where she just hacks – never coughing up a hair ball or vomit, her whole body gets tight when this happens. I’ve had 2 opinions by different vets. The first vet said it was asthma gave me liquid albuterol for her as well as PREDNISONE. after about 3 months no change so I took her for another opinion. The vet there agreed asthma but said cats cannot metabolize prednisone so she gave me prednisolone to try. Still no change. She is so uncomfortable when she has these spells and I feel so bad because there is nothing I can do to help her. Any thoughts? I have a video but unfortunately it will not allow me to attach to this post 🙁

2 Responses

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I think that it is time for some diagnostics. I would recommend an Xray and some blood work. In some cases I am also concerned about things like lungworm, round worm, or toxoplasmosis.

    If you haven’t done an antibiotic trial you can also try that. The problem is that you are trying to treat clinical signs and not identifying the underlying cause.

    1. Tiffany Post author

      Thank you for this suggestion! I do appreciate it. Praying we find some answers for my special girl!

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Denise | 4 days ago
I Was Wondering If Anybody Knows What This Possible Could Be On My Dogs Penis? I …

I was wondering if anybody knows what this possible could be on my dogs penis? I did make an appointment with his veterinarian but not not until the end of the month 6-27. This popped up on him 2 weeks ago & it’s now bleeding. He still acts, eats plus drinks normal. There are several little ones surrounding the huge one.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello
    I don’t know if there was supposed to be a photo with this?
    Anything abnormal should be seen by a vet. I would worry about an infection or possible tumor.

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Christine | 5 days ago
I’m In Desperate Need To Help My Cat Kitt She Is A 13 Year-old Siamese Cat …

I’m in desperate need to help my cat Kitt she is a 13 year-old Siamese cat who has been suffering from chronic constipation. The past five years it has increasingly gotten worse. It seems to be happening once a month now what can I do at home to assist her? I’ve changed diets numerous time, I’ve tried numerous supplements, laxatives- I’m at my wits end on how to help my poor cat. Are there any other suggestions to treatments I haven’t tried.

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    In my experience constipation on cats is always secondary to something else. Either old wounds, like a fractured pelvis, an underlying disease, or diet.

    Has your cat had a thorough examination, bloodwork and X-rays? Have your tried different diets, supplements and fluid therapy.
    I hope this helps.

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Emily | 6 days ago
Hello! My Cat Daisy (3y/o F, Spayed) Has Been Having Upper Respiratory Symptoms, Specifically, Nasal …

Hello! My cat Daisy (3y/o F, spayed) has been having upper respiratory symptoms, specifically, nasal discharge in one nostril, reverse sneezing, and congestion on and off since November 2024. She is otherwise acting normal (same appetite, energy levels, etc). She will go a day with these symptoms and the next day they’ll clear up, then come back again. I’ve taken her to the vet twice and the first time they said to just give lysine supplements (didn’t work) because she’s had a history of URI when I adopted her 2 years ago and the second time they said to give chlorpheniramine (which didn’t work) and then prescribed hydroxyzine (which also didn’t work). I don’t really know where to go from here if it isn’t allergies. Just wondering if you have any thoughts? Thank you!

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    If this is only one side of the nose then I would worry about a potential foreign body or even a tumor.
    When I get a case like this we talk about what our potential differential diagnosis is after an exam. We usually start with an antibiotic because an upper respiratory infection is the most common thing we see in cats. Then we talk about a different antibiotic or antiviral if the first doesn’t work. After that we start talking about either running diagnostics like an Xray, blood work, or sending our patient to an internal medicine specialist for a second opinion.

    For people who are cost sensitive we try options of different medications or a nasal flush or head Xray.

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Ingrid | 1 week ago
My Cat Has A Blockage. 5/27/2025 First Vet, Gave Him A Shot Of Cerenia. Did Not Work. …

My cat has a blockage. 5/27/2025 First vet, gave him a shot of Cerenia. Did not work. Gave me a list of things she was recommending to do, that was exorbitant in pricing. I could not afford. 2nd vet 6/4/2025 took an X-ray. Said he had a blockage & only alternative was surgery, which I cannot afford, or said to put him down. They Gave him an iv of fluids. I later came back asking for an anti-inflammatory in hopes of getting the inflammation down so he could pass whatever. They gave him Depo-medrol. Has not helped him. Can a laxative possibly help him? I am desperate at this point, because 12 days has to be extremely bad for him. He still tries to drink water. Just did 4 times & threw it up.

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello.

    I’m so sorry to hear about your cat. Please call everyone. Ask for someone to at least look at your cat. It sounds like he needs to be seen immediately

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Cathy | 1 week ago
Hello Dr Magnifico. You Vaccinated My Kitty, Leo, Today Around 3. He Was Fine. Ate Dinner Around 6. …

Hello Dr Magnifico. You vaccinated my kitty, Leo, today around 3. He was fine. Ate dinner around 6. I went to give him a night time crunchy snack and he walked away. He has never walked away from snacks in 3 years!! Can the vaccine cause an upset tummy? As far as I know he hasn’t vomited. Is this something I should be concerned about? Thank you

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    It isn’t uncommon for pets to feel a little sore, or even feverish after a vaccine.

    If he isn’t acting like himself in the morning please call the clinic and speak to the team lead. They can help. Or email me at Krista@pawbly.com.

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Nichole | 2 weeks ago
My Daughter’s Cat Age 3 Has Thrown Up 3 Times In 5 Hours. He’s A Neutered Male, …

My daughter’s cat age 3 has thrown up 3 times in 5 hours. He’s a neutered male, indoors only. Proplan chicken catfood…. He is acting normal. However his throw up is thin bloody looking water (including a picture) I am calling the vet in the morning but right now I’m fighting with myself on whether or not this is an er visit issue. I know he hasn’t ingested anything poisonous. He is spoiled and has a lot of toys. Would love to know opinions please. Thank you.

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    I’m not overly concerned with vomiting when it is an acute episode, ie a few times over a short period of time as long as the patient is acting normally otherwise. In some cases it can be a hairball or something else hat just didn’t agree with the stomach so vomiting is the bodies way of taking care of it.
    Don’t feed or give water for a few hours to let the stomach settle down.
    If your cat doesn’t vomit again and is still acting normally I think you are ok.if you cat is not acting normally, for example depressed or lethargic or cannot keep anything down 4-12 hours later then then it’s time to see the vet.

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Sarah | 2 weeks ago
My 12 Yr Old Siberian Husky Has Always Been A Picky Eater / Grazer, But Recently She Has …

My 12 yr old Siberian Husky has always been a picky eater / grazer, but recently she has been acting like her mouth might hurt when she goes to eat her kibble. I took her to a vet near me and they want to do a dental with bloodwork and possible extractions, and quoted me almost $1300. Does this seem like a reasonable price? Are there any vets in Harford County, MD that might be cheaper?

1 Response

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  1. Krista Magnifico

    Hello,
    The price of a dental can vary greatly because the service and needed care once the dental is started can vary greatly. If this is just a cleaning, ie all of the teeth are healthy and no extractions are needed then the typical cost at my clinic can be about $400-600. If there are multiple teeth that need to be removed if can go up to almost $2,000. So it’s import try to understand where your dog might fall on this spectrum of need to get a better idea if rhe cost of their care.