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Why are the majority of Harford County veterinarians charging $400-$650 to spay/neuter a cat or kitten? Only a few offer under $200 surgeries for what is generally a very simple and quick procedure – I know, as I assist at low-cost spay/neuter clinics. Cecil County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County all offer the same procedure for less than half the going rate in Harford. Several local veterinarians, when clients balk at pricing, are referring them to rescue groups rather than offering a reasonable price for an operation that is ESSENTIAL to the animal’s well-being and longevity, not to mention eliminating unwanted litters.
What can Harford residents do to force changes to make our county more cat friendly and help owners wanting to do what’s right but not at unreasonable cost?
My 3 yo male nuetered tuxedo cat Kenobi was diagnosed with FIC by the ER DVM yesterday with no blockage. He is peeing just a dime size at a time. Should I also give him Apple Cider Vinegar as his PH was 7.0 ? Other than his urinary levels, red blood cells in his urine, struvite crystals, his blood work was good with no infection. The ER DVM gave him ; Buprenorphine, Prazosin, & Gabapentin. We have changed his food to all wet Royal Canin Urinary SO from mainly kibble with some wet. We think the stressor was the absence of our 19 yo tabby Tinkerbelle we had to help cross over 2 weeks ago. Should I get Kenobi a companion kitten to replace Tinkerbell? We also are buying a water foundation as he does not drink water enough.
Hello,
I would ask your vet about the following;
Giving sq fluids at home daily, adding a short course of a steroid and the latest opinion on prazosin’s efficacy. (I don’t use it).
Also I don’t use vinegar.
These are a matter of experience and preference. Therefore please ask your vet or find a feline only practitioner to help.
Thank you for your reply. Ill ask but given this study I don’t see why she would.
Summary
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Prazosin administration increased the likelihood of rUO by 14 days; ongoing investigation of other therapies to decrease rUO in cats is warranted. Without specific indications, the use of prazosin for the prevention of rUO should be discouraged.
Link
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/260/S2/javma.21.10.0469.xml
He is doing better this AM and has had at least 2 large urine eliminations during the PM, one I would consider normal. the other the size of a gold ball ( litter clump) We administered 1/2 teaspoon of H2O and ACV orally x2 last night. 1x this am. along with prescribed meds. He is running around to get to food bowl , face rubbing, purring, jumping on the bed, acting like his old self . I plan to continue to water his wet food. He does not seem to drink well. We have bought a fountain to encourage water consumption. He likes to drink directly from the tap so maybe that will work.
5 Yr old rescue cat named Maew. Indoor/outdoor. Severe mega colon with constipation/ostibation related to nerve damage from having her tail removed by a dog when she was a kitten.
We have had her in and out of the vet many times for enemas and have done everything we can to keep her going. Laxatives, lots of exercise, diet changes We are out of options and considering colon surgery.
I need a magical diet/food remedy to help her mega colon issues. She actually did well for a few years on high fiber dry food. But that time is over and we are trying every food option to keep her hydrated and avoid colon issues.
We do regular manual palpitation also.
Help help help!
She’s always been there for us with an encouraging head boop and now we have to be there for her. We will never give up! She’s a survivor and deserves much more time with our family
We have been very diligent with miralax, lactalose, and such. We need some hippy-voodoo magic!
In all honesty, I’d keep her indoors due to the injury and the likelihood she’ll end up injured further, especially if she ends up separated from you by a well-meaning human thinking she’s a stray. I would also talk with your vet further about that surgery.
Our 5 month old male kitten has severe obstipation. After xray he was admitted to Vet Hospital on Mon Nov 7th. Treatment has been sub cutaneous fulids ( no IV’s) several saline enemas with sedation, oral miralax, and recent start of lactulose. No stool results as confirmed by xray. My question is 1) can a mineral oil enemas soften the hardened stool and 2) is there a way to aspirate the stool with a small suction catheter. I have limited finances and cannot keep him in the hospital much longer. Thanks for any suggestions you might have.
Hello,
In cases like this it is imperative to figure out who this is happening. No amount of removing the feces is helpful if you cannot resolve why it is occurring. Fluids, warm water enemas and even manual extraction are all options (you cannot suction it out as it is too hard to do so). Diet change and exercise are the best places to start if (big IF) this is resolvable. If your cat has an underlying problem that has to be addressed. Call and ask for help from every rescue and shelter and put out a social media plea for help.
I think my 2 month old foster kitten may have a nasal polyp. I’m working with a vet who doesn’t think she has a polyp because he says she’s too young to have one. We’ve tried a couple of antibiotics and nothing has worked yet. Her breathing is getting louder and she breathes with her mouth open while holding her head up when she sleeps. I had 2 other kittens last year that had polyps with the same symptoms. After 5 months of trying to treat the congestion with antibiotics, during spay surgery, both were found to have very large polyps. I don’t want to wait that long with this little one.
Do you think it is possible for a 2 month old kitten to have a polyp? If so, what is the earliest age for exploratory/removal of the polyp? Thank you!
Hello
I don’t think being too young is a reason to not look for one. I know many rescues and shelters who spay and neuter this young.
I recently found a stray kitten, approximately 13 weeks old. He appears to have an avulsion of his lower lip which exposes his mandible. Are there any concerns, complications, or fixes for this ?
Hi Tammy – I assume you plan to take him to the vet ASAP for this. I would make a point to do so, for this and for a general checkup, and to check his status for FeLV/FIV as well as get him UTD on vaccines.
Hello! I am about to rescue 2 kittens and as a new pet owner I’m looking for some advice! We think the kittens are about 5-8 weeks. They haven’t gotten any shots or medication—they were found on the side of the road. I believe they have fleas and am not sure how to move forward. I know I need to take them in for shots but I’m not sure when. Advice would be appreciated!
Hello,
Thank you for helping these kittens. I always advise new pets be seen within 7 days of adoption or acquisition. Call your vet asap and have them seen. Things like intestinal parasites need to be addressed asap. Vaccines too. They can help.
6 week old kitten fell off the bed and hurt its back left leg. He can’t walk on it. He cries when it gets bumped. He can pull the leg against his body and lays on it, but when he stretched his leg out the top of his foot was facing out instead of forward. I’m worried he may have broken or dislocated something. How can I tell and what do I do? And what can we give him for pain?
Please go to the vet asap for an X-ray. They may be able to splint it to help it heal. Kittens heal fast and almost every fracture and dislocation will heal if you get there quickly. Also kittens are dare devils so try to keep them in a large crate or carrier for a few more weeks.
I found a kitten, male. I first thought he had a cyst in his wrist but when I examined closer it popped through the other side and made crunches in the wrist. I now think that it’s broken and wondering if a splint would help him.
My kitten 5 weeks old got her foot slammed in window she was playing and the window fell some hoe her foot is swollen should I take her to vet or can I splint it or wrap it at home
She needs to be seen by your vet. I know this was posted two days ago, but please get her to the pet ER NOW.
I’d guess the low cost clinics don’t do pre-op bloodwork? Furthermore, costs of everything have gone WAY up, and shelters/rescues are funded with donations and fundraising efforts while veterinarians have businesses to run and employees to pay.
I find $400 to be quite fair. We paid around $700 for our Doberman’s spay about 6 years ago.