Cat Pancreatitis Bill post 8, more info

[Kitari]

I dont know if you guys remember Syble. She was my old cat who abandoned me for a new owner. She is a special needs cat. A Manx with the Manx Syndrome.

Because of her issues she can sometimes have digestive problems usually its because her stool got too hard requiring me to give her a softener and she feels better within a day. She has those issues once or twice a year.

A few days ago my aunt (her new owner) texted me that Syble was not acting right. I went up later that day to check her out. I listened for gut sounds, palpated her stomach. It showed no signs of hardness that normally associates itself with her getting constipated. I told my aunt to keep an eye on her food and water intake, she may just be having kitty blahs but if she doesnt perk up in a day or so take her to the vet.

Well she was taken to the vet today. Vet says pancreatitis, possibly diabetes, and something else my aunt couldn’t remember.

Syble’s life span is estimated to be between 7 and 9 years of age due to her issues. She is currently 7. My mom knows as well but I chose not to tell my aunt because she would not take it well.

I have been reading up on the current problem at hand but finding no real answers to my questions. Is the pancreatitist an issue caused by her Manx Syndrome? What are the odds for her survival? Unfortunately my aunt took her to a different vet than I was using for her so I cannot call up and ask them myself which is very frustrating.

Im frustrated and worried. Even though she isn’t my cat anymore she is still my fur baby in my mind…

[sascha]

I think you should call the vet - they might just speak to you if you explain the situation… you’re sort of the official owner even though kitty lives with aunt, and you think aunt may have garbled a bit of the info. Worth a shot. If that doesn’t work, can you ask your aunt to get a print out of the report?

I know nothing about Manx syndrome.

I have had a cat with horrendous pancreatitis. It was a long, hard, expensive recovery and he was a very tough cat. He lived quite a healthy life once he did recover and ended up living to about 16 or 17 - not sure, he was a stray of 1 - 2+yo when I got him.

As I said, my cat was tough, borderline thug with an iron will. I would likely not have subjected a more sensitive being to all the vet visits, all the ultrasounds (even when he was practically at deaths door according to tests, it took 2 people to hold him for USing his belly), and all the meds.

Just a bit of my experience, sorry I don’t have more concrete info for you. Wishing your kitty the best, hoping it was caught early and is easily treatable. Good luck.

[JumpQH]

I have a friend who had a Persian. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis late last year. She went through the wringer with him. Constant vet visits, changed foods, tried all sorts of meds, homeopathic remedies, changed foods over and over. In the end, he lasted about 6 months before he refused to eat at all and she had to let him go. Not to sound negative - just sharing her experience with pancreatitis. He was around 6-7 years old.

[JJARAB]

Having had two different cats with Pancreatitis - acute, not chronic, often times the vets just do not know why it happens. It probably happens to more cats than we think and goes undiagnosed, masquerading as something else. One vet, in a moment of dark humor, mused that cats will recreationally develop it - their bodies are quite alien to us compared to other mammals even after years of research.

Both cats were treated therapeutically - IV fluids for three days, maropitant, metronidazole, buprenorphine and Cerenia. Luna did not respond to appetite stimulants so we had an esophageal feeding tube inserted. Once she was home, after 10 days of tube feeding, she began to eat on her own and made full recovery, tube was removed and the stoma healed fine. Lucky was pretty much the same treatment, but her age (19), BP and heart murmur made even the short anesthesia a questionable decision. She also did not respond to the appetite stims while in the hospital. We took her home and she was syringe fed every 90 minutes except for a few hours at night when I tried to get some sleep. After about 1.5 days she started eating on her own and has pretty much made a full recovery.
Both cats were on a diet of decent quality, living in a home with minimal carpeting (some people speak of the chemical treatments in carpet as a possible trigger, no idea), minimal use of chemicals, etc. Both cats were quite healthy at the time they presented with the pancreatitis.

The blah feeling can be caused by a number of things - abdominal pain is always a suspect, but pancreatitis can also cause a radical (sometimes near fatal) drop in potassium which can cause vomiting, staggering and disorientation. B12 can also drop dramatically, so cobalmin injections may also help.

Hope kitty recovers!

[vtdobes]

My Mom’s young Siamese was diagnosed with this. She did a LOT of research on diet and switched both of her cats to a completely raw diet. The cat has been totally healthy since and it’s been over a year.

[Kitari]

Syble has shown no improvement, has remained dehydrated despite the IV line and they have inserted a feeding tube.

[JumpQH]

Thank you for the update - jingling for improvement!

[Kitari]

Syble ![](s HOME! I don’t really have any information as getting it from my aunt is like pulling teeth out of an angry bear’s mouth. But she is home and apparently feeling much better.

Here is a picture. I don’t know whats up with her back leg I’ll find out when I swing by on Sunday

[IMG]http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/IMG_0342_zpsuwsb3fxk.jpg~original)

[Kitari]

Ok. I saw Syble on Sunday and looked through the report they sent home. All in all I am not seeing anything out of the ordinary. I would like to know what “Pain injection” actually was. I also do not know that the initial $500 fee was for. According to mom they charged my Aunt $500 right off the bat just to see her. I am NOT happy about that. The vet I use would never have charged that but my aunt doesn’t want to change back.

This vet diagnosed Syble with. Pancreatitis, Liver disease, UTI, and cystitis? (Bladder inflammation)

Anyway here is a picture of the bill.
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/20140810_161858_zpsecpqyc7r.jpg~original

[Anne]

[QUOTE=Kitari;7709890]
I also do not know that the initial $500 fee was for. According to mom they charged my Aunt $500 right off the bat just to see her. I am NOT happy about that. [/QUOTE]

I am an emergency vet.

They took a $500 deposit, which is standard operating procedure when a pet is being hospitalized. That deposit was applied against the total of $920.34, and your aunt presumably paid the balance of the bill at discharge. We don’t really care if you’re “happy” about the deposit or not. It’s the ER and we know no one is “happy” to come see us. The deposit helps prevent people from authorizing expensive, extensive tests and treatments for which they have no intention of paying.

Without having access to the actual medical records, it looks like the cat was treated with good quality medicine. I would have probably offered a urine culture and sensitivity (~$180) to make sure the right antibiotic was chosen, and I’m not a huge fan of Baytril in cats, but those are minor quibbles. It looks like you live in a lower cost of living area than the one in which I practice, but your aunt got a bargain IMO for 3 days of hospitalization and care.

If the pancreatitis comes back or the cat is not doing well, consider referral for an abdominal ultrasound.

[Kitari]

Now what I am referring to was I was informed they were charging $500 a day, bringing the total balance to almost $1500. I mentioned before getting info from them is like pulling teeth. I am not seeing the additional $500 they were talking about which is why I am wondering. Everything should be listed on there correct? If not then either information was messed up on its way to me, or they arent listing that additional info.

[Kitari]

And also Syble is currently incontinent with lots of diarrhea. Yuck Poor baby. Pumpkin is being added to her diet now as well as Imodium. We have to be careful with it because her poop cant become too solid. It has to be in a happy place. Firm enough that she has some control over it, but soft enough not to cause her issues. We do love our special needs kitty.

[JumpQH]

Syble is gorgeous! Massive jingles for feeling better!

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

Here’s how I read the bill: there are two charges for “Hospitalization, Minor.” Both are $64. Those should be your overnight fees. IMO, not a bad price for an emergency hospital.

It would be nice if they’d told you which pain meds and which antibiotics she was given, but as my vet is fond of saying, there just aren’t that many things you can give a cat. Narrowing it down should be fairly simple.

Besides – I spent more than $600 on ONE DAY of testing for ONE cat last summer at a teaching hospital. To me, this bill isn’t bad at all.

[HeatherCK11]

I don’t see any glaring discrepancies on the bill. It may be a generalization, with them saying you should expect to pay about $500 per day with hospitalization. A ballpark reference.
As it seems, your bill was less. Frick Yea!
Although, if she received 3 days worth of iv fluid therapy…um, I’m just seeing they charged you for one days worth.
I’m glad your cat has made improvement and is back home. Always upsetting to have a sick pet.

[SquishTheBunny]

3 days and 1500 with a feeding tube is a very reasonable price. 500 likely includes daily exam injectable pain meds hospitalization with Iv pump fluids hourly vital checks and nursing. I could be wrong. Here just the cost of an esophogostomy tube is close to $1000 as they are under general anesthetic and it’s placed through endoscopy. Glad your kitty is feeling better don’t forget you often get what you pay for…while some vets may need cheaper they may not offer the same procedures or get the same outcome.

[Anne]

Squish, it was an NG tube and they only charged $75 for that. I don’t sedate to place those unless the cat requires it.

And there is no $1500 figure. The OP is not the client, so I don’t blame the hospital for not discussing the bill with a nonclient. There was a deposit of $500, and another $420.34 in charges. A bargain IMO.

[Justmyluck]

[QUOTE=Kitari;7709890]
Ok. I saw Syble on Sunday and looked through the report they sent home. All in all I am not seeing anything out of the ordinary. I would like to know what “Pain injection” actually was. I also do not know that the initial $500 fee was for. According to mom they charged my Aunt $500 right off the bat just to see her. I am NOT happy about that. The vet I use would never have charged that but my aunt doesn’t want to change back.

This vet diagnosed Syble with. Pancreatitis, Liver disease, UTI, and cystitis? (Bladder inflammation)

Anyway here is a picture of the bill.
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j453/KitN_Li/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/20140810_161858_zpsecpqyc7r.jpg~original[/QUOTE]

First off that bill in very reasonable for a two night hospitalization for a cat with severe panc. At the hospital I work at we take a $500 deposit for anything that walks in the door that is currently in distress, dieing, bleeding out, not breathing it is our ‘oh shit’ emergency fee. It allows us to start tests, radiographs, and emergency stabilization while we talk to the owners. It can get out of control and we lose valuable time while owners ponder their options. If your cat was sick enough this is why they took $500 immediately.

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=Anne;7716290]
Squish, it was an NG tube and they only charged $75 for that. I don’t sedate to place those unless the cat requires it.

And there is no $1500 figure. The OP is not the client, so I don’t blame the hospital for not discussing the bill with a nonclient. There was a deposit of $500, and another $420.34 in charges. A bargain IMO.[/QUOTE]

Ahh I see. I’m on coth on my mobile so couldn’t see everything. I thought the cat had an e tube not ng. (We usually just do local Alcaine and maybe sedation for those too). Either way under 1k is reasonable in my books our clinic also requires an admission deposit to prevent people form abandoning their pets. We get a lot of people who in the heat of the moment say “do anything to save fluffy” and if they don’t leave a deposit they either never come back or don’t pay the bill. It’s generally an er thing rather than family vet where good clients don’t require deposits. Deposits are generally for new clients with no history.

[AllWeatherGal]

I think the charges are not out of line, as well. I spent $20 day for in-patient care for my acute pancreatic cat for 5 days and $250 for overnight in-patient for 3 days, plus medication and supplies.

Last time I was in an ER with a cat I had a chance to read a very interesting flyer that explained why ER vet costs are so much higher than “regular vet” costs for what owners think is the same products and care.