Help and advice need ASAP 28 September 2011 at 10:34PM in Pets & pet care 26 replies 2K views

barneydee_2

Hi i need some good advice asap.

one of my cats who is 18 months old was hit by a car she has a broken jaw,I took her to a well known vetinary hospital in wantsted, where she has been getting the best od care, my problem is the work she needs I was first quoted came to approx £1200 which as I have not got this sort of money as I am deep in debt, my in laws kindly offered to pay, but today I have tried to contact the hospital and had no luck until this evening, when they have informed me that the work is know going to cost £2500 :eek::eek: I have got to make some sort of desission by tomorrow I do not want to have her put down but it is looking that I mit have to, the options I was offered was to take her out and find some one who would do it cheaper or be put forward to a charilty as a low income family ,but both myself and my husband work .

Can anybody give me any advice as I realy do not want to lose my cat any sujestions would be greatly recived, plus i need to get moving as they have done nothing with the jaw so i am worried the longer it is left the more problems may arise


Dee

dottygirl

Im sorry to hear about your cat. I dont have any advice apart from try the PDSA. I would also post on the pet forum (I also have no idea how you move a thread). Sorry I cant be of more help. Good luck x

elsien

I'm sorry to say, but if you both work then you're unlikely to qualify with organisations such as the pdsa for cheaper treatment even if you live near enough to one.
I'd suggest you post this question on the pet part of this forum, but I think I remember others in the same situation and the consensus seems to be either pay or unfortunately have the pet put to sleep, if you don't have insurance that will cover it.
My initial thoughts are to find out exactly what they are planning to do and the final likely cost- you need to know the prognosis and treatment plan so you can phone other vets to see what they may charge as a comparison. You might also find a vet who is prepared to take payment in installments, but generally you'd need to have built up a relationship with them for them to consider it - it's a lot of money for them to lose if people do a runner. (Not suggesting that you would, but obviously for them it's a consideration.)

ragz_2

As you say, you both work so you probably won't be eligible for charity help. I would say getting into debt is not the best solution and you don't have the money to pay for it, so...

If it were my cat I'd have it put down, but I've always had a very realistic attitude to pets (when I was a child a lot of our cats were hit by cars and we couldn't afford vet bills). If I had pets now I would have insurance but if I was faced with costs like that I'm afraid that's what I would do.

Sorry for being honest.

sophistica

You were originally quoted £1.5k...and you made your decision based on this price and you found funding for that amount. Now the vet has moved the goal posts. So this is clearly unreasonable and possibly an ethics/trading standards issue. So I would start with a very pleasant but firm renegotiation and point out that they have disadvantaged you and your cat by not accurately quoting and that you will need to raise this with their regulatory body. I would also ring round PDSA RSPA and Cats Protection League as they may be able to be an advocate for you or perform the operation at a lower price e.g. the £1.5k that you were originally quoted. If this was me I would take the day off work ad ring round frantically tomorrow. You need to also find out what your cat's realistic prognosis is for survival. I was once put in the position of spending £1.5k on my cat at the vet and the surgery gave her kidney failure and I had to have her put to sleep and it was easily the worst 6 months of my life.

Pink.

Hi barneydee,

What a difficult and sad position for you and your poor cat.

We have a Pets & Pet Care board where you should get more advice and replies so I've moved your thread over there.

Pink

gettingready

OP - move your cat fast to Celia Hammond in Canning Town - I am sure they will help.

Friend's cat was knocked over and what Goddards Wanstead quoted and wanted to charge they could not afford, the cat got sorted at CH...

Canning Town is few min away by car from Wanstead. I know both CH and Goddards Wanstead. Pls get your cat over to CH ASAP - call them first of course and move the cat so the jaw can be sorted.

http://www.celiahammond.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=9&MMN_position=16:16

CANNING TOWN BRANCH
151-153 Barking Road, Canning Town, London, E16 4HQ
Tel: 020 7474 8811 (Weekdays, 9am - 5.30pm)

They will help even if you are not on any benefits, unlike PDSA or Blue Cross - Celia Hammond will help.

Fingers crossed for you and the cat...

barneydee_2

I would like to thank you all for your replies Big thanks to gettinggready I will contact celia hammond asap, I have Private messaged you.

Patch is a lovely freindly cat, very good with children my grandson pulls her about rotten but she has never bit him or scratched him she is very placied .A lot of people have said to me oh why pay out have her put down, but she is part of our family and even though her jaw is damaged she is still being very loving, I also have her sister, her mum,her dad,her auntie,and her grandma.

Once again thank you and I will keep you posted

Dee

rising_from_the_ashes

Dee, hope you get on OK today at CH and sending healing vibes to Patch.

Once this is sorted out, please look at getting insurance for your other cats which will save you having to go through this horrible situation again.

Please let us know how you get on.

gettingready

Dee - any news, did you contact CH?

Hope the cat gets taken care of....

gettingready

Hope the kitty is ok and being looked after?