PDSA help?

amyanderson2

Hey all, I'll try to keep it short. My cat has been growling and seemed to be constipated so I took her to the vet. They done an investigation , ultrasound and have now said she has a mass which needs operating. They don't yet know if this mass is a tumour or a cyst. The vet did say she thinks its a cyst but that it could also be attached to organs but won't know until they open her up. The operation is going to cost in excess of £600 on top of the £250 already paid.

I qualify for help with the pdsa but it's not local (the reason I took her to local vet first off) will the pdsa help me now considering iv started treatment elsewhere?
If not would you get the operation done but with no guarantees? If it's a tumour I obviously can't afford the further treatment required so would need to put her to sleep and still be sitting with a minimum bill of £850.
Again if it's a cyst and attached to an organ we would have to put her down.

The bill would have to go on a credit card or debt with family

I don't know what to do
Any help would be appreciated

missbiggles1

How old is your cat?

amyanderson2

Will be 3 at Christmas time x

Person_one

You'd consider euthanising a 3 year old cat if it needed treatment you can't afford? That wouldn't be the answer! If the prognosis is good, just expensive, you'd need to find a way to get her the treatment somehow (credit card, instalments, PDSA, fundraising) or pass her onto somebody else (or a rescue organisation) who will look after her.

amyanderson2

Just worked it out and she's actually going to be 4 but that's neither here or there.
The point is that prognosis isn't actually good or bad.
If it's simply a cyst that isn't attached to organs then great, of course I would pay the bill. However we were warned that it might not be and could be a tumour or attached to organs which limits the options available.
It's really a gamble. End up with a massive bill and having no way to pay it and no cat at the end of it.

I would of course be willing to pay if it were as simple as that.

Person_one

amyanderson2 wrote: »

Just worked it out and she's actually going to be 4 but that's neither here or there.
The point is that prognosis isn't actually good or bad.
If it's simply a cyst that isn't attached to organs then great, of course I would pay the bill. However we were warned that it might not be and could be a tumour or attached to organs which limits the options available.
It's really a gamble. End up with a massive bill and having no way to pay it and no cat at the end of it.

I would of course be willing to pay if it were as simple as that.

That's part of what you take on when you get a pet though. They can get ill, and they can cost you a lot of money and then die anyway. You owe it to them to make decision in their best interests, to give them the best chance possible and not to base treatment decisions solely on cost.

She needs the op, so figure out how you're going to get her that first. Then, if it is a tumour and further treatment is needed, reassess the situation and figure out how to make it work.

If your cat does need expensive treatment, please don't kill her just for that reason. There may be people/rescues out there who will pay even if you won't/can't.

UKTigerlily

Ok, firstly i'm so sorry to hear your cat is unwell, I have a sick cat right now so understand how that feels. I really hope it is a cyst they can remove pretty easily and she recovers well.

I am wondering if you could take her to the PDSA as if you didn't know what it is and it's the first appointment? I'm not saying I condone that or it'd be possible, but something to consider if no other options. The RSPCA also do help those in need, some info on it here: http://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/vetcare but I expect it'd be the same as going to the PDSA as if an unknown case

There is something called Tailwagger's here http://www.tailwaggersclubtrust.com/ and they seem to help with Vet bills and also Celia Hammond if you're close enough http://www.celiahammond.org/index.php/faqs/treatment-prices

Other than that, i'd do whatever it takes. In my case, there isn't much I can do as mine is 17 1/2 and has a terminal illness, but if she'd been how your cat is i'd do whatever it took so long as she doesn't suffer. With cancer, it can often be cured/remission and chemo isn't supposed to be like with people. Maybe they could do a sucessful surgery and she could live a healthy life?

That's all I can think of sorry x

amyanderson2

Thank you for the advice. I have considered doing that with pdsa but wasn't keen myself. Last time I used the pdsa they sorted the problem that would have cost hundreds otherwise.

Thanks for your help x

amyanderson2

Just to update, I called the pdsa today and just told them everything going on with Rosie and they are happy to see her regardless of starting treatment elsewhere.
Breathing a slight sigh of relief as she can now get the help she needs.
Got to add that the decision wasn't solely based on finances although it did play a part. Didn't want her going through all that and suffer needlessly.
Thanks for the help

savemoney

Glad you got some good news, must be a big relief for you. Hope the operation is a success

HappyMJ

It really is a hard choice to make. If you can't afford an unexpected vet bill then the very minimum of insurance should really be considered. The insurance premium can be quite cheap and it will only cover most common average ailments and injury and anything which is really expensive which a premium policy would cover I would have probably considered putting the cat to sleep for with or without insurance. If you can't afford the insurance either then it's highly likely you would be on benefits and eligible for charity assistance with the vet costs. In my area though it's 20 mile away and not worth pursuing. The taxi fare would be more than the local vet would charge.

I couldn't give my cat away when I had to leave my property so was almost at the point of putting her to sleep for virtually no reason at all. RSPCA, CPL and all local charities turned her away. Luckily the proposed tenant at the last minute came forward and agreed to take her on leaving her living in the place she always lived just with a new owner.