My mom's cat, Bilbo, seems to have gotten an eye infection. My mom is a very responsible pet owner, who has adopted strays for years. She gets them all fixed and takes them to the vet when they get sick or hurt. But about a year ago she got sick, and has been unable to work. My husband and I help pay her bills, but this week we just can't afford a vet visit. What can I do for Bilbo in the meantime?
I have liquid bird antibiotic. I read up on the ingredient, and it is also used for dogs & cats. I was wondering if it would bo okay to give him this until he either gets better or next payday gets here. Also, should I be putting Neosporin or anything on his eye? We are keeping it clean, just wiping it with a warm wet cloth 2X a day. The infection started with a watery eye (just one of them) 2 days ago. It has quickly progressed to a red, inflamed eye, nasal discharge and sneezing. Please help me help poor Bilbo!!
Thank You!
Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
Re: Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
Do not use anything that you already have at home because you have no idea what is causing the irritation...
It could be something got into his eye and has scratched it...it could be an ouye infection...with sneezing and nasal discharge it sounds more like it could be an upper respiratory infection....no one knows unless a vet determines what is going on....
most vets will take post dated checks....
or there is a place to apply online for help at http://carecredit.com
do you have anything that you can pawn and buy back come payday?!
The only help that Bilbo can receive is from a competent veterinarian!
It could be something got into his eye and has scratched it...it could be an ouye infection...with sneezing and nasal discharge it sounds more like it could be an upper respiratory infection....no one knows unless a vet determines what is going on....
most vets will take post dated checks....
or there is a place to apply online for help at http://carecredit.com
do you have anything that you can pawn and buy back come payday?!
The only help that Bilbo can receive is from a competent veterinarian!
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mickiecake
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:22 pm
Re: Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
No, I am not going to pawn anything or apply for carecredit card. We struggle alot financially, supporting 2 households on my husband's income as a carpenter, and the little money I make working out of my home. Most weeks after we pay the bills I have to stretch $100 into groceries for 3 adults and 2 children. I CANNOT afford a vet visit right now. It woud literally come down to not having enough gas to even get to the vet b/c I would be spending my week's gas money on the vet visit. From the research I have done tonight, I think it a bacterial infection. All I want to know is if the liquid antibiotic will make him sick, and if I should be putting cream on his eye or not. The ingredient in the antibiotic is sulfadimethoxine, 15 mg/fl oz.
We are not able to diagnose or give medical advice over the internet...
I can relate to your struggles financially...we have a multi critter household...my husband takes 4 different meds for kidney disease...my son takes 3 different meds for bipolar...
my husband works full time, I work part time and spend most of my other time either taking care of animals or spending hours upon hours online researching and fighting the school for my son's educational rights...
$100 every two weeks for us usually gets critter food AND human food for that timeframe...plus any paper goods, cleaning things etc...
So yes...I can relate to and understand your financial dilemma....
I know it is not easy...but if we make a commitment to care for the animals, then they deserve the best care...
as I said...most vets will take post dated checks...our local vet will even divide the bill into 4 or more post dated checks if need be...ask your vet...I am sure he or she will be willing to work with you on this...
but without a proper diagnosis, and there is no possible way to do that over the internet, we cannot give any advice as to what to give Bilbo...
sorry
I can relate to your struggles financially...we have a multi critter household...my husband takes 4 different meds for kidney disease...my son takes 3 different meds for bipolar...
my husband works full time, I work part time and spend most of my other time either taking care of animals or spending hours upon hours online researching and fighting the school for my son's educational rights...
$100 every two weeks for us usually gets critter food AND human food for that timeframe...plus any paper goods, cleaning things etc...
So yes...I can relate to and understand your financial dilemma....
I know it is not easy...but if we make a commitment to care for the animals, then they deserve the best care...
as I said...most vets will take post dated checks...our local vet will even divide the bill into 4 or more post dated checks if need be...ask your vet...I am sure he or she will be willing to work with you on this...
but without a proper diagnosis, and there is no possible way to do that over the internet, we cannot give any advice as to what to give Bilbo...
sorry
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mickiecake
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 11:22 pm
Re: Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
Thank you for your help. I guess I will call the vet Monday. He's not open on the weekend. It's so funny, we can be sick as , well.. dogs 
and not go to the doctor to save money (no health insurance).. but let one of the animals get sick...
and not go to the doctor to save money (no health insurance).. but let one of the animals get sick...Re: Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
I know.....we just spent 3 days and over $200 to find out one of ours was in final stages of feline leukemia and then we did the best thing for him...we had the vet help him go over the Rainbow Bridge 
if you are in a smaller town....call your vet at home...explain the situation and see if he can come in on Saturday...ours will do that too...even at night if need be....and he does not charge that much more....
a respiratory infection can turn bad and a cat can go downhill very fast...
BTW...all 10 of our current indoor only cats are feral rescues that were sick or injured...and we feed about 8 more outside...
if you are in a smaller town....call your vet at home...explain the situation and see if he can come in on Saturday...ours will do that too...even at night if need be....and he does not charge that much more....
a respiratory infection can turn bad and a cat can go downhill very fast...
BTW...all 10 of our current indoor only cats are feral rescues that were sick or injured...and we feed about 8 more outside...
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mamabear
- Formerly mamaof4soon
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:39 pm
- Location: The Garden State
Re: Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
I agree with Tam, call the vet. There is no way of knowing what is really the problem unless you speak with the vet. Tell them your situation. Kitty might have gotten something in his eyes and that has led to this or he has upper respiratory infection. You have no idea unless you call vet and ask them what to do, if they are not willing to do post dated checks then seek another. BUT under no circumstances should you use any ointment in eyes or medicine that is not for him given by vet you can make it worse. Eyes are not something that you screw around with. I know you are financially strapped and that is painful but he is in pain even if he doesn't show it. Has mom asked to give up kitty at any point since she is no longer able to care for him?
Vet will diagnose and give appropriate medicines and you will have peace of mind knowing that there wont be any damage from giving something you shouldnt. Talk to vet, i am sure there is something he can do for you about giving post dated checks. He may even be able to tell you over phone "about" how much it would cost for visit and IF he needs certain antibiotics.
If not the Vet is there a shelter you can bring him to that might be able to help out with Vet Care?
THe longer you wait the worse this will get. A bacterial infection can go into the blood stream please get this checked out.
Vet will diagnose and give appropriate medicines and you will have peace of mind knowing that there wont be any damage from giving something you shouldnt. Talk to vet, i am sure there is something he can do for you about giving post dated checks. He may even be able to tell you over phone "about" how much it would cost for visit and IF he needs certain antibiotics.
If not the Vet is there a shelter you can bring him to that might be able to help out with Vet Care?
THe longer you wait the worse this will get. A bacterial infection can go into the blood stream please get this checked out.
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!
Re: Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
DO NOT give bird or fish antibiotics to cats! These are NOT appropriate antibiotics! Cats and dogs do not share the same type of bacterial infections as birds or fish!
DO NOT put Neosporin on the cat's eye! By doing so, you could seriously damage the eye!
As Tambrey told you, only the VET can determine what the problem is. If the cornea is scratched for example, this needs to be addressed immediately to prevent worsening infection...if there is foreign debris in the eye and it tears or scars the cornea, this can cause considerable damage to the eye. Upper respiratory infections should be treated immediately because infections always have the potential to be systemic and can affect total body systems, including vital organ function.
Oral health needs to be checked as well, because you need to determine if there might be an oral abcess or tooth problem that could be affecting the sinuses. Foreign body in the nasal passages also need to be ruled out.
Allergies are also a possibility, but unlikely in this case because of the sudden onset and the inflammed conjunctiva, redness, etc.
This is why you need to see a vet, right away. It could be nearly anything and only the vet can examine the cat and determine exactly what the problem is and treat it most effectively. If kitty is older than 6 or 7, it could be a secondary infection that occured due to a primary health condition. The sooner this is diagnosed, the sooner effective treatment can be given, and the sooner kitty can heal and be feeling better. Remember please, this is uncomfortable for the cat and possibly painful, he deserves to have effective treatment, immediately.
If either your mother or you have an established relationship with the vet, then he will most likely arrange payment arrangements with you, as Tambrey said, post dated checks. Vet immediately, please.
DO NOT put Neosporin on the cat's eye! By doing so, you could seriously damage the eye!
As Tambrey told you, only the VET can determine what the problem is. If the cornea is scratched for example, this needs to be addressed immediately to prevent worsening infection...if there is foreign debris in the eye and it tears or scars the cornea, this can cause considerable damage to the eye. Upper respiratory infections should be treated immediately because infections always have the potential to be systemic and can affect total body systems, including vital organ function.
Oral health needs to be checked as well, because you need to determine if there might be an oral abcess or tooth problem that could be affecting the sinuses. Foreign body in the nasal passages also need to be ruled out.
Allergies are also a possibility, but unlikely in this case because of the sudden onset and the inflammed conjunctiva, redness, etc.
This is why you need to see a vet, right away. It could be nearly anything and only the vet can examine the cat and determine exactly what the problem is and treat it most effectively. If kitty is older than 6 or 7, it could be a secondary infection that occured due to a primary health condition. The sooner this is diagnosed, the sooner effective treatment can be given, and the sooner kitty can heal and be feeling better. Remember please, this is uncomfortable for the cat and possibly painful, he deserves to have effective treatment, immediately.
If either your mother or you have an established relationship with the vet, then he will most likely arrange payment arrangements with you, as Tambrey said, post dated checks. Vet immediately, please.
..........Traci
Re: Poor Bilbo - eye infection and no vet $$$
I found myself in your position several years ago. My dog needed a $300 surgery and I had NOTHING. I panicked of course!
Then I called a friend who was "well heeled" and told her what my problem was and she generously gave me some work. I stripped a room in her house of the old wallpaper and I washed all her windows! She paid my vet bill! We had the same vet.
Then I called a friend who was "well heeled" and told her what my problem was and she generously gave me some work. I stripped a room in her house of the old wallpaper and I washed all her windows! She paid my vet bill! We had the same vet.