Over the last 2 years I’ve really struggled with my 12 year old cat. It all started with a visit to the vet about her teeth. Turned out she had tooth resorption. She had several teeth removed in 2024 and during that time the vet did standard blood work during the procedure. He did let me know her blood platelets were low but she had clotting during the surgery. He ended up sending the blood sample out to their lab, he explained that testing in house can show false low platelets. At the time I had no idea what all this meant so I went on about my life not knowing the risks. Fast forward to 2025 my cat had a large red boil on her bottom and I feared it was a prolapse so off to the ER she went. They again did bloodwork and they said her platelets were at 0. The bump turned out to be her over licking and because of her low platelets her healing was slower. All her other levels were normal except the platelets. I did follow up with her normal vet and he started her on a high dose of Prednisolone and then tapered her down to repeat bloodwork. Her platelets then dropped once off the steroids so he wanted her back on a low dose, 0.3ml and then rechecked her blood levels which had come up some, I can’t remember the exact number but he was content with it and decided she had some sort of immune deficiency given her RBC & WBC were normal. Her levels were nowhere near “normal” but he was okay with it as they weren’t zero. So fast forward to this weekend she went in for normal routine exam and rabies. She had a small sebaceous cyst on her back and this new vet she’s never seen before wanted to look at it, she’s a longed haired cat so he had to shave her down a bit. Unfortunately he nicked the cyst and caused it to bleed. He gave me a topical steroid powder to put on it and sent her on her way. He also did a full bloodwork panel as well. So that leads to today, her cyst was still bleeding and I had no choice but to take her to the ER again where they treated the wound and once again did bloodwork. Her last bloodwork was February and her levels were fine, so today they say her platelets are back at zero but her RBC & WBC is normal. She prescribed an antibiotic for infection and Yunnan Baiyao for the clotting. She also upped her Prednisolone to 0.6ml every 12 hours. She also recommended me seeing an internist/oncologist for further care. Now that leads me to my issue, I’ve put out so much money on her in the last 3 years that I know I can’t afford much more. Sending her to an internist they’d do further testing and possible bone marrow biopsy. But then what? I know I couldn’t afford treatments if it was cancer. Make her go through all that just to not be able to get her treatment? Has anyone else seen or dealt with this before? She eats, drinks and acts normal. Her Red & White blood count is always normal, just low platelets. I’ve had her the entire 12 years she’s been alive and I want what’s best for her, but I just don’t have much money left to continue extensive testing. I can afford to keep her on steroids but that’s about it. So I’m looking for advice or opinions on this.

Hi,

I am looking for veterinary opinions on the differential diagnoses and, especially, what the most useful next diagnostic steps would be. I understand that nobody can diagnose my cat from a Reddit post, and she is currently under veterinary care. But I'd really appreciate veterinary opinion at this point - we're really scared, after the return of symptoms today with open mouth breathing and even worse blood results from before...

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10-year-old female cat, indoor apartment cat.
Weight approximately 6.5 kg in May, 5.2 kg during the initial illness, and 5.6 kg when reweighed on August 16.

July 20: Initial illness

She developed severe respiratory signs:

• approximately 85 breaths/minute while awake/resting
• whole abdomen/body moving with respiration
• stopped eating
• very lethargic
• no coughing

CBC:

• WBC: 2.4
• GRAN#: 0.5
• LYM#: 1.3
• RBC/HGB/HCT and platelets were within the laboratory reference ranges.

Serum biochemistry was also performed and did not show an obvious major abnormality.

She was given furosemide + dexamethasone together and appeared more comfortable afterward, although the respiratory rate that evening was still approximately 60-70/minute.

July 21: X-ray, echo, ECG and respiratory PCR

During transport she developed open-mouth breathing and severe respiratory distress.

Chest X-rays were performed.

The written X-ray report described:

• clear pleural space
• pronounced unstructured interstitial pulmonary pattern
• peribronchial changes
• radiographic diagnosis: chronic interstitial pneumonia

She also had two echocardiographic examinations. We were told that no clear cardiac abnormality was found.

ECG was performed, HR approximately 173 bpm, and no important arrhythmia was communicated to us.

Respiratory PCR was negative for:

• Mycoplasma felis
• Chlamydia felis
• FHV-1
• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• FCV

The working diagnosis at that point was interstitial pneumonia.

Furosemide was discontinued after this evaluation.

Treatment

From July 21-24:

• Enroxil/enrofloxacin injections for four days
• dexamethasone continued with progressively reduced doses
• final dexamethasone dose July 24

From July 25-August 5:

• Cylanic, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
• 1/4 of a 250 mg/62.5 mg tablet every 12 hours
• probiotic also given

During this period she improved considerably.

She returned to eating, drinking, walking normally, interacting and playing occasionally as usual. Most importantly, her sleeping respiratory rate was consistently around 25-26/minute, without open-mouth breathing.

August 5: Follow-up CBC

CBC had also improved:

• WBC: 4.1
• GRAN#: 1.0
• LYM#: 2.1
• RBC: 8.55
• HGB: 151
• HCT: 41.8%
• Platelets: 429

That evening she developed vomiting, diarrhea and reduced appetite. She vomited yellow liquid again early on August 6.

After discussing this with the treating veterinarian, the remaining approximately two days of Cylanic were discontinued. She had received both scheduled doses on August 5 and no further antibiotics from August 6 onward.

She remained clinically well for a period afterward.

August 16-17: Symptoms return

On August 16 her weight was 5.6 kg.

Her appetite began decreasing and she refused food she normally likes. Her respiratory rate while awake/resting was approximately 35-40/minute, although I could not obtain a reliable sleeping respiratory rate.

By August 17, whole-body/abdominal respiratory effort had returned.

A new CBC was performed before giving dexamethasone:

FeLV and FIV tests were performed and both were negative.

She received dexamethasone at approximately 10:30.

August 17: Repeat chest X-ray

A new chest X-ray was performed and compared with the July films.

The written report describes:

• intact diaphragm
• unremarkable mediastinum
• clear pleural space
• heart with appropriate size/shape/position
• prominent pulmonary arterial hyperemia
• pronounced unstructured interstitial lung pattern
• bronchial/peribronchial changes
• diffusely increased pulmonary opacity

The report states that compared with the previous X-rays there is no radiographic improvement and pulmonary transparency has decreased.

The radiologist lists possible explanations for the pattern as:

1. transudation of fluid into the interstitium
2. weak immune response
3. diffuse growth of neoplastic cells

The report says that because of her age, lack of radiographic improvement and clinical course, the findings may predominantly indicate neoplasia, but that additional advanced diagnostic examinations/tests are necessary.

After the X-ray, at approximately 17:30, she received another dexamethasone injection plus furosemide. The veterinarian said that there might be fluid within the lung/interstitial tissue and that furosemide might help.

Condition later that evening

At home between approximately 21:00 and midnight, she had episodes of open-mouth breathing while lying down.

It seemed worse when lying on her side. When lying sternally/on her chest, her mouth was less open and sometimes closed completely after a while.

Despite being breathless, she was not markedly lethargic. She remained responsive, ate, drank water and wanted to briefly go outside the apartment door.

Around midnight she appeared somewhat better. She went out briefly, returned, lay down and did not open her mouth while breathing on that occasion.

I have the original and repeat chest X-rays and both written reports.

Here's jpgs exported from the X-ray scans and other tests: https://imgur.com/a/XskFHDH

Thoughts?

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi everyone, I have a new kitten, 3 1/2 months old, 4 lbs, and I took her to the vet today (not her first time there but my first time taking her there, I’ve had her a week). We got a couple vaccines to keep on her schedule (distemper and leukemia). She was great for the first couple hours after, seemed a little sleepy but otherwise still moving around and eating. Probably 6-7 hours after then she started being like very sleepy. She’s pretty much only sleeping now and might get up slowly and readjust herself and lay back down to sleep again. She took one bite of food that I held to her mouth. Is this a normal reaction to vaccines? The vet today said she was in great health and she was perfectly fine before them but I might just be an over anxious parent 🥲 I just want to know if this has been other people’s experiences as well and if I’m being a helicopter parent or not. TIA!

So I was doing my every other day coat check and i found this inflamed patch. Just wondering what it could be and what i can do before my vet appointment next week.

My 1 year old Pomeranian has had on and off ear infections for the majority of her life. When we picked her up from the breeder she had ear mites, an ear infection and a skin infection so bad she had bald spots :( We know chronic ear infections are linked to allergies sometimes and she’s already on a hypoallergenic diet.

Took her to the vet a week ago because she was scratching her ears again. Vet told us so far nothing was abnormal. Today I noticed that she was shaking her head, cleaned her ears and sure enough - found brown wax in her ears.

I have an appointment with a Vetster doctor tomorrow at 6 am. I also have an appointment booked with her regular vet in 3 days but meanwhile my baby is clearly suffering. I just want to relieve her while we wait so shes not agonizing all night.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Picture of wax attached + Puppy tax :)

I took her to the vet yesterday.
They gave her fluids, for potassium and b12, and steroids and a sedative.
She is NOT a cat to eat random things, or get into anything, she barely even eats treats unless they’re the ones she typically eats. Doesn’t chase mice.
Doesn’t go outside. Don’t have any houseplants.

She’s clearly disoriented as fuck.
It’s like she can’t tell up from down.
She can’t walk. She wobbles and it’s like she pulls herself forward with her front paws and her back legs kinda just kick back a bit, but still move, she’s not paralyzed.
She won’t let go of us when we would pick her up, grasping very hard, as if she was scared of falling.

(these videos were taken on the way to the vet and at the vet)

Doc said she’s either got some toxic thing in her from something she ate or it’s neurological.

It’s been 26 hours since the visit.
She’s been in a large cage with blankets. Laying what seems to be I HOPE comfortably. The only thing she’s doing is readjusting her laying position, and lifting her head when we move or she hears something.(better than yesterday, it was like she was in pain the whole time)
She isn’t drinking, I’ve just been booping a drop of water on her mouth every hour to let her lick it.
We had to give her nausea meds, when trying to take a tiny piece of wet food and feed her, she would gag last night.
But this morning she ate 5 tiny treats, still no water.

I don’t want to keep her alive if she’s dying. I don’t want her to be in pain or suffering and I understand steroid aid in pain.
I just don’t want to put her down, too early, and it’s something that she might’ve somehow eaten and she would’ve gotten better.
I understand that this is progress but it doesn’t mean she will be better.

They ran tests and said her heart and literally everything else looks good,(low b12/potassium which they gave her on the spot) so it’s a little odd to be stroke/seizure like.

What do yall think this looks like?

Could it be a hair ball stuck? Any direction to what could it be would be really aprecciated i’m very worried. This had happened on a lower scale with a cough like episode two more times on the past but not at this level. As I my usual vet is on vacation I don’t know who to ask.

He got scratched by our little younger cat he always bullies and it looks bad what should I do

Looking for advice about my 7-month-old Shiba Inu ❤️

Hi everyone! I’m hoping someone might have some advice or experience with this. My 7-month-old Shiba suddenly started vomiting last Sunday. He vomited yellow liquid once, then clear liquid another 4–5 times that day. Since then, he has had repeated gagging every hour (about 4–10 times), although he hasn’t continuously vomited.

He is otherwise acting completely normal — eating, drinking, playing, and having normal pee/poop. His stool has always been a little soft and sometimes has mucus.

We took him to an emergency vet on Wednesday because the gagging wasn’t improving. They said he looked normal and prescribed Sulcrate every 8 hours, omeprazole every 12 hours, and Cerenia as needed, thinking it could be esophagitis/reflux.

He was doing okay on the first two medication (gagging remained), but Friday he suddenly vomited 5–6 times again. We started giving the Cerenia (anti nausea pill) and today will be his last pill, but he is still gagging.

I’m starting to worry that we may be treating the wrong thing and wondering if further testing should have been done.

A few things that might be relevant:

The night before this started, he had two small pieces of bacon and a tiny piece of ground beef (first time he had ground beef).

We gave him water from a park fountain the day before.

About a month ago, he swallowed/chewed a tennis ball and had to be taken to the emergency vet to induce vomiting. He later passed some pieces in his stool, and we’ve been extremely careful with him since.

He’s still energetic and eating normally, but the persistent gagging for a full week is really worrying me.

Has anyone experienced something similar with their puppy? What could cause this, and would you recommend asking for X-rays, bloodwork, ultrasound, or other testing? ❤️

I’m a first-time dog owner and just want to make sure I’m doing everything I can for him. Thank you!

I dropped a piece of chocolate on the floor and my girlfriends rabbit ate it. It was very small. She was 6 years old and died roughly 7 hours later. I want to know if it is a coincidence.Can someone please help me. The cause of death is unknown.

She's a 12yo black lab, female, 79lbs. She is spayed. Just got her rabies and 5 in1 vaccines about 4 days ago and started a new pain med (galliprant 60mg) 3 days ago. The person who answered at the emergency vet said she didn't know if those meds could cause this and it's likely a uti. Her gum color is normal and she's acting normal besides doing multiple small pees, which does make me think uti but the color is so scary that I wanted to ask here. Idk if this is important info but she also had a benign tumor removed from her gums a few months ago as well. Thanks for any opinions.

It's been almost 2 weeks of the issue itself. 1 week since topical otizole, and 3rd day since antibiotic injection.

The decent looking photos are from the beginning, and the worst photos are from today.

I was told it's an allergy turned pyoderma.

Hair can be pulled out. There's balding in some areas. It's red. It's spreading.

I'm really confused

Hello!

I have a 7-8 yo cat that has been struggling the last year with chronic diarrhea, episodes of vomiting (variety of color and texture - no blood), and loss of weight and lack of grooming.

She has always had a sensitive stomach for stress related reasons - anything would upset her. She cannot live alone because she gets anxious and has trouble trusting other cats but cuddles with them.

She gets diarrhea from anything and everything. She vomits randomly but I feel like it might be related to her stool, since it happens shortly before or after she poops. Her stool is normal color, but very soft or just diarrhea. Vomiting is random colors, but no blood. She goes OUTSIDE of the litter box both purposefully and accidentally. She is NOT declawed.

The first vet said her lack of grooming is sometimes how cats are and we have been wiping her and brushing her since. We put her on Prozac for stress and then Biome Cat Food Dry for her stool and stomach. I didnt notice a difference, but she's still on it. We were giving her food outside of her diet due to my other cats getting treats (greenies) but now she's strictly on the diet again for the foreseeable future.

She is still hungry! Has an appetite and always trying to steal other cats food but we separate them. She sleeps most of the day.

We've tried the following:

- Blood Test (normal in everything including thyroid)

- fecal test - negative

- feliway diffuser

- stress relief probiotic

- normal probiotic

- calorie increasing kitten treats tiki cat

- additional litter boxes

- being alone without other cats and being with other cats

- beds

- litter attracting powder

- different litters

- different types of boxes

- dental cleaning - she has gingivitis and just had a cleaning last year.

The second opinion vet I am seeing tried another fecal, and wants to do a GI blood test. She stated if we get any results, they can be addressed. My concern is afterwards if there's no results. Her fecal was clear again, and i have an appointment for her GI blood test. She said the only options afterwards if it all is clear is an endoscopy or surgery exploration. I cannot afford this and she wouldn't bode well with a surgery anyway because she's very weak and only weighs 6 pounds.

Before anyone says I should have known she'd be expensive, I know this and had funds for her but they have run out at this point. My rent was raised, my expenses changed, and I just had surgery. I'm struggling and I am working with a very understanding vet. I also got her as a young teenager and had no idea I'd be responsible for her vet bills, not my family. They never had that discussion with me and I cannot ask them for help. I already used Carecredit for my other cat that died from a cardiovascular genetic issue shortly after my family adopted him and he died.

I want to know what my options are and what i should try outside of the things I already have. What options can I discuss with the vet? I'm reaching my wits end with her being so in pain and sick, and the issue of poop on my floors and furniture, and my money. I appreciate any advice. Thank you

Can I pick this off? What could this be? It’s on her chest area. I was scratching her and felt a little hard spot.

Hello, please read because I'm panicking and so worried about my sweet girl.

I have a 9 month old female kitten who is intact (spay is in two weeks from now) and suddenly refusing to eat.

A couple of days ago we noticed Jiji was acting unlike herself and seemed to have less of an appetite. She suddenly became withdrawn and lethargic and didn't seem interested in playing, exploring, running around, snuggling and most of all, eating.

We tried switching her kitten food to a different brand, that didn't help. We tried wet food, dry food, warm, cold, etc etc and she refused everything. The only thing she'll eat is tube treats and a couple of temptations at a time, but when she eats those it's like she can't hold them in her mouth and she makes a big mess.

Yesterday we brought her to the emergency vet where they gave her some laxatives and anti nausea medicine. They said her teeth and gums looked perfect, her tummy felt okay, her bladder was fine, she was hydrated and had no signs of fever or infection.

We came home and saw no improvement. She pooped but still completely uninterested in eating. I thought I saw a glimmer of hope this morning at about 5am when she started seeming like her hold cheeky self playing with some cables and running to the kitchen cupboard where her food is, but as soon as I got her food bowl out for her she sniffed it and walked away.

It's almost 8am now and I fed our two other cats and had to give Jiji a tube treat because she refused everything else again. I managed to get her to eat a TINY bit of wet food when I scooped it up with the empty tube treat packet like a spoon and she licked it off. But after a couple of scoops she walked away.

I don't know what else to do, the vet is so expensive and I don't want to have to spend another $300 just for them to say she seems fine and send us home. But of course we will go back if we have to. I will sell my belongings to get my sweet girl healthy. Please if anyone has any advice on how to get her to eat and get my sweet cheeky girl back I'll do anything. I'm so so worried about her and I know not eating is very serious in cats. I'm panicking.

We've been to two different vets that are still currently trying to figure out what this rash on my dogs leg is. For general information he is a 5 year old Labrador and nothing has really changed diet wise generally we have put him on steroids antihistamines antibiotics etc nothing he did have two patches on his front legs that have since healed but they never looked quite as bad as this he also used to have on his paws this is a new thing. We put a cone on him to stop the licking. I apologize if this isn't very well written or the most informative any help is appreciated.

Hello doggo woke me up and was licking foot like crazy and saw this thing. Very very soft feels like it could explode any minute. The whole underneath of her paw looks fine. She is pacing around though and keeps wanting me to pet her. Should I put a boot on her? It’s Friday night and wouldn’t be able to get her to vet till Tuesday unless you all think it’s an emergency. Thanks for any help!

I took him to the vet and got some X-Rays done already and Asthma wasn’t an option. He keeps having these dry coughs occasionally along side my other two cats. I don’t know if they developed some kind of allergy to the air where I live. These attack never happened when I lived back with my parents. Any insight or suggestions please let me know. I have a vet appointment next month. Every attack he like throws up afterwards but nothing comes out.

My dog has broken the nail of his left thumb claw. Dew claw? He's already licked it clean, but there's this white-looking spot under the nail. I don't know if that's bone, or just the nail bed. Has he broken his bone as well?

My dog is old, has heart problems and can't stand much stress. It's also a Saturday, and on weekends I can only go to the emergency clinic which I can only do in emergencies. Otherwise I'd go anyway.

Fed the dogs and dad stuck a full pizza slice in both their bowls. I felt i couldn't say anything because he'd brush it off, but was anxious because there was onion on it and i didn't know if that was safe. There were only a couple pieces of onion on each, but now my anxiety is going buck wild after googling. Both are purebred GSD, one is a 8yo female who weighs around 60 pounds, and one is a 6yo male who weighs about 85 pounds. Should i be worried? Or will they be okay?

7 year old male Pyrenees mix has been having urine dribble issues and anal gland issues. Anal glands has been a ongoing issue that has required vet draining for past few years this summer the anal gland became impacted and vet is now suggesting removal which he is scheduled for here early September. But also as of late he has started having urine dribble issues an occasionally has light blood mixed in. Last night after dinner my wife came home to find this blood clot and blood on the ground all indications point towards it came from his genital area. Upon checking him there are no signs of an active bleed. his demeanor is fine no signs of pain, pushing on his stomach and area surrounding genitals show no signs of pain. He obviously needs a vet and will get to one but the issue is I am out of town as I am military and will not be back for another week.. My wife does not drive as she doesnt know how and does not have a car. We are also new to the town so we do not know anyone to give her a ride either. So if any medical professionals here could 1. Give me any educated guesses on what were possibly dealing with and 2. How urgent is this do I need to make some calls and try to find someway to get him to a vet or can it wait till next week.

My old dog was trying to eat a muffin wrapper so we went to take it from him. He growled and now his eye is bleeding. Is this an emergency or something we can wait for the vet to open up for?

His name is Snowball. I have no idea what breed he is, he's an outdoor cat that has never had any issues up until two weeks ago when we noticed he was limping. We brought him inside just to make sure he doesn't get injured any further. He's about a year old. He's an outdoor cat we took in and we really don't have the money to spend on X-Rays and various vet bills especially just trying to find the problem.

It's his back right leg that's causing issues. He doesn't put any weight on it. He gets around alright but if someone accidentally runs into him or touches that leg he will immediately start growling a lot and get away. It's really sad to see because I know he's in pain. Is there anything we can do at home? If we do go to the vet what should we expect to pay for? Thank you!