Aid Thea's Recovery From Heartworm

On Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, I woke up at around 6:30 to Thea sitting by my feet and breathing rapidly. Her breaths sounded raspy and weren't slowing down, so I made the decision to take her to the emergency vet. She was immediately assessed and placed in an oxygen kennel to assist her breathing. She would spend the next two days in the ICU, receiving oxygen, fluids, and antibiotics. The veterinary team performed blood tests, chest X-rays, and an echocardiogram (ultrasound of her heart). She was diagnosed with heartworm. Unfortunately, there is no cure for heartworm in cats. All we could do was treat her symptoms.

After two days in hospital, Thea got to come home. She was prescribed an antibiotic as well as a steroid to help her breathing. From that point, she seemed to be on the road to recovery. No more coughing or throwing up, and her respiratory rate was normal.

Then we had another scare.

I came home from running errands around lunch time on Friday, March 28th, 2025. There was vomit all over the floor. Then I found Thea, laying on the floor, vomit on her chin, open-mouthed panting. As I loaded her up to rush her to the emergency vet yet again, she cried in a way I've only ever heard her cry when I was trying to give her a bath. I was so scared that she wasn't going to make it.

The veterinary team rushed her into the oxygen kennel to help her breathe. She received another chest X-ray and echocardiogram. Her heart looked ok, but her lungs were another story. They started her on two more drugs. One to prevent blood clots, and another to treat pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). She spent all weekend in the ICU, receiving oxygen and fluids, as well as her new drug regimen. I got to bring her home Monday afternoon.

We're not out of the woods yet, as her heartworm could still cause more issues down the line. For now, I'm doing everything I can to take care of her. She receives medication twice a day.

Through all this, the vet bills have piled up. I'm a college student and don't exactly have the money to spare for these significant expenses, but there was no other option in my mind. I wanted to give this girl the best fighting chance for as long as she was able to fight.