Hello, my name is Natalie. I have two lovely boy cats, Calvin and Hobbes, who are only 4 1/2 years old . Hobbes has recently been diagnosed with asthma and early-stage heart disease. This was discovered during a recent emergency visit that cost over $3k. I have brought up the fact that I thought he had asthma for years. The vets said that since it was so infrequent, not to worry. I kept pushing to start the work-up before it got worse. They informed me all the testing needed was expensive, so I started looking into pet insurance. I was going to pick a plan and then discuss testing at his next yearly visit. Before I was able to do that, he had a small coughing episode but then later on threw up. The next morning, I saw him spit up blood and rushed him to the emergency vet. After giving him oxygen, an inhaler, ultrasound, and X-rays, he was diagnosed with asthma and an enlarged heart. I took him a few weeks later for an echocardiogram to confirm heart disease or not, which was almost another $1k. He has stage B1 heart disease. He doesn't need medication, but he needs another test in 8 months with a cardiologist. On top of that, he uses an inhaler twice a day, which I have to get refilled every 2 months, plus his emergency inhaler. He is going to need a new set of X-rays as well. Now that he is diagnosed, they are preexisting conditions, so they will not be covered by insurance.
I am 37, live on my own, and I work in a hospital running a program for Alzheimer's patients. I volunteer as much as I can, help whoever i can and dont like asking for help for myself. However, this whole emergency situation depleted my savings. I am very worried I will not have the funds to provide him the best healthcare. My two boys are my life. They have saved me from some very dark days, and I just want to give them the best care I can and that they deserve. Anyone whos met me for even 5 minutes know how precious they are to me.
Follow up xrays have uncovered a mineral buildup in his lower back and elbow. It was a incidental finding when checking his lungs.
My poor boy has a lot going on and I am doing everything in can to give him the best care.
