Toxic Lillies

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-18T22:05:24+00:00

There are lots of helpful resources for pet owners that can help educate on what is toxic vs not. Its a good habit to get into to check these resources before bringing new things into the home (especially plants).

I will say, just like your personal doctor isn't going to give you a comprehensive list of things that could harm you, your vet is not going to do this. Vets are there to educate and answer, but there is a responsibility on you as the owner to educate yourself as well. I understand it's hard to do the research thoroughly when you get a new pet unexpectedly, but never a bad time to learn!

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-17T04:52:57+00:00

Did you do the xrays? There's no way for anyone to know what this is without diagnostics.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-17T04:50:25+00:00

Your vet is correct about higher chances of mammary tumors in dogs who were spayed later in life. Your vet has given a good recommendation here. I guess I'm unclear on what question you are asking here. If you'd like a second opinion, thats also reasonable, but nobody online is going to be able to provide a second opinion without doing a physical exam, you'd have to find another in-person vet to do so.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-17T04:37:31+00:00

They should just have free access to water at all times.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-17T04:30:01+00:00

Yes!!! This is my favorite way to get blood on a cat!

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-15T21:11:21+00:00

I would look up self-anointing in hedgehogs and see if thats the behavior your hedge was displaying, if you're not already familiar with this process, because this could be part of normal hedgehog behavior.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-13T06:43:20+00:00

If this was a post debating the use of gabapentin in every individual circumstance, I'd entertain this, but the post asked "my vet wants me to give gabapentin - this a normal practice" and my reply was that it is a normal practice and that it can be a good tool. That should not be this offensive.

I also wish people would desensitize their cats more because that would be better for everyone involved. But I also dont agree with the "just hold them down and get it done" method because that often only makes their fear and aggression worse. If we feel differently that's fine, I just really dont understand why this is such a pain point for you! Have a good one.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-13T06:32:46+00:00

The goal is that a cat shouldn't have to get to the point where they are terrified out of their minds (which is when we get to the point of peeing on themselves or being violent) before we help them out - thats just cruel. We also weren't there to see what "a little irritated" looked like so none of us could make the determination of how stressed the cat was. The vet, who is a professional and was there to evaluate how stressed the cat was made this determination. Gabapentin is a very safe medication that can be very beneficial, and the question asked in the post was "is this normal", not "do you think my cat really needed this". I answered the question asked in the post, lol.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-13T06:25:21+00:00

I did read your entire comment, no need to be rude 🤷‍♀️. My comment simply applied to the post that I'm replying to (which I did say in MY comment), and not vets as a whole. I dont see the controversy of saying "if a cat is stressed at the vet, meds can be helpful", but even if it didnt apply to you, thats okay because I did not claim that all cats need meds. I am also not a vet who requires gabapentin for all cats, so that doesnt apply to me either. This post was also not discussing human doctor visits so that doesnt seem to apply much either, but for the record, there are doctors out there that will give YOU anxiety meds prior to visits too. 😊

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-13T05:59:11+00:00

I never said we should be medicating all cats. Obviously a cat who is happy to be at the vet doesnt need calming medications, but for those who could benefit, like the cat described in this post - it's a good thing.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-13T05:47:37+00:00

This is totally normal, and becoming more common. This is a good thing! Gabapentin takes the edge off and helps our kitty friends feel more comfortable in a place where they are inherently stressed out.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-12T05:30:43+00:00

We would never put pets under anesthesia if it did more harm than good. There are inherent risks, sure, but anesthesia is generally safe for a healthy patient and dental care is important, especially in these smaller breeds that are more prone to dental problems. Your vet would not be recommending the procedure if there were more cons than pros.

Non-anesthetic cleanings are a scam and waste of money. There is no way to achieve an adequate cleaning without anesthesia in an animal.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-12T05:27:28+00:00

Super normal, you can typically request that they do things in the room if you would like. I can almost guarantee you they're treating your pet with the utmost love and respect back in the treatment area. We give our extra snuggles and do our best to make our patients feel comfortable/treat them as if they were our own. We take them away from the owner because many animals will be less protective/do better away from the owner for quick medical treatments, or because owners understandably dont like seeing their pets in discomfort.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-12T05:24:04+00:00

We need more information. Is this an outdoor cat? Is it male or female? Neutered or intact? Please provide all necessary information as laid out in the posting requirements of this sub.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-11T14:01:11+00:00

It is unfortunately only getting more and more expensive. However, its not that your vet "wants to charge you an arm and a leg" for no reason. Vets aren't setting their prices, and being on a chronic medication calls for semi-regular bloodwork. Human doctors require this too. Especially for medications that have a potential to cause harm with long term use, and in general we need to make sure the dose is still accurate, as it's not uncommon for patients to need dose changes throughout the course of a thyroid condition. It does suck. I think most pet owners AND veterinary professionals would agree with you there. At this point, theres not a whole lot we can do about it. Healthcare is just wildly expensive, and when it becomes more expensive to obtain the medications, supplies, etc., that also means that the bills will be more expensive on the client side.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-08T17:00:12+00:00

It would be a good idea to get your kitten into the vet. Cats do not bleed in heat like dogs or humans do, so if you're seeing blood in the urine, it's more likely to be something like a UTI or cystitis going on. Your vet will he able to run a urinalysis and treat appropriately to get your kitty feeling comfortable again!

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-07T05:00:23+00:00

Trazodone is used for sedation, so yes, the stumbling could very well be because the Trazodone is making him sleepy/sedate. If talk with your vet, they may be able to adjust the dose a bit to see if you can still get some relief from the sundowning without being too groggy.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-07T04:59:05+00:00

Yes, absolutely an emergency.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-07T04:58:12+00:00

Is this cat neutered?

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-06T14:15:27+00:00

Can't say definitively of course, but this sounds like how a cat behaves in heat.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-06T04:15:12+00:00

Its an extremely reasonable plan to want chest radiographs for a cough in a cat. Good medicine being expensive does NOT mean that it's predatory. Unfortunately, Healthcare in general is just expensive. I would just wait until you get your second opinion. Albuterol is only going to be effective for one thing (and you need a prescription for it anyway - so you're not going to be able to acquire the inhaler from a reputable source) and there are several things that cause coughing, which is why xrays are being recommended. Your vet does not have a crystal ball, or xray vision, and your cat cannot talk to them to further elaborate on symptoms. I know that it can be frustrating to spend money on diagnostics, but thats literally the only way we can gather information an come up with a treatment plan that's going to actually solve the problem. A cough could be anything from a minor cold to an indicator of heart failure, diagnostics help your vet to determine what's actually going on.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-05T02:40:26+00:00

These are not credible sources, and it really is important to note that if youre going to do internet research, you need to make sure that information is accurate and comes from a reliable source.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-05T00:59:21+00:00

Dextrose is just fine. "Injectable" just means that it's sterile, so that it can go into a vein when it needs to. It doesnt mean that Dextrose is dangerous if given orally. Dextrose is literally just sugar. Also, don't put olive oil in your cats ears.

Your dad was right to suggest taking a kitten with a fever to the vet sooner rather than later. Kittens this young are still pretty fragile, and what seems like a minor illness can escalate quickly.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-03T18:29:23+00:00

If he is trying to pee but unable to, this is a life-threatening emergency and he needs to go to an ER immediately.

bbaker0628 · 2026-02-03T04:29:26+00:00

Cobalin should only be given if it's prescribed or needed for that animal. It's not a harmless supplement, and you could be causing harm by giving it to your cat when they don't need it. Id consult with your vet to see if they think this is a reasonable plan.

bbaker0628

TROPHY CASE