Misha's Medical Assistance Fund
Donation protected
Misha is a beautiful and special part of our lives adopted in 2010 as a 3 mo old kitten from the Longmont Humane Society along with her 3 mo old sister. Our service dog adores her and has been searching the house for her. Cats are wonderful, loving companions with their own distinct personalities but they are secretive when sick and she got sick!
Over a 24 hour period she simply started to crash. We knew something was gravely wrong and stayed up all night, then took her to the vet at 0830. After IVs, labs and xray we learned she has a severe urinary tract infection, 2 kidney stones stuck in her left ureter and a severe kidney infection. *Of note she was not having any urinary accidents but stopped eating and drinking and hid in an empty bedroom. Our vet referred her to the veterinarian school of medicine for specialist care and she was admitted to ICU that night.
The initial estimate was $2500-5000 and surgery with stent placement was discussed. Cats are too little to perform lithotripsy to break up stones. Her urethra is only 1 mm and cats are prone to chronic kidney disease and kidneys would be damaged with use.
Misha's labs continue to improve nicely with each blood draw (4 so far), she has had an ultrasound, continues IV fluids, IV antibiotics and IV pain meds in the ICU under the care of an internal medicine and a renal specialist. As of yesterday she no longer has a fever and today her creatinine is normal. These cares are expensive but it is a treatable condition so worth trying to help and save Misha. I miss my little shadow, her loyal love to me, the purring, soft snuggles, playfulness, contemplative focus and unique walk (like Toothless in How To Train Your Dragon). Any pet owner knows how their animal knows all their joys, sorrows and secrets. We have been through a lot together. She was there for me and I am doing my best to be there for her.
Per all doctors including the surgery department it is recommended to continue her current conservative treatments for stones and infections thus postponing surgery. Cats can pass kidney stones like people and there is urine flowing around her stones and she doesn't have signs of hydronephrosis. She has a great prognosis to live a long life especially if she can pass these stones. *We were told they are often surprised to incidentally find stones in the ureter of cats who are functioning normally.
I never thought I would pay such high medical costs to save a family pet. One never knows until faced with a life or death decision.
A successful GoFundMe can decrease our financial hardship or extend treatment. We could certainly use help. Current conservative cares are up to $450/day plus another ultrasound is scheduled for Monday. We are not currently considering the major surgery with the acute and chronic risks which were reviewed with us. If Misha is eating and drinking sufficiently without IV she could be released Monday but will still need oral antibiotics x 6 weeks, pain meds (if the stone hasn't passed) and close monitoring with imaging and labs to be done by our local vet.
I believe in "paying it forward" and those who know me would agree I do this by educating others, participating in charity events for animals, medical needs and veterans, silent auctions, making donations, organizing events to help those in need and giving food or small cash donations to street sign holders. Please understand any small donation can become part of a bigger one for her. I have enjoyed seeing BIG things happen when people come together to help others in need.
I thank you for your consideration and for your love of animals. It is all to common that families have to put down a pet simply due to the cost to treat. GoFundMe makes it possible for others to seek help for their pet as well. We are hoping to bring Misha home on Monday since she has started eating and drinking as of yesterday. We were told our total by then will be about $4000.
Advice for present or future CAT OWNERS:
1. Keep water dishes in multiple places throughout the house.
2. Use vet recommended foods including wet food (most stones are calcium stones).
3. Watch your cat daily for any unusual behaviors.
4. Take them to the vet for any concerns.
5. If the cat has 2+ UTIs consider an initial xray or ultrasound to check for stones since cats are predisposed to further infections.
6. ALL CATS are prone to kidney stones and chronic kidney disease. Prevention and immediate action can save your beloved pet, thousands of dollars and heartache. I hope we didn't learn some of these things too late. Also...pet health insurances are getting better. Look into it! I will post more as I learn more.
Lastly we believe in the power of prayer and positive intentions. We ask that you keep Misha in yours daily. Thank you so very much.
Over a 24 hour period she simply started to crash. We knew something was gravely wrong and stayed up all night, then took her to the vet at 0830. After IVs, labs and xray we learned she has a severe urinary tract infection, 2 kidney stones stuck in her left ureter and a severe kidney infection. *Of note she was not having any urinary accidents but stopped eating and drinking and hid in an empty bedroom. Our vet referred her to the veterinarian school of medicine for specialist care and she was admitted to ICU that night.
The initial estimate was $2500-5000 and surgery with stent placement was discussed. Cats are too little to perform lithotripsy to break up stones. Her urethra is only 1 mm and cats are prone to chronic kidney disease and kidneys would be damaged with use.
Misha's labs continue to improve nicely with each blood draw (4 so far), she has had an ultrasound, continues IV fluids, IV antibiotics and IV pain meds in the ICU under the care of an internal medicine and a renal specialist. As of yesterday she no longer has a fever and today her creatinine is normal. These cares are expensive but it is a treatable condition so worth trying to help and save Misha. I miss my little shadow, her loyal love to me, the purring, soft snuggles, playfulness, contemplative focus and unique walk (like Toothless in How To Train Your Dragon). Any pet owner knows how their animal knows all their joys, sorrows and secrets. We have been through a lot together. She was there for me and I am doing my best to be there for her.
Per all doctors including the surgery department it is recommended to continue her current conservative treatments for stones and infections thus postponing surgery. Cats can pass kidney stones like people and there is urine flowing around her stones and she doesn't have signs of hydronephrosis. She has a great prognosis to live a long life especially if she can pass these stones. *We were told they are often surprised to incidentally find stones in the ureter of cats who are functioning normally.
I never thought I would pay such high medical costs to save a family pet. One never knows until faced with a life or death decision.
A successful GoFundMe can decrease our financial hardship or extend treatment. We could certainly use help. Current conservative cares are up to $450/day plus another ultrasound is scheduled for Monday. We are not currently considering the major surgery with the acute and chronic risks which were reviewed with us. If Misha is eating and drinking sufficiently without IV she could be released Monday but will still need oral antibiotics x 6 weeks, pain meds (if the stone hasn't passed) and close monitoring with imaging and labs to be done by our local vet.
I believe in "paying it forward" and those who know me would agree I do this by educating others, participating in charity events for animals, medical needs and veterans, silent auctions, making donations, organizing events to help those in need and giving food or small cash donations to street sign holders. Please understand any small donation can become part of a bigger one for her. I have enjoyed seeing BIG things happen when people come together to help others in need.
I thank you for your consideration and for your love of animals. It is all to common that families have to put down a pet simply due to the cost to treat. GoFundMe makes it possible for others to seek help for their pet as well. We are hoping to bring Misha home on Monday since she has started eating and drinking as of yesterday. We were told our total by then will be about $4000.
Advice for present or future CAT OWNERS:
1. Keep water dishes in multiple places throughout the house.
2. Use vet recommended foods including wet food (most stones are calcium stones).
3. Watch your cat daily for any unusual behaviors.
4. Take them to the vet for any concerns.
5. If the cat has 2+ UTIs consider an initial xray or ultrasound to check for stones since cats are predisposed to further infections.
6. ALL CATS are prone to kidney stones and chronic kidney disease. Prevention and immediate action can save your beloved pet, thousands of dollars and heartache. I hope we didn't learn some of these things too late. Also...pet health insurances are getting better. Look into it! I will post more as I learn more.
Lastly we believe in the power of prayer and positive intentions. We ask that you keep Misha in yours daily. Thank you so very much.
Organizer
Elizabeta Robierto Thistle
Organizer
Longmont, CO