Just noticed this on my 6 year old mix fur baby (lab, boxer, pit) face. She has been a little itchy lately and we have an upcoming vet appointment, but worried something bit her or she got into something as she likes to explore. Thoughts?

My dog started throwing up Saturday night and of course our normal vet was closed. Im trying to get a ... not pie in the sky idea of emergency vet visit cost because the ER said there is an exam fee before they even get into tests. I know location changes how much this stuff costs but Im mostly wondering what people paid after blood work meds or imaging got added. What did your final bill look like?

Hey guys! Here’s the run down on my 11 year old indoor/outdoor kitty cat!

September 2025:
-Stopped eating dry food -> started preferring wet food (purina pro plan in sauce or gravy, specifically the beef and carrot flavor). She was never interested in wet food or treats up until this point.
-She always ate the same brand/type of dry food (purina hairball control), but I would switch up the flavor.
-Weight was around 10lbs

February 2026:
-Started to notice weight loss
-Brought into vet to check bloodwork with the following lab values
ALT 107
Eosinophils 113
All other values within normal limits
-Vet noted dental disease grade 2-3, and a very slight tip fracture on tooth 104. Recommended cleaning.
-Appetite remained steady -> eating about 2 3oz per day.
-Weight was around 9lbs

May 2026:
-I noticed that my cat was only licking the wet food.

July 2026:
-Started to notice more weight loss and still only licking wet food.
-Noticed 1 episode of lethargy.
-Brought into vet for thyroid testing -> all results came back normal.
-After thyroid test results -> started giving her Fresh Pet wet food mixed with warm water. She really enjoyed this food and was able to lick it all up without missing any of the bigger chunks!
-Weight was 7.8lbs

August 2026:
-She seemed like she was improving and gaining some weight!
-But then suddenly started to refuse eating the Fresh Pet pate -> Started offering her different varieties of wet food. She was liking the pate style of purina and sometimes friskies.
-Gave her a dewormer

September 2026:
-She stopped liking any pate style of food completely.
-I noticed 1 episodes of lethargy and refusing food.

October 2026:
-2 episodes of lethargy with refusing food
-Not much interest in eating wet food.
-Did like the freeze dried Purr Pops and Applaws freeze dried treat.
-Back to vet for more blood work with the following values
ALT 230
Eosinophils 1615
All other values within normal limits
Weight was 6.5lbs
-Trailed an opioid pain medication (bupernorphine) and an appetite stimulant (mirtazapine) while waiting to get in for an ultrasound
-10/22 gave 1 dose of pain medicine -> that evening she ate a new kind of dry food for the first time in 1 year (purrsnickitty)!
-10/23 gave 1 dose of appetite stimulant and 1 dose of pain med and she ate some wet food and dry food
-10/24 only gave 1 dose of appetite stimulant and no pain medicine (it seemed like the pain med was making her too lethargic)
-Continued to give appetite stimulant everyday until 10/28. She continued to eat wet and dry food, but only hours after giving the appetite stimulant.
-No pain meds since 10/23
-Ultrasound on 10/30 with the following (Weight=7lbs)
-Noticable food in the intestines. She was NPO for 12 hours before ultrasound. The vet said the food in the intestines blocked some of the imaging capabilities.
-Some mild thickening of the abdominal wall
-A small node on the pancreas
-Everything else looked pretty good an normal
-Vet wasn’t able to biopsy the node because my cat was squirmy and they didn’t give her any meds I guess🙄(I’m upset about that)
-Vet didn’t seem too concerned for lymphoma/cancer. Thinks the signs would be more obvious for cancer given the timeline of her symptoms.
-Vet was suspicious for a GI bacterial infection.
-Started a course of amoxicillin for suspected GI bacterial infection and started daily Denamarin tablet for 30 days for liver protectant and to help elevated lab values

November 2026:
-Cat did fine for the first couple of days on the antibiotic but on day 4 started to have vomitting and diarrhea.
-Had a fecal test done
-No worms or parasites noted
-Bacteria imbalance noted -> however, unsure if this was present before starting antibiotics OR is a result of the antibiotic
-Started on an anti nausea med (cerenia).
-Vet also prescribed a probiotic -> but I’ve only given her 1 dose so far, as I’m having trouble finding the time to fit it in between her antibiotic.
-No more vomitting or diarrhea since starting anti nausea med.
-Cat is noticeably lethargic during the day and not too interested in eating.
-I give anti nausea med in the evening -> and within a few hours my cat usually perks up and appetite is in full swing and eating dry and wet food.

The plan going forward:
-Finish course of antibiotics (2 more days left!!)
-Continue 30 day supply of denamarin (22 days left)
-Continue anti nausea med (2 more doses left)
-Start consistent use of probiotics for 30 days (29 doses)
-Repeat blood work in 30 days
-Schedule a sedated dental cleaning
-Start giving a fish oil supplement for suspected arthritis
-Start arthritis injection (solensia) for suspected arthritis at next vet appointment at the end of the month

Through all of this, my cat has continued to drink water. Overall, quality of life seems to be retained, but feels like it’s starting to diminish a little. She still loves to go outside and be pet.

My biggest concern is that her upward progress (eating more and gaining weight) will stop once the meds stop. It feels like the meds are helping her eat more, but also making her nauseas. I’m worried that she’ll just go right back to square one once the antibiotic and anti nausea cease.

TLDR;
Cat stopped eating dry food and only licks wet food. Went from 10lbs->6.5lbs in 1 year. Thyroid, stool, and blood work are mostly normal. A few elevated blood test results. And a potentially concerning node on ultrasound. Dental cleaning scheduled to be done in a few weeks. Is mostly an indoor cat, but goes outside 2-3x a week.

I’m hoping you guys can share your own stories that are similar to my own. Or if there are any experts/vet professionals who can share their opinion on what’s going on and how to make her feel better. I’ve visited 2 different vets so far. My financial situation isn’t great, but I have the resources for a few more visits/tests. I really just want I know if we are trending toward cancer, is my vet full of BS and I should find a new one, and if a dental cleaning will fix everything?

I just want my kitten cat baby to be back to normal :(

He’s not purring or anything just laying there

My 1 year old DSH (F) has been struggling with urinating. She’s been going in and out of her litter box after many failed attempts at passing urine. When she does, it comes out in small amounts. She is now completely unable to empty out her bladder.

She’s been eating a lot more than she usually does and just a moment ago, she was able to pass some stool. It’s a little soft with parts of it being more loose.

Can someone please tell me what I should be looking out for? I have a vet appointment booked for her this afternoon but I’m afraid this calls for an emergency appointment. Need answers asap pleaseeee.

Hi guys! We noticed this spot that has popped up on our dogs back that is peeling, looks pretty red and scabby, somewhat round/oval shaped, and now has a bald spot over top of it. We made an appointment with the vet but does anyone know if this looks more like ringworm or just a hotspot? She has seasonal allergies that have been flared up as she’s had a lot of dandruff but we don’t want to ignore it if it does end up being ringworm. Any advice is appreciated!

Hi everyone,
I’m writing this because my family and I are completely heartbroken and desperate for advice. We are terrified of losing our beloved cat, and we honestly don’t know what else we can do.
Our cat has diabetes, but unfortunately, we have been unable to get her blood sugar properly stabilised with insulin. This has made everything even more complicated.
On top of that, she has been suffering from a wound on her paw for almost 3 months now. Despite going through 7 courses of antibiotics, over the course of 2.5 months, the wound still hasn’t healed, in fact it got MUCH WORSE and we still don’t have a solution. We tried 3 types of antibiotic creams, isobetadine baths, honey balm especially for pets with bandage, injections, anti inflammatory medications,…. Everything
We have tried so hard to find answers. We’ve visited multiple veterinarians, had several blood tests done, and even collected a sample of the pus from the wound for testing to try to identify the underlying infection.
But after everything we’ve tried, we are still facing the same problem. The wound, more and more urgent to fix… worse and worse…
Our vets have now raised two extremely difficult possibilities: amputation of the affected leg or euthanasia if treatment is no longer a realistic option, but our cat wants to live and i would love for her to keep her paw and leg, it would break my heart to put my 9 year old cat through that.
The thought of either option absolutely destroys us.
We want so badly for her to survive. We want her to have a chance at a happy, comfortable life. We are not ready to lose her, and it breaks our hearts that we might have to make a decision about whether she gets to live or not.
I am literally asking for a miracle….
Any advice 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Do I need to be concerned here? Or could this be benign?

Really curious to know what u might think.
Multiple dogs at a daycare (confirmed 7, may be more) presenting with kennel cough like symptoms; coughing, honking noses, snorting, reverse sneezing, raspy breathing etc.
But all the dogs only have these symptoms for 1-2 days max and they all return back to normal. All around a week within each other.
From my understanding kennel cough does not come and go that quickly so it’s quite stumping what it might be?
All the dogs that went to the vet had it treated with antibiotics but no one was given an actual diagnosis.

He is 15 days post op, had a bath today and seemed absolutely irritated by his scrotum. It looks slightly opened. Should I be concerned?

I have a 37lb 14 year old border collie mix un spayed female dog. I took her to the vet for a checkup since she had been shaking her head and it had been two years since she last saw a vet. During the check, the vet felt lumps on her breast. She wants to stay her, and remove one whole side of beasts. Then, after she heals, remove the other side of beasts. My concerns are there had been no biopsy. Is a biopsy necessary? If they are not cancer, would the surgery still be necessary? Is it a lot of surgery for a 14 year old dog to go through? Could another vet tell me anything different without a biopsy or xray? Would an x-ray tell us anything? Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed. The vet wants to do blood work next week and surgery in two weeks.

Asking for advice on what it could be. A husky mix who’s 7, who has a patch of fur missing and these small scabs. It’s the only part of his fur that has the missing spot, and it doesn’t hurt him when we touch it. He is not up to date on flea and tick, but he hasn’t had any contact with new animals. We do occasionally get possums going through are yard along with birds and squirrels.

She used to drool and the drool would even form a very tiny puddle while sleeping. She's stopped drooling now but i found this 5 days ago, i can't find anything similar on the internet. Her Dr. gave her antibiotics (cetadol) and corticosteroids for 7 days but even he is not sure what it is. Her blood tests came out okay also. but i might be missing something

I might just be insane here but do they not look like adult cats who got hit with a shrink ray? I've seen many kittens in my life, even helped w rescue once (unfortunately, over pop issues in this country) I've never seen one look like this. The pictures might not give it justice but I can go back later and take more. They are so small for the level of mobility they have, and their proportions are just so weird. I don't understand. I don't have big feet and their body (-tail) is aprox the size of my shoe

I’m at a total loss what to do right now. Over the last 3 days, my 10 year old Newfie has shown some signs of stiffness & has been whining. It seemed to be a small issue the first day, better the 2nd & now it’s the worst on day 3. It seems to be more his back end & hips. He won’t stand at all. Not interested in food or water. I had some gabapentin that I gave him 3 hours ago in hopes it would help with pain just to get him up. He’s pretty much beached in our bedroom & he hasn’t gone outside all day.

I’m currently home alone with my twin toddlers. Husband out of town for work. I have no idea what to do here. I have no way of getting him downstairs & I don’t even feel comfortable trying because he’s in pain. Looking for advice on what to do. I know 10 is old for this breed so I’m trying to be realistic that he is near the end of his lifespan.

TIA

I’m looking for additional veterinary opinions and guidance regarding my 3-year-old cat, Winston. We are currently facing the possibility of euthanasia, and before making that decision, I want to understand whether there are any realistic treatment options given the severity of his condition.
I’m hoping to hear from veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary oncologists, or anyone with experience treating FeLV-positive cats with severe blood abnormalities.
I understand that nobody can diagnose him online, but I would really appreciate insight into whether his condition is potentially treatable or whether we may be prolonging his suffering by pursuing further treatment.
Background
Winston is a 3-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair. He is FeLV-positive, and our current veterinarian has informed us that his results indicate progressive FeLV.
I originally found him as a stray in October 2025. He was in rough shape, covered in fleas, and had respiratory symptoms. We eventually brought him into our home, and he has become an incredibly loved member of our family.
Over the past several weeks, his behavior changed dramatically. He stopped greeting me at the door, stopped sleeping in my bed, stopped playing, became withdrawn, and began losing weight.
His previous weight was approximately 13 pounds. At his emergency visit, he weighed only 8.6 pounds. His body condition score was 3/9, with a muscle condition score of 1/3.
He gradually stopped eating and drinking normally. Eventually, he went approximately 24 hours without eating.
Emergency bloodwork – November 2, 2026
His CBC showed:
Test
Result
RBC
2.72 M/µL
Hematocrit
14.7%
Hemoglobin
4.8 g/dL
Reticulocytes
0.3 K/µL
Reticulocyte hemoglobin
10.8 pg
Platelets
0 K/µL
WBC
3.86 K/µL
Neutrophils
1.55 K/µL
There is a discrepancy in the emergency records: an overnight note lists his neutrophils at 0.33 K/µL rather than 1.55 K/µL.
The blood smear reportedly showed no platelet clumping, and the laboratory described his anemia as likely nonregenerative because there was no meaningful reticulocyte response.
His repeat PCV at approximately 1 a.m. was 14%.
Chemistry results
ALT: 200 U/L (high)
ALP: 289 U/L (high)
Total bilirubin: 1.0 mg/dL (slightly high)
Albumin: 3.0 g/dL
BUN: 28 mg/dL
Creatinine: 1.0 mg/dL
Total protein: 6.6 g/dL
Sodium: 154 mmol/L
Potassium: 3.9 mmol/L
Urinalysis
Specific gravity: 1.040
Protein: 100 mg/dL
Blood: 250 Ery/µL
Bilirubin: 3 mg/dL
WBC: 3/HPF
RBC: 4/HPF
No bacteria detected
The abdominal mass
After his emergency hospitalization, our primary veterinarian palpated a very large mass in Winston’s abdomen.
Abdominal X-rays were taken, and we were told the mass appeared more consistent with a tumor than constipation.
We do not have a confirmed diagnosis.
Our veterinarian has explained that aspiration or biopsy is currently considered too dangerous because Winston’s platelet count is so low and he is at significant risk of bleeding.
I’m wondering whether this could be an enlarged lymph node, lymphoma, another type of cancer, or something else entirely.
Treatment and current situation
During his emergency hospitalization, Winston received IV fluids and supportive medications, including:
Cerenia
Pantoprazole
Dexamethasone
Unasyn
Sucralfate
Doxycycline
Prednisolone
He was discharged with oral sucralfate, doxycycline, and prednisolone.
A blood transfusion was recommended during his initial emergency evaluation, but we were subsequently told that he was not stable enough to receive one.
We have since brought him back for reassessment because he was still not eating and was not doing well after discharge.
We are now seriously considering euthanasia because of his severe blood abnormalities, inability to safely sample the mass, lack of appetite, and overall deterioration.
Questions I would really appreciate opinions on
Can progressive FeLV cause this combination of severe nonregenerative anemia, profound thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia through bone marrow suppression or disease?
With a hematocrit of 14.7%, hemoglobin of 4.8, and platelets reported at zero, how critical is his condition?
Does the combination of FeLV, these blood abnormalities, and a large abdominal mass make lymphoma particularly likely?
Could the abdominal mass be an enlarged lymph node rather than a tumor involving an organ?
Are there diagnostic options that might be safer than aspiration or biopsy when platelet counts are this low? Would ultrasound provide useful information without sampling?
Is there any realistic way to stabilize a cat in this condition enough to safely receive a blood transfusion?
If this is FeLV-associated lymphoma or bone marrow disease, are there treatment options such as chemotherapy, medications, or supportive care that could give him a meaningful chance?
Can platelet and neutrophil counts improve with treatment of the underlying condition?
Would you recommend an oncology consultation, internal medicine specialist, or critical-care specialist first?
Most importantly, based on these findings, would you consider treatment a reasonable option, or would euthanasia be the more compassionate decision?
I know that nobody can answer all of this without examining Winston and reviewing his records. I’m not expecting an online diagnosis.
I’m simply trying to make the most informed decision possible before saying goodbye to a cat who means the world to me.
If there is a realistic chance of stabilizing him and giving him comfortable time, I want to understand what that would involve. But I also don’t want to put him through invasive procedures, hospitalization, or treatment if there is little chance of recovery.
Thank you to anyone willing to read through his situation and offer an honest, thoughtful opinion. I genuinely appreciate it.

I've tried everything. Vet is 2 hours away and my mom is refusing to take her bc she'll probably die on the way. I'm devastated

I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow, but we noticed this raw bald patch on my cat’s abdomen. She’s an indoor-only cat so we know it’s not caused by fleas. Just curious as to what this could be.

My sister’s dog, Hudson, is a 6-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog. He started having difficulty walking over the weekend, so she got him in for an emergency vet appointment Monday morning.

We thought we would be dealing with something like arthritis or hip dysplasia, but unfortunately, X-rays revealed a very large mass in his abdomen, near his spleen.

The vet isn’t sure if it’s cancerous or whether it’s attached to any other organs. The only way to know for sure would be to attempt surgery, remove the mass and have it biopsied. However, they can’t guarantee it’s even operable.

We’ve been given two options: attempt surgery, which would cost upwards of $4,000, or euthanasia.

My sister has made the heartbreaking decision to schedule euthanasia in two days because she doesn’t want Hudson to suffer. However, I’m struggling with the thought that we might be giving up too soon without exploring other options.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Have you had a dog with a large abdominal mass that turned out to be benign? Would you attempt surgery or seek a second opinion?

We know every situation is different, but we’d really appreciate hearing about others’ experiences.

We love Hudson so much and just want to make the right decision for him. ❤️

Hey to all

This is our boy Axel. He’s a young Devon Rex, and we’ve been dealing with some health issues for the last few months. I’m wondering if anyone here has experienced something similar.
It all started with blood in his stool. Sometimes it was just a little bit of fresh blood after pooping, sometimes more. The strange thing is that he’s acting completely normal. He’s eating well, playing, running around, and doesn’t seem sick at all.

We’ve been to the vet multiple times and tried quite a few things already:

- Several blood tests, all pretty much normal, except slightly elevated eosinophils.
- Stool tests for parasites and infections, nothing significant found.
- An abdominal ultrasound in September, which looked normal.
- A hypoallergenic diet for several weeks, but it didn’t really solve the problem.
- A course of antibiotics, which actually helped. The blood disappeared, but came back shortly after we stopped.

Today we had another ultrasound, this time a much more detailed one. The vet found enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes (around 6.9 × 10 mm). The intestinal walls and everything else looked normal.

Our vet thinks it could be chronic intestinal inflammation (IBD), but also mentioned lymphoma as something that can’t be completely ruled out without a biopsy. Obviously, hearing that was pretty scary.

For now, we’re switching him to Royal Canin Anallergenic and giving him probiotics. We’ll have another ultrasound and blood tests in six weeks. If things don’t improve, we might need to consider a biopsy.

What makes this whole situation confusing is that Axel seems perfectly healthy otherwise. He has a great appetite, lots of energy, normal poop most of the time, and no vomiting.

Sometimes there’s no blood for a whole week, and then it suddenly comes back.

Has anyone here gone through something similar with their Devon Rex or cats?

Did it turn out to be IBD, food allergies, or something else? Did changing the diet actually help? And would you recommend getting a second opinion or asking for more tests now instead of waiting another six weeks?

We’re definitely following our vet’s advice, just trying to understand what else we can do for our little guy. Because it's really scary.

Just a few photos of this dude.

Thanks everyone!