Bad day

[cjsmith]

I just came back from spending over three hours at the emergency veterinary clinic. I didn't even get to bring jackiecat home after all that: she'll be staying until at least tomorrow. (The bill will not be pretty.)

It's *really* rough to read all the thank-you cards posted on the bulletin boards in an emergency clinic. Most of them say things like "1991-2003" under the photo.

Comments

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

Poor wee kitty, poor CJ. I hope she will be better soon.

Levi spent a week in the ICU and that bill was staggering. But it was worth every penny to have our boy back.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

*nod*

As broke as we are, as much as I've fussed about not bringing myself to the doctor (almost said "vet") when I've been sick, we didn't think twice about DJ's nose. Animals are different.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

They are. We can evaluate our pain levels, do web research, and juggle priorities for our lives. They can't even say whether it hurts real bad or just when we poke it. They can't ask for help. I simply have to give it.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

For me, Toober, Zot, and Zeppo are different because when palecur and I adopted them, we were taking responsibility for them. I can blow off an illness or injury because I know that if I turn out to be wrong, I'll know soon enough and can do something about it. But the cats can't do the same. We saw Zeppo limping last month and so we took him to the vet for an emergency visit. It turned out to be cramping, but how were we to know?

We domesticated these little critters such that they cannot exist on their own in the wild. It is now our responsibility to ensure that they have happy, safe, and healthy lives.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I think emergency clinics have a price scale that's double that of a normal vet's office. I was stunned at the estimate for a physical exam and bloodwork. Yeow!

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Thus, DJ gets to wait until Tuesday. But if it were truly an emergency, we'd do it. I hope Jackie isn't miserable!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Thus, DJ gets to wait until Tuesday.

Indeed, and I sure wish Jackie had waited until Sunday night to have this problem. But if she needs emergency surgery she'll need it within twelve hours, so sadly she couldn't just hang on until Monday.

Jackie's ticked off and loopy 'cause they sedated her for all the tests and X-rays. I scritched her goodbye and she said something like "urr uh". Hopefully she'll sleep it off.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

When I had to take Spike to VetMed it was expensive and I couldn't afford it, but they had a payment plan sort of. It was called CareCredit and it was kind of a credit card, but it could only be used for vet care. I hope they have something along that line for you.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Oh no. :(

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

A while back I'd seen some mildly disturbing signs, but they were small and I didn't know which cat had the problem. This morning it was obviously Jackie and it was also pretty obvious that it was an emergency.

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

Oh no. :( *hugs*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, not a good morning.

[firecat]

Oh no, poor jackiecat! I hope she will be all right.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope so too. There are three possible scenarios: she'll be shaky but okay when I pick her up tomorrow, she'll need emergency surgery but will be shaky/okay after that, or she has something pretty bad such as cancer. My fingers are crossed for anything that ends up with "shaky but okay".

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I'll be hoping for the same CJ.

*hug* <- offered. I know how times like this are very worrisome.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. (hug gratefully accepted.) I wish it were *me* that had the problem. She can't talk.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Eep! *hugs* I hope jackiecat gets better ASAP!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so too. She'll either be better in a few days or never, basically. I've got my fingers crossed.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

~~vibes~~ and crossed fingers here, too. Any idea what's wrong?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

She was vomiting blood all over the downstairs of the house, and there was fresh blood (red and mucousy, not black) in her stool this morning too. Seems odd to me that there'd be fresh red blood at both ends, but what do I know?

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

Thinking of you and the kitty.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. (Great icon! That's a heckuvan expression on her face.)

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Sending love and vibes for all of you.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Rotten day. :=/

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

Brat says Get Well Soon!!!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks Brat! :)

[eeyore-grrl.livejournal.com]

oh no! i'm sorry. maxling and i send lots of wishes that it's ok and quick healing.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It'll either be quick, or it'll be surgery and still sorta quick, or it's something really bad like cancer.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

Good grief! I hope everything turns out all right. Prayers and good thoughts on the way.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. My fingers are crossed. She could be just fine (shaky but recovering) tomorrow, or she could need emergency surgery tonight and be shakier but recovring tomorrow, or she could have cancer.

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Eeep! *hugs*

Spike-kitty sends jackiecat some purrs.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you, and thanks to Spike-kitty.

Hugs

[lesliepear.livejournal.com]

Been there, did that with Moxie. The emergency vet was very nice, but expensive!

Re: Hugs

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

No kidding, yi! I'll know tomorrow just how badly in hock I am. That'll depend on whether she needs surgery tonight.

[rampling.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* and kitty-purrs from me and Mira. Hang in there -- kitty trauma is so painful, I know.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, I wish it could be me that had the problem. I can talk and I understand why the icky pills or whatever will help.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

I hope she'll be all right. Take care.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I hope so too. I wish I understood a bit better what was wrong... not knowing's the worst, I think.

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

Hugs, m'dear. Good wishes to Jackie, and to her mommy. Please keep me updated.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'll try - I don't understand at all what's really wrong, half because the doctor herself had multiple theories and half because she really didn't explain them much and half because what I did catch seems self-contradictory. I guess I just sit tight until tomorrow morning.

(it's tomorrow morning for you -- so how does it all come out? and what horse should I bet on?)

[lkeele.livejournal.com]

Well, you went to the doctor early this morning and she was fine. Maybe she should stay another day for monitoring, but she'll come home tomorrow morning.

(Insha'allah).

Ginger comes in first, with Hops For Brains close on her heels.

[lcohen]

oy.

i hope for good results that don't break the bank.