Sunday brought me to recovery from too much wine and laughter from the night before and a little visit from G'ma Phyl. I love Sundays for that whole catch-up-before-the-week-ahead kinda feeling. And most times, I sneak a little nap in the day as well. I like the "quiet before the storm"--IF it is quiet....About an hour after G'ma Phyl left yesterday, Grace decided that she was gonna get sick. Sick enough that it prompted us to rush her to the Emergency Vet that costs like a cabillion dollars. But I was worried, so we packed her up and rushed her over. Cost wasn't in the forefront of my mind at the moment.
I love Grace for her "no drama" kinda attitude, but she scared the bajeepers outta me yesterday. And that emergency trip to the vet is never an easy one. Grace was peeing blood and just acting very weird--never a good sign. I had every doom and gloom scenario playing in my mind as we sat waiting for the doctor.
She's fine, we hope. The doctor seems to feel it is a urinary tract infection and she should be on the road to recovery as early as today if all goes well. Being that she had absolutely no signs of illness hours before she got sick, I'm thinking we caught it early. I sure hope so. Keep your fingers crossed--that's my girl I'm worried about.
I hate those emergency vet places--everyone is usually freaked out there. I was in tears just listening to one woman losing it over the news that her dear dog friend had to be put down. Gees, I felt for her. I've been there more than I care to remember. I just wanted to hug that poor woman, but I'm sure Joe would have freaked with me doing that to a stranger.
So, I didn't hug her, instead we played "Veterinary Showcase Showdown". That's where you sit in the waiting room, waiting to see how high your bill is for the visit. You take a guess at the bill and whoever is closest, without going over, is the winner. It's extra tough with those emergency vets because everything is jacked up sky-high because they are, well.......emergency vets.
I guessed $235. Joe low-balled me at $175. The final bill was a lovely $207.
Damn. Joe won because he didn't overbid. I conceded, told him he was the winner and announced that his prize was that he could pay the bill. Lucky him. The lady at the counter just looked at us like we were nuts. And that is saying something because I'm thinking she sees all kinds of weird stuff working at the emergency vet clinic.
Sigh. Yeah, thanks to Grace, we had all kinds of fun yesterday.
33 comments:
Aw, poor Grace (and poor you!) I know how stressful it is, and even though money shouldn't be an issue, it is always a relief when it comes in under $200.
I remember once when we took our Stinky in (RIP, pretty girl) for an ER visit. Middle of the night. Another couple came in with their kitteh and we saw them leave, crying, with an empty carrier. So sad.
Onto better things! Grace, make mommeh take good care of you today, milk it for all it's worth and get better soon!
Hope that beautiful kitty gets well soonest. Your purse will recover, and all will be well.
Kathy--I know there are happy stories there as well, but I only remember the sad ones at the emergency vet. That lady ended up taking her dog home with her to decide on putting him down another day. I get that. Grace is doing a lot better today, although medicine administration is always interesting with cats.
Vanilla--My grandpa used to say "If money can fix it, don't worry about it". He was so right. :) Grace is feeling much better this morning.
Here's hoping Grace is feeling a lot better. My kitty had chronic UTIs and then renal failure.
I despise those ER vets because they jack the prices up so high. I mean I understand people are trying to make a living but it really is extortion if you think about it.
Hope Grace will get better the soonest.
Never expected a bill would be that high. Could hardly relate since I do not have pets. I want to have one but I don't have much time to take care of one. I don't want those cute pets be taken for granted.
Oh no! I hope Grace gets better soon. Sending lots of positive thoughts your way...
We are lucky over here because in cases of emergency we phone the regular vet and ours even makes house calls!
Awwww...I hope Grace makes a full recovery! My little cat, Charity, gets UTI infections...those are enough to scare me to death! Make sure your kitties drink distilled water instead of tap water.
According to the research I have done, tap water has just way to many "things" in it that kitties don't necessarily need. Since switching to distilled water, Charity also drinks more of it! :)
I also bought a water fountain thing-y that is supposed to encourage feline drinking...I have mental pic of drunk cats! :)
I don't know about the cats, but my crazy JRT, Sheba, LOVES it!
I am so glad she is getting better so quickly.
We had that with Frankie when she was still a kitten but after 2 re-occurrences of "crystals in her bladder" and huge vet bills, the vet actually suggested prescription cat food - a tad more expensive but over the years it has saved us a bunch in vet bills - and with the boy cats it's been kinda a preventative measure.
In Alexandria our regular vet was also a 24/7 vet hospital - so it was always expensive but great, great vets.
Oh dear...poor Grace! I hate it when pets get sick like that. Wishing her and you a speedy recovery!
Wow....u got off easy. Our emergency vet is $150 FOR JUST WALKING IN THE DOOR....AND they make you PAY before they do anything! Talk about extortion! I a SO glad she's okay! SO GLAD!!!
Ohhhh! Thinking of Grace! Hope she feels better soon!
Awh! Poor little lady! I hope the dr. is right and all is well with her a.s.a.p.!!
I hope she is fine. Fred had a urinary tract infection and after some pills he was A-OK.
That's one thing about Montana. We were here about 2 months when Fred had his encounter with the eagle. It was Sunday (of course) it was 9 at night (of course) and he was all beat up and couldn't walk. We called the vet in Missoula which was an hour away and they said to bring him down. I was worried about Fred and was used to emergency vets in NJ where is was $300 just to walk in the door.
They looked at Fred. They cleaned up his wounds. Gave him a shot. Gave me antibiotics for him to take for a week. Then we went to check out.
$75.
And they apologized because it was so high. We did all we could to keep from laughing, paid the bill and ran out before they decided to charge us more.
Oh I'm so glad it wasn't too too bad. And I hope she will be back to her nondramatic self soon!
And those places are the worst ... last time I went it was for my cockatiel Noodle and they didnt want to see birds but what are you going to do? And Noodle was wheezing and this old chihuahua was wheezing and a cat was screaming inside a carrier, and we were all waiting because a german shepard was inside after getting hit by a car. I mean, the saddest place ever.
Man, I had no idea they were so pricey! Ouch!
So glad it's something that can be fixed up lickety split.
This is out of my realm of reality, but have you considered insurance? http://www.petinsurance.com/
I know I know You don't have to tell me. Fran's Dad
Poor Grace! I used to have potty problems, too. It turned out I had bladder stones! I hope you feel all better soon on your medicine.
ps: I LOVE that G'ma Phyl visits me now! :)
Poor Grace- hope she is feeling better. I think looniness just hovers around you like a cloud, but at least you have Joe to win the games and pay the bill.
Oh poor Grace. Hope she's feeling better soon. Why is it that those things always happen after hours or on weekends.
Oh ya... emergency vet bills are killer on the pocketbook! We had to use one three years ago when our dog was bitten by a rattle snake.
Glad to hear it's an infection and not anything life threatening.... :-))
DI
I was so relieved to read that Grace was doing better today. Here's hoping her recovery is swift and complete. Was that cat dollars or people dollars? Just wondering . . .
I'm so glad she's feeling better. Hope they did an Xray to check for bladder stones. If it comes back back,get an xray! Bladder stones are not uncommon in female cats.
That's not a bad bill, here it would have been double for an e-clinic visit.
Pets, it's always something but we love them no matter what!
blueyes--I can't complain, vets are expensive anyway. I guess if I had to work on Sunday, I'd be jacking the prices too.
June Zach--Aw, thanks, pally. Oh, this bill is nothing--it can get into the thousands in nothing flat! At least she is okay for now...I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is solved.
Duni--You are lucky to have such a great vet! Our new vet called today to check on her, which was nice. She was hopeful that this can be quickly solved. Whew! I sure hope so!
A.Marie--We have one of those water dishes and my kitties LOVE it! I haven't tried distilled water, but I will now. Gees, this was very scary!
Grace--We had good care, so I can't complain. That bill included visit, treatment, and medicines, so it really wasn't too bad. Can't complain. I'm just glad they were open!
Hot Rocks--Thanks, pally. I was really scared--that's my little buddy!! She is much better today.
peewee--We went to the animal ophthalmologist once and that was $150 charged to your credit card just for the appt. as well! UGH. But you love them and you pay to get them well--within reason. If I know that I'm gonna end up with a dead cat, I pull the plug on heroic measures that cost a fortune. I'm realistic.
Betty--Thanks, pally! She is better today. Of course she sees me with the meds and runs away from me, but that is a good sign. :)
Nancy--Yeah, I was pretty scared, but that vet and our vet seem to think that is all it is. I hope so!
Pricilla--Wow. That was a bargain. I don't care what I pay (within reason) as long as they are okay. I'm just lucky to have emergency care here.
Tracy--It is so hard because they are ALL emergencies there. Lots of emotion going on. I can't imagine working there--I was in tears just going there! Grace is doing much better tonight. :)
Violet--Oh, that's nothing. We once had to take our cat to the cat ophthalmologist--talk about $$$$!! Yikes. The blood pressure alone was $50. :(
Fran's Dad--I've thought about getting that. I do have Care Credit, which is a credit card that you can use for medical care--including vets. Fortunately, I didn't have to use it! Thanks for the info.
Daisy--I hope Grace doesn't have stones. :( That does not sound like fun. She is doing much better today though. Even Hobbes is being nice to her. G'ma Phyl thinks you are VERY cute.
Sharky--Looniness is our way of life, Sharky. It sure beats crying. :)
Ann--Thanks, Ann. Yeah, what is with animals that they wait until the WORST possible time to get sick??
Snappy Di--Yikes! Snake bite??! SCARY! These darn pets make us worry so....
Chuck--PEOPLE dollars! And lots of 'em! Ugh. Oh well, at least she is feeling better. She was playing a bit today and purring--all good signs.
DJ--Thanks for the warning. If she doesn't feel better in a day or so, they will do more tests, but so far she is doing well. I hope it isn't worse. :(
Poor Grace! I'm glad you caught it early and got her in there so quickly. I don't do well at the vets, emergency or not, since it seems whenever I go it's bad news. We're sending purrs to Grace to get well soon though!
I am glad to hear Grace is feeling better. Going to the emergency vet is stressful.
Poor Grace plus having her whozits and whatzits mentioned on national blogging. HOpe she is ok. She's our star too.
I have the pic of the bathrom and the two of them as my computer desktop now. I was waiting for a comment on having someone else's toilet on my pc. NOpe not a one-guess mom is wierd and thats that. Until Alex saw it. Now every time he sees it he says "gwamma! why do you have a picture of a cat on a toilet on your computer?" and proceeds to fall over laughing. Leave it to him. The other week Jim and I were at the library with him and Alex proudly announced-in the library-"I farted!" in that sing songy way kids do with a smile.
Forgot to come by yesterday-tired and finishing class and tired of having lunch thrown at me and having to feed and babysit gpa who is entering the third week of the same clothes.
Word ver- Obentama
Yep.
Oh and out emergency but thank god the reg vet was still open vet bill was $103 yesterday. I'm just never supposed to have money.
We have Animal 911 near us and I avoid that place like the plague-I feel your financial pain.
Beaded Tail--I hear ya. Every time I go to the vet for something other than a check-up, I feel like I was getting bad news too. 2 cats in 3 years will do that to you. But Hobbes is good and now, Grace is too, so I think we are in the clear. Whew!
Merry--For all of us!! I can't imagine working there.
Helene--I can't believe you have that photo up, you silly! And tell Alex I said that he ROCKS!! :) I think he is funny. We went to the Animal 911 place, so I didn't think our bill (including meds) wasn't too horrible considering.
Yeah he is hysterical. The big smile and happy voice loudly exclaiming "I faaaarted." I think he is waiting for an award or a hug and good job boy! I just taught him to use the microwave and he says "I'm a cooker!"
You didn't come to this 911 did you? I don't know of any others. It's 4 or 5 blocks from me.
Awww... poor Grace. Hope she feels better soon. ... Sorry about the bill...
Oh poor Gracie:( Smokey had the same thing a few years ago. It was scary and I freaked out. But, they gave him meds and we had to change his diet. It was his kidneys and I can't recall the technical term but there was a build up something like kidney stones in a human.
Helene--No, it's an emergency clinic here in Weirdville. Lucky us, we have the animal ophthalmologist here too.
Petula--It's worth it because she is better already. Sometimes money isn't the worry. Well, it is...but you know what I mean.
Mary Ann--We have to watch her to see if it is stones, but so far, it looks like it isn't. Keep your fingers crossed...
Poor sweet Grace! Such a worry when our four legged friends are not feeling well.
Sending extra hugs and kisses for Grace!
xoxoxoxo Catherine & Banjo
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