Maple is here. Or rather, he is at the vet. He has a urinary blockage and the long term care was going to be more than the couple who adopted him (and his sister) could afford, due to a recent vet bill for their dog, several house repairs, and a little one on the way. They took him to the emergency clinic last night, but when they learned that just to unblock him with a hospital stay would run $1500 (and perhaps an additional fee for surgery if he reblocked repeatedly), they had to stop at $350. They called me this morning, and I gave my vet a call. The emergency vet had already updated them, so when I said I had a cat returned who needed to come in, they said "You mean Maple?"
So silly, incredibly friendly Maple is at the vet tonight with a cone on his head and a catheter stitched in. Owchy!
Then it was back to the vet at 4:00 with Squeak, one of my personal cats, with a nasty cough. I used the new camera to video him in a coughing fit, since I knew he wouldn't exhibit it for the vet. I'd post it here, but my computer won't save it without me downloading some software. I also have a cute little clip of Maple at the vet.
I have been remiss about posting rescue work. Red Maple Kennels is spay/neutering their feral cats, so we lent them equipment and housed two cats for them, post surgery, before they decided they could do it themselves. So I also lent them a feral cat den, on they are on their way to getting all their barn cats fixed.
And I didn't take a single photo of those two sweet lady cats.
12 comments:
ouch!
Seriously, $1500!...I haven't had a cat block up in many years; they catheterized him, put a cone on his head and I changed his diet.
It never cost this much. I was vigilant with his diet the rest of his life and he got UTI's every now and then, but never blocked again. Is this the going rate for a blocked cat? How can such a price be justified? Or are vets all specialists now, and charging accordingly? I understand a higher bill for surgeries and the like, but a bill like that for a blockage seems excessive.
Wow, I guess I'm just in a mood today, but it seems like everyone just wants to get rich. I don't even want to think about the cats that end up losing a home, or getting euthanized because of a huge vet bill.
Poor sweetiepie. I hope Maple recovers quick! And Squeak too!
Awww, poor Maple. I can't think of a worse thing then having a full bladder and not being able to go! My 10 year old Sweet Pea was blocked twice in two years back in 2003-2004. Emergency vet visits and catheters. I remember VERY WELL the bill for each time was around $1,000 here in the DC area.
With 8 cats and a small house I really was not able to feed him separately so I started him on a urinary acidifier paste (Methigel)that I smear onto his paw twice a day and he has been symptom free since 2004!! It really has been a miracle drug for him.
Methigel was a godsend to us,too, Possumlady. Thanks for mentioning it. Great product for cats with urinary issues.
Poor Maple! Jasper sends his condolences. He's now one year since being blocked himself. The food seems to keep J okay. I think when he was in the hospital for fluids, etc it was about the same amount.
Oh, poor Maple! We hope he gets better soon. At least he is at the vet's office, and will get the care he needs in order to do so. But $1500? Holy cat!
Poor Maple... hope you recover soon!
Thank goodness you have the "return policy." Who knows what this sweet little guy's fate may have been. Sure hope the recovery is swift, for both your sakes.
Here that would cost about 600 max. Our older cat had it. He's been fine with a change of diet.
Oh, one more thing I wanted to mention for multi cat households, since a neighbor didn't know this and she has been fostering cats for many many years.
Before I found methigel, the vet kept stressing the ONLY thing that would work was the special food. I thought "well, it's more expensive but I'll just feed that to everyone". The vet made clear to me that I could NOT feed the special dry food to my other "normal" cats as it would increase the acid in their urine and could cause the other type of crystals (can't remember the name but it starts with an "O"). And those crystals cannot be dissolved through diet.
Vet bills and be so expensive but because of caring people and organizations like you, our loved kitties can receive help when needed. Blessings from the House of Jinga.
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