Post by Meadow on May 6, 2009 21:59:00 GMT
My 16 year old cat collapsed last Friday. Although she's been slowing down gradually, the collapse came as a complete surprise.
Whisky has been my constant four-legged friend for many years, and has been in my life longer than my husband.
As OH is currently unemployed, we were able to take Whisky to the Blue Cross hospital in Colliers Wood. Thank goodness we did.
We had to wait a fair while to be seen, and when another pet owner waiting pointed out to the receptionist that my cat was fading fast (I was too polite to push in) the staff swept into action. They took her in to the theatre and within a couple of minutes they had her on oxygen and were doing blood tests. Not long after they had her on a potassium drip and industrial strength antibiotics - just in case.
We left a while later having been told that she would be transferred to the Victoria hospital that night. And they asked us how much we were able to contribute to her care. I felt bloody uncomfortable at the pittance we were able to give, but what we offered was accepted without comment. TBH, if OH had been bringing home his normal income (prior to the last contract ending), it would have been the case of telling the local vet to put her out of her misery, because we wouldn't have been able to afford anything else.
Anyway, over the last few days, Whiskey has been on a drip, a course of antibiotics, has been examined numerous times, has had umpteen blood tests and has had an x-ray and an ultrasound scan. And she has course of antibiotics to be administered at home (first dose this evening was fun - not).
Of course it's not over yet. All the tests thus far have been inconclusive, and she has to have at least one further check-up next week, and we're waiting for the result of a blood test that will take a few days to come back.
I watched Whisky stalking around the garden this afternoon after OH collected her, reclaiming her territory, and I felt so grateful.
When we're in the money again, there's no doubt that a substantial donation will be heading their way.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Blue Cross, heroes, every one of them.
Whisky has been my constant four-legged friend for many years, and has been in my life longer than my husband.
As OH is currently unemployed, we were able to take Whisky to the Blue Cross hospital in Colliers Wood. Thank goodness we did.
We had to wait a fair while to be seen, and when another pet owner waiting pointed out to the receptionist that my cat was fading fast (I was too polite to push in) the staff swept into action. They took her in to the theatre and within a couple of minutes they had her on oxygen and were doing blood tests. Not long after they had her on a potassium drip and industrial strength antibiotics - just in case.
We left a while later having been told that she would be transferred to the Victoria hospital that night. And they asked us how much we were able to contribute to her care. I felt bloody uncomfortable at the pittance we were able to give, but what we offered was accepted without comment. TBH, if OH had been bringing home his normal income (prior to the last contract ending), it would have been the case of telling the local vet to put her out of her misery, because we wouldn't have been able to afford anything else.
Anyway, over the last few days, Whiskey has been on a drip, a course of antibiotics, has been examined numerous times, has had umpteen blood tests and has had an x-ray and an ultrasound scan. And she has course of antibiotics to be administered at home (first dose this evening was fun - not).
Of course it's not over yet. All the tests thus far have been inconclusive, and she has to have at least one further check-up next week, and we're waiting for the result of a blood test that will take a few days to come back.
I watched Whisky stalking around the garden this afternoon after OH collected her, reclaiming her territory, and I felt so grateful.
When we're in the money again, there's no doubt that a substantial donation will be heading their way.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Blue Cross, heroes, every one of them.