No, oh no, I don't think so

I had emailed the vet last week about Nicki (?) continuing to occasionally throw up grass mixed with blood, asked a few questions, went back and forth.

He suggested a course of Sucralfate (coats the stomach and intestines, rather like slippery elm does) and/or an ultrasound, even a referral for a stomach scope if I wanted.

I asked him for costs involved:

"The scoping would be more invasive and costly ($800-1200 with biopsies if needed) and would require general anesthetic. The ultrasound I can do here. If we are just looking at the stomach and bowel it's around $150 compared to $250 for a full abdomen. If there were questions about the images, we can forward them to a radiologist for interpretation for an additional $100. Usually don't need sedation unless Nicki is being uncooperative with lying on his back. Probably best to fast before the imaging for best pictures and in case sedation is required. Sedation would add another $70 or so."

Um...a definite no to the scope. If Nicki were that bad off (assuming it is Nicki in the first place), my option would be palliative care until he passed.

The ultrasound...maybe, if warranted. I'm going to see how the slippery elm and/or Sucralfate go first before deciding to spend further money I don't actually have.

You know what? The "average" person with pets, not a committed animal lover but the average person, would have had their pet euthanized by now, with all the health issues and costs. I wouldn't ever do that, of course, but there are limits to what I can do and this has surpassed them, it's beyond ridiculous.

So both boys just damned well better be fine, thank you very much.

 

Peace.