Tigger's Finally in the Hospital

Well, our little Tigger is in the animal hospital as we speak. I finally gave in and took him over this afternoon, around 4:30, before they closed. I took what cash I had on me, and almost fainted when I saw the bill/estimate. I will be using all my funds for the rest of the month to pay it, and utilities will once again go into just-about-disconnect, depending on how well I can talk to their representatives.

About Tigger. I used the same Vet (a small place less than a mile from me) as I used 2-1/2 years ago for his abscessed tooth. Back then, the total came to just over $600, but back then, my nephew had good income from driving a cab. This time, it will be over $800 and we only have my SSA and his unemployment - much, much less than last time.

What worries me about Tigger is that back then, he weighed 8 pounds; this afternoon, he only weighed 6.5 pounds. We knew he had been losing weight, and fairly rapidly, these past two or three weeks but we assumed that was because of his loss of appetite. The Vet was alarmed at his condition. They will do all the fluid tests (blood, etc.) and also an x-ray, and hope to have some results by the weekend.

Meanwhile, he will at least be getting nutrients which, due to his appetite loss, he has not been getting. I am feeling very bad about holding off this long. I realize that many folks might not understand that money is a big issue for some of us. Even when the Vet was discussing how we intended to pay this, he was definitely concerned when he asked about our credit power and I said we had very bad credit.

Still, even if we go behind, yet again, in our bills, I could not stand to see the little guy get weaker and weaker, and watch how he was starting to be unstable on his feet, and even more. I had to do this and I worry that I might have waited too long.

I love this Vet for his compassion. Tigger, right from the first visit over two years ago, was comfortable with him. Even today, he didn't give the Vet any struggle or trouble while the Dr. gently felt his whole body.

Bottom line - I guess I will sleep better, in one way, because at least Tigger is in capable hands for a few days, and in another way, because one way or another, we'll get an answer to what is troubling him. We may not like the answer and we have dealt with that possibility.

I also discussed that with the Vet, explaining that we both felt that if the outcome, given Tigger's age, is severe and extreme measures would be suggested, we'd rather make the little guy comfy at home to wait out his time. The Vet completely agrees and said if that happened, he'd gladly discuss meds and so forth.

I guess part of my fear is my own flashbacks to my Stage 3 Colon Cancer back in '99 and my own rapid loss of weight. Still, knowing is better than not knowing.

Father, thank you for this Vet who we trust to find the cause of Tigger's distress. Guide him, please, through the diagnosis, and help us to deal with the outcome, no matter what it may be.