[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Latest update on Wallie--still not eating

[Ginger Hoffman]

Dear GPDDers,

First, thank you so so so very much for all of your individual emails.  
I feel less alone going through this ordeal.  I know everyone says it 
again and again, but this is truly a great community and I'm very 
thankful for it.

Secondly, I'm sorry if I'm behind to responding to posts made to the 
list, but I have been having my messages delivered in digest form.  
I've now set it to have them delivered individually.

Today Wallie seemed a lot worse, unfortunately.  He was shuddering, and 
refusing much of the force fed critical care.  In response, they 
increased the number of subQs they are giving him (they are worried 
about his heart murmur so haven't been giving him as much fluid as 
possible.  They are now giving him three a day).  He's on the highest 
possible dose of pain medication.  They've also now put him on baytril, 
just in case.

If he makes it to tomorrow (I can't believe I even have to say that!), 
they will do an ultrasound to figure out where the stones are and if it 
makes sense to operate.  My understanding is that if they are in the 
kidney and/or the ureter, surgery is probably not worth it?  In that 
case, I guess I have to just hope he starts eating???

On another note, so far the bill for this has been $562.  After tonight 
and if they do the ultrasound, it will be around $850.  That's before 
the surgery, which is about $1000!  I may be able to get financial aid 
from the hospital to pay for half of it, but only half.  And my 
boyfriend said he would help out with the money (isn't he awesome?  
Wallie is our child--we both love him more than anything).  I'm not 
trying to complain--I think Wallie is worth all of the money in the 
world.  It's just that I don't have all the money in the world.  Out of 
curiousity, do those figures sound high to you?  And, in the future, do 
any of you know a good exotics vet around Boston that's a little 
cheaper?

Thank you so much.