Update on Birdie...

Discussion in 'Pets' started by Sherry8, Feb 5, 2010.

  1. Sherry8

    Sherry8 I Love Birds!

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2007
    Messages:
    4,395
    Likes Received:
    1,825
    Location:
    Wisconsin...zone 5
    I am not sure what we will be doing at this point with Birdie...the vet thought it was a polyp and the specialist can't even say what it is at this point. It cost us $135.00 just to find out what the price of the tests will cost to find out exactly what it is.

    The first test is just putting her under and going in with a scope and trying to pull the polyp or whatever it is out (with like a snare)...usually a 50-50 chance if they can even get it. Then another 50-50 chance of it growing back again. And then if it is cancer, it will cost more. Doing that will cost around $700.00 at the cheapest point if we don't have any complications.

    Then the specialist said when she is under they might as well do a CT to find out exactly where it is and what it is attached too in case it grows back. I guess a biopsy is done at this point too and it cost about $2,100.00 if no complications or other things are needed.

    They didn't even give us a price for surgery so that would be seeing another doctor and they guessed the surgery would be over $2,000.00 more. So we are looking at about 5,000 dollars and if other problems arise, more.For all we know the surgery might end up costing more....they were just guessing and we would have to ask the surgeon.

    Then of course they don't know how your cat will do because it is a delicate surgery with it being in so far.

    Right now we know we will not have the CT scan done and the surgery. We are still thinking about the first step to see if they can pull whatever it is out...She is doing fine right now and if I wouldn't of taken her to the vet for a dirty ear problem again, we wouldn't even know she had a problem...so we need time to think if we will do the first step or just put her in God's hands...and hope it doesn't grow too fast. We have no idea when it started growing...the humane society didn't even really know for sure how old she was when we got her. They guessed about a year and we have had her 6 months.

    So that is all I know at this point and you have to pay for procedures before you leave the building. No installment payments each month. We were just so shocked at the price of it all. Our vet thought it might be about 1,500-2,000 dollars for the whole thing...won't he be surprised. :'( We most likely would of went for it if it would of been under $2,000 dollars for it all..



    [​IMG]
    Birdie.... ( photo / image / picture from Sherry8's Garden )





    [​IMG]
    Birdie... ( photo / image / picture from Sherry8's Garden )
     
  2. Loading...

    Similar Threads
    1. Palustris
      Replies:
      11
      Views:
      125,265
    2. cajunbelle
      Replies:
      6
      Views:
      97,154

  3. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2007
    Messages:
    12,067
    Likes Received:
    3,501
    Location:
    Western Norway
    Ugh, not nice. Not nice at all. :( I can feel your dilemma all the way here. I wouldn't have done all that either, it's way too expensive.
     
  4. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2005
    Messages:
    29,088
    Likes Received:
    6,277
    Location:
    Scotland
    I'd leave well alone and just see how Birdie fares Sherry. If, over the next few months, things seem to be getting worse then I'd have them take a look with the scope and see if whatever it is can be removed. I take it you have no pet insurance for Birdie that could help you with the cost of the treatment? It's an awful lot to have to consider paying out and it's a really hard decision to make whether to go ahead or wait. :(
     
  5. Kay

    Kay Girl with Green Thumbs

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2009
    Messages:
    2,332
    Likes Received:
    752
    Location:
    Lincoln, Nebraska
    Poor sweet kitty. Bless her heart. I can't believe how expensive that sounds!!! :rolleyes: I guess you know you have given her a good home and life, whatever the outcome.
     



    Advertisement
  6. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2005
    Messages:
    18,084
    Likes Received:
    2,170
    Location:
    Galway, Ireland
    That's a real shame Sherry, looks so full of life in the photos :(
     
  7. glendann

    glendann Official Garden Angel

    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Messages:
    9,512
    Likes Received:
    134
    Location:
    Texas
    Sherry I can't even think about that kind of money but if it were Oreo as much as I love him I couldn't do that.
    I take care of him very good but that kind of money without insurance.I'm afraid I couldn't do it for me.I'm thinking I would have to leave it in God's hands.I would have to think long and hard about the first procedure but I do have a great vet and could make payments and I think I'd try the $700.
    and if that didn't work I would leave it in God's hands but would not let Birdie suffer.
     
  8. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2009
    Messages:
    3,695
    Likes Received:
    78
    Location:
    annapolis md
    Wow, Sherry... what bad news on the cost. It is so hard to make choices like that because in addition to the cost, there is the whole dilemma of putting the pet through that complicated procedure, you know? I mean, we can't even explain to them why we're letting someone do these thing "to" them... I am glad that Birdie is doing well now... maybe for the time being, that is all that matters....

    I was thinking about you this week and you won't believe why... I took Austin to the vet on Wednesday for his yearly vaccines and I mentioned that sometimes he rubs his left ear so she looked in there and he had dirty ears... After she cleaned them out, there was still a hunk-of-gunk (sorry for being ickky) in the left ear and she couldn't get it out even with a cotton swab... She started to describe this same polyp situation that I had never heard of until you told us about Birdie. Says it COULD be that for Austin... Not sure. For 10 days I'll put drops in his ear and then let her take another look to see if it has changed or moved at all... Hope not.

    I hope Birdie continues to be just fine. If it were one of my kitties, who I love very much, I would take a wait and see approach. I am hoping for the best for you and Birdie.
     
  9. gfreiherr

    gfreiherr Young Pine

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2009
    Messages:
    1,346
    Likes Received:
    339
    Location:
    Knoxville, Tennessee
    Sorry to hear your news about Birdie. It is a very distressing decision that you have to make.
     
  10. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    20,114
    Likes Received:
    18,642
    Sorry to hear this news about your sweet pet. I find the prices that you have mentioned ludicrous.
    From the way that you have laid this all out everything sounds a bit unsure. Personally, I don't find that huge sums of money and "uncertainity" are good bed partners...if you know what I mean.
    I wonder what a different vet would have to say about your cat's problem. A vet far away from your community. Is getting a second opinion out of the question for you?

    Sending you guys my best wishes.
     
  11. Sherry8

    Sherry8 I Love Birds!

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2007
    Messages:
    4,395
    Likes Received:
    1,825
    Location:
    Wisconsin...zone 5
    Daisybeans...that is exactly how mine started out...a very dirty ear when I got her from the humane society...no mites or anything. At the time they said it was a bacteria infection and treated her with Mometamax, which cost about 21 dollars. Then it came back a couple more times and the third time having it I had it checked out again because I wanted a better medicine to get rid of it totally. But when I got her back in after the weekend he said it looked clear and I kept asking him why it would happen and about a little noise she has made.

    I hope Austin checks out alright when the time is up...I don't wish this on anyone. If he does have a polyp, I hope it is easier than Birdies to get at and remove. He told me that sometimes they move because they are like a balloon on a string ..Good Luck..

    Sjoerd...only specialists can do these procedures and only other specialist is hours away....My vet thought the specialist would charge 1,500.00 dollars and that would of been alright...I am going to make a copy of the quote from the specialist and give it to my vet..Letting him know that most people cannot afford prices like that when the outcome is so grim.
     
  12. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2009
    Messages:
    3,695
    Likes Received:
    78
    Location:
    annapolis md
    Hi Sherry... yes, same info from Austin's vet... has to be done by the specialist.... She also said that the surgery is very delicate. Her own cat had a polyp which was removed through surgery and it damaged one of the facial nerves so now kitty-cat's eyes are crossed.... No matter how you approach it, it's a difficult diagnosis. I sure do hope Birdie continues to do well. She is a pretty little girl...
     

Share This Page