Vet care-profit driven?
My little guy Ziggy died Jan 18th. He was 12 years old, healthy except for lipomas and loved to run. Used to go for runs 1-3 miles on quiet country roads. Diagnosed with diabetes last summer but was doing ok, definitely changed a bit, but still running. Got sick on Tuesday with throwing up x1 partially digested food. Wed. Didn't eat well but drinking, pottying ok. Thurs. I lost his insulin think I threw it out by accident and I didn't have money to get more that day. He didn't eat well but drinking ok actually drinking too much water. Got money Friday and got his insulin. Got 2 doses that day blood sugar 300's. Still drinking too much water and throwing up x 2. Started tremoring all over but not like a seizure. He wasn't coordinating very well. Went to jump off the bed and fell. Saturday morning I took him to the emergency vet a town away. Got there at 1030, He threw up a large amount of pale green watery liquid. He was holding his head up and making eye contact. They took him back quickly within 15 minutes. Talked with the patient coordinator about money, I only had $100 until social security payday which was a week and a half away. They had me apply to two companies, and I was denied by both. The vet came in a half hour after saying Ziggy did not look well, severely dehydrated, spot blood sugar 338 and positive ketones in urine. She felt his prognosisis was poor. Estimated costs of treatment $4000 to $9000 for 2 to 4 days of inpatient care. I said I wanted treatment that I could pay when SS came in. No, they needed money upfront. I called friends and got promised $4000 and I also looked at my account to show I got SS of $2600 a month but I was shocked to see my SS had been deposited the day before. Early. I immediately said please start treatment. It was almost 1 by then. They had me sign permission for diagnostic labs. And asked for $690 for care given. My sister and I decided to get something to eat and I asked to see Ziggy before leaving. The clerk at her computer looked at it and said not right then, they were drawing labs. I asked why didn't they draw labs when they put the IV in. She looked again and said he didn't have an IV, there was no order for it. I lost it. I thought he had fluids running from when we got there. I thought when the vet said severely dehydrated that fluids had been started. I thought that treatment being delayed meant he wasn't getting any medications or electrolyte replacements until I could pay. The patient care coordinator tried to calm me down and said she would talk to the doctor who was in a consultation right then. A half hour later, she brought the permission for IV to be started to be signed and charged $169. He had been without fluids for 3 hours. Just laying there alone. An hour later they got labs back and his sodium was 124 which is low. His calcium was 6, which is low. They asked permission to give calcium replacement. We got back from eating and they had me sign for the calcium and $ charged $140. The Dr came in and said he wasn't responding to treatment. I asked if he got hydration and electrolyte replacements and insulin wouldn't he turn around by morning. She didn't think he would. She asked if I wanted him brought into the room. Of course I did. They had him swaddled in a chux and a blanket. His IV was disconnected. He would not make eye contact. H3 was limp with fine tremors all over. His eyes looked lifeless and his tongue was swollen and a dark red. He looked awful. I asked how much fluid had he gotten, she said 180 cc (30 cc equals 2 tablespoons). After 10 minutes they wanted to take him back to hook up the IV again. I asked if they couldn't do that in the room and they did. It was running at 30 cc/ hour per the machine. My sister and I took turns holding him. He wasn't responding to us. He had received a shot of anti nausea medicine after the IV got started. And that can be sedating but it was hours later. The Dr came back in and asked what I wanted to do. I asked again if she didn't think he could turn around. She was very pessimistic and said maybe but probably not and I could not stand him looking so bad and gave permission for euthanasia. When he got the shot, he lifted his head up for an instant and then laid it back down on my arm. Then he was gone. Now I feel so guilty that maybe I didn't give him enough time to respond just because I didn't want him laying alone all night. I had asked if we could take him home with the IV but was denied. I am also so angry that he didn't get fluids right away. My sister and I are both retired RN 's. Most of our
careers had been in ER. We know that when a patient comes in severely dehydrated or possible ketoacidosis, the first thing you do is IV hydration. Fluid boluses, check labs. Check BP and pulse. If heart rate is high keep giving boluses. Ziggy's heart felt like it was trying to pound out of his chest it was so fast. Why didn't I challenge the Dr and ask for more fluids. I miss him so much. Though a month has passed. What should I have done? Why can't immediate treatment be started and then worry about money. Is the cost of IV catheter tubing and a bag of fluid too much that they'll go broke.
careers had been ER nurses.
