Two new kittens last month - Apollo and Artemis, two lovely moggy black kittens, and already very much part of the family. Now, we have got insurance for them, however, it's not come into effect yet. Last week, somehow (god knows how, no-one actually saw it,) while they were playing together, Apollo dislocated his back right leg.
On hearing the yelp and seeing him dragging his poor wee leg behind him, I immediately booked an appointment and took him straight down to be seen.
One anaesthetic, some painkillers, an x-ray, a bandage and an overnight stay later, we're £300 poorer.
Not only did we 
at the cost of it, (£100 for an anaesthetic - REALLY?)
but we were then told he would need 3 weeks cage rest (but of course we can hire the cage - for £15 + £45 deposit) and we would need to come back every week to get his bandage changed - no mention of THAT cost!
Seriously, this thing's going to end up costing us a good £500 at this rate - and we just cannot afford it.
There's also the factor that (understandably) Apollo is going bonkers in his cage. He seems to understand why, and is very sensible about not leaping around when we let him out to clean his cage, litter tray and food bowl, but when he goes back in he climbs the sides, falls down, and usually straight into his water bowl! We've put him in DD's room, as it's the quietest room in the house, but of course, she didn't get any sleep last night with him meowing. (She's been at her dad's since it happened.)
DH says "well, if he was in the wild, he'd just have to get on with it" but I'm of the opinion that the vet is probably trying to let him heal properly so he doesn't get problems later on. BUT, we have had different stories from them - one said it was dislocated, another said it was a growth plate fracture, one said to keep him in the cage for 3 weeks, a nurse said a week, and the second vet wants to repeat the x-ray after 3 weeks!! HELP!!!! What should we do?
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The litter tray
New to this vet's lark! Are they just on the make?
Mingeathulu · 20/11/2012 09:29
OP you might be able to get some help with the costs - does your vet work with the Blue Cross at all?
I'm afraid I thought the costs sounded quite reasonable! Our dog broke his leg when he was a puppy and needed x-rays, anaesthetics and his bandage changed every week and it cost us over £5,000 but fortunately he was covered by insurance.
We had to crate him too and it was heartbreaking but it meant his bone healed quickly and properly. I don't know about dislocations and whether it is as essential to immobilise them.
about the different diagnoses ... Not sure what's going on there. Have you seen the X-rays yourself?
Nope, haven't seen the x-rays. They didn't make it sound like an operation, more like, well, he has to have an x-ray, so we have to give him an anaesthetic. I think the vet that saw him first went on holiday at the end of that day, which is why he was seen by someone else the following morning. But I'd spoken to Vet 1 on the phone (the one who said 'dislocated tarsus' - or something) and then Vet 2 said 'Growth plate fracture' in the morning. I'm not as about the fees as DH was, but it does seem a bit strange that Apollo is trying to walk around on his bad leg. He's obviously struggling as the bandage makes his leg straight and therefore much longer than it usually is, but he just looks like he wants to get back to normal. We feel so cruel keeping him in a cage, separated from us all, (including Artemis,) and I also wonder if it's not going to damage their bonding?
No - that came across. And I'm glad he's settling a bit and purring. The long cage rest will pass before you know it.
PS - Yes, absolutely fine check the policy just in case.
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