It’s unsettling when your pet is sick, but terrifying when you think about emergency vet bills…

When your pet isn’t feeling well your desperate to help. You wish with all your might they spoke “human” so they could tell you –

• what hurts
• how it happened
• what they need
• what they want
• how bad do they really feel

But they can’t – and that crap stinks!

I WENT AWAY THIS WEEKEND –

Rode the train. Thought it would be fun vs. driving.

I said goodbye to Doodle Dad, hugged the Boys and skipped to the train tracks thinking about my two day get-away…

About 30 minutes into my ride my phone pinged #textmessage –

Jax just threw up all of his breakfast in the car, it’s everywhere…

My heart sank to my ankles. I texted back frantically –

Why is he sick? – I’m so sorry – how is he now? –

but for hours I received no reply.

My deductive reasoning convinced me that my poor husband couldn’t text back because he was elbows deep cleaning the Doodle wagon. #Iowehim

FOUR HOURS LATER –

I’d reached my destination. Before I could call, a second message flashed on my screen –

Don’t know what’s going on, Harley just got sick. Got to clean the rug in the den…

Here’s what raced through my mind –

• I want to go home
• I can’t go home – I took the train
• I hate the train!

For the first time in my Doodle Mom life – both Boys were sick, and I wasn’t there. I felt ill. Seriously. I thought I was going to throw-up. #punintended

Due to the 300+ miles between us, my mind betrayed me and started playing mean and nasty games. I began to re-live those last four days with Leo, and that’s not a good place for me to be. #stillscareseme

It’s Friday afternoon, the vet is already closed. What if this gets worse later in the night?

I NEEDED A PLAN –

If Lee was fighting this one on the battlefield, then I needed to be working logistics. I started researching emergency vet care in our area.

That’s when my breathing became labored. My head was pounding –

Jaxson doesn’t have pet insurance!

Harley does, and I always “meant” to get Jaxson enrolled, but never did. #OhsweetbabyJesus

Two dogs with some mysterious illness at the emergency vet could become costly WITH insurance. Without it would be astronomical I’m sure.

Then I remembered seeing this chart on FaceBook, compliments of American Dog Magazine. It was a list of organizations that provide financial assistance with Vet bills…

For the first time that day, I was able to exhale (if only just a little bit).

THE DREADED EMERGENCY VET BILL –

can cost upwards into thousands of dollars. While regularly scheduled appointments can be less expensive, the tab for an emergency visit can quickly get out of hand. Diagnostics for blood work, X-rays and possibly IV medications are costly. And in some cases, larger dogs can easily be even more expensive.

BACK TO THE SICK DOODLE BOYS –

Like military intelligence I traced my steps from the time I woke up until I boarded the train. I was desperate to find any clues that would help me identify the culprit behind my Bissell Shampooer getting two work-outs in one day.

Learning Harley also barked up his breakfast helped solve the mystery.

LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE –

I like to add “stuff” to their food –

• fresh fruits
• raw veggies
• cheese
• hardball eggs
• and on occasion ground chicken breasts that I boil myself #dingdingding

I boiled chicken the night before I left. I thought a little chicken with their meals while I was away would be a nice treat.

I fed them breakfast the day I left, apparently there was something wrong with the chicken. #sorryfellas

Lee knew to give them spaghetti that evening for dinner, along with plenty of fresh water and no treats. I asked him to throw the chicken in the trash.

They’re doing better, but I don’t think it turned out to be the “all Boys” fun filled weekend my husband had planned.

MY PET/VET TO DO LIST –

• Call Doodle Doc this week – tell him what happened, and ask him for a list of two or three emergency vets he prefers. #Doodlemomneedstoknow
• Get Pet Insurance – I’ve been putting this off long enough. I’ve been meaning to change insurance companies for some time now. #futureblogpost I have two companies that have been highly recommended. I will decide this week then enroll them both.
• Get specialized credit – I’ve heard a great deal about CareCredit. Built in financing for your pet’s medical needs. They’ll get a call too!

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER –

Thank the Doodle this mini medical episode didn’t involve emergency vet care, and wasn’t a life or death situation. It did however, make me realize there are a few things I need to take care of.

In the event – I am faced with an emergency vet visit – I don’t want to fret about anything else other than the health and welfare of my Doods…

I’m writing this on the train heading home. Doodle Dad did a Doodletastic job, can’t wait to see them all.

If you’re happy with your vet insurance – please let me know who you use in your comments.

It’s Monday, be brave, be brilliant and oh so resilient ❤️

Sources –

1. Humane Society
2. Sheknows
3. AVMA