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Financially strapped owner with a suffering cat
Author(s) -
McCulloch Steven
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.d3465
Subject(s) - urination , medicine , presentation (obstetrics) , depression (economics) , general surgery , surgery , urinary system , economics , macroeconomics
A two‐year‐old male cat has presented out of hours at a private clinic for depression and straining to urinate. Handling and being picked up in particular causes it to vocalise. Examination reveals a blocked bladder and the signalment, history and clinical presentation together suggest urolithiasis. Unfortunately, the owner does not have the £600 to £1000 required to stabilise, catheterise and hospitalise her pet for the weekend. The owner is upset because if she could afford the treatment, her pet would likely live a full life afterwards. It is also a difficult situation for the veterinary surgeon, who may have to euthanase the animal for these reasons, but what other options could the practitioner consider?