Well, last Wednesday he told me Hayley was sick with diarrhea and vomiting.
Friday morning he called and told me that after we last spoke he'd been sent home from the Yorba Regional Animal Hospital after x-rays that found nothing, blood work that revealed nothing, and water being injected under her skin to hydrate her, with instructions that Hayley was to have no food or drink for 18 to 24 hours. Sent home, despite the fact that on their way across the lobby a bout of diarrhea had struck that appeared so thick and blood colored that Vince asked that one of the medical personnel look at it. They responded that it was unnecessary, as this was to be expected, and not to worry. So $200 or $280, I forget which, dollars later, he reluctantly brought her home, her only treatment, if I have this right, having been the injected water.
When she first became ill, he'd confined her to his kitchen area but she'd made her way past what she'd found to be a mediocre barrier onto the more comfortable carpet, causing major clean-up work, so now Vince was sleeping outside with her. But by late Thursday night after continual vomiting and diarrhea she was listless and could no longer stand, so Vince and Sharon returned to the Yorba Regional Animal Hospital where the same doctor was apparently confrontational, asserting that he was not to blame for her worsened condition, that my brother and Sharon were...not even allowing that they'd simply been following the 18 to 24 hour advice.
Learning their sweet (young, I might add) beautiful Haley was considered to be in critical condition. With no promisses as to the chances of recovery Vince and Sharon let her stay at the hospital where an iv and three antibiotics were given (one of which apparently also has a property known to relieve nausea), with a diagnosis of an intestinal infection and a revised bill of$1102.00 (I think that was the number.)
After Don and I got off work we met Vince at the animal hospital, with Don feeling that if Haley was not recovering he would strongly advise Vince to move her to another facility.
When we arrived however, we were taken to the room where Vince was already busy willing Haley to a full recovery and Haley, while not in her usual bouncy flamboyant character, was awake, alert, and clearly pleased to have company.
The arm bandage is her iv. The tail wrapping is an attempt to keep it out of any further leakage from that end.
Finally, it occurs to me to change the "White Balance" setting to compensate for the green florescent lights.
So what I want to know is, how typical is this scene? When one of our dogs has been sick, I too have been found on the floor beside him/her. Why don't these places invest in mats? Rarely is there room on these benches for owner and ill pet, and with some pet's their little paws must go through the wood slats.
In fact, speaking of furnishings this place so resembles the animal clinic we use in Westminster; the arrangement of the counter in the middle of the lobby, the lobby furniture, and these exam rooms- right down to these benches, that for a moment I thought I'd been transported.
We originally went to ours in Westminster because they were the only place advertising that they could treat rabbits. It turns out that this is also what brought Vince to this Yorba Regional Animal Hospital. He brought his friend's rabbits here when they were sick and had been impressed with their quick response to the rabbit's troubles.
Oh look, Hayley is sitting up a little!
We were here for an hour. After the doctor had introduced himself to Don and I, he'd returned to the back area to (eat his dinner?) prepare Vince's new bill. Relieved that only another $280.00 or so had been added, Vince left with us, happy that she looks better, but sad that they expect to have to keep her another two days. Still, he knows it is best they have her as she begins eating and drinking to make certain she can tolerate it, and so they can continue administering the three antibiotics.
Thanks for reading. I know that sympathetic hearts will aid Hayley's speedy recovery.
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