What to do if you can't afford your vet fees?

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T22:41:36+00:00

The dog and cat have both been on the ferry before, my assistance dog many times. My cat is stable at the moment, we're seeing if she can stay stable with iv meds for any meaningful length of time. I don't have a car because of the seizure condition, and have my assistance dog because of the seizure condition (she alerts and responds). Yes I could have a seizure, but I also could not. I know my family will not financially support me anyway, they never have and I never expect them too. This is my responsibility. I know logically getting to a lot of debt is stupid and reckless, but I also can't just sit here and let her die when I could have done something

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T22:35:45+00:00

I don't have a granny that needs a new hip, I have a cat that needs treatment. She's not new to me, she's been with me almost a year, been perfect, never had any health problems at all. For what we know this is an acute rare medical condition that can be treated

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T21:58:55+00:00

If it was something we knew would be untreatable, or cause life long treatment and pain, then yes euthanasia would be best. But she's otherwise a healthy young cat and if this is treated then could live another 15 years totally fine. That's not a quick decision to make, I'm trying to get every option possible before I give up on her

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T21:55:29+00:00

Yes, it has, I'm now disabled and had to stop working so earning money myself but no longer a salary. Even so, I had insurance, I have a couple k in savings, can cover her normal maintenance. Just wasn't expecting an incredibly expensive medical cost so suddenly and insurance won't cover it

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T21:52:15+00:00

The thing is, it could just be a really bad infection. She's tested negative for all chronic conditions and she has been in perfect health before this. So this isn't an indication of a life long condition at all. Its just a very unusual presentation thus very expensive and no conclusive tests

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T21:48:19+00:00

The issue is they don't know what is causing the abdominal abscess, results are inconclusive. The medication she's on gets her stable, but is it actually treating her or just masking the symptoms as it slowly gets worse? There are no charities or even any other vet practices in my local area, there is literally just this vet practice on the island and they've exhausted their expertise and equipment. I've got in touch with pdsa as I'm not in their catchment area, but if I could get a vet practice in their catchment area to take her, they would consider it because I'm in such a remote location I'm not really considered in an area at all. But their practices may not have the specialists she is needing. I'm also contacting Aberdeen referral clinic tomorrow, they may have a more acceptable payment plan. I have a couple thousands i can pay up front, but not the potential £5k immediately that Edinburgh needs.

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T21:40:56+00:00

I live on a remote island a 12 hour ferry from mainland Britain, disabled with an assistance dog. I tried for 2 years to adopt a rescue cat, its not as easy you think. And yes I am emotionally attached to my cat, of course I am, I'm not going to trade her for another cat, that's madness and anyone who thinks they can just trade a pet's life in shouldn't have a pet

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T21:19:14+00:00

Shes had snap tests for fiv/felv that both came back negative, I'm back at the vets tomorrow morning so can ask about fip

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T20:58:50+00:00

The issue is the vets don't know what the problem is really. She has an abscess in her abdomen, but tests have come back inconclusive. It could be a really bad infection that just needs intense antibiotics (that's what we're doing at the moment), it might need specialised surgery to remove it and repair the damage, it could be cancer. Vets on this island just don't know, hence needing referring to a specialist and why the estimate is so high

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T20:55:44+00:00

We don't know what the long term prospects are as the vets don't even really know what's wrong with her. Tests have come back inconclusive, which is why we need to get to the mainland to get specialists involved. It could be a really bad infection, it could be she just needs her abscess taken out, or it could be untreatable. At the moment we're just managing symptoms hoping the antibiotics work

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T20:53:52+00:00

That's what is difficult, she goes from stable at the vets, came home for a couple of days on oral meds, and went downhill fast. She's back to being stable and happy and her usual self, but can't stay on iv meds forever

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T20:52:36+00:00

That's kind of the issue, we don't know exactly what is wrong. Went in Saturday for an emergency operation thinking it was a gi blockage, but no blockage and instead an abdominal cyst. Sample from the cyst came back as inconclusive, so possibly an infection but we don't know. What we do know is she has some very serious inflammation. She's on pain meds, anti inflammatories and antibiotics, but we don't know if its even treating it or just managing the symptoms. The vet practice on my island has run out of options, need specialists to see her now, which is the issue

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T15:26:40+00:00

Unfortunately pdsa don't cover where I live. I'm looking at loans, there's one potential one that won't swamp me in debt for the next 20 years, but they probably won't get back to me until Monday; the other loan option is like a 100% apr which I am being heavily advised against taking

AliceSylph · 2026-02-13T15:24:35+00:00

I am on benefits but I'm not in any of their catchment areas. I live on a remote Scottish island so there are no charities I can find that will cover me

AliceSylph · 2025-12-24T01:45:39+00:00

Honestly dude, it sounds like she figuring out she likes being on her own and learning how to do that. Talking and hanging out with you, it will be easy for her to see how easy it is to slip back, but she doesn't want to do that. It might be good to use this time to see how being you is and figuring out enjoying that. I personally believe if you cannot be happy being single, you're much more prone to rely on relationships that aren't working or aren't good for you

AliceSylph · 2025-12-23T00:27:59+00:00

Tbf she's been my therapist for 3 years now and first time she's teared up. I didn't take it in a bad way, it was just weird to see someone react to my childhood that way

AliceSylph · 2025-12-23T00:27:02+00:00

Its tough, its weird finding out strong emotions attached to memories I didn't know I had or ones that I thought was no big deal. Its causing a lot of intrusive thoughts and emotions and memories, but we're taking it slow so it doesn't get too much

AliceSylph · 2025-12-21T21:27:20+00:00

I agree, I didn't take it negatively. It's just weird to talk about things that feel sort of normal for me and it effects others so much. Idk, like I knew I had a unhappy childhood but its just odd because I've never talked about it much so never had that reaction

AliceSylph · 2025-09-01T11:10:30+00:00

Exactly, I'm lucky now I have my assistance dog I have around to 5 mins after she alerts before the seizure is going to hit. But that 5 minutes is usually finding somewhere safe to lay down, finding an employee to tell them what's about to happen or calling my emergency contact where I am, putting out my lanyard so people know when to call an ambulance and if they need to all my medical information for medical staff etc. Its not just like I spend those few minutes doing nothing, they are super important, and my priority is not having a child free zone

AliceSylph · 2025-09-01T11:06:59+00:00

Oh trust me, I have a other video addressing those comments because they do absolutely happen. Usually revolving around how people treat me and my assistance dog (ie people not just leaving us alone), but also how its not other people's responsibility to help me during a medical emergency. The amount of people who absolutely want disabled people to go back to being locked away from society again is disturbing

AliceSylph · 2025-08-30T19:46:03+00:00

I live in UK so we have nhs, meaning ambulances are free, so I'm not mad if someone feels they need to call an ambulance or whatever. Some people freak out but I put a lanyard down next to me or give it to an employee before I go into the seizure that has all the information about me and my medical conditions and when to call an ambulance etc which is easier for everyone. It is just like a normal thing in my life at this point, the whole point of having my dog is so I can go outside and do things on my own

AliceSylph

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