The Hermie Fund
On September 10th 2003, I noticed that Hermie seemed to be having some difficulties urinating. I was a bit worried so I called the vet in my hometown of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia to see if he was in need of any major treatment. The vet told me that I should get him in to see them ASAP because his condition could be fatal if left untreated. I made an appointment for 8:30am in Bridgewater, but as not 10 mins after I hung up the phone I noticed that he seemed to be getting worse. Me being the worried parent in which I am, I quickly constructed a carrier for Hermie and called up the Atlantic Cat Hospital on Quinpool Rd. to see if they could take him right away. They were also concerned with the well being of my Hermie so they told me to bring him in as soon as I possibly could. I called a cab and arrived not 10 mins after the phone call I was in the office giving the vet all my info.
They took Hermie into the exam room and looked him all over, weighed him (where we came to the conclusion that he was a bit chucky at 12.5 pounds) and felt his bladder to see if he was blocked. He squirmed in discomfort when she touched him, so she knew there was something wrong, but knew that he wasn't any real blockage. After Hermie was finished rolling around, like the moron that he is, in the catnip which was on the floor, the vet finally got a decent sample of urine off the floor. It wasn't the best, but it was the only thing she had to go by considering Herm's lack of actual peeing. While we waited he tried to squat and pee 10 times with hardly any success. The vet came back only to tell me that the urinalysis showed that he had blood cells and epithelial cells in the lining of the urinary track. Meaning he has CYSTITIS, or a bladder disease, NOT a bladder infection. She said that even though she did not see crystals in the sample, she still had her suspicions that he may have some OR he could have a condition called IDIOPATHIC CYSTITIS where the bladder becomes inflamed and sore, but there are no crystals or infection, which is often after a period of stress. Personally idiopathic cystitis seems about right, considering the past few months for him have been quite dramatic; a new house, going from living with two people in a quiet country setting to living in a city environment with 6 people.
The vet said that in order to treat this I had to change Hermie's diet ASAP to wet only, either Waltham pH Control or MediCal Preventive. In order to relieve Hermie's pain, he was given an Anafen injection (pain killer) and was given Subcutaneous Fluid Therapy (Rehydration fluids were placed beneath the skin using a needle. Bumps occurred where the fluids were administered, slowly decreased in size as the fluid was absorbed).
In all the total bill, including the fluid therapy, pain killers, special food, the urinalysis dipstick, and the urine sediment testing all came to $235.16. Being a full time student at Dalhousie University, I was pretty much sickened when they told me how much it was, but I had no choice but to pay, meaning I had to put it on my credit card. I made a post about Hermie's situation on the Live Journal community
catsgalore
and was given the idea to create this donation page. Here I am giving anyone, who is generous enough to make any sort of donation in order to help me pay off Hermie's vet bills, and to help me out if anything else seems to arise from is current situation, as the vet doesn't seem top be 100% sure as to what is really wrong with him, but only made an educated guess.
If you would like to leave a donation feel free to use either Paypal (button located below) or you can send a check, money order (make either out to Tiffany Naugler) or cash to:
Tiffany Naugler
6463 Chebucto Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
B3L 1L3
OR
I would like to thank:
For helping me get this page started. If it would not have been for these people and this community, I would have never thought of coming up with anything like this. Thank you so much guys!
For all their help and support with Hermie. They did an excellent job and I would recommend them to anyone in the Halifax area if they are in need of any sort of veterinary services. I would especially like to thank Dr. Jessica Scott who personally looked after Hermie in the clinic and Sandy Fleming who spoke to me on the phone and helped me out along the way.
We're still in need of your help.
