Thanks guys. We really dodged a bullet, well needle on this one. Good news...not great... but manageable. Ruby wasn't well at all. Vet was stumped. Large amount of fluid in abdominal cavity. The vet said we'd need to get a specialist in, but it's going to be expensive. I let her know that Ruby is a family member, and hang the cost. A mobile specialist comes with a sonogram and electrocardiogram machine. They sedate her and spend several hours doing an ultrasound and full echo. Poor old darling, she's 10 on Sunday, has a dodgy heart mitral valve. The rest of her organs are in great shape.
Three days on with heart meds and diuretics and she's back to her normal self. She's eating again, she wants to play, but we have to try and calm her down for a couple of weeks.
I really thought she was a gonner. So did the vet. Even after we'd spent the money for the ultrasound etc, if we had to make the decision to terminate, my wife and I know we would've done everything we could have for her. I can always earn back the $4K, but Rubes is only here once....and she relies on me to make her life the best I can.
It's an honor and a privilege, to have such beautiful creatures as important parts of our families.
Again, appreciate your thoughts guys and for letting me vent in this thread.
