[island911]

Yep. Sto-monk called it right early on.

I'll add that Vet's are very practiced at working within budgets. Like for a dog who won't eat, they will check for intestinal blockage by feel, then want to look with xray, Then, if still inconclusive, they will like to look with ultra-sound. ... unless the Vet is a surgeon, then they likely want to cut to see. (just like human Doc's)

fwiw, I Just went thru this w/ cat and a dog.

The dog we 'rescued' less than a month ago. A 10 y/o Aussie, right after the shelter did a spay (I know; at 10?) Anyway, she was very sick just a few days later. ...Stopped eating, started puking...

For her, she got an emergency trip for x-rays, and then the next day to the ultra-sound specialist. ...she ultimately pulled thru her bad Sx, Giardia and kennel cough.

Then, just a few days ago our tough young cat, of a year, had similar symptoms. Stopped eating, took him in for xray, he started eating the next day, but then Puked up a few meals worth of food. Our Saturday --how much do we really like this cat-- decision was that he gets an ultra-sound Monday/this morning, if he makes it that long. He did, bouncing back strong mid-day Sunday. (ultra-sound canceled)

So, in short, your Vet can help quite a lot, but the decision about how much is up to you.

So that such awful decisions can be made by (and paid by) someone Else. . .someone in DC, Maybe Obamacare should be amended so that pet insurance is also mandatory. ...to be fair and caring, donncha know.