Wednesday, 18 February 2026

A visit to the hospital

 

A visit to the hospital

Jellicoe and Herschel

When Jellicoe visited the vet recently for a regular check-up, it transpired that he, too, has a heart murmur, like his brother. Additionally, a biopsy of the cyst that had reappeared on his head indicated that it was malignant and he would have to go to an animal hospital for treatment.

This morning Barry took him to Aura, the animal hospital in Guildford. As we were not sure whether the consultation would lead to an immediate surgical procedure, Jellicoe was only allowed a token breakfast, a quarter of his usual ration, because, as a diabetic cat, he must have insulin injections regularly. He was not happy and kept miaouing and following me for more food.

The outcome was that he has to return tomorrow for an echocardiogram before an operation next week. This is to ensure that he is fit enough for surgery, just as happens with human surgical procedures.

Many pet insurers have raised their cover to £25,000, but ours tops out at £12,000. Veterinary medicine is now so sophisticated that £12,000 is soon swallowed up in tests.

We are looking at alternative providers. Roxy and the cats are probably too old to transfer, although Jellicoe is the only one with pre-conditions, but Gilbert is still a young lad.

22 comments:

  1. I am sad to hear about your four-footed family members' issues.

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  2. Poor Jellicoe! I hope he can get the treatment he needs without it breaking the bank.

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  3. I am sorry to hear about Jellicoe. I hope you can find someone to help you out.

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  4. As an animal lover this,saddens me. I know how expensive all of that is. I hope you can find the right help you need. God bless Jellicoe. I will say a prayer!

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  5. I'm wishing all the best for Jellicoe. Finding satisfactory and affordable care for our pets is too often a daunting challenge.

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  6. I will keep Jellico in my thoughts.

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  7. Poor Jellico....Sending healing thoughts and energy for him.

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  8. All the best for Jellicoe!
    Until 2013, I always lived with cats but we never had insurance for them (it was unheard of when I was younger). The money we left at the vet's...! Most of it was, as you say, for testing; even when one of my cats was poisoned and had to stay at the vet's clinic for 5 days, her stay there and what little food she ate did only amount to somewhere around 550 euros, with the tests being the major factor. But of course that was around 25 years ago... I don't want to know how much that same clinic would charge for the same therapy now.

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  9. Heavens, poorJellicoe. And you too. Hope it all goes well

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  10. Hoping Jellicoe’s echocardiogram goes well and that everything lines up smoothly for his surgery next week

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  11. Never having had pets I had no idea that their medical expenses would be so expensive.
    I do hope that the op is successful and that he recovers well.

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  12. Pet care cover is so wide these days we checked out loads last year for Lilly, we decided on pet care as recommended by our own vet, they have a good cover and work direct with vet, so we would not have to pay and recover the cost. Hope everything goes OK

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  13. A concerning time for you about your pets, and an expensive time too. Good luck.

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  14. Hi Janice - lucky animools to be so well looked after; I hope all goes well ... cheers Hilary

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  15. If they truly love animals, why can't vets work for free?

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  16. Hope all goes well with Jellicoe. Vet expenses are unbelievable these days

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  17. Prayers for Jellico and the surgery, so sorry he has to go through this.

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  18. I'm so sorry to read about this today. It makes the radioactive iodine treatment here recently very trivial. Best of luck and I will certainly be praying for Jellico.

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  19. I think the costs will help to keep me pet-less now that Lacey is gone.

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  20. Thinking of you as you face these challenges, our pets are so special.
    Alison in Devon x

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  21. Oh, my! Poor little ones need care and it's so expensive. If the vet didn't cost so much I'd take in more animals. My own healthcare costs have increased dramatically.

    Love,
    Janie

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  22. Oh my! I hope everything works out.

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