Insurance Allows Ouzo to Get the Emergency Care He Needs
“One night he came into the bed and I saw he was walking strangely,” recalls pet owner Terri Josephs. Her sweet cat Ouzo was licking his leg and side. “I know that’s not a good sign,” she added.“ When I patted him, he yelped.”
The next morning, Terri followed Ouzo to his cat litter and noticed he couldn’t go to the bathroom. She knew exactly what was wrong. “We got in the car right away.”
Terri’s family vet suggested she go to Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Davie.
Ouzo is Hospitalized
At AVCC, Ouzo was admitted to the hospital. He was diagnosed with urethral obstruction (blockage of the lower urinary tract). It’s a serious issue that can become a life-threatening emergency within just a few days. Terri knows this all too well. She once had a cat pass away from the same condition.
Doctors and nurses at AVCC were able to unblock Ouzo. A urinary catheter was placed to keep his bladder empty. He received supportive care including intravenous fluids, pain medications, and urethral anti-spasm medications. “They were lovely,” says Terri about the staff at Advanced Veterinary Care Center. “They were absolutely lovely, kind, and explained the situation,” she adds.
About Urethral Obstruction
Urethral obstruction is most common in indoor neutered male cats living in multi-cat households. Causes of urethral obstruction include physical obstruction by a urethral plug, stones, stricture, or neoplasia (abnormal growth of cells). Mechanical obstruction is another cause secondary to urethral spasm and edema (swelling). When no obvious disease is found, the condition is referred to as Feline Idiopathic cystitis (FIC). In FIC, the exact cause cannot be determined. But, there are several factors that can contribute to obstruction including diet, environment, and stress.
At the time of discharge, Ouzo’s bloodwork was normal. He was also eating well and urinating normally without the urinary catheter in place. While doctors were able to unblock Ouzo, they let Terri know that there is an increased risk with blocked cats and that he could re-obstruct and require another hospital stay.
Ouzo Returns for Surgery
At home, Ouzo was unable to go to the bathroom. So, he returned to Advanced Veterinary Care Center to explore surgical intervention. Terri met with Dr. Shiara Arulpragasam, Director of Surgery. “Dr. A is lovely and she explained everything beautifully,” says Terri. Dr. Arulpragasam performed a perineal urethrostomy (PU). It’s a procedure to make a new opening for the urethra that is at a level where the urethra is wider. This allows animals to urinate more easily and they are less likely to suffer future urethral obstructions.
Today Ouzo is doing amazing and Terri says he is, “slowly becoming is affectionate self again.” But, the cost of emergency and specialty care for animals can really add up. Terri was thankful she had pet insurance for Ouzo. It saved her thousands in medical bills.
The Importance of Pet Insurance Today
In 2020, $103.6 billion was spent on our pets in the U.S., according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). That amount includes costs for routine veterinary care, emergency care and specialty care. Veterinary medicine today is comparable to human medicine. The cost for veterinary expertise and experience of the doctors, nurses and staff, along with state-of-the-art diagnostics and technology can add up. The same holds true for human medical care. So, for a pet owner without insurance, it could mean having to make a devastating choice. “Having pet insurance is a very real necessity,” says Dr. Jon Rappaport, Co-Medical Director of Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Davie. “For many pet owners, having proper insurance with a plan that covers 80-90% or more, can all too often make the difference between life and death when a serious illness or accident arrives,” adds Dr. Rappaport.
Ouzo and Nika
“You just don’t know what’s going to happen,” says Terri. “I learned that lesson, when I had three kitties before my Ouzo and Nika,” she adds. “Remy had kidney disease and I gave her dialysis for a year. Stoli had cancer and we had to give him red blood cells and chemo. It cost us a fortune. I swore if I got new pets, I would get pet insurance right away!”
Learn More About Pet Insurance
We believe that medical insurance for pets is an important part of pet ownership. If your pet is not currently insured, we recommend researching coverage options that will offer security in cases of unexpected or complicated illnesses and injuries. There are a number of reputable providers of pet insurance policies.
You can find a variety of plans here! We recommend that you compare plans and find the one that meets the needs of your family. Many of our clients and AVCC staff members use Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Embrace, and Pets Best, but we recommend looking at several companies and plans to find one that works best for your household.
Click To Read More Patient Stories on How Pet Insurance Saves Lives:
Gus Gus’s Lifesaving Elective Surgery is Covered by Pet Insurance
Luca’s pet insurance policy saves her family more than $80,000
About Advanced Veterinary Care Center
South Florida’s Premier Veterinary Emergency Hospital
We Have a Fully Staffed Veterinary Emergency Hospital We have the largest team of veterinary emergency doctors and nurses in South Florida. Our emergency doctors are internship trained and have years of experience in emergency medicine. Every person on our ER team is RECOVER certified (basic and advanced life support/CPR training).
A Collaborative Approach to Veterinary Care Our emergency doctors are supported 24/7 by our team of board-certified veterinary specialists. We work as a team to provide the best possible outcomes for pets and their people. Great veterinary medical care is a team sport – our collaborative approach and the quality of our team give patients the best chances for the best possible outcomes. We have earned a reputation for handling the most challenging cases because of our team and our approach.
Board Certification. It Matters! Board certification in an accredited veterinary specialty is the only accepted standard for expertise in veterinary medicine. Our experts are all board certified in their specialties and they have collectively published over 30 peer-reviewed publications in veterinary medical journals.
We Have a State-Of-The-Art Facility Including a full in-house lab, canine and feline blood products, a brand new 32-slice Fuji CT unit, surgical suites, minimally invasive surgical equipment, flexible and rigid endoscopy, mechanical ventilator, blood products and all equipment and services necessary for state-of-the-art care.
Centrally Located, Easily Accessible, and Worth the Drive. We are 20 minutes from most of Broward County and 45-60 minutes from much of Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
We are Privately Owned and Operated. The owners of AVCC are full-time veterinarians and active members of our community.
Advanced Veterinary Care Center in Davie (Broward County) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. If you have any questions regarding our services, please feel free to call us anytime at 954-500-8387 or visit us online here.