There has been a short hiatus between my last entry and this new one. In between, heaven and earth shook in my simple little life. And also, we just got internet at our place.
Furries flew to Melbourne 10 days before us, and as unsettling as that was, I had to let it happen if I wanted to continue having them in our lives. It sounds selfish at times to me, that I'm making decisions for them without their consent or that may not be in their best interests. In my (poor) defense, I've done everything I could to ensure they were safe and healthy enough for travel.
It wasnt good enough. I didnt convince the furries to trust me enough that I would come for them. I did not do enough homework to know I could secure insurance coverage for them. I wish the pet agent had offered me this option which was available but she didnt mention this at all. Because. Against all odds, Ginger fell ill on Day 8 of the 10-day quarantine. It. Was. Devastating. My heart sank. I was literally crushed. I just cried everyday since. I couldnt see him, wasnt entirely sure what was going on. All I had were email correspondences informing me he stopped eating, started vomitting, asking me for permission to send in private vet, to send him to emergency vet hospital ICU, to provide his last blood test from Singapore, to take ultrasounds, to run more tests.. I called in from Singapore to the hospital twice daily to get the latest updates. I could only call back to Dr Nicholas, Ginger's vet in Singapore, to get some light or any possibility on Ginger's well-being over the years I've had him. Dr Nicholas assured me that Ginger had been sent to the best vet hospital in Melbourne, and was receiving the best care and support any animal would in Melbourne.
Finally, on the 3rd day of his hospitalisation, the vets eventually diagnosed acute pancreatitis. Amidst the panic, we still had lots of packing to do at home. I eventually called in Mum for SOS. On the night of our flight, Fen and I left our most important possession (ok maybe passport was most important possession) - MacBooks and his iPad - on the Grab car. We didnt even notice it missing until 2 hours later, when we're waving goodbyes and about to go through the gate. It was MADNESS. Frantic calling Grab to contact driver, making lost baggage report to Changi Airport, thanking friends for coming to send us off.. And a big part of my brain was just hoping to reunite with Ginger and Pitch. That complex surge of mixed emotions, dont know to cry or worry or panic or just sleep the troubles away.
Fen and I touched down on the 4th day of Ginger's hospitalisation. After clearing customs, we headed to collect car from rental and flew straight to the quarantine facility to collect Pitch. That immense relief when I saw Pitch. She looked so cautious and unsure, and didnt eat/drink that entire day. Once we collected her, we went straight to U-Vet at Werribee. When I finally got to see Ginger, he was stoned from the medication and was just scooting everywhere, confusion and daze in his eyes.
Since he hasnt been eating for so many days, the vets put a feeding tube (oesophageal tube) from his neck through to his stomach, so that he can get nutrients. According to them, the only way to treat pancreatitis is supportive care. Ginger will get anti sickness pills (for his poor appetite), pain relief (for his pancreas inflammation that basically causes pain to neighbouring organs like gut and liver), and antibiotics for his o-tube opening (to prevent infection).
Baby so badly clipped and front legs were both poked with needles..
After finally reuniting with furries, my mind was more put to ease, and the crying eventually stopped. The days after were planned around visiting Ginger at U-Vet and getting our local documents ready and settling down. After 8 days of visiting him daily at the hospital ICU, he finally transferred to normal ward last Friday, with his drip taken off. And the next day afternoon, he was discharged!!
In the 9 days Ginger was in hospital, and since we touched down, Fen and I and Pitch have been staying at Airbnb, where the room was cramped and dirty. Pitch was very very restless and ate/drink very little. We were constantly out to settle our administrative documents, and only came home after dark, where she was pining for us and would only then nibble some food. When Ginger was discharged, we moved straight to our rental accommodation (without electricity, gas, internet), and again, another change of environment for her. This time, with an unwell Ginger who smelt funny due to the hospitalisation and the drugs he was on. I have to say, Pitch has been through just as much. Both my furries are such champions, and we really have been hard on them.
Ginger has been back with us for a week now. I've been tube feeding him every 6-8 hours, together with 5 other medication he's on. 3 days ago, he started eating a little on his own. I was overjoyed.
He's making good recovery, and I was tube feeding him only 2-3 times a day. And then. Yesterday. We came home to find he had yanked his o-tube out. Faint. His drama never ends. Another frantic call to the hospital, and was reassured that as long as he continues to eat and doesnt show signs of pain of nausea, he's fine at home. Since I cant tube-feed anymore, Ginger needs to be eating enough on his own. Argh.
The marked length was inside his body! Literally delivering food straight to his stomach =O
Next thing that's bugging me. There's spot pigmentation on Ginger's eyes. Yes, both eyes. I raised this to the vet during his review appointment on Wednesday, and she brought him to see the GP for a quick check. She called me just now to address the matter, and said that it could be sequestrum. Nothing to be alarmed, although early detection and treatment is advised. Now I have to make an appointment with the eye specialist, and consultation can easily be a couple hundred dollars. Ginger.. I know you're a fighter, why doesnt God give you peace.. =(
Let's look at the cost of bringing furries over now. It cost me about S$8k to bring both furries over. Ginger's hospital bills at U-Vet is currently at A$6.5k and counting. His eye specialist visit will also be contributing to the cost. I'll be lying if I said all's good. I'm not concerned about money as much as I'm concerned about furries and their well-being. Having just landed in a foreign land with no income, it is definitely unnerving, untimely, and unforeseen. There is currently so much stress and worry. Just praying every day that furries will be back to normal soon and stay healthy and happy for as long as possible.
To summarise, it takes commitment to bring your pets overseas. It takes dedication to own pets. If you're not up for this, dont even keep pets. Pets are for life. They're family, and deserve no less.
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