Rudy’s Life Saving Treatment

If any of you have had the joy of meeting Rudy, you’d know just how special of a kitty he is. He is the most loving, social, special boy I’ve ever seen. But he is suffering right now and he and I need your help. 
My name is Madyson, and I am a 28 year old student living in Toronto, Canada. Over thanksgiving weekend and unbeknownst to us, my sweet boy Rudy (who was diagnosed a few months ago with type 2 diabetes) got into a stash of dry cat food (normally only meant for my other kitty, he usually eats strictly wet food) and ate almost a week’s worth of food in two days. 

As a result, his blood glucose shot up to dangerous levels which would be uncontrolled even with his regular insulin dose, and within the span of a less than two days he entered Feline Diabetic Ketoacidosis, a life threatening complication of diabetes in which ketones and blood sugar levels build up in the body due to insufficient levels of insulin which is required to move glucose into the cells for energy. As a result, the body uses fat as an alternate energy source which produces ketones causing the blood to become too acidic, and him to be extremely dehydrated,and clinically unwell (e.g., anorexia, vomiting, lethargy).

He required immediate care, which he received on Tuesday at Dundas Euclid Animal Hospital. He was discharged to me Tuesday night after insulin therapy, rehydration and bloodwork/urinalysis/urine culture, totaling $450.

Unfortunately, Wednesday Rudy was still not recovering and was still extremely lethargic, not eating or drinking, and experiencing muscle weakness despite careful constant care at home watching his blood glucose and hydration/food intake. 

Wednesday night Rudy began having trouble breathing and was rushed to the emergency hospital (Veterinary Emergency Clinic, Toronto). It was found that Rudy has tachycardia and severe hypokalemia (life threatening low levels of potassium) — potassium is an important electrolyte within the body and is vital for the normal function of muscles and nerves, inclusion the heart and lungs.  It is unclear how he became so depleted in potassium, but it has been hypothesized that it may be due to the insulin therapy he actually received through the vet on Tuesday (they did not monitor his potassium as far as I know).

To keep him alive he requires level 2 ICU care, intravenous fluids, careful intravenous potassium supplementation and monitoring, medications and insulin to continue to control his blood sugar and further reduce the acidosis in his blood.  Cost of ICU per day at the only emergency vet in downtown Toronto is $736 a day. So far his Wednesday/Thursday 24 hr visit has a accumulated another $1100 in vet bills. At this point I am not sure how much more care he will need, but the vet estimated up to $4500. This is on top of the $1000 or so it cost me to go through the initial diagnosis of his diabetes and ongoing insulin costs. 

*Update: Tuesday’s bill was $450, Wednesday to Thursday bill $1000, Thursday to Friday bill was $580* (+ new insulin costs and he will need blood work done in near future, and hopefully he is in the clear but will update if anything changes!)

Having decided to go back to University to pursue graduate studies, I already have been struggling to make ends meet while living in Toronto and completing my studies. Embarrassing as it is, I’ve had to ask for food donations as recently as last month, I moved to a cheaper apartment in September, and have already borrowed too much money, just so I can live. These vet bills are just not something I can afford at all right now in my current situation.

It is sad that due to the price of veterinary care, we have to consider the cost of a life, and make sacrifices for those we love — like food and financial security. At this point though, I need to ask for help for both Rudy’s and my own livelihood — especially if Rudy needs more care.

I have made $2500 the goal, as this would cover the costs I have already accumulated, but as I said, I may accrue more costs. Any amount donation helps - trust me. If you choose to donate to help offset the cost of Rudy’s vet bills, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  He is literally the sweetest boy you’d ever meet (and you know this if you’ve ever had
the chance!) and has given so much joy and love to those in his and my life over the years.  

Thank you so much for all the love and support I’ve received over the last few days. 

xoxo
Madyson