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YT family, I am a basket case. My 4 yr. old boy Kimbo went to the vet for some vomiting/skin allergies in Feb. The lab work showed that his liver enzymes were slightly elevated, but all still within normal range. A round of antibiotics later and he was his normal happy self. He's always been a bit on the portly side (according to the vet) so I was happy to see him finally lose a little weight on the new Royal Canin food we switched him to in April.

Kimbo has thrown up a tiny bit once a week for the last couple of weeks. Just once for the week a little bit and he was happy and normal right after. I just thought it was an upset tummy because he's so sensitive.

Then this weekend he threw up once on Sat., Sun., and Monday. He didn't want his kibble Sunday and ate a little bit on Monday along with some chicken. He gobbled it up and begged for more. He was also drinking water.

I took him to the vet this morning at 10 am. He threw up twice since he woke up and I was worried. When we got there to my horror, he had lost 2 lbs. in 2 months. I thought it was more like 1 lb, but 2 seemed extreme. Lab results came back and the vet called me to tell me that he suspects Kimbo is in full blown liver failure and that he needs a specialist at a University 4.5 hours from where I'm at. I asked him if he could find one closer and he said yes, there was one 2 hrs. away but the retainer fee for both places is more than 2K and the bills there usually run in excess of 5K. It breaks my heart to say that I can't pay that. I asked if they would do a payment plan, but they won't. My vet said that he's so bad off, that he might not make it even if I take him.

He wanted to keep him there and administer iv fluids and watch him. I asked if he would be administering his meds via IV and he said no, just fluids. The meds are in pill form. I asked if he was dehydrated, which would have been surprising because he was still drinking water. He said no, he wasn't really dehydrated at all yet. It was just preventative. He gave him a shot for nausea that lasts 24 hrs. and I asked to come pick him up. God help me, but I hope I made the right decision. He's still eating (chicken) and drinking, and I'm on vacation, so I can watch him like a hawk. He was so happy to see me and DH and gave us TONS of kisses when we picked him up. The vet said he may not last the week without further help. I'm heart broken and near hysteria.

So I came to my YT family to ask for guidance. I can't take him anywhere else because I just don't have 5K. We got Cerenia Tabs for nausea, Metronidazole for antibiotics, and Denamarin Tabs for "Liver Disease". I know the lab reports are bad, but I'll post them in a bit for you to look at. You'll be able to see the difference between Feb. 2013 and today.

My poor baby. I know that God has a plan for his little life, but I'm selfish. I don't want to be without him. He means too much to me. I just want to know...is there any hope at all? ...Could it be a shunt or something and maybe he can pull through?