Raphael and Josie.

Thanks Fizgig for this feedback.

I have to say first up, today I realised she was likely aggressive because she was starving. Josie lost 200grams minimum in her one day stay there. And this realisation calmed me right down about taking her there.

I was very distressed that they used a needle into the bladder. They said they wanted a sterile sample.
I believe they sent her home because I said I don't want the price to go over $2000, They said they wanted to do another blood test that gives a 2week average of sugar levels, and it would cost another 150-200AUD just for that blood test. I had already said it's not to go over $2000 if possible because they quoted me 1800-2000 over the phone.

The vet believes it is only stress as her blood levels didn't show high glucose, and it can only enter the urine if the blood levels go over 12, so he was getting readings of 5 in her blood and still glucose readings in her urine. He said there could have been residual urine from the previous day that caused the second day glucose reading. He thought maybe the tubes in her kidneys were failing but that would show high protein in her urine and the protein was fine.
He said he needs to rule out pre-diabetes 100%, as if she is pre-diabetic, the treatment will bring on the diabetes and they can't go in and handle her. She will be minimally attended to until her radiation levels are acceptable.

But you are right about them milking their clients. The reviews were not good. A lot of the reviews said that it's all about money.
Only a few clinics (I think 3 in Sydney) do this radioactive iodine treatment, and because this is a teaching vet hospital, it was $500 cheaper quote than the private hospital to bring more people to them. So regardless of the reviews, I felt that they couldn't risk their reputation with their over 95% success rate. This is why I chose to come here. And the private hospital could have gone up to $3000 even though they quoted $2500. And they may not have been so thorough.

I can't imagine how they would feel if a cat is in trouble whilst in isolation, and they can't get to it. i.e. if it's convulsing or unconscious, and it's too radioactive to go in and treat it. How awful would that be. I asked a nurse what would you do if the cat happened to choke on it's food, and she said they would have to go in, but I doubt it, or maybe they do and they really don't want to so they are overly cautious.

Keep in mind though, Josie could be pre-diabetic and it's not yet showing on anything, and the treatment might bring on the diabetes. Regardless of all these precautions.

I had to take a step back and let my instincts guide me. I rang the vet about the negative glucose reading I got yesterday. He asked me if I was satisfied that the reading was negative. I was, I took two readings from brand new urine test strips, just to make sure.

I take Josie back in tomorrow (Tuedsay), and they will do another physical exam to make sure. Then if they are happy, they will order the radioactive Iodine tablet, and tomorrow night they will give her the anti-vomit injection, and Wednesday she will be given the tablet. I feel she will be ok, I feel she will be successful. I hate putting her through it though, I've got some old sheet I put on my pillow to get my smell a week before, then cut it up and asked them to put a piece in every day she is in isolation, so she has my smell. I'm hoping this might comfort her. (Josie always has to steal my chair I sit on so I thought she might not mind).