Diagnosis: F.U.O.

Eleven-thirty p.m., Saturday, May 15, 2010.

THE VET
When we see this type of sudden inflammation in dogs, it usually means cancer. You need to prepare yourselves. If it were my sister's dog, I'd tell her to run the tests.


Twelve a.m., Sunday, May 16, 2010.

Jodi sleeps in a chair in the waiting room. Kristin sits on the floor, trying to ignore the possibility of germs.

KRISTIN
It's okay, boy. It's okay, Rexy. We're just trying to find out why you're ouchy.

The vet comes back with initial test results.

THE VET
We've ruled out bone cancer.

Jodi and Kristin give sighs of relief.

THE VET
If it were my sister's dog, I'd say: You need to take him to a specialist.

Kristin's stomach twists. Visions of tens of thousands of dollars flying out the door cross her mind.

THE VET
It could also be auto-immune. We just don't know at this point. We are just trying to rule things out.

Auto-immune is a term Kristin heard on House recently. Should they call House's diagnostic team in to take a crack at this?

They decide to have x-rays done and a partial blood panel. The bill is adding up in increments.

Two a.m., Sunday, May 16, 2010.

THE VET
F.U.O. Fever of Unknown Origin.

The vet has x-rayed Rex. Kristin and Jodi review the x-rays on a laptop. The vet flashes through screens, as if he's excited about his expensive new toy.

KRISTIN
What's that?

She points to a small orb on Rex's left thigh.

THE VET
Bee-bee. This dog was shot at some point.

Kristin and Jodi look at Rex. Does this explain why he is sensitive when touched on the back?

THE VET
Again, if it were my sister's dog, I'd tell her to take him to a specialist.

KRISTIN THINKS...
But this is our dog. We've had him for three months. He's seven years old. My income is at or near the poverty level.

Kristin and Jodi decide to leave. They will give him the drugs and see if it is a sprain or infection. Maybe it will go away in a few days.

Three a.m., Sunday, May 16, 2010

They leave the vet's office. But first they split the bill -- the $700 vet bill which probably helps pay for the vet's expensive x-ray equipment. Jodi pulls out a Discover card. Kristin pulls out a Mastercard. The F.U.O. diagnosis feels like an F.U. But at least they ruled out bone cancer.

After taking Rex to the vet, they now know he has a fever. They knew this before by just feeling his forehead. But now they leave with a pain prescription and an antibiotic for Rex. Those two things made the late-night trip worthwhile.

They also know that he was shot at some point in his life.

JODI
We're like new parents. We overreacted as soon as something went wrong.

KRISTIN
We needed the drugs. So we had no choice but to bring him in. Right?