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'That's Crazy': Minor Cat Bite Leads To Major $25,000 Bill

ORLANDO, Fla. — Petting a cat in your neighborhood may seem harmless, but an Orlando woman learned it's something that could end up costing you thousands of dollars.

Sabrina Daswick was out on her back patio when she saw a cute cat in the yard with her.

Daswick said, "It just came into the yard and I just stooped down to pet it."

She didn't think much about it since the cat seemed to enjoy it, but then it's demeanor changed.

"It was happy and then I just pet it in the wrong way and it just turned and bit me," she said.

It wasn't a bad bite, but the cat took off and Daswick hasn't seen it since.  During a visit to the doctor the issue of rabies came up and she started to worry.  If left untreated, rabies is fatal.   So, taking no chances, Daswick decided to get the lengthy and painful rabies post exposure treatment.

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Daswick told Action 9 consumer investigator Jeff Deal, "I just showed up to the ER.  And they said, 'We're glad you did this. This was the best thing to do for getting a bite from a wild animal.'"

Deal asked, "Did you have any idea what the cost would be like?"   

Daswick responded, "No idea. Not even close."

The total cost for treatment from AdventHealth was more than $25,000.  Even with insurance for Daswick, it meant paying $4,500 out of pocket.

Caitlin Donovan from the National Patient Advocate Foundation said, "Compared to other medications, even within the United States, it is particularly expensive because it's made from an expensive material."

She pointed out immune globulin given after the exposure is derived from human blood that's been donated by people with the antibodies for rabies.  It's typically not held in local doctors' offices which means in most cases patients must make a trip to the emergency room.

Donovan said, "So, you're forced into the series of healthcare decisions that are barely a decision and yet you're walloped with this enormous cost."

While it is expensive everywhere, Donovan said like most medications it's more expensive in the U.S. Because we have fewer price controls.  In fact, in some countries, patients potentially exposed to rabies don't have to pay anything out of pocket.

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Last year, Congressman Ami Bera of California, who is a medical doctor, introduced legislation to try to lower the cost for the uninsured after he and others near the Capitol grounds were bitten by a rabid fox.

At this point, that bill hasn't gained traction, but even for those with insurance, like Daswick, suddenly getting a bill for thousands of dollars isn't easy to swallow.  It was so surprising, at first Daswick wondered if there was a mistake on her bill.

"I mean, you have no choice. When you think you might get rabies. You gotta get your rabies vaccine. I can't be the only one, and I think that's crazy," she said.

She was able to get her follow-up rounds of the vaccine shots at the health department for significantly less than at the hospital.

Many hospitals, including AdventHealth, do have financial aid programs for those who are in need of assistance with bills. 

Patient advocates recommend waiting to pay any medical bill until after the explanation of benefits arrives just in case there are any mistakes, and if something doesn't look right, the patients should contest it.

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Alternative Names For A Cat's Belly Pooch Hit A Little Too Close To Home

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One of our cats has a very pronounced belly that almost hits the ground when she walks. She has never had kittens. She's a bit overweight. But not enough to have her tummy dragging on the ground. If you are a cat owner and lover you may have noticed your own cat's primordial pouch, and you may even have your own special name for it.

Like in this hilarious video posted September 14th that comes up with every name for this cute little skin flap you can think of.

The video posted by TikTok user @Roro.Cat has too many good ones to even pick a favorite, but personally I'm a big fan of " Gravy boat."

TikTok users have their own suggestions and @Margaret adds, "My vet once called it a wag bag and that's all I refer to it as now."

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Another fantastic suggestion comes from @Kcb who replies, "We call it the street sweeper." @Bright responds, "Call it a ponch and my Godmother calls it privacy fur." okay, privacy fur took me out! @Karisa comments, "Biscuit apron."

These are all too great!

Actually, the primordial pouch, or foopa-stank, has a purpose. In the wild, the primordial pouch can protect a cat's vital organs during fights or when hunting. It provides an extra layer of skin and tissue that can help absorb the impact of blows or bites. It also allows  a cat's skin and body to stretch when they need to reach, pounce, or jump. Plus, it's super cuddly to pet when your cat lets you!

So whatever silly name you call it, now you know it actually has a purpose. Other than, you know, being something to give a hilarious nickname to!

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.

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Doja Cat Calls Out Kardashians For Their Plastic Surgery In Explicit New Song

A cat fight might be brewing.

Doja Cat appeared to call out the Kardashians for being "plastic" on her new song "W-t Vagina," which dropped on Friday.

"Tell me why ol' shorty walkin' like she got a stick in her ass," Doja Cat raps on the song. "And pretty face, plastic, it's givin' Kardashian."

While many fans on social media seemingly loved the subtle shade against the reality stars, others didn't consider it to be a dig.

"I mean Kardashian is synonymous with cosmetic surgery in pop culture. It's just a reference not that deep," one fan mused on Reddit.

Another added, "I guess it's more of a negative shout out lol"

"She's plastic as well so I don't understand," someone shot back.

"And pretty face, plastic, it's givin' Kardashian," the rapper sings on her song "W-t Vagina." While many fans loved the subtle dig, others didn't think she was shading the famous family.Instagram

The Kardashian-Jenner family has long been scrutinized by fans for allegedly getting too much plastic surgery.

Most recently, Kylie Jenner admitted to getting breast implants before she got pregnant with daughter Stormi, 5, after years of denying getting work done.

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"I had beautiful breasts. Natural t–s. Just gorgeous. Perfect size, perfect everything. And I just wish, obviously, I never got them done to begin with," the 26-year-old said during a recent episode of the family's Hulu series, "The Kardashians."

"I mean Kardashian is synonymous with cosmetic surgery in pop culture. It's just a reference not that deep," one fan mused on Reddit.Instagram Kylie Jenner recently admitted she got a boob job before her daughter Stormi's birth.Instagram/kyliejenner

Jenner previously copped to getting lip fillers when she was 17 after fans continued to question her growing pout.

"I have temporary lip fillers. It's just an insecurity of mine and it's what I wanted to do," she said at the time.

However, Kourtney Kardashian, 44, was very open about getting a boob job when she was 22 years old.

Kim Kardashian previously admitted to getting Botox.Kimkardashian/Instagram

"I had my boobs done but if I could go back, I wouldn't have done it. I was so cute before," she said in 2011.

Kim Kardashian, 42, meanwhile, has long denied getting plastic surgery despite the constant speculation.

She finally admitted to getting Botox in her neck in May 2023, as well as using "a little bit of Botox" during a 2022 Allure interview.

Khloé Kardashian copped to a nose job in 2021.Khloekardashian /Instgram "I've done, sure, injections," she also admitted.Khloekardashian/Instagram

Probably the most publicly scrutinized of the sisters, Khloé Kardashian, 39, previously revealed in 2021 that she got a nose job.

"Everybody says, 'Oh, my gosh, she's had her third face transplant!' But I've had one nose job," she told Andy Cohen during a "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" reunion.

She added, "Everybody gets so upset, like, why don't I talk about it? Nobody's ever asked me. You're the first person in an interview that's ever asked me about my nose. I've done, sure, injections — not really Botox. I've responded poorly to Botox."

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