The Drip That Wouldn’t Quit
A few months before coming to Mexico, my dog Kassi developed a severe nasal drip. She’d had them on and off before, but this one stuck around much longer. We tried several things—saline, antihistamines, warm compresses—and it cleared up for a bit, only to come back again. Then she had a nosebleed and started losing weight.
The vet told me, based on her age, that she was pretty sure it was a tumor. Kassi is my 14-year-old Chihuahua mix, and while I was deeply concerned, I still wasn’t convinced. The vet ran bloodwork to check her organ function. The results showed no organ failure, but she did test positive for Ehrlichiosis (also called Ehrlichia), a tick-borne disease. That could easily have caused the weight loss and nosebleeds. Still, even after treatment with steroids and antibiotics helped her improve, the vet stood firm. She wouldn’t even consider that it might not be a tumor.
Sticker Shock
The vet understood that I was on a budget. First she assured me that regular X-rays wouldn’t show anything conclusive, and I understood that logic. Then, she recommended a place she said was excellent – slightly further away, and supposedly more affordable. It had good reviews, and I agreed to let them call me to set up an appointment.
When they did, they said Kassi would need to stay overnight for tests, including an endoscopy, under anesthesia. I hated to ask, but I needed to know the cost. I was floored—$5,000, with $1,500 due up front. That was just to determine whether it was a tumor, and it could go up from there if removal was needed. WHAT?! I thought this was the “less expensive” place.
The woman on the phone clarified that it wasn’t necessarily cheaper—just in line with the lower-cost specialty clinics. I didn’t have that kind of money. I’m a gig delivery driver with limited savings. I’d already reserved an Airbnb in Mexico—not a vacation, but a way to stretch what money I had while trying to find office work again. I didn’t not like hearing these words come out of my mouth but I felt I had no choice, ” I need to think about it”
Trusting My Gut
I took a week to review my options and, against well-meaning advice, decided not to proceed with the $5,000 exam.
I’d heard great things about vet care in Mexico—especially about the cost—and I just couldn’t shake the feeling that the diagnosis wasn’t right. Kassi still had bursts of puppy energy and her bloodwork looked good. Trusting my gut is what led me to choose Mexico, so I decided to trust it again. (If you’re curious how that decision came to be, you can read about it here.) Instead, I got her updated rabies shot updated , and hoped for the best. Mexico was only a few weeks away.
After arriving, I became friends with a couple of women who recommended a vet they knew personally. He even came by to check on Kassi and talk through her symptoms and next steps. I wanted to support him—especially since my new friends had gone out of their way to connect us. But after reviewing her records, he stopped responding—no returned calls or texts for over a month. As these were still new friendships and I was learning the cultural lines between respectful and overstepping, I didn’t push. I didn’t want to appear ungrateful or inconsiderate. Eventually, one of my friends gently suggested we take her somewhere else—and honestly, I was relieved. Later, the original vet did reach out and apologize. He’d had personal things come up unexpectedly and said we’d made the right call by moving forward with the clinic we chose. That meant a lot.
Finally, Some Answers
The new clinic was beautiful—nicer than the one back in Atlanta. The staff was friendly and welcoming. My friend came to help translate, but they also spoke directly to me with kindness and patience. I understood most of what was said, but my grammar still needs work.
That first visit, they performed an exam, took X-rays, and gave us antibiotics. The X-rays showed that Kassi’s nose had curved downward slightly from internal pressure—something they couldn’t fully assess without further imaging. They recommended an endoscopy and a deeper exam under anesthesia, but they let me know she wouldn’t need to stay overnight—just 6-8 hours for observation to ensure she handled it well. I braced myself for the kind of price that makes your stomach drop. But for everything that day—including the medication—it was only $50 USD. I nearly cried with relief.
Then came the next step: the cost of the endoscopy. I asked, and they calmly told me it would be $250. I double-checked the conversion. They double-checked too. Yep—$250. I could manage that.
Better News Than I’d Hoped For
We dropped her off at 9 a.m. and waited. And waited. It probably wasn’t that long, but it felt like forever. Anesthesia at her age is always a risk. Around 2 p.m., we finally got the update: she’d made it through the procedure and was doing well . The relief was immediate, but short-lived. They’d found a deep infection that had spread into her nasal cavity and would require surgery.
The final diagnosis? A severe dental infection that had spread silently. No obvious signs—she’d been eating, breathing, and acting like herself. The vets believed the Ehrlichia may have triggered the flare-up. But then there was the best news of all – It wasn’t a Tumor. That sense or relief was almost overwhelming. Not only was my girl going to be ok, but I had made the right decision in opting to put my trust in Mexico.
We scheduled the surgery for the following week.
Surgery Day
On surgery day, we dropped her off around noon. When the call finally came, it was all good news — she was tired, but stable. I exhaled for the first time all day.
She ended up needing three teeth removed and stayed under their watch for post-op care recovery and medication for 4 days.
The follow-up exam was positive and was only another $25. Altogether, just under $800. That’s less than one-fifth of what I was quoted in Georgia—for just the testing.
What Are the Chances…
The staff kept in touch through my friend at my request every step of the way, and were always professional, friendly, and clearly compassionate. Kassi was excited to see me when I finely picked her up—but not before trotting back for one last round of love from the staff.
If I have any advice to offer, it’s this: trust your gut. If something doesn’t sit right, like a vet who won’t even consider another possibility, take a breath and explore your options. If you’re in Mexico—or even just close enough to cross the border—don’t rule it out.
What are the chances that I would travel 1400 miles to the center of Mexico, against the advice of family and friends to find out what I’d believed all along: “It’s Not A Tumor😉 ? “ LOL I’m so glad the chances were better than I expected.
➡️ Watch the full journey here: [VIDEO LINK]
Have you ever had a road trip take an unexpected turn? Share your stories in the comments! I’d love to hear them and learn from them.
“Want more details? Watch the full video for extra insights and details.”
“Curious about my border adventure,? Learn how I ended up playing a game I call ‘Border Pong’ – and get tips on to how to avoid playing yourself!”
“Missed the first part? Here’s how I ended up heading to Mexico in the first place!”

Leave a comment