Pet insurance versus vet costs

[USER1999]

My 3 year old ginger Maine *** got run over on Sunday. We were out, but luckily he made it home, and we found him at 4 when we got back. He didn't look great, obvious broken leg, and wasn't looking too happy. I took him to the emergency vet, as ours doesn't do weekends, and they took care of him over night. He went off a bit at 6 ish, and they had to bung him into an oxygen tent, but he was stable enough on Monday for me to transfer him to our vets.

They have put him under, done some analysis, taken some X-rays, etc.

He has now been transferred to a specialist centre in Hitchen.

Cost so far, £900.

He is insured for up to 4k per incident, which we thought was ok.

Current estimate to rebuild his leg, similar to Barry Sheen for those who remember, is about 4.5k.

Ok, so we would be out a bit, but he's our cat, and he is worth it.

But, he also has a potential leak in his trachea. Causing emphysema (I'm no doctor, so this could be wrong description). They are going to assess this on Monday, after his blood count has gone up, his leg swelling has gone down, and his abrasions have shown signs of healing. On Monday, he will get a general, and they will poke a camera down his throat. If it needs surgery to fix it, we are talking another 5k as they will need to open his chest up.

It will cost £75 a day to keep him there til Monday.

So, run over cat, total bill £9925, not including any on going treatment or care.

We need more insurance!

 

[Papas1982]

My 3 year old ginger Maine *** got run over on Sunday. We were out, but luckily he made it home, and we found him at 4 when we got back. He didn't look great, obvious broken leg, and wasn't looking too happy. I took him to the emergency vet, as ours doesn't do weekends, and they took care of him over night. He went off a bit at 6 ish, and they had to bung him into an oxygen tent, but he was stable enough on Monday for me to transfer him to our vets.

They have put him under, done some analysis, taken some X-rays, etc.

He has now been transferred to a specialist centre in Hitchen.

Cost so far, £900.

He is insured for up to 4k per incident, which we thought was ok.

Current estimate to rebuild his leg, similar to Barry Sheen for those who remember, is about 4.5k.

Ok, so we would be out a bit, but he's our cat, and he is worth it.

But, he also has a potential leak in his trachea. Causing emphysema (I'm no doctor, so this could be wrong description). They are going to assess this on Monday, after his blood count has gone up, his leg swelling has gone down, and his abrasions have shown signs of healing. On Monday, he will get a general, and they will poke a camera down his throat. If it needs surgery to fix it, we are talking another 5k as they will need to open his chest up.

It will cost £75 a day to keep him there til Monday.

So, run over cat, total bill £9925, not including any on going treatment or care.

We need more insurance!

First,y, sorry to hear about your fluffy critter!!

our pedigree Bengal ran up a bill of 2k only for us to find out a £25 blood test would of told us it was game over.

I sometimes tank vets just make the numbers up. That said, if it's two operations. But at around 5k each. Can't you make two claims?

i know they're related as such. But a friend of mine had a dog have similar and his vet was willing to contact insurers and suggest that they could in theory save the leg. Leave it a day and then the owner could just return with a 'poorly' dog and claim for second op.

 

[USER1999]

First,y, sorry to hear about your fluffy critter!!

our pedigree Bengal ran up a bill of 2k only for us to find out a £25 blood test would of told us it was game over.

I sometimes tank vets just make the numbers up. That said, if it's two operations. But at around 5k each. Can't you make two claims?

i know they're related as such. But a friend of mine had a dog have similar and his vet was willing to contact insurers and suggest that they could in theory save the leg. Leave it a day and then the owner could just return with a 'poorly' dog and claim for second op.

No, it's all linked up on the vet reports. To be fair, we can pay, it just highlights that what we thought was reasonable cover wasn't anywhere near.

Who would have thought you could do that much damage to a cat? Especially when I've gone to visit him, and apart from a gimpy foot, he looks fine, and is as happy as Larry. Although the meds help!

 

[GB72]

Always had insurance since my last cat lost a leg after a fight with a dog. Best part of 2 grand and no insurance but so worth it. Had another 5 good years before old age got him.

 

[MegaSteve]

Neighbours dog has just had some major surgery completed at a place near Hitchin... So guessing the same place your moggie is at and they were more than impressed with level of care their pooch received...

 

[CMAC]

Our insurance company 2 years ago just said were pulling out of pet insurance- go elsewhere.

Try getting a 10 year old Newfoundland with 'issues' insured- nae chance!


Recent vet quotes for essential work in her old age topped £5780 and weekly medicines over £150pw.

you'll do anything as they are one of the family.



hope your cat gets better quickly Murph:thup:

 

[chrisd]

Sorry to read your news chris. We are cat lovers too and understand that you'd want the cat back as well as possible despite the costs. We had two British Shorthair Blues until they died last year at a ripe old age and I think HID is likely to want a Mainecoon next time!

Good luck!

 

[DCB]

Twice had to go through the process of making the decision to either proceed or call a halt. Not a great thing to have to do. On each occasion calling a halt was best thing to do for the poor dog.

Pet insurance is a minefield and many of us end up under insured as Murph has found out. Just wait and see what happens to renewal costs next year, the insurance companies certainly don't lose out.

Hope all goes well Murph and they can get your moggie back on the road to recovery.

 

[Alex1975]

Sorry Chris, that's rough!

 

[gripitripit]

Not got animals and lokoing at some of the bills....I am glad.
Before we had a kid we had a Bullmastiff. 9st of drooling soppy dog. Had him on the top insurance package though with Petplan. £50 a month. Just looked again. Same package now £103 a month.

 

[Alex1975]

Not got animals and lokoing at some of the bills....I am glad.
Before we had a kid we had a Bullmastiff. 9st of drooling soppy dog. Had him on the top insurance package though with Petplan. £50 a month. Just looked again. Same package now £103 a month.

WOW!!! That us crazy!

 

[AmandaJR]

Poor pussy cat - hope he gets well soon.

Just had a call from our vets as Max was due to have surgery on a lump in his mouth today. The fantastic news is she (like me) thinks the lump has diminished and could well be infection only so a course of antibiotics and fingers and toes crossed. He's like a puppy still but actually over 12 so it's been a real worry.

We had the claim form ready although the vets said E&L who we're with are one of the worst insurers for finding loopholes and avoiding paying out.

 

[JustOne]

So, run over cat, total bill £9925, not including any on going treatment or care.

Sorry to hear about your cat mate, if money is no object then pay (and get extra insurance for next time/other cat). Personally I'd never pay that much - basically because I couldn't afford to. I reckon I'd go £1000 max for one of our cats then it's injection time. I'd probably then get 2 more from a cat home to ease my conscience, something good will have come from his/her passing. (that's what we have now - 2 cats after our last one passed).

 

[gripitripit]

WOW!!! That us crazy!

Sure is crazy. Doubled in 6 years. With a Bullmastiff though you are better having top package.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Our Old Time Bulldog had a few trips to Higham Gobion (probably where your cat is), top top animal hospital, thank goodness for insurance as we probably paid around £15,000.00 to them in his lifetime, hes gone now but still greatly missed.

 

[DaveM]

Hope it all turns out ok. We've had a really bad month too. Had 6 dogs. The wimmy had to be put down old age could hardly walk. At the same time took the rottie with me as he had developed a bit if a limp. Turned out to be cancer. So he had to be put down as well. Then one of the bitches who was pining for the wimmy. Went into the garden for a wee. Watched her start to come back in she just drop in her stride rushed out but she was dead. At least she did not suffer. So down to 3 bitches now all youngsters so fingers crossed.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So sorry to hear about your cat

I was unfortunate enough to hit one couple weeks back - felt so bad for the owners, little girl was distraught

But 10 grand on vets bills ?! That's way too much for me and how can they charge that much

 

[AmandaJR]

Hope it all turns out ok. We've had a really bad month too. Had 6 dogs. The wimmy had to be put down old age could hardly walk. At the same time took the rottie with me as he had developed a bit if a limp. Turned out to be cancer. So he had to be put down as well. Then one of the bitches who was pining for the wimmy. Went into the garden for a wee. Watched her start to come back in she just drop in her stride rushed out but she was dead. At least she did not suffer. So down to 3 bitches now all youngsters so fingers crossed.

Oh Dave that is terrible - you and your family must be distraught :-(

 

[PhilTheFragger]

We have 2 cats both 13, so realistically have upto 5 years left (ish) we have had the odd minor scrape here n there resulting in the odd 2-300 bill, so nothing really major.But we have always said that if we had a massive bill, it would be bye bye pussy

Was looking at pet insurance the other week and for our 2 cats it would cost £95 a month, sorry, but my car insurance with 2 young drivers is nearly as much as that.

I really think that we need a debate about the whole animal health industry as vet bills are out of control, they are using the same practises and methods as in human medicine and it is obscenely expensive.

Recently a friend was charged £150 to treat an 18 month old hamster with a course of steroids, The creatures only last 2 years , whats the point. it died by the way.

I do love animals by the way, had a lovely dog as a lad and have has cats for the last 25 years,and it is gut wrenching when they go, but I think we get too attached to them and we are being taken advantage of because we are too scared of saying NO and looking like a heartless beast in front of the Vet.


just my view

 

[Pin-seeker]

We don't have our dog insured,he's 11yr old & the only vet fee he's cost us was about £350.
We have both my Partners horses insured,one got bit by a dog last year. Equine vets seem to be on a better hourly rate than YaYa Toure.