A very uninteresting update.

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Cedars

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Hi guys,

Just been to see vet. He's referred us to "Willows"???? In Birmingham.

Good news is that he thinks she only needs her left hip done atm, will probably eventually need her right hip done, but in maybe a year or two years time.

Bad news is that we're currently at £600, insurance limit is £400 and he thinks the operation will cost about £3500. Sooooo basically not sure we can afford it. Need to speak to the vet about how much it is going to cost.

If we can't afford it, we'll pump her full of drugs for maybe a month, and then have her put down.

Anyway, sorry for the uninteresting update. Will let you know when the vet rings.

xxx
 
It's not uninteresting at all, I've been waiting to hear some news.

Maybe insensitive, and please do say if so, but - a £400 insurance limit?? That's a pretty low limit!

I'm keeping everything crossed for you. xx
 
So, £100 over the limit, is that right?

I know this is a baaaad girl thing to say, but you could get a credit card to cover the overspill.... unless I'm missing something or have miscalculated in which case I apologise!:o
 
Haha, the 400 pound limit had me confuddled too!
SO as Spud says are you looking to be £100 over budget then? Or is there further cost after the op? If its only 1-2 hundred quid thats ok surely?
x
 
Well, the problem is that we could obviously find the £100. We could probably find £500 with ease. £1000 with less ease. But if she has the surgery, then two weeks later needs surgery for a complication, then when do you stop? Finding £2000, £3000, £4000?

Think, if we go ahead, we'd have to agree that if there are any MAJOR complications, we would have her put down. But then your heart never follows your head in those situations does it =[
 
Oh right I see what you mean. Do you know what...I think you are over thinking the situation if I'm honest. Do what is in your means right now...that means having the op because shes insured, you have a little to play with for any extras....cross one bridge at a time. The most likely run of events is that there will be no further complication and you will have paid a hundred quid to fix your girly.
 
I see what you're saying, I really do, and I totally understand the position you are in. In a similar situation I could beg, borrow or steal up to a grand, but after that...?

This is only my opinion, but I reckon go for the surgery, and hope for the best re complications. She is a young, fit dog who has a good chance of making a troublefree recovery.

I know what you mean about your head vs heart, I reckon the plastic would be maxed out if I were in that position - but that would be the stupid thing to do, and it makes no sense as I would probably end up having to rehome him afterwards cos I wouldn't be able to afford to feed him - or me! It certainly isn't a measure of caring or anything like that.
 
I think you need to find out how common complications are.

Lay your budget on the line to the vet.

And (God, this is going to sound terrible!) but find out if another vet will do it cheaper? a few hundred saving could make all the difference. Speak to your insurance and find out if they have any advice?
 
I will definitely be arguing that EVERYTHING definitely needs doing? I.e. vet thought they might want to take a new set of xrays, no thanks he can send his perfectly fine set to them. We're not going up just for a consultation, we'll do that the morning of the surgery.

Think we'll just have to go for it, and then hope for the very best. xxx
 
flamehead said:
Think we'll just have to go for it, and then hope for the very best. xxx
Click to expand...

I think that at this point in the day that's all you can do. You know that you're giving it your all. None of us have bottomless pits of money, and you're doing your very best for her already.

When does she go up??
 
They're going to ring me and we'll book an appointment with them. They're called Willows Veterinary Centre if you wanna have a nosey.

God, I love her. Crying over the thought that money might stop us doing the best for her.
 
flamehead said:
God, I love her. Crying over the thought that money might stop us doing the best for her.
Click to expand...

Try not to think like that, we all have a limit. Its not a measure of how much you care. I probably wouldnt be able to even afford the op if it was one of mine, they aren't insured. I'd probably sell my car or something and drive round in a 500 quid banger for the next ten years! You are doing YOUR best for her and thats all that matters.
 
Paws all firmly crossed here. Try to look at this in a positive light, last week it seemed that both hips were in a state and now, after a bit more investigation, its just the one (at the moment) so thats not such a bad scenario as we all first thought. Keep looking on the bright side, most animals dont get complications. Chin up.
 
Just been told that Willows expect you to pay up in advance, they wont claim on the insurance for you. So we wont be able to use them then!!! Dont understand why things are so sodding complicated!!! Lol. And yes, spaniel, its much better than I thought it was. hurrah =]
 
Assuming I have the right website, they say:
Direct claims
Although we do not routinely make direct claims from insurance companies, they can be arranged with certain insurance companies under certain circumstances, provided that you discuss this with us, either prior to your appointment or on your arrival at reception, before your initial consultation with the vet and prior to any investigations or treatment being undertaken. Direct claims cannot be requested at the time of collection of your pet, after treatment has already been given.

Please be aware that direct claims often necessitate quite lengthy preparation which may delay possible investigations and surgery. We charge a non-returnable administration fee for handling every direct claim (including a smaller fee for all follow-up claims), and we require that a claim form is provided by you on each occasion, at the time of treatment – a direct claim cannot be made by sending us a claim form after your pet has been seen. In addition, at the time of making the first direct claim, we ask for a down-payment of any excess specified on your insurance policy, regardless of whether you believe that this may already have been paid – any overpayment will be promptly refunded.

Any shortfall in the cost of treatment which is not covered by your insurance company will be payable to us by you.
Click to expand...

So I would speak to them about doing this for you.

Don't give up!
 
I'm going to have a rant about vets and insurance companies!!! Just ignore ;)

We have insurance for all of our animals, because in the rest of our lives with live hand to mouth and there is NO savings etc that we could lay our hands on. We are insured because we love our animals and we wouldnt ever want them to suffer.

We also insure with NFU, paying over the odds, because we KNOW that they pay out, and they pay out quickly.

SO WHY DO VETS THINK ITS OK TO EXPECT US TO PAY FIRST?! If I had that money, THEY WOULDNT BE INSURED!!!!!!!!!

Our vets refused to work with E&L because they've had so many bad experiences. However, they love NFU. But tar us all with the same brush?!

GRRRRR!

P.S. yes, we'll discuss it with them. Lol. Sense I'm stressed?!
 
I have heard of willows and from what ive heard they are very good but very expensive. Can you get your vet to refer anywhwere else? there is somewhere called davis white vet specialists who do that sort of op I think dont know if they are any cheaper though. might be worth checking out?
If you speak to them beforehand about the insurance etc they may be understanding.www.vetspecialists.co.uk/

I dont work for them or aything by the way! have just heard good thigs about them.
Hope it works out for you and dog
 
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Im sorry. It must be horrible and I know how I would feel as my dogs are insured for the same reason a yours. I just could not afford a huge vets bill. the only other thing I can think of is to ask if you can pay the differance in installments or there is a charity called tailwaggers who may be able to help.www.tailwaggersclubtrust.com/ Please dont be offended I mentioned a charity just trying to help:)
 
God in floods of tears =[ just spoken to the referred vet. Hip op is looking at being at £5000. If there are NO complications. Which we absolutely cannot afford =[

There is another option, to go for the femoral head excision (where they basically remove the ball), which is substantially cheaper. But they don't come back to being 100%.

My poor darling.

Thanks for that link itsmylife, thats really interesting. No offence taken at all, its so lovely you're all thinking of Chloe.
 
I hope everything turns out for you. I know how I would feel if it was me.
Only other thing i can think of is to get ebaying etc if you have anything you can do without and would raise some money.
Good luck, I have my fingers crossed for you.
 
I've been following your posts, but haven't answered before :o

Great news that they think they can help her - that's an improvement on what you were thinking a week or so ago!

I may get shot for this, and I would hasten to add that I do not advocate getting into debt at all, but sometimes needs must (said by someone with 3 vets bills in the past week, and 2 cars both going wrong at the same time - don't ask!).

Do you and/or OH have a good credit rating? Can you get a credit card with, say, a £6k limit? If so, stick it all on that, and claim back from the insurance company. Once you get that money, pay off the credit card. Of course, you'll need to be able to make the minimum monthly payment in case NFU don't pay out (I'm sure they will, they paid out very quickly on my horses op), don't get yourself into a situation you really can't afford.

Really hope you can get it sorted xx
 
Hi Rana, unless my OH comes home having won the lottery, there is absolutely no way we can afford to go for the full hip replacement. I'm starting university, we live hand to mouth (apart from our animals who want for nothing, until now =[ ) and my OH just couldn't make the payments.

The outlook on the femoral head excision may be good. Rang vet at 2 and burst into tears, the vet is going to ring me back. xxxx
 
To be honest, I was going to suggest a charity too.

How short are you of the money? about £1500 for the basic op?

Can you sell anything? Downsize car? Change mortages?

I'm sorry, I know vets have to earn their crust, but why thousands and thousands for an operation? It's absurd. Honestly, when most insurances wouldn't pay that, what do they think? Us owners are made of money?? Why do they not work with insurance companies, and set a limit to costs of ops, to come in with what the insurance will pay? They'd get FAR more custom.

What's the point of insurance if it doesn't cover the cost of potentially life saving operations?

sorry, off on a tangent there, I'm off to do housework now but having a long think and if I think of anything I'll come back to you, but I suspect others will be of more use.

Deep breath, soldier on, SOMETHING will turn up.
 
Bugger :( Charities? PDSA/Blue Cross/RSPCA? I think they all offer help with vet treatments in some form.

Speak to vet, explain the situation, see what they can do. I'm sure vets bills are not set in stone! Speak to your insurance company, can they increase your limit? Try another vets practice, could they do it cheaper? It's a recession after all, and ultimately they are businesses.

Don't give up yet xxx
 
Right, everyone, big smiles! Just had a cuddle with pups, and spoken to our lovely (and handsome vet).

He thinks the femoral head excision is a totally feasible option. She won't be 100%, BUT she won't be in any more pain - she might be a bit stiff, but that can be managed by medicine.

The most important thing is that from day 2 after the surgery, they're out, walking, exercising, swimming, etc etc etc. The more fit they are, the better they'll be.

He thinks that its a good option if we don't have the money. He's saying that basically its £5600 for the surgery, and then if there are any further complications its like £2000 just to open her up again to relocate her hip if it dislocates (a common complication) and where do you stop?

SO, going to talk to my other half tonight. But I think the FHE is the best way to go. It also basically doesn't have a single complication apart from obviously the general and any wound infections but they're normal complications.

So,

HAPPY THOUGHTS, POSITIVE THOUGHTS

My little girl is going to be fine.
 
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