Heart murmour and insurance question??

[Stinkbomb]

When we first got Alfie at 9 weeks we took him to the vets for check up and he noticed a faint heart murmour. He said it was too faint to even register. At 11 weeks we took him back for his second vaccination and the vet said it had disapeared totally.

We are due to run out of the 6 week kennel club insurance and want to change it to Direct line. The vet said we should mention the heart murmour but state it was a normal puppy flow murmour that has gone and he is prepared to write a letter if required to say so.

I know well have to inform them as its on his notes but do you think they will exclude any heart problems in the future due to this???

 

[CAYLA]

Insurance company's can be pretty harsh when it comes to this kid of thing and will do anything to get out of paying...the risk is...you tell them with the aid of the vets sig and they accept it and will cover any heart conditions that may arise ....or riggle out of it using the check up as an excuse.

Or u could stay shtum....but then if your vet is a bit anal...they may bring it up...in...the has the dog had a previous complaint section of the insurance form.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Hmm the problem is vet has told us to mention it

he has said that it will not affect his heart as it is nolonger there, he couldnt even grade it when he heard it it was so faint. He says that because its in his notes he'll have to provide them in the future if god forbid he does develop a problem.

 

[CAYLA]

If you stick with the same vet...I don't think you have a choice....as he seems adamant for u to declare...I think he could have been lenient and let it slide

, I can see where he is coming from in a way, suppose it comes down to the insurance company then and how understanding they are....just means once he is insured everything has to be declared if u move to another company, so u need to hope they dont go back on any agreement when/if a problem arises.....with the petplan policy, with our rescues u get 6 weeks free and if a problem arises within the 6 weeks it's automatically covered for life.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Yeh he's with the kennel club at the moment so if we stayed with them it would be ok but they are so expensive and i dont rate their policy much.

Ive just found on the UK boxer breed council website this..

"It should be stressed that minor "flow" murmurs are commonly found in young in young Boxer puppies, as in other breeds, but most disappear by about 16 weeks of age. Even if they persist there may be no cause for alarm if they are quiet. Such genuine "flow" murmurs" are not associated with heart disease in the adult."

So not sure whether they would also take this in to account and the vets letter.. Hmm will have to think about this one

 

[CAYLA]

You would think they would accept it and cover you...but it'sort of a catch 22...your damned if you do and damned if you dont

 

[Stinkbomb]

Yeh might ring up and ask without giving any details first!!

 

[samerlin]

don't declare it and then just use other vets practice after you have insured and play dumb about knowing about it.

 

[CAYLA]

I think I would play safe and do that...just make an enquiry wthout giving your details...at the end of the day...part of having a puppy is to have it fully insured without hitting any barriers at the age he is now...as u are aware to possibly have any heart conditions nulled would be a big blow to the pocked...should one occur

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Phone, tell them, tell them, if needed, also about what you've found on the breed councils website. If you don't like their offer, find a third or fourth insurance company. I know it could be a hassle to phonearound, but you can't have only two doginsurance companys in UK?

If the breedsite and the vet says it doesn't effect the future, I would think, there should be some company that agrees with them.


from Sweden.