Insurance claims - exclusions for dogs??

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Roodles

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Hi all, I am sort of new here (used to have a logon years ago but have long forgotten it!!). Anyway I am looking for some advice. My dog (6 month old lab) has been referred for bone scans tomorrow having been lame twice over the past month (vet suspects ED).

I expressed my concern over claiming for this so early on and having the leg excluded from the policy, but vet assures me that's not how it works with dogs (I have had experience with horse claims only up until now), and that you can keep claiming for the same condition year after year, it's just that you only get the yearly maximum claim amount.

Is this right?? It seems unlikely to me but the policy wording isn't that clear. Would be very grateful for any advice! Also my dog is now sound again and I'm really questioning whether going for these scans is a bit OTT at this stage...
 
Six months is quite young to diagnose ED in my opinion. The BVA will only accept x-rays for scoring on animals 12 months plus and it is usually diagnosed via x-rays which is not that expensive in the grand scheme of things.
 
Hmm, vet says this is prime time for it to show up, and that you can't diagnose it properly with xrays hence being sent for scans. I'm starting to feel like I'm being taken for a bit of a ride, plus had a long chat with my Aunty about it at the weekend who had exactly the same thing happen with her young lab - they wanted to operate but she refused and now he's fine (aged 6 and fully working).

I just don't want to claim now only to find nothing wrong, but risk having problems later that won't be covered.
 
Hi ,it all depends on what type of insurance you have taken out. If you have done a for life policy then in theory a condition won't be excluded and you can claim every year up to the amount stated in policy. However if you have only done a yearly policy then any condition will be excluded after a year , this means from the date the condition was first bought to vets attention. Probably worth ringing your insurance company to get clarification. Hope this makes sense .
 
Thanks Chatty - it's a 12 month policy so I guess that answers my question, and it sounds the condition will be excluded after 12 months. I think you're right I need to ring them...
 
That's amazing that it can't be diagnosed via x-ray, I wonder why the British Veterinary Association runs the hip and elbow scoring schemes using....x-rays.....and, like I say, why they do not take plates for scoring until the dog is at least 12 months old.

The joints of a dog are not fully formed at six months old so IMO it would be harder to diagnose, not 'the prime time'. I'd be changing vets, personally, I'd wait and get him x-rayed by someone experienced in sending plates to the BVA to get their opinion, a good vet should be able to identify the approximate severity of the condition, if it exists, from the x-ray.
 
Thanks CaveCanem - though maybe that's why they have to scan at this stage rather than xray? The reason he's saying we should do it now is that if they catch it before the joints are fully formed they can operate and minimise the impact it has on the joint. It's hard to know what to do, but I'm erring on cancelling the scans now and waiting to see how he is over the next month or so...
 
Apologies for coming over all cynical and of course I am not a vet.
I just think that a bone scan and talking about elbow surgery on a six month old puppy for mild lameness is a bit OTT and it is just my own opinion and bears no relation to your initial query so I will get back in my box :o hope it all works out!
 
Oh no I appreciate your advice (so hard to convey tone on forums!), just meant that's how I'm interpreting his advice that scans are the only way to go at this stage. But I am of the same opinion as you on the age front, and having given it more thought I know I won't agree to surgery at this stage anyway, so seems a bit pointless having him scanned. Think my mind is made up. Thanks again for your advice :-)
 
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