Please insure your dogs

Maybe if breeders had to take responsibility and pay for hereditary vet care/insurance premiums the situation would improve :rolleyes3:
 
Tiddlypom said:
Glad your dogs have recovered, OP, but I do hope you are no longer breeding from that line, and have advised others not to, that is a shocking record.
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Not breeders. They are kept slim and fit and no other issues since. They are much longer than the average Dax though, over 50cm in length
 
My new dog has insurance of over £100 a month, luckily her original owner is keeping the payments up as there is no way I could afford that ! She is on a whole life plan
 
As someone who had a dog that liked to visit expensive referral vets regularly :) there are breeds that I wouldn't consider not insuring. Mine cost £12k over his 8.5 years going to the AHT and RVC - I'm not including routine or the pre and follow up care at my own vets or the hydrotherapy @ £58pw either - and he was uninsured. It didn't make any difference to the treatment he got but I can't deny that it was tough financially at times. The reason he wasn't insured was a combination of ignorance on my part (I hadn't had any large bills for multiple pets in the previous 20 years and genuinely had no idea just how expensive treatment could be) plus at the time, I had 3 dogs and 3 cats so was of the mindset that due to the cost of insuring all of them that I would be unlucky if I ended up out of pocket overall. Well I was unlucky!

Since that dog I've had two others, both adult rescues. One, a terrier wasn't insured as he was 8 when I got him so available insurance was expensive with a high excesses. As he was generally healthy until the last 6 months or so of his life I was probably quids in with him, no referrals or anything costly due to his age when his liver tumour was discovered. Current dog is a rotti cross, coming up for 4yo so was insured within days and in 9 months I've already made 2 claims for ears and resp infection which totalled about £500 after excesses.TBF those aren't the types of bills that I would struggle to pay and if I was paying myself I would have got a prescription for the stupidly expensive antibiotics that are available online for a third of the price then I was paying at the vets which would have halved that bill. My concern is for the costs of referrals to specialists - one single day at the AHT just for tests and a MRI cost £3.5k - and while I winced and handed over a credit card then, I really don't want to be in that position again. £250pa is a small price to pay for peace of mind even if as I expect, the premium doubles next year...
 
I think UD was just saying that the affected dogs were not used as breeding stock, whether they are related to any breeding stock I guess we don't know though. Obviously this one is the result of breeding stock and does have issues.
 
I don't insure my dog or horse..
I Have a lovely beagle who I would pay bills on a credit card if the prognosis was good and his suffering during treatment was kept to a minimum. I would not put him through some of the things like you see on super vet, nor would I put him through chemo
Having been quoted £100 a month for insurance for my dog and similar for my horse I'd rather put the money in a savings account!
Insurance premiums would add up to £1200 per year for a dog that cost me £50. I've owned him 3 years now claims free and so that is £3600 up.
 
MurphysMinder said:
In your OP you refer to "one of our puppies", so to me , and presumably Tiddlypom, you are a breeder.
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ester said:
I think UD was just saying that the affected dogs were not used as breeding stock, whether they are related to any breeding stock I guess we don't know though. Obviously this one is the result of breeding stock and does have issues.
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We covered our bitch once but then had her spayed so not money making/routine breeders. Yes Ester none have been used as breeding stock they are all pets.
 
conniegirl said:
I don't insure my dog or horse..
I Have a lovely beagle who I would pay bills on a credit card if the prognosis was good and his suffering during treatment was kept to a minimum. I would not put him through some of the things like you see on super vet, nor would I put him through chemo
Having been quoted £100 a month for insurance for my dog and similar for my horse I'd rather put the money in a savings account!
Insurance premiums would add up to £1200 per year for a dog that cost me £50. I've owned him 3 years now claims free and so that is £3600 up.
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This. I don't insure mine, I can afford to pay if necessary, IF I think it is in the best interest of the dog (or horse). It really worries me how much treatment, for all animals, is carried out because the animal is insured and regardless of potential prognosis/quality of life for the animal. I do think that people often put their own sensibilities above the welfare of their pets on occasion.
 
Rowreach said:
This. I don't insure mine, I can afford to pay if necessary, IF I think it is in the best interest of the dog (or horse). It really worries me how much treatment, for all animals, is carried out because the animal is insured and regardless of potential prognosis/quality of life for the animal. I do think that people often put their own sensibilities above the welfare of their pets on occasion.
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I was just thinking the same thing. I think just because they are insured it doesn't always mean we should carry out invasive investigations and major treatment. If they aren't insured the treatment can sometimes be less stressful for the dog (or horse) but have the same outcome because things were decided on probability rather than loads of tests.

There's a whole long list of breeds I wouldn't have, whether insured or not, just because heretitary conditions are upsetting for all concerned.
 
meleeka said:
I was just thinking the same thing. I think just because they are insured it doesn't always mean we should carry out invasive investigations and major treatment. If they aren't insured the treatment can sometimes be less stressful for the dog (or horse) but have the same outcome because things were decided on probability rather than loads of tests.
.
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you don't have to have things done just because they are insured though. certainly I've called it on dogs that were insured because prognosis was poor even though the referral offer was there (also with a cat). People should shop around with vets too-some are more pragmatic than others. mine is a proper mixed practice with a mission statement about keeping costs down-I trust their opinion.


Dax are great dogs, I've known a fair few standards (a lot of them being operated on by my ex, some others owned by his mother!). that was back in the 90s though -I don't remember the Australian ones I met being as short legged as they seem now (Aru?). I'd not have one-I'd not go for anything extreme either in size (either way) or shape.
 
I think animal insurance has a lot to answer for with animals being put through treatments that perhaps the owner would never consider just because the insurance would cover it. I do not insure mine and would not put any of my animals through invasive or long term treatment that would be detrimental to their standard of life. I do however put money away for emergency medical care they may require.
 
Rowreach said:
This. I don't insure mine, I can afford to pay if necessary, IF I think it is in the best interest of the dog (or horse). It really worries me how much treatment, for all animals, is carried out because the animal is insured and regardless of potential prognosis/quality of life for the animal. I do think that people often put their own sensibilities above the welfare of their pets on occasion.
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This more than anything for me, I totally agree Rowreach
 
Having seen a man at work panic because his dog went missing realised he was not insured for anything including third party liability insurance which is a big must as i would always insure my dog. Also had a dog run out in front of me and go under the car. Luckily the dog was ok, the car was not and a nice bill was presented to the owners who were not insured. It could have been a lot worse if I or any passengers were injured. The myth about Household Insurance covering any damage done by pet is just that unless you have agreed that in your policy.
 
Crugeran Celt said:
I think animal insurance has a lot to answer for with animals being put through treatments that perhaps the owner would never consider just because the insurance would cover it. I do not insure mine and would not put any of my animals through invasive or long term treatment that would be detrimental to their standard of life. I do however put money away for emergency medical care they may require.
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Despite my decision to insure I still wouldn't put any animal of mine through treatment that I felt wasn't in their best interest. I truly believe that just because you can doesn't mean you should and cannot watch supervet as some of the operations, while very clever are brutal on the animals - it's not as if you can explain what is happening to an animal and that in 6 weeks or so they will start to feel better. I do feel that a lot of people are overly sentimental (harsh but I hope you know what I mean) about their pets and will go to silly and selfish (IMO) lengths to try and 'save' them. I suspect that those people would still do so, insurance or not by using a credit card/loan.

TBH the cost of most of the bigger ops/treatments let alone the aftercare in places like Fitzpatricks will blow through your insurance in no time - see my £3.5k bill for diagnostics and the estimate I got for 2 ops, big ones admittedly and with a long time at the AHT afterwards because of the infection risk was £14K! Most policies offer cover of £5 - 7K pa with a few going up to £12K. The cost of a hip replacement op, fairly standard now I think is around the £7k mark and that doesn't include diagnostics and rehab which will add a fair whack to the cost.

Pet insurance is just like any other insurance, a safety net that at least takes away the some of the financial concerns at the point of diagnosis. Unlike horses, pets don't normally have much of a monetary value so you aren't in thrall to the insurance company regarding treatment decisions versus pts as you are not relying on a death/value payment to replace them. Lifetime cover is also available, at a cost of course so there aren't the exclusions that we are used to as horse owners or the need to try and get as much treatment as possible into a year.
 
i have insured my new puppy mainly because he seems to like chewing up bits of wood and anything else he can find in the garden. he came in with a nail last week, cant think where that came from. he does like to dig so maybe it was buried. i will probably keep the insurance going till he is over the puppy/young dog stage. although i dont have money set aside for vets fees i do have credit cards to fall back on .. my dogs or my horse never do without treatment because of finance, its always been quality of life that influences my decision and never money.....i wouldnt put my dogs through half of the supervet ops and dont know how he can state that the dogs are not in any pain after some of the major surgery... i have had new hips and i know i still have pain alot of the time but outwardly no one would know...
 
Kat said:
If you don't insure for vets fees do make sure that you insure for public liability
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This ^^^

If you dog runs out in front of a car, you are liable for any damage to the car, if your dog causes injury to a person or another dog, you are liable. I would never have a dog without at least third party cover.
 
I have ten working dogs as well as two companion dogs and so do not insure any as it would be prohibitively expensive (I am not even sure any insurance companies would touch working dogs anyway). I have an emergency credit card just in case there are any huge bills that couldn't be covered by savings.

Dogs Trust (for £25 a year) gives third party liability insurance for the pet dogs, so money well spent.
 
WorkingGSD said:
Dogs Trust (for £25 a year) gives third party liability insurance for the pet dogs, so money well spent.
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I have this, I don't insure my terrier but when checking small print on Home Insurance it doesn't cover you for much in relation to pets and in very limited circumstances.

I have had a few people tell me they thought they were covered by home insurance, seems to be a common misconception. Also my parents walk my dog on occasion and the Dogs Trust one covers all of this including him coming into my office premises away from home. Wouldn't be without it.

As regards insurance I have a separate savings account and also an emergency credit card if treatment was necessary and in my dogs best interests both short and long term, there are certain things i just wouldn't do or if the outcome wasn't going to give my active, nutty terrier the life he would be happy with. I would probably not do as much as some would.
 
It's the first question a vet asks.

Our insurance has risen 50% this year. We've decided we don't need £8000 cover and will be going down to £63 per month for £5000 cover. I think we're a bit paranoid after a £5000 bill for a horse some years ago, covered, thank god, then a £6000 bill for a dog, only half of which was covered.
 
Undecided said:
Depending on how soon they are operated on and what the initial extent of damage was. Our girl was totally paralyzed, got her to Liverpool within 3 hours, had to teach her to walk again but she is now 13 and fitter than the 5 and 6 year old boys. 6 year old boy we noticed he wasn't right so had x-ray, straight back up to Liverpool and he was home within 24 hours, didn't lose control of legs so was much easier to rehab. His full sister was totally paralyzed and is now 100% after surgery, again in Liverpool.
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I hope you no longer breed from this family!
 
I don't agree with their ethos of 'never putting a healthy dog down'. Nothing major and I wouldn't completely refuse to support them but I would prefer alternatives.
 
Clodagh, I'm with you re the Dogs Trust. We once had a utterly miserable viewing session at one of their rehoming centres, looking at numerous sad institutionalised dogs.

Their insurance cover looks good, and it's for £12.50 per year if you're 60+, but I'd rather not become a member.
 
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