Vets fees - insurance payout

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Patchworkpony

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I would really love another dog BUT today’s outrageous vets fees terrify me. Someone I know had to eventually shell out £27,000 for their Labrador to find out why it had blood in its urine! What worries me is that the pet insurer won’t cover a large fee and then your finances are done for. Has anyone found this happen to them or did the insurance company always cough up?
 
Not sure how to respond, other than £27k? They must have been out of their minds 😳

I don't find vet fees crazy. And I don't insure. However a previous dog was insured. I paid out the £1500 required for diagnosis and euthanasia and then claimed it back without issue.

I have had around £4k of vet fees this year on my remaining uninsured dog which I can afford to pay.

My advice would always be, if you can't afford vet fees don't have a pet.
 
There will be a lot more to that story than '27k to find out why there was blood in a dog's urine'.

I've insured dogs in the past but never claimed. I don't have current one insured. If an injury or illness was so catastrophic that the bill was running into five figures, then I'd have to question the dog's QOL anyway.

It's also a good idea to do lots of research and buy a dog that is genetically more likely to be physically and mentally healthy. It's no guarantee that something awful won't happen, but it will improve the odds somewhat. The type of dog I like isn't necessarily the type everyone likes, but I'm now seeing the third or fourth generation of the same line, producing long-lived and generally sound/robust dogs.
 
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The slaughterer who put down my old sheep (who works with world horse welfare) has a friend that had two dogs that were sick and over time he spent £25000 on vets bills only to lose both of them in the end. I have no reason to disbelieve him as he is a very nice man. When the dogs were to be put down the vet wanted £1400 which this man didn’t have as his business had just gone belly up.
The vet still insisted on that amount regardless of what the man had spent before! How heartless was that? So the slaughter shot both dogs for him. And you wonder why I am pretty sure I won’t be buying a dog. Most vet practises now belong to huge companies that insist that the vets meet targets - or else.
 
I mentioned in another thread today that administrating pet insurance claims used to be a significant part of my last job. In all of that time, averaging about 500 claims a month, I think I recall maybe one case where a genuine complaint went all the way up to the ombudsman and found in the client's favour. The overwhelming majority of declined claims are unsurprising and exactly in line with the policy terms and conditions (time limits, pre existing conditions, bilateral conditions etc.) People do need to take some responsibility for taking out a policy that suits their needs, and understanding the terms and conditions before they commit to a course of treatment that they could not afford without the policy. I would also recommend companies that offer pre-authorisation for claims, where finances are an issue.
 
I had no issue with either the final 5,000 euro plus total bill, or the speed that the insurers reimbursed me when one of our dogs became unwell.

I find all the figures that OP is quoting are somewhat strange to say the least. Of course if you choose to subject your pet to traveling the country using vet after vet to repeat pointless tests and treatments, all those vets will quite rightly expect payment. More fool the owner but poor dog to be subjected to such inappropriate 'care'.

I won't even dignify the second ridiculous tale with any attempt to point out the possible gross exaggeration by the OPs source.
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
I had no issue with either the final 5,000 euro plus total bill, or the speed that the insurers reimbursed me when one of our dogs became unwell.

I find all the figures that OP is quoting are somewhat strange to say the least. Of course if you choose to subject your pet to traveling the country using vet after vet to repeat pointless tests and treatments, all those vets will quite rightly expect payment. More fool the owner but poor dog to be subjected to such inappropriate 'care'.

I won't even dignify the second ridiculous tale with any attempt to point out the possible gross exaggeration by the OPs source.
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Sorry you feel this is a ridiculous tale but I know these people and they are both considered sane and honest. I came on for answers about people’s experience with insurers but it is obvious that I’m not going to get any reassurance so cheerio everyone.
 
Patchworkpony said:
Sorry you feel this is a ridiculous tale but I know these people and they are both considered sane and honest. I came on for answers about people’s experience with insurers but it is obvious that I’m not going to get any reassurance so cheerio everyone.
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Bye then! I've been around dogs and dog people my whole life and don't think I've ever heard anyone shelling out those sorts of sums.
 
If the intention is to stir up debate about extortionate vet fees you can just come out and say it, it'd be a lot more interesting than repeating the last thread and it's a very timely conversation with the CMA investigation coming to its end soon.

CorvusCorax said:
Bye then! I've been around dogs and dog people my whole life and don't think I've ever heard anyone shelling out those sorts of sums.
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Agreed, and I've seen more referral histories and invoices than most. Maybe, maybe a Fitzpatrick style experimental pioneering surgery with custom implants/prosthesis, with months of hospitalisation and rehab included. And in all cases the owner's consent will have been sought so it couldn't have come as a surprise to anyone.
 
If it’s that expensive to diagnose put the dog to sleep.

My most expensive vets bill was an ultrasound to diagnose something, elderly dog so most covered by insurance so we probably only paid out £500, his monthly insurance was about £70 but his monthly medication was over £100
 
Amymay Again said:
You've been asking about costs since 2023. So I'm guessing in that time you've calculated that the costs generally are beyond you. You've also asked about several different breeds, from large to small.

So I'm puzzled at this latest, but repeated question.
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This seems to go back at least five years, through various breeds including Shepherds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Both these breeds, like some others are known to have health problems in some lines. OP if you want a dog there are plenty available in various rescue centres. They will have been vet checked if from a reputable, probably voluntarily run group, you’ll also get checked out! Alternatively a little cross bred - previously called a mongrol - could be a great companion hopefully without the designer dog expense of some breeds.
 
Patchworkpony said:
The slaughterer who put down my old sheep (who works with world horse welfare) has a friend that had two dogs that were sick and over time he spent £25000 on vets bills only to lose both of them in the end. I have no reason to disbelieve him as he is a very nice man. When the dogs were to be put down the vet wanted £1400 which this man didn’t have as his business had just gone belly up.
The vet still insisted on that amount regardless of what the man had spent before! How heartless was that? So the slaughter shot both dogs for him. And you wonder why I am pretty sure I won’t be buying a dog. Most vet practises now belong to huge companies that insist that the vets meet targets - or else.
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You think vets should be putting dogs to sleep for free? 🤯 bonkers!
 
gallopingby said:
This seems to go back at least five years, through various breeds including Shepherds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Both these breeds, like some others are known to have health problems in some lines. OP if you want a dog there are plenty available in various rescue centres. They will have been vet checked if from a reputable, probably voluntarily run group, you’ll also get checked out! Alternatively a little cross bred - previously called a mongrol - could be a great companion hopefully without the designer dog expense of some breeds.
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Crossbreds, mongrels and rescues are often of unknown heritage and are as likely to suffer health issues as a pedigree dog that's been badly or thoughtlessly bred. A vet check and testing for hereditary health conditions is not the same thing.
 
I don’t think many sane people contact a sheep slaughterer (freelance?! How does that even work, it’s very faffy to get emergency slaughter animals into the food chain and I doubt worth it for sheep) to shoot their dogs they’ve spend 25k on. That’s not your gundog going on 1 last shoot, that’s…. Slaughter.
Most would contact another vet… they must have been registered at plenty!
 
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