Your thoughts and opinions needed please

madhector

madhector

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Right, Jerry is back in to the vets tomorrow for another scan, this time vet is going to inject him with something to relax his intestine so she can get a better view of his kidneys, she is now looking for kidney stones.

The worry is he is now about 3/4 through his insurance limit, and if she finds kidney stones I get the impression from her we are looking at an operation. I have fortunately never had a horse operated on before so have no idea of the costs involved, or the chance of success etc.. I don't have huge amounts of savings and I do have a horse which is getting steadily worse for no apparent reason. I have a feeling vet is going to keep scanning and then by the time she finds anything I will have no chance of claiming the treatment necessary.

I'm not sure why I am posting this, just want your thoughts on the situation really as I am totally stuck.
 
There isnt one I dont think, thats why I so stuck
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I really think you need to have a chat with the vet. If they suspect stones, and manage to remove them, there is nothing to say the stones will not develop again; in fact, it is quite likely, except the next time around they will be excluded on the insurance.

It isn't even worth tinkering with the diet of the horse until you have confirmed that these are stones, and what they are made of. After then you might be able to feed with a view to preventing further stones forming.

You might also want to have a chat with the insurers, they must have had other clients in similar circumstances and might be able to give you a clear picture of what cover you will be able to obtain in the future.

Sorry, it's all depressing and i really feel for you.
 
Thanks, I will definatly ring them and have a chat, fortuently I have insured him with nfu and they are being very good so far, I really dont know enough about stones etc.. interesting about diets although all he has ever had with me is grass and hay and chaff as he is such a good doer and not been in hard enough work to need much else
 
Has your vet referred him to Newmarket or whereever your nearest top hospital is? I know that you say that she has constantly been in contact with the top guys, but I think this stituation is a bit beyond the joke now TBH, your vet has used up all your insurnace money and is still no closer to finding out what is wrong. Would ask that he is referred to the big guns? if he isnt already?
 
she was about to refer him after the last scan but then we had a slight improvement and the vet in newmarket said to wait till he had had the 6 weeks of antibiotics to treat the cysitis. Now it looks like there is an underlying problem other than the cysitis so I will ask tomorrow if we are no nearer an answer that they refer him
 
Not the same operation, but if Rosie has to be operated on for her fractured splint if it hasn't healed, the price i was given was starting at £2000
 
From reading your previous posts, I would ask your vet to refer him to Rossdales asap. At least you would get a pretty good diagnosis and prognosis.
 
Cystitis in itself can be a major problem and they don't seem to be able to do much except give anti biotics in humans never mind horses.My daughter has been on anti biotics on and off for 8 years and the hospital don't seem to have an answer, they inject her with them and keep her on them all the time.Drives her mad.
 
Oh honey, I really do feel for you, but DO NOT start beating yourself up about not accepting that offer... Jerry is so talented, and when he has got through all of this you will remember why you did not take the offer!

In my honest opinion, I think it is now time to have him referred. You have said that you are running out of money on your insurance, so I think having the scans today would be fruitless as your vet has already performed quite a few and not had any success from them. If you take him to Newmarket then they will just rescan anyway, so the ones today would be a waste of money. Your vet has already done everything she can for Jerry, and sometimes you have to be the one to request a referral (my friend had to do this for a very similar reason to you... she was coming to the end of her insurance money and did not have money saved up to pay for further treatment).

If this was my horse, I would phone the vet this morning and request a referral and defer the scans until you get to Newmarket. I know your vet is in contact with the top guys, but I think after the amount of time this has being going on, it is time for the top guys to have one to one with Jerry so you can get him better. As you have also said, there is no alternative... you have to pay regardless, so please think very carefully before allowing your vet to perform the scans this morning when she has already performed so many already. It could just be that you could get an answer more quickly by taking him straight to Newmarket asap.

My friend’s foal’s colic surgery is the only surgery I have come across I am afraid, and with stabling fees at Leahurst it came to just over £3,500 in total.
 
Thanks for that advice, has put me in two minds now, but unfortuently have just dropped him off for the day. She is thinking that there is something completly seperate to the bladder going on, he is dragging his feet and looks wobbly now, goes from being strangly calm to violent without warning. Had a chat to my vet about insurance and she knows the limit etc and is keeping costs as low as possible, she will make a desicion today as to whether to refer him or not.
 
Ah, if you have already dropped him off then you must go with that first... but if there is any uncertainty after todays scans, I would certainly get him referred and rushed through as quickly as possible. If for nothing else, for your own piece of mind
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Fingers crossed for you!
 
It's such a bu99er for you, the worst of it is not knowing what's wrong! That is very frustrating. My old eventer had an op on his hind leg, he had to be fully aneasthetised. he came out of it absolutely fine and the cost of the op wasn't too bad. With the after care and all, I think it came to about 2.5k.

My fingers are x'd for you that you find out what's wrong very soon and it all gets sorted quickly.
 
You've done what I was going to suggest, i.e point out to your vet that you insurance limit is nearing and funds are limited so she needs to get a wriggle on and get something sorted asap.

my insruance has a limit of £1000 for diagnostic work, kind of gives vets the kick to get on with things I find
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