Vet Fees

[e.h]

In a round about way related to our IVA - its going to cost us money that we don't have.

Our beloved Staffie went to the vet this evening because we had found a lump on his shoulder. He is going in on Friday for the vet to remove the lump and send it for analysis. While he is under anasthetic, the vet is going to descale his teeth (they badly need to be done). Has anyone had any treatment similar to this for their pets and any idea (roughly) how much it could cost? We were due to go away next week for a week in my sister's caravan but it looks as if all the money we had been able to save up for this will be spent at the vets. A bit of a blow financially but Nelson is worth every penny. I think I may have to ask my Dad to help us out with the vet fees until we can claim it back on our insurance. We have to pay our vet and then claim it back, the vet won't settle direct with the insurance company.

Any help/advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Liz
x

[Viki.W]

Ah Liz, I hope Nelson is going to be ok. Could you ask the vet tomorrow or will they only tot up the costs afterwards? I really hope you can have your holiday as I'm sure you need it. X

[e.h]

Thank you so much for your kind words Viki. I am going to ring the vet tomorrow for an estimate. I have spoken to our pet insurance people and they have said there are no exclusions on the policy so she said it would probably be okayed by them but obviously they cannot okay a claim over the phone. Its just so difficult because our vet will not settle direct with insurance companies, you have to pay out first and then claim it back yourself.

Thanks again Viki.

Liz
x

[Viki.W]

I've never had to use the pet insurance yet, I didn't know that you had to pay first, how awful. I think if it was me I'd be asking my Dad too![:I] Poor Nelson, I hope it turns out to be nothing.

My vet told me to clean Nia's teeth once a week and gave me what looks like a rubber thimble and some meat flavoured toothpaste![xx(]
I can barely stroke her without her biting me, let alone stick my hand in her mouth!

Good luck Liz, let us know how it goes. X

[e.h]

Thank you, will do.

Liz
x

[luluj]

I am sure you dad will help you out rather than see you miss your holiday that you deserve so much!

[e.h]

Hi Lulu - I know he will, its just I hate asking him as he has no idea that we are in an IVA and he will wonder what the hell we do with our money! I might just have to come clean and tell him.

Liz
x

[plasticdaft]

I would look for another vet,ours will settle directly with pet plan our insurers and then send us a bill for what the insurers wont pay ie the excess and any exclusions.Under an IVA you are very unlikely to have several hundred pounds to pay out in advance,if you could do that you wouldnt bother with insurance.

Our dog had a lump removed last year(fatty tissue,harmless in the end) and the bill was £175. He has had some dental work done also which came to about £140 but that was extractions and not just a spit and polish.

Hope that helps.

[e.h]

Thanks Plasticdaft - that doesn't sound as painful as I was anticipating - I hope it is around the price you have stated. I will still have to ask my Dad if we want to have a little holiday and then I can pay him back once the insurance pays out, can't I? The trouble is, I want this done as quickly as possible now for Nelson's sake and ours (I am going slightly mad with worry!) and if I change my vet, first I have to find one that will settle direct with insurers, we are just delaying everything and adding to the anxiety.

Thanks for your reply, fingers crossed.

Liz
x

[plasticdaft]

Our dog has been very poorly of late and knowing that our vet could work directly with the insurance makes such a difference,we can concentrate fully on getting the dog better.

Good luck with the dog.

[e.h]

Many thanks Plasticdaft - how is your dog doing now? On the mend, I hope.

Liz
x

[plasticdaft]

He is still staggering around a little bit(much steadier than he was) but is back at the vets on thursday,another 5 weeks of antibiotics and we will have a better idea of how he will do longer term. Well as longer term as it gets for a 14 year old mongrel(heinz 57 as we call him when people ask what breed).

[kallis3]

You may find that they won't pay out for teeth unless the dog is in pain and it is an emergency. I would read your policy if I were you. The exclusions bit is usually if your dog had something wrong when you took out the insurance and they wouldn't cover you for that.

One of our dogs has had hers done twice under a general anaesthetic I think I've spelled that right!) at around £120 each time and we could not claim.

You might be ok if your vet doesn't put the tooth treatment down on your invoice or claim form though.

[e.h]

Hi Jan

I don't think we will be able to claim for the teeth either because it is more cosmetic but at least we will be able to claim for the lumpectomy and the general anasthetic. Maybe I will ask the vet to put the dental treatment on a separate invoice.

Thanks for this

Liz
x

[kallis3]

Hi Liz,

Yes, good idea. It will make it easier for the insurance company as well and you will possibly get your claim paid out quicker. The teeth shouldn't cost a lot I wouldn't have thought as he will already be under. Ours just went in to have her teeth done.

We tried the toothpaste but it didn't work! She's as bad as ever now, and boy, does she have bad breath! They're not bothering her though, and I won't put her through it again as she's 14 and I don't think she would come through it.

I hope Nelson's lump is just that and that he makes a full recovery.