Vet bills scare me.......

[MaxPower]

Hi all!

We're getting close to adopting a puppy. The potential vet bills are holding us back just a bit. I'm wondering if anyone out there has used pet insurance and what you're experience with it has been.

Thanks!!

:nonexistantdoggiesmilie:

[airlybird]

Hi Max.
I used to breed and show dogs, so pet insurance for me was a must, and when i sold puppies they always went to thier new homes with registration papers, a full pedigree, fully vacinated and 2 months free insurance.
You don't say if your puppy is a pedigree or not, but if it is, i wouldn't even consider buying from a breeder who does not sell you a puppy without all of those things.
If your puppy is from a rescue centre, than it should already have vacinations, which would come included in the price anyway (well it works like that in England).
Pet vacinations can be quite pricey and over here they need 3 sets of them, but there are insurance plans that cover that cost, i used to pay £4 a month (about $8) each dog and it definatley proved it's worth a few times...For example, I had one dog who got a nasty growth on his gums, which turned out to be a malignant tumor, the cost of the blood tests and biopsy alone, came to over £2000, and when he had the surgery i had to pay for a different type of anasthetic, which was more costly b/c the breed was known to have complications with anasthesia, then there was all the aftercare...If i hadn't had him insured then there is no way i could have afforded all that and would have had to make the awful choice of having him put to sleep...Also pet insurance not only covers your pet from disease/accident/injury, but it will cover your pet for causing damage or injury to other animals, people and property (even something silly, like, if your pet ran into the road, causing a car to break harshly/crash etc, you could be sued).
You can get some that pays for them to go into kennels if you go on holiday or are hospitalised for any amount of time, so you don't have to worry about getting someone to care for your pet or the cost of it if you're not going to be around for any length of time at some point..
What i suggest, is that you look around, compare premiums and what they include (always read the small print b/c were one type of insurance may cover somethings, another may not and some have excesses and some don't) and see if you can find one that suits you, pet insurance is like any other insurance, there are some great deals out there, so if you decide to buy it, just make sure you shop around for the best one...Hope it helps:)

[HaleiwaDiva]

I've had some huge vet bills in the past being a multiple dog owner. However, I took my puppy to the vet last week because he became really lethargic after coming home from the beach. Come to find out he must have eaten a bunch of sand & drank a bunch of salt water and got dehydrated. I did not see this happen while he weas playing so beach going puppy owners beware!!

The vet gave him a shot of antibiotic & a full IV of electrolytes, The total bill was only $75.00 which I thought was very reasonable. Plus, I was thrilled that my puppy was back to his playful self the next day!

I'll be sure to watch him more carefully when we go to the beach!

[LuLuLemon]

I don't have any pet insurance, but vet visits are expensive. And I have a cat not a dog. I would imagine a dog would cost more.

[MaxPower]

Hi Max.
I used to breed and show dogs, so pet insurance for me was a must, and when i sold puppies they always went to thier new homes with registration papers, a full pedigree, fully vacinated and 2 months free insurance.
You don't say if your puppy is a pedigree or not, but if it is, i wouldn't even consider buying from a breeder who does not sell you a puppy without all of those things.
If your puppy is from a rescue centre, than it should already have vacinations, which would come included in the price anyway (well it works like that in England).
Pet vacinations can be quite pricey and over here they need 3 sets of them, but there are insurance plans that cover that cost, i used to pay £4 a month (about $8) each dog and it definatley proved it's worth a few times...For example, I had one dog who got a nasty growth on his gums, which turned out to be a malignant tumor, the cost of the blood tests and biopsy alone, came to over £2000, and when he had the surgery i had to pay for a different type of anasthetic, which was more costly b/c the breed was known to have complications with anasthesia, then there was all the aftercare...If i hadn't had him insured then there is no way i could have afforded all that and would have had to make the awful choice of having him put to sleep...Also pet insurance not only covers your pet from disease/accident/injury, but it will cover your pet for causing damage or injury to other animals, people and property (even something silly, like, if your pet ran into the road, causing a car to break harshly/crash etc, you could be sued).
You can get some that pays for them to go into kennels if you go on holiday or are hospitalised for any amount of time, so you don't have to worry about getting someone to care for your pet or the cost of it if you're not going to be around for any length of time at some point..
What i suggest, is that you look around, compare premiums and what they include (always read the small print b/c were one type of insurance may cover somethings, another may not and some have excesses and some don't) and see if you can find one that suits you, pet insurance is like any other insurance, there are some great deals out there, so if you decide to buy it, just make sure you shop around for the best one...Hope it helps:)

Thanks for the info!
I've tried to check out a couple websites and get some quotes, but most require you to register and fill out all their forms for that....I just wanted to get some general info...i.e cost, coverage etc...I've read a couple reviews and most don't seem satisfied. I'm glad you've had a positive experience.
Maybe I'll try the old fashioned telephone and see if I can talk to a person at one of these companies!

HaleiwaDiva, I'm glad your puppy is ok!!

I had a cat that had the same lethargy....but $1400 later she had to be put down. And they charged us for that too..... :mad: Maybe I should find a new vet.

[CLUCK]

Everyone at work thought I was crazy for taking a giniea pig to the vet... they don't have kids so they don't understand to the kids its not about money... anyways... $65!!! He had a hairball and it was treated with pineapple juice!

[aRooZa]

Everyone at work thought I was crazy for taking a giniea pig to the vet... they don't have kids so they don't understand to the kids its not about money... anyways... $65!!! He had a hairball and it was treated with pineapple juice!

Yeah I get the same look when I say that I take my gerbils to the vet. We paid 80 € (that's about 124 $) for one treatment of 3 gerbils!! We have to take 2 gerbils to the vet again today. I'm gonna be broke tonight, I'm sure. :mad: But I don't want my pets to suffer. They should be healthy and happy. No matter what species. So I'll gladly pay.

[CLUCK]

Yeah I get the same look when I say that I take my gerbils to the vet. We paid 80 € (that's about 124 $) for one treatment of 3 gerbils!! We have to take 2 gerbils to the vet again today. I'm gonna be broke tonight, I'm sure. :mad: But I don't want my pets to suffer. They should be healthy and happy. No matter what species. So I'll gladly pay.
Exactly. That should be the bottom line with ALL animals.
Well, except for the dang raccoons that keep getting into my trash!!! :mad::mad::mad:





j/k...

[Iggy the Lizard]

crushed red pepper sprinkled around the cans.

it works

[CLUCK]

crushed red pepper sprinkled around the cans.

it works
I have solved the problem now... the cans are in an armor clad fortified strorage area 45 feet above grade, surrounded by a mote with crocks and armed guards. If they make it past that, hey... they can have the damn garbage!


Seriously though, we have always had problems. Once they actually chewed a hole in the garbage can itself to get to whatever was in there. I cleaned out the woodshed a few weeks ago and screwed the outside door shut and closed up any gaps where they could get in. Been all good since...

[salem2005]

My advice would be to talk to different people to make sure you pick a good Vet. Then, I would check with their office to find out what insurance programs they promote - most good Vet offices will be able to point you in the direction of a reputable insurance company...and most likely it will be one that they have already worked with and have built a good relationship with so there aren't any problems with the insurance paying them when the time comes.

I have had two dogs, both pure-bred boxers and both have had many medical problems. Silly me, I never purchased any type of insurance, I wish I had. My first boxer had cancer and I spent over $10,000 over a year having her treated for it before she gave in to the disease. Now, my second boxer is sick with a degenerative spinal disease that requires a lot of Vet office visits and medications...and the medications have led to other problems like kidney failure and hospitalizations for that. I don't know how much an insurance program would have paid for any of their medical problems, but even a portion would have helped.

I don't think I will ever get a pure-bred again...they seem to have so many medical issues that the simple mixed breed dogs do not have. Plus, after watching so many tv shows on puppy mills and how pure-bred dogs are often treated as part of the breeding process, I just don't think I would get another one. There are so many poor shelter dogs are out there that need homes, I will definitely go to an animal shelter for my next dog.

[MaxPower]

We're in the process of adopting a boxer mix right now! We'll know for sure tomorrow if he's ours.

Sorry to hear about your doggies, salem. :awwhug: But, thank you for the advice.

[salem2005]

Congratulations and good luck with the new puppy! Boxers are great dogs...unfortunately for me, I've just had some pretty bad luck with the pure-breds...but I wouldn't trade the time I've had with either of them for anything. A boxer mix is probably a good way to go...you get the boxer part, and hopefully you get a nice mix with healthy genes! I'm sure yours will be great!

[airlybird]

Thanks for the info!



I've tried to check out a couple websites and get some quotes, but most require you to register and fill out all their forms for that....I just wanted to get some general info...i.e cost, coverage etc...I've read a couple reviews and most don't seem satisfied. I'm glad you've had a positive experience.
Maybe I'll try the old fashioned telephone and see if I can talk to a person at one of these companies!


HaleiwaDiva, I'm glad your puppy is ok!!


I had a cat that had the same lethargy....but $1400 later she had to be put down. And they charged us for that too..... :mad: Maybe I should find a new vet.



Yes ringing around and speaking to someone in person is definatley the way to go, you can even barter them down and get extras sometimes, if you have spoken to other companys, as usually they try to beat each other to give you a better deal...I'm so sorry to hear about you cat.:awwhug:
Everyone at work thought I was crazy for taking a giniea pig to the vet... they don't have kids so they don't understand to the kids its not about money... anyways... $65!!! He had a hairball and it was treated with pineapple juice!


Yeah I get the same look when I say that I take my gerbils to the vet. We paid 80 € (that's about 124 $) for one treatment of 3 gerbils!! We have to take 2 gerbils to the vet again today. I'm gonna be broke tonight, I'm sure. :mad: But I don't want my pets to suffer. They should be healthy and happy. No matter what species. So I'll gladly pay.
In the small village were my grandad lives, they were having a lot of trouble with foxes killing off the duck population on the lake, he turned up at my house one day with 14 tiny motherless mallard ducklings huddled together in a mushroom box, for me to raise...I built them a pen and read up on how to look after them...One of them became ill and i took it to the vet in this huge carrier...It was tiny, but had already grown out of its whistle/squeak and and developed a loud quack...It was quacking loudling from the box in the waiting room and everyone must have thought it was a full grown duck, so when i opened the box and took out this tiny little chick, everyone just burst out laughing, it was so funny:D


My advice would be to talk to different people to make sure you pick a good Vet. Then, I would check with their office to find out what insurance programs they promote - most good Vet offices will be able to point you in the direction of a reputable insurance company...and most likely it will be one that they have already worked with and have built a good relationship with so there aren't any problems with the insurance paying them when the time comes.




I have had two dogs, both pure-bred boxers and both have had many medical problems. Silly me, I never purchased any type of insurance, I wish I had. My first boxer had cancer and I spent over $10,000 over a year having her treated for it before she gave in to the disease. Now, my second boxer is sick with a degenerative spinal disease that requires a lot of Vet office visits and medications...and the medications have led to other problems like kidney failure and hospitalizations for that. I don't know how much an insurance program would have paid for any of their medical problems, but even a portion would have helped.


I don't think I will ever get a pure-bred again...they seem to have so many medical issues that the simple mixed breed dogs do not have. Plus, after watching so many tv shows on puppy mills and how pure-bred dogs are often treated as part of the breeding process, I just don't think I would get another one. There are so many poor shelter dogs are out there that need homes, I will definitely go to an animal shelter for my next dog.



I'm so sorry to hear about your dogs, that must have been very hard on you:awwhug:
You're right about certain pure breeds having problems, Boxer dogs IMO are one of the most beautiful breeds with bags of personality, i just love them so much, but the main reason i stopped breeding them, was because i just didn't agree on the breed standard...So many dogs out there are being bred to look a certain way, but thier health suffers greatly for it...And puppy mills just make this worse, because, they don't care about selective breeding to try an minimise these problems, they just care about churning them fast, for as much profit as possible.
A good tell tale sign of a puppy mill, is a place that breeds lots of different breeds...A true breeder is someone who breeds dogs for the love of a certain breed, they put time and effort into them and spend more money than they will ever make back, but the thrill of breeding, raising, training and then showing a dogs, that become champions, is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding things that i have ever done.
We're in the process of adopting a boxer mix right now! We'll know for sure tomorrow if he's ours.




Sorry to hear about your doggies, salem. :awwhug: But, thank you for the advice.



As salem has already highlighted, boxers come with quite a few genetic problems, to name but a few, because of thier beautiful bulging eyes, they tend to have a lot of eye problems, the most common being "cherry eye", they are also prone to in-growing eye lashes...They have deep chests and a rather small heart, so with operations, the usually need a more expensive type of anasthetic, they also suffer from spinal problems if they have a poor sprung rib cage or are too long in the leg...And are prone to numerous skin conditions, as your puppy is a boxer mix you may well encounter some of these problems, but I hope your little guy is just fine and you have many, many happy years with him.:)

[CLUCK]

As salem has already highlighted, boxers come with quite a few genetic problems

There are quite a few breeds of dogs that are geneticly prone to certain problems...

I had a great dane a few years ago and with them its all about the hips.

I miss him... :(

[airlybird]

There are quite a few breeds of dogs that are geneticly prone to certain problems...

I had a great dane a few years ago and with them its all about the hips.

I miss him... :(
Aw Cluck:awwhug:
Almost all pure breeds have some kind of health issue, b/c dogs were (and still are in a lot of cases) used for certain jobs, they were initially bred to conform to a certain standard (which means that somewere in thier history, there was only a small gene pool to breed from and at some point they will almost certainly have been in-bred) that will enable them too perform that job the most efficiently...Labradors have the hip problems too, my dad has always had labradors, the one from my childhood was called Sonney and even though both of his parents had been hip scored and got 10/10, he still developed hip problems when he got to about 8 yrs old, it was really sad because he deteriorated fast and within 2 years, he had problems even just standing up and he used to hobble around after us....That dog could open the fridge, suck an egg out and hold it in his mouth for hours without even breaking the shell...It still makes me smile when i think about it.
Greedy breeders and puppy mills, will still inbreed thier dogs, and keep them in the most awful conditions, that's why it is important to avoid them at all costs, because whatever animal you get from them, it is sure to have major health issues.
A responsible breeder, will always try to breed with these genetic problems in mind and breed selectively, to try an aviod thier dogs from developing these problems, it's certainly not ideal, but as these breeds already exist anyway, and the only other way around the problem, would be to let a breed die out completly, which would be a shame...However, there are certain breeds that are bred soley for thier looks alone (the utility types)...And these are the ones i don't agree with...There is no purpose for them other than, they look a certain way, it's horrible for the poor animal to be burdened with all these health problems and a much reduced life, just for cosmetic reasons....These are the breeds that i think should either have the standard changed to allow breeders to eliminate these problems by breeding them out, or they should be be banned from further breeding these types of dog, so the breed dies out completley.
The breeds of dog that are least affected with genetic problems, are the ones that are the most unchanged through the years and still resemble thier closest ancestor the wolf.

[MaxPower]

We didn't get the boxer mix because the adoption people didn't like that we have a 2 year-old. :mad:

But, we searched more and have finally got our new little addition.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa314/LKonersman/Daisy.jpg

The shelter from where we got her recommended a vet, and they recommended VPI for the insurance....which will be a good thing as we will be spending about $200 in just 2 months on her visits/shots. :eye-poppi

Not to mention the cost of just everyday dog needs...

A regular non-fancy leash and two mint mini tennis balls - $20

Puppy obedience school so your doggie doesn't piss off the neighborhood - $120

Being able to fling poop at the kids that ride those annoying mini-bikes down the street all summer long - PRICELESS

[MaggiePixel]

and the puppy's gender and name is?

[MaxPower]

Ah...sorry, I posted her picture over in the pet thread the night we got her. I just wanted to mention her here along with the insurance info. Her name is Daisy.

[MaggiePixel]

Ah...sorry, I posted her picture over in the pet thread the night we got her. I just wanted to mention her here along with the insurance info. Her name is Daisy.OK, my bad - I thought this was another puppy in addition to Daisy (who's cute as a button).

[salem2005]

Awwww, Daisy is soooo cute! Have fun with her!!!

[airlybird]

We didn't get the boxer mix because the adoption people didn't like that we have a 2 year-old. :mad:I wouldn't be angry with them Max, it seems like the adoption people were responsible...They obviously must have spent time with the dog assessing and testing his personality traits and social skills..Your 2 year old wouldn't have been the problem, it would have been a problem with the dog maybe not being layed back enough and accepting of putting up with a younger childs antics.

*sees Daisy and melts*

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa314/LKonersman/Daisy.jpg

OMG...Want!!!

[MaxPower]

I wouldn't be angry with them Max, it seems like the adoption people were responsible...They obviously must have spent time with the dog assessing and testing his personality traits and social skills..Your 2 year old wouldn't have been the problem, it would have been a problem with the dog maybe not being layed back enough and accepting of putting up with a younger childs antics.


That dog was supposed to be great with kids. There reason was simply because he was going to be a medium to large dog and they were afraid that he would jump on our 2 year old. I explained that we're putting the dog through obedience classes and that jumping wouldn't be permitted. After talking with me for a while, they agreed that we would be able to handle a large dog with the small kids. But it was too late for that particular dog by then. They told me that the bulk of the larger dogs they get returned to the shelter are because they are rough with smaller kids. I know they are just doing what they think is best for the animals...can't be too mad at that.

[airlybird]

That dog was supposed to be great with kids. There reason was simply because he was going to be a medium to large dog and they were afraid that he would jump on our 2 year old. I explained that we're putting the dog through obedience classes and that jumping wouldn't be permitted. After talking with me for a while, they agreed that we would be able to handle a large dog with the small kids. But it was too late for that particular dog by then. They told me that the bulk of the larger dogs they get returned to the shelter are because they are rough with smaller kids. I know they are just doing what they think is best for the animals...can't be too mad at that.
Aw, it's such a shame that it was too late for you to get the original dog that you chose :sorry: They should maybe have conducted that interview about the dogs potential size with you right from the very start...I guess all dog societys etc are just so used to seeing cases were things have gone so drastically wrong that they tend to be a little over cautious were really young children are concerned.... but i have to say...Looking at that pic of Daisy....soooooooo adorable:wub:

*stops looking at the cute widdle puppy pic, sticks my finger in my ears and chants*
"I do not want a puppy, I do not want a puppy"!.