Pet Insurance - kicking myself

sillysmiles

So we adopted our dog about 6 months ago and getting pet insurance sorted was on the list of things to do.
Then before Christmas I noticed a lump on his leg, took him to the vet, she checked it, and was was advised to monitor it. His injury improved but the lump remained. Fast forward to Feb and we started to get concerned, the lump wasn't going down. It wasn't getting bigger either and it wasn't impeding him, but it just didn't seem to be going away, so back to the vet.

Lump removed. I requested bloods, xray and pathology. Path results showed mast cell with unclear margins. Xray showed early stage spondylosis and early arthritis.

While the debulking will possibly allow an immunological response, there is a fairly strong likelihood it will recur both in the initial site and possibly other sites.

So now I'm kicking myself for long fingering the insurance, as the company I rang say they don't cover pre-existing conditions. Unlike human insurance, there isn't a waiver period.
If I hadn't requested the Xrays we wouldn't have known about the spondylosis and arthritis (though he's a lab cross so the likelihood of arthritis was fairly high) but they wouldn't have been a preexisting condition.

Just a rant really as I don't think people in RL will get me.

cocker5

ahh OP that's crap news well done on adopting a dog!

as far as i know NO pet insurance will cover pre existing conditions.. and with human medical insurance its 5 years before they will cover a pre existing conditions.. I know with VHI and Aviva its 5 years... a new condition is 26 weeks waiting period - all with a new policy (not a change over from policy provider)

I sent you a PM....

Hope your dog is OK OP

sillysmiles

Thanks for your message.
He is in great form, the spondylosis isn't advanced enough to cause him any discomfort. He is now on salmon oil too.

Sam is a sweetie, we are at least his third home. My brother in law took him (Sam) out of the pound, while searching for their own dog that had been missing for months. My brother-in-law couldn't leave Sam behind because he is so sweet. My sister and her husband had to rehome him, as he was caught in a compromising situation with a lamb ;-)

He is 4-5 years old, so I suppose the other thing I should check is that because he is a rescue that if I can get insurance that it is for life.

cocker5

sillysmiles wrote: »

Thanks for your message.
He is in great form, the spondylosis isn't advanced enough to cause him any discomfort. He is now on salmon oil too.

Sam is a sweetie, we are at least his third home. My brother in law took him (Sam) out of the pound, while searching for their own dog that had been missing for months. My brother-in-law couldn't leave Sam behind because he is so sweet. My sister and her husband had to rehome him, as he was caught in a compromising situation with a lamb ;-)

He is 4-5 years old, so I suppose the other thing I should check is that because he is a rescue that if I can get insurance that it is for life.

have you looked into Luposan pellets for his arthritis, they are very concentrate and find the great for my dog he's been on them for 2 years now he has shoulder issues... i get them on Zoo plus.ie

http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/supplements_specialty_food/bones_joints/luposan/129097

sillysmiles

Just an update. We are pretty sure his mast cell has recurred at the original site. Because of where it is on his hock its really hard place to operate on. A friend of a friend who is a small animal vet (but unfortunately in the UK) has recommended getting him referred to UCD for a removal and graft. Balls. :-(

tk123

sillysmiles wrote: »

Just an update. We are pretty sure his mast cell has recurred at the original site. Because of where it is on his hock its really hard place to operate on. A friend of a friend who is a small animal vet (but unfortunately in the UK) has recommended getting him referred to UCD for a removal and graft. Balls. :-(

Oh no you must be so worried!!

As you've no insurance do you think you might want shop around? - if so maybe give Cara Vet a call? A friend of mine used them when one of his dogs needed surgery after calling all of the big vets "hospitals" for quotes and I know a good few people who use them too. Their main one is in Ballycoolin in Blanchardstown - so easy to get to from the m50 etc.

sillysmiles

because of where the tumour is, I'd be concerned that a non specialist vet wouldn't be able to get clear margins.
First point of call is our normal vet to rule out scar tissue etc., but i'm pretty certain it is the tumour.
What I really want to avoid is a vet who thinks the only option in amputation because they aren't able to get clear margins.

tk123

Yeah we're were lucky with Bailey and where his tumour was - they were able to get a good sized margin in either side and leave him with 3/4 of them lower jaw

Ashbx

OP - Im pretty sure insurance companies wont insure a dog 5 years or over anyway. I tried to get insurance for my now 6 year old border collie (who has no health issues) and no-one will insure me. Its ridiculous!