Pet insurance elderly dog

Bellie1

Have had rescue dog for 13 years and she's now 14 or 15 so probably only live for a year or so( she's medium size mix dog) She's very stiff and slow but otherwise in good health. Was at vet recently and asked about a dental but he said he would be reluctant to put her under general anaesthetic . It got me thinking why am I continuing to pay per insurance. I've realised the past few years that it's not worth it as the excess when they're over 10 is so high anyway. But being superstitious, hung onto it just in case. My thinking now is that even if she broke a paw or got some disease, it would be kinder to put her to sleep as can't operate . Also I don't even know if they could sedate her heavily enough to do an x-ray or scan to investigate any symptoms. Anyone have any thoughts about what kind of treatment other than operation pet insurance might cover at this stage of her life? I'd prefer to donate the 30 a month to an animal rescue rather than waste it.

galvo_clare

It could cover the cost of ongoing medication if she needs it.
Even pills can be expensive.

Bellie1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122403624#Comment_122403624

Oh ok, I hadn't considered medication. I'd better check with insurance company if covers for this. She's started arthritis meds so maybe in 4 months , when have exceeded the excess, I can start claiming some of this. I guess heart medicine etc could be expensive each month if she needed it

Ezeoul

If you can afford it. I wouldn't cancel it. With insurance you always think you don't need it, until something happens, and then you do.

A 14 year old dog probably has about 2/3 years left. Being brutal, cancelling the insurance would save you approx €1k in that time.

Ask yourself is it worth it saving that, to cancel the insurance?

Bellie1

A thousand euros is alot if it's money down the drain.I decided a few years ago that i won't insure next pet but will set aside the money instead. All along Ive kept paying in case she needed surgery which I guessed is very expensive . . Assuming meds are covered( I get 2/3 after excess) then if meds are over 50 a month , then it was worth it. I'll pay whatever it takes to make her last year's as comfortable as possible but Ive been disgusted at how little is covered . Have paid bill of about 800€ for various investigative tests and only gotten back €250.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122404327#Comment_122404327

I had a cocker spaniel who had no health issues until she turned 11, when she had two strokes (one small one, and one big one) in quick succession. €700 for emergency treatment in UCD alone for the night it happened (of course, it was a Saturday night). She survived both, and lived another 3 years (though she did go blind) but the bills in those last years were expensive. An MRI alone was €1k, plus a specialist vet for her sight every three months. Like you, I paid the bills, but I really regretted that I did not have insurance for her.

I now have two cats, and both are over-insured (if anything). I learned from what happened with Ellie. I wouldn't keep a pet now without insurance. You just never know what is going to crop up, but I completely understand your point and do appreciate it's expensive.

(eta) you could ask your vet if they have a TrustVet plan. It would at least cover your consultation costs (up to 12) and some other basic stuff, and all you'd have to pay for is meds.

One of my cats suffers from indolent ulcers on her mouth, I've had her at the vet at least 15 times this year alone (twice this week) and all it costs me is €2.50 for the steroid shot each time.

Bellie1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122404367#Comment_122404367

Oh that sounds awful. Were they able to treat her after the strokes or was all the expense for diagnosis?

I kept up the insurance as was always aware that the last few years would be expensive. My own dog, coincidentally also called Ellie, has an absolute phobia of vets and has to be heavily sedated for her annual vaccine so to be honest if she had an illness that involved numerous trips to the vet, then I'm not sure if that's feasible either. She was knocked out for 24 hours earlier in the week after her annual visit and lying in her own poo and pee. That got me questioning why I am paying at all as not sure if she could be sedated that much multiple times in the year if she did get I'll and if it would be kinder to put her to sleep rather than ensure this. It's typical, all these questions only dawned on me after the visit rather than when was with the vet. I absolutely adore my dogs but I wouldn't hesitate to put them to sleep at this stage of their lives if suffering. I think similarly about humans ,not just animals btw.

I'll probably keep it up for the sake of it though . Im sure there a saying, if you can't make a decision, then don't change anything!

HazeDoll

I have never had insurance for any of mine. I've paid for surgeries and meds, but it always works out cheaper than the insurance would have been.

I have a cat who has an unfortunate habit of eating things that have to be removed surgically, costing about €650 every time. He has had this particular surgery four times now. The second time it happened I mentioned to the vet that it might be worth getting insurance but the vet remarked that there is a good chance that the insurance wouldn't continue to pay out after the second time.

I had a dog who could never catch a break. He had everything, everything you could possibly imagine apart from pregnancy complications. It might have saved me a few quid if I had had him insured, but I had another dog at the same time who just got on with things and never seemed to be sick. If I had been paying for insurance for both of them I would have been worse off.

A big part of my thinking is that I'll do absolutely everything I can for them, spend every cent I have, but I won't see them suffer unnecessarily. I wouldn't consider chemo for an older dog, for example, or invasive ongoing surgeries, unless I knew for certain that there were plenty of good years ahead. I won't patch them up and see if I can get another few months with them.

I have health insurance myself, mostly because accessing private healthcare speeds things up so much. This isn't a consideration with veterinary care.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122404399#Comment_122404399

Aww, Ellies' are special, aren't they?

The €700 was for UCD, for overnight and observation. We rushed her in around 2am on Saturday night / Sunday morning when I realised something was seriously wrong. (She was drooling really badly, her eyes rolling and she couldn't walk). They stablised her and observed her, and discharged her on Monday morning at 7am to her own vet with a drip, and a diagnosis of vestibular disease.

My own vet wasn't happy with how her eyes were still flickering, and kept in her in for observation, and on her second day in with her she had a massive stroke. It turns out, she believed the first was a stroke too, just a smaller one. We had to get the MRI to confirm the strokes, and that was €1k. No treatment, just time, really.

I thought I would have to let her be PTS then, but my Vet advised me to give her 30 days and then reevaluate her condition. Her own dog had a similar stroke and recovered, and she was right, because Ellie did too. It took a few months in the end, and she had a slight tilt to her head when she was tired, but otherwise made a good recovery.

It was about six months after the strokes that I noticed one of her eyes was a bit milky in some lights. Within two weeks of that, she went fully blind in one eye. A rapidly forming cataract. The second eye was also deteriorating, but I brought her to a specialist. He wouldn't operate on the cataracts (at at cost of €3k) due to the history of strokes, but he put her on supplments which I believe helped delay the deterioration and let her keep a little bit of sight in one eye for the next 2/3 years until eventually, I let her go over rainbow bridge when she was fully blind and started to develop symptoms of doggy dementia.

She was the best girl. I still miss her terribly.

I hope your Ellie improves. You know your dog and what's best for her :)

Oscar_Madison

I’ve a 12 year old rescue and have him 4 years - I investigated insurance at the time and I don’t think he qualified for insurance (or maybe I didn’t research it right or look at enough providers)

Even if he qualified Between excess, terms and conditions and bla blah bla I felt that overall I’d be down money overall.

I think if you have a brand new puppy it’s probably wise as a lot of unknown conditions could be present that will raise their head in the first number of years- but even then reading the terms of the policy before committing is essential.

I’ve decided that I will spend money on my dog if he gets sick but it won’t be an endless open cheque book -he’s had a few minor issues that cost maybe 600 -800 euro over 4 years so touch wood, 200 - 300 quid a year will be all I need to pay.

my own belief is that many vets out there are just extortionate and play on the emotions of their owners- disagree if you wish but that’s my experience. God forbid he gets a serious illness my focus will be quality of whatever life he’s left and pain free- I wouldn’t put him through major operations - not just because of cost but that would be a consideration too but also he suffered enough in past life before my ownership so happy days is all he deserves now. I’ll go to reasonable means but not extraordinary means to keep him well and alive

Bellie1

Thanks everyone, it's given me food for thought. I'll see if the arthritis meds kick in and 'take a few years off her' ,to quote the vet before deciding anything. These stories are great value as they give me an idea of potential costs and will help me decide.

I wish there was community rating for pet insurance, as there is for us humans:-) Or maybe the huge excess as they age is only with my insurer and others aren't the same

Bellie1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122405001#Comment_122405001

poor you and poor Ellie, I hadn't even considered a stroke. I'm dreading something like that happening. A quick heartattack and lights out is best scenario for us and them.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122405171#Comment_122405171

I do agree, thats how I hope to go out myself! 😂

In fairness to my own vet, she didn't charge me a cent for Ellie's in-patient stay when she had the stroke, as she felt I'd paid UCD enough (for what turned out to be a wrong diagnosis).

And even now, my cat has gone over the number of free consultations allowed on her TrustVet plan for the year, and she just waved it off. She treats each time an ulcer appears as one consultation, even though the cat has to go back for injections every 2/3 days until they heal, and they can take 4 to 6 weeks each time. She only charges me for the medication.

Bellie1

Nice vet, you're very lucky. Is she working in her own practice? Is it a small town ? My vets is a big practice so they don't seem to use any discretion and definitely charge alot. I must suss out that trustvet option, maybe another vets locally offers it

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122405558#Comment_122405558

Yes, it's her own practice, small enough, in Dublin suburbs. 2/3 vets. It's been our "family" vet practice for many years, all my family take their pets there.

DBB

Hmmm. I get the opinion that insurance is expensive particularly if you're never forced into having to use it. I also used to keep money aside to cover emergencies if I needed it.

A few years ago, one of my dogs injured herself and had to have orthopaedic surgery. As she was uninsured, I had to dig into the fund, and all-in, along with post-op physio and treatment, it cost me about €3k.

A few years later with a younger dog who unbelievably injured himself in a similar way... but this time, I had him insured. The same surgery and post-op care came in at €4k, covered in total by Allianz. To date, I have paid €1500 in insurance premiums for him, so I'm still in the black in this case!

But here's the clincher, for me. The first dog could have continued to have ongoing high-tech post-op treatment, the likes of platelet therapy, stem-cell therapy, if she had been insured. She'd also have been covered for physio, hydrotherapy etc etc. But I just couldn't afford it all out of my own pocket... it was going to cost me I think another €2200 per year just for stem-cell therapy. Had she been insured, she would have been able to avail of all of it, and it wouldn't have cost me anywhere near what it would've cost Allianz.

So, for cases where ongoing, lifetime care that would enhance the pet's quality of life, it's hard to argue against insurance (with Allianz anyway)... but, like all insurance policies, you're taking a gamble on whether you'll ever need it.

Almost every vet I know have their own dogs insured. That tells me everything I need to know!

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122403805#Comment_122403805

Very very few dogs hit 16 years.

Unless it is covering issues from several years back, pet insurance is near worthless in elderly dogs.

Firstly it's expensive, secondly the excess gets higher and thirdly it only covers a small part of the cost

I stopped it at 9 years and have saved €1600. Had a vet bill of almost 2k recently and if I still had insurance, it would have paid €340 of the bill.

So great for younger dogs or ongoing issues, but no good for new issues on older dogs.

Ted222

It’s like any insurance.

Just because you may never need to claim doesn’t mean it’s bad value. It’s just to protect you against certain eventualities that hopefully never occur.

Bellie1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122406116#Comment_122406116

Thanks Ted. Youre right, and that's why was happy to pay all along .I guess it's just because my dog has such a phobia of the vets and also can't undergo surgery at this stage that's making me question it's value

CelticRambler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058360583/pet-insurance-elderly-dog

Whatever about the insurance side of things, these comments are worth addressing:

Was at vet recently and asked about a dental but he said he would be reluctant to put her under general anaesthetic . It got me thinking why am I continuing to pay per insurance. I've realised the past few years that it's not worth it as the excess when they're over 10 is so high anyway. But being superstitious, hung onto it just in case. My thinking now is that even if she broke a paw or got some disease, it would be kinder to put her to sleep as can't operate .  Also I don't even know if they could sedate her heavily enough to do an x-ray or scan to investigate any symptoms. 

Unless there is something seriously wrong with her heart, lungs or brain there's no reason why a competent vet couldn't/shouldn't be able to sedate, anaesthetise and/or operate on a 15-year old dog if there was a significant benefit in doing so.

I've known lots of dogs in their mid-teens and cats in their twenties successfully undergo all kinds of surgery under general anaesthesia wake up to enjoy several more months/years of life. That doesn't need to be in a high-tech veterinary hospital either - a regular vet with a good nurse and appropriate anaesthetic equipment (of the kind that's been around for thirty years) is all that's needed.

Ted222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122406483#Comment_122406483

Well that’s a consideration all right.

If you honestly don’t think insurance could provide anything you might need in the future, then it may not be worth having.

n.d.os

Once you are ready to let a pet go, there's no point in paying pet insurance. There are tough situations where dogs get cancer and not being able to pay for expensive treatments to help them might make you consider otherwise, but if you are thinking about cancelling, I would just go ahead and do it. God knows we all can't open our bank account these days without some domestic bill going up another €15 because you've "reached the end of your contract."

Bellie1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122406507#Comment_122406507

I was surprised myself. They didn't hesitate to operate on jack Russell last year who is 4 or 5 years older than Ellie to remove his teeth. She definitely acts alot older than him so vet must know what she's capable of or else must know how traumatic it is for her to go there. Even with the heavy sedation she was still distressed when he was examining her ..it's a last resort to bring her to vets

tk123

I claimed about €22k for my old boy who we lost last year at 14 so I’m pro insurance(!).. bear in mind as well as medicines your insurance also covers other therapies like physio, acupuncture, laser etc which can add up but can also make a huge difference to quality of life.

Bellie1

I appreciate that tk123. Can't believe it cost you 22k.But Ellie wouldnt undergo any of these treatments without heavy sedation so unless meds work for whatever ailment she has, then she would have to go untreated. Also financially I wouldn't be able to pay a third of 22k ( I have chronic condition myself and can't afford physio appointments!)

tk123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122408176#Comment_122408176

Just to clarify insurance paid that in claims not me(!) - most would have been direct claim with me just paying the excess which is why I always opt for insurance. When my other dog was being treated for kidney disease the bills flew up quickly and I just paid the €100 excess.

Bellie1

Who is your policy with? Ours are Petinsure( have changed name but can't think what new company is) Excess is 150 and if bill is 900, I also pay a third so 300+150 means I pay 450. Im not sure at what age the dogs were when they added on this 'owner pays 1/3 of total cost' , I just remember being annoyed a few years ago when was hit with it. If was only paying 100 for a condition, then yeah it's worth the insurance

airy fairy

Interesting read..

Have a 2 year old mix and contemplated getting insurance when we first got her. Had a chat with the vet and looked at policies but decided against.

We had a Samoyed before this one. Got diabetes at about age 7. Started to go blind at age 9. Collapsed in the garden some months later and we rushed her to vet where we had some mins with her before she passed (vet PTS as she was passing to ease the pain) apparently an undetected lump had burst internally.

Reason I tell this is we asked the vet this time round , if something similar happened, like insulin costs, would it be covered. And apparently no is the answer. Most meds covered for a year after diagnosis but nothing much thereafter. And after the age of 10, insurance is waste of time.

I'm the south and have very little choice in providers as I see some vets up the country provide their own insurance or promote insurance. My vet only does through the main one or two offering it.

Those of you who say their long term meds are covered for the duration of the animals like, could you share the provider please?

tk123

I’m with Allianz and never had any issues claiming for medicine after a year. I’d also disagree that’s it’s a waste after they’re 10… but I guess this can come down to how proactive your vet is and what level of care they can offer. My dog had 2 surgeries after he was 10 - one of which was an emergency situation.. I was also able to claim for his arthritis medicine, blood tests, acupuncture etc etc. I have a brilliant vet who’s interested in caring for older dogs - I know not all vets are the same and don’t offer other treatments, refer to physio etc.