People who own pets, please read.

[Steve Bowles]

It's terribly sad about Loki, I'm just glad he'll survive. If he hasn't got all his teeth, he'll still survive. Pet insurance is a two-edged sword. You need it to help your family member through crises, but the first thing a vet will ask is, 'Does your pet have insurance?' If the answer is yes, a battery of very expensive tests and treatments are ordered -- much the same as an American doctor will order for a human patient (assuming they have insurance). Your insurance company will tell you that you have to pay the cost up-front -- twice my wife and I have had to hand over £2K to a "specialist" to be told that our Great Dane had a "sore back". You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. Just remember Loki is totally dependent on your love.

 

[Looney12345]

It's terribly sad about Loki, I'm just glad he'll survive. If he hasn't got all his teeth, he'll still survive. Pet insurance is a two-edged sword. You need it to help your family member through crises, but the first thing a vet will ask is, 'Does your pet have insurance?' If the answer is yes, a battery of very expensive tests and treatments are ordered -- much the same as an American doctor will order for a human patient (assuming they have insurance). Your insurance company will tell you that you have to pay the cost up-front -- twice my wife and I have had to hand over £2K to a "specialist" to be told that our Great Dane had a "sore back". You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't. Just remember Loki is totally dependent on your love.

You get the money back with the insurance though... I would hope!

 

[Wayne]

I'm sorry to hear about your poor cat. I hope she makes a full recovery. My Dalmatian bitch was attacked by 4 dogs recently while on a walk with my son. She is big enough and nasty enough to fight them off but she came off worst. £200 vet fee's for staples, anti biotics and painkillers. All these programs about Vets on the Tv make me spew. They all come across as kind and caring but they will do nothing for nothing and charge through the nose for everything.

 

[Steve Bowles]

You get the money back with the insurance though... I would hope!

As @Bigboar found out, only if the insurance company covers it.

 

[Nishy]

I'm sorry to hear about your poor cat. I hope she makes a full recovery. My Dalmatian bitch was attacked by 4 dogs recently while on a walk with my son. She is big enough and nasty enough to fight them off but she came off worst. £200 vet fee's for staples, anti biotics and painkillers. All these programs about Vets on the Tv make me spew. They all come across as kind and caring but they will do nothing for nothing and charge through the nose for everything.

I thought this too, but have to admit actually having experienced what my brother went through has given me a whole new perspective. Vets have the highest suicide rate at uni, one of the hardest courses to complete, having to understand major aspects of dentistry, medicine and optometry, without having a patient who can verbally indicate the issue is hard enough. In terms of pay, as a vet (without owning your own practice) you don't earn more than a locum dentist, doctor or optometrist. I suspect you have had a bad experience Wayne, honestly couldn't find anyone more caring than my brother, he is a vegan, doesn't consume anything involving child labour (including coca cola etc). It is easy to see how major companies make money, not to dissimilar to private healthcare, but that is a whole new debate.

 

[Wayne]

I thought this too, but have to admit actually having experienced what my brother went through has given me a whole new perspective. Vets have the highest suicide rate at uni, one of the hardest courses to complete, having to understand major aspects of dentistry, medicine and optometry, without having a patient who can verbally indicate the issue is hard enough. In terms of pay, as a vet (without owning your own practice) you don't earn more than a locum dentist, doctor or optometrist. I suspect you have had a bad experience Wayne, honestly couldn't find anyone more caring than my brother, he is a vegan, doesn't consume anything involving child labour (including coca cola etc). It is easy to see how major companies make money, not to dissimilar to private healthcare, but that is a whole new debate.

I appreciate you point of view Nishy and If my brother was a vet I'd defend him too. I am sure your brother is lovely person as are you.

 

[Nishy]

I appreciate you point of view Nishy and If my brother was a vet I'd defend him too. I am sure your brother is lovely person as are you.

Yeah definitely a hint of bias in my comment I must say, but honestly it's usually the business that pockets the majority of your bill. Either way thank you for you kind comments Wayne. I'm sure I would be of the same opinion as you if we had to pay the 3k that Medivet wanted. In fact I pulled them up on a previous procedure as they listed taking blood twice as well as administering antibiotic injections twice within 24 hours. All I received was an apology from the manager. Blacklisted them in my mind.

 

[Matsilainen]

All the best to Loki, @Bigboar! Devon Rexes are beautiful creatures.

As for insurance companies, I fear that in most cases, they stopped caring long ago. (Which, in turn, may have partially been caused by some of their less-than-honest customers — in addition to the increasing need to make a profit for owners and shareholders.) It’s a complicated world that seems to get more complicated each year.

 

[forestfield]

Firstly, best wishes to/for Loki.

I currently have four cats - lost my 5th a few months ago. I gave up on insurance a few years ago when I was getting quotes of >£100 per month. Instead I have a couple of ISAs put aside for emergencies.

Till, my oldest cat, stopped eating over New Year. Ended up taking her to my vets (who also run the local 24 hour emergency clinic). She ended up having a tooth extracted - a shade under £300, which I think is pretty good for New Years Day. I've just had coffee with my neighbours - they have a quote of £300 for similar non-emergency of their oldest female cat. They are covered for dental, but their excess is £250, so almost not worth claiming.

I did spend over £3000 last year on Oscar before he passed, but I reckon that even if I had insurance they'd have not covered the majority of that anyway.

In conclusion, I think I'm better off taking the payments I would have spent on insurance and putting it aside. I am of course lucky that I can afford to do this. I'm also lucky in having a damn good vet's that don't seem to overcharge.

 

[Steve Bowles]

If you take on a pet, it's for life, and that entails all that they require.

 

[Nishy]

Firstly, best wishes to/for Loki.

I currently have four cats - lost my 5th a few months ago. I gave up on insurance a few years ago when I was getting quotes of >£100 per month. Instead I have a couple of ISAs put aside for emergencies.

Till, my oldest cat, stopped eating over New Year. Ended up taking her to my vets (who also run the local 24 hour emergency clinic). She ended up having a tooth extracted - a shade under £300, which I think is pretty good for New Years Day. I've just had coffee with my neighbours - they have a quote of £300 for similar non-emergency of their oldest female cat. They are covered for dental, but their excess is £250, so almost not worth claiming.

I did spend over £3000 last year on Oscar before he passed, but I reckon that even if I had insurance they'd have not covered the majority of that anyway.

In conclusion, I think I'm better off taking the payments I would have spent on insurance and putting it aside. I am of course lucky that I can afford to do this. I'm also lucky in having a damn good vet's that don't seem to overcharge.

This is my perspective too, being run as a business, it really depends on the individual. Not being able to talk leaves any compensation claim, down to the knowledge of the owner against what is documentated by the vets.

To be fair most medical/dental/etc businesses are headed or already exercising this. Ever been to hospital, given a week's supply of meds, oh don't worry the specialist will send a letter to your docs so you will have a more the supply at least. After a month, doctor has given me something different or the cheapest alternative or never seen the letter. Welcome to the world of budgets. Love most the people who work in the NHS, however understand how the system is run and you start to realise it's redundant.

 

[LeeBot]

Hope your cat recovers fully.

We used to use an excellent independent vets close by but it recently got swallowed up by a chain. After this the second question at a consultation was "Are you insured?" rather than any follow up questions about the symptoms or issues. It's a real shame and I very much doubt we'll get another pet as a result.

I do similar to @forestfield and put a few extra quid in the ISA - That more or less takes care of lifes little emergencies.....alongside the credit card!

 

[CovA]

Firstly, best wishes to/for Loki.

I currently have four cats - lost my 5th a few months ago. I gave up on insurance a few years ago when I was getting quotes of >£100 per month. Instead I have a couple of ISAs put aside for emergencies.

That's the route that we took as well. Premium Bonds rather than ISA.

 

[Rowlers]

Been to the vets with fella tonight:

Wound on his leg, and a "tiny" (and normal in labs due to the floppy ears) ear infection £77 later...
Consultation £23, steroids £35, ear drops £15, antibiotics £4..
To be fair its the first expense we have had, so can't really complain....

 

[PLANofMAN]

...My Dalmatian bitch was attacked by 4 dogs recently while on a walk with my son. She is big enough and nasty enough to fight them off but she came off worst. £200 vet fee's for staples, anti biotics and painkillers...

^^^ That is why I always carry a blackthorn walking stick and a stun gun in my pocket when I take my dog for a walk.