FabSwingers.com forum: Poorly dog

By *ong-leggedblond OP Woman
over a year ago

Next Door

I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

Got her into the vets, tests done and found no organ failure which is good. Vets isn't sure what's wrong but has let her come home with pain relief and antibiotics as she improved during the day in the vets.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?

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By *rtyIanMan
over a year ago

Gateway to the Beacons

Paid £600 the other week consultation and blood tests

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By *dward_TeagueMan
over a year ago

wolverhampton

No, I would spend my last quid on them and go without myself.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

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By *ornywelsh2sumCouple
over a year ago

Neath valley.

No. My mate spent 7k on his last dog. They are family and not disposable. But if it's a case of them suffering and no way of getting better thats a different thing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Insurance is what every dog owner should have, any other member of the family has health care covered so they should too!

I've only ever had to pay the excess on vet bills but I'd pay anything to make my dog well if I needed too, he's my baby.

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By *TG3Man
over a year ago

Dorchester

"I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?"
no you have to grin and bare it unfortunately

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By *ong-leggedblond OP Woman
over a year ago

Next Door

I'm not saying I won't pay as she is my family.

There are people that can't afford unexpected vets bills and had to make that choice.

But vets are taking the piss on charging £15 for 14 paracetamol!!!!

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By *TG3Man
over a year ago

Dorchester

"I'm not saying I won't pay as she is my family.

There are people that can't afford unexpected vets bills and had to make that choice.

But vets are taking the piss on charging £15 for 14 paracetamol!!!!"
but that's why they've become vets to fleece the owners

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By *luebell888Woman
over a year ago

Glasgowish

"I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?"

My friend gives her dog paracetamol for pain relief. I would not do this but I have found alot of the meds and creams cheaper online.

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By *RANDMRSJAECouple
over a year ago

chester

No, we’d pay it too

Never had insurance, it’s a gamble but any big vet bill we’ve had has worked out less than the cost of premiums.

Hope the pooch gets better x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?

My friend gives her dog paracetamol for pain relief. I would not do this but I have found alot of the meds and creams cheaper online."

If you get a written prescription from your vets for whatever they need there's places on line you can get exact same medicines for half the price.

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By *iss.ddWoman
over a year ago

Leeds + Newcastle

Thankfully my pups have only needed minor bits and bobs all of which cost less than the bloody insurance excess

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By *luebell888Woman
over a year ago

Glasgowish

"I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?

My friend gives her dog paracetamol for pain relief. I would not do this but I have found alot of the meds and creams cheaper online.

If you get a written prescription from your vets for whatever they need there's places on line you can get exact same medicines for half the price. "

Yes, this is what I done for my old dogs YuMove tablets.

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By *instonandLadyAstorCouple
over a year ago

Not where we seem to be...

"I'm not saying I won't pay as she is my family.

There are people that can't afford unexpected vets bills and had to make that choice.

But vets are taking the piss on charging £15 for 14 paracetamol!!!!"

I recently found an online outlet for pet meds, all you need is a copy of the prescription.

Vets - little bottle of Thiamacare £63.

Online outlet - £21.

It's exactly the same product, same bottle, same box, same "ingredients"

Winston

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By *moothshaftMan
over a year ago

Coventry

Veterinary surgeons should hang their heads in shame with what they charge.

My friend is CEO of a big vehicle franchise. His dog had to be put to sleep after a short amount of treatment. His bill was £2500.

He has now instructed all his managers of the outlets to overcharge and sting any vets.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Well yes I think you can.

As horrible and cold as it sounds but some people are under huge financial pressure I wouldn't judge someone for deciding they can't afford endless vets bills.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?"

They're part of your family, so there is no price limit.

When with ex wife we lived on a farm and one if the farm cats adopted us, it was half feral but used to come in the house, eat and sleep. One day I heard it howling outside, went out and it's back leg was caught in a wire trap, bleeding heavily, it had dragged itself to the house from where ever the trap had been placed. We took it to the vet.

The leg had to be amputated, the wire had already cut most the way through. After operation and all the drugs it was best part of £1000. Friends said we were stupid for a feral cat, but it had been around our house 3yrs so was family.

He lived with us 10yrs after, even with three legs he still managed to catch rats on the farm.

Sadly he got hit by a car outside home, didn't survive that one.

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By *ong-leggedblond OP Woman
over a year ago

Next Door

She's nearly 11 and has cost me under 1000 in vets bills exc annual jabs and spade, so not too much in all those yrs.

I do get that people really have to make the tough decision and I wouldn't judge people if they did.

I would of got the prescription from vets but she needed meds last night.

Personally, I think this is the end for my doggy, and because she is so anxious, especially at the vets, I prefer to nurse her myself.

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By *ictoria_1976TV/TS
over a year ago

Bodmin

I certainly haven't got the balls to this but when a friend of mine goes in to the vets she calls their bluff & says "if it's going to be over £500 put him down"

Bills always come in at £499!

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

If you haven't got the money what are your going to do?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It is always a horrible decision and there is a limit to everyone's finances. I believe charities like Blue Cross and RSPCA can sometimes offer help.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Our 2 pooches are part of our family,get treat better than the kids to be honest

.We do have insurance for them but like mentioned above if anything major happened to them, we'd have to consider things depending on what the cost and percentage of making them better would be.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Insurance is a good idea but unless you've had the dogs from puppies and especially if they are rescue dogs with no health history it can be impossible to get or ridiculously expensive itself.

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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago

Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria

No our dog cost thousands when he was poorly and I was happy to keep paying whatever the cost if it made him better

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By *olden PoleMan
over a year ago

Kent

We always had German Shepard’s and recently got a pup. I wouldn’t hesitate paying for treatment for him or any pet.

I chose to take him on, I looked for him and brought him into my home so he gets looked after whether fighting fit or unwell….it’s unconditional with me.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It’s a difficult one , you can’t be judged for not wanting to get in to debt . Vets bills take the piss though

My elderly cat ( who i subsequently lost) was insured - the vet knew I had a 2k limit on it and funnily enough it came to almost exactly that.

I’ve got 2 kittens now who I insure - I can afford 17 quid a month but I’d struggle with a massive vet bill x

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By *ot-AshMan
over a year ago

London

"If you haven't got the money what are your going to do?"

There is a vets charity called The PDSA which provide free or very low cost treatment to pets in need whose owners don't have any money.

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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago

Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria

"It’s a difficult one , you can’t be judged for not wanting to get in to debt . Vets bills take the piss though

My elderly cat ( who i subsequently lost) was insured - the vet knew I had a 2k limit on it and funnily enough it came to almost exactly that.

I’ve got 2 kittens now who I insure - I can afford 17 quid a month but I’d struggle with a massive vet bill x "

Vets bills are ridiculous, I can never understand why, my friends dog in Spain was attacked by another dog, it needed lots of stitches, overnight stay at the vets, antibiotics and the bill was 70 Euro, I’d say add another zero to that in the UK

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By *viatrixWoman
over a year ago

Redhill

That is why I have no animals.

If I did, I’d probably get pet insurance.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

One of my dogs cost me £2k last month for suspected tumour ( luckily all clear ) thank god for pet insurance

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Probably going to sound harsh here but my dogs are just that, dogs. Much as I adore them and would be devastated should anything happen to them I would not pay into the 1000's to a vet.

I also believe the popularity of insurance has greatly inflated vet prices. 9 times out of 10 the fee will be just under the excess meaning insurance companies don't pay out. You're better simply putting the premium in a separate account and if you need it fine, if not its a bonus. I'm aware this won't cover the huge bills but speaking generally and as mentioned, these bills are huge due to insurance companies in the first place. I've always had pets pre insurance days and treatment costs were never as high as they are now. Companies and vets take advantage of people's attachment to their pet, its actually disgusting.

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By *I TwoCouple
over a year ago

PDI 12-26th Nov 24

Pet insurance made vets bills ridiculously high, it's a scam

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I'm not saying I won't pay as she is my family.

There are people that can't afford unexpected vets bills and had to make that choice.

But vets are taking the piss on charging £15 for 14 paracetamol!!!!"

You may say that but dog paracetamol is not the same as ours. Ours is poisonous to cats and dogs but dogs can have a specially made version. It costs what it costs, no economy of scale

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

"Pet insurance made vets bills ridiculously high, it's a scam

Pet insurance for the most can be anything from £3-400 a year and I'd think people don't claim as they are not having major surgeries. The odd visit or prescription here or there is not worth claiming and potentially putting the cost up.

For the cost of insurance and expense of a surgery that can be anything from 5-9 grand, it's hardly a scam.

What I do find a scam are vets that are completely unqualified to do the jobs they are supposedly trained to do - resulting in repeat visits, repeat tests, useless tests and a prolonging of illness.

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By *uliette500Woman
over a year ago

Hull

Might sound harsh but I had my dog put to sleep when I couldn't afford a bill of over £1000 for an mri scan.

I did have insurance and the issue was a spinal problem. He had been treated for it 3 years before with meds which worked so the insurance wouldn't pay out again as it was a pre existing condition.

My dog was in pain and couldn't stand up. The vet said he needed a scan to diagnose the problem then would need surgery costing another 3-4 thousand and no guarantee it would work.

I could have tried to find the cash but really didn't think I could and my dog was suffering. I did what was kindest for him but still feel really guilty and sad that I couldn't afford to help him.

All the insurance I had paid was a waste of money as they were not there when I needed them

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By *ictoria_1976TV/TS
over a year ago

Bodmin

The other thing that people don't consider is shopping around when it comes to vet treatment,

A friend's dog clean broke it's leg, vet phones up - no empathy at all & rolls out 3 options in a business like manner:

1: pin/bolt the break - £1600

2: Amputate leg - £650

3: Put dog down £150

This was on a Friday & neither option would be actioned until Monday.

So said friend asks for x-ray to be emailed to her & forwards it onto 2 vets for a price,

1st vet gets back with price for bolting / pinning the break for £850 - the other vet says "if you can get here but 8:00am tomorrow I can do it for £500!

So a vast difference in price - just goes to show what Licence to print money excercise it is!

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

"Might sound harsh but I had my dog put to sleep when I couldn't afford a bill of over £1000 for an mri scan.

I did have insurance and the issue was a spinal problem. He had been treated for it 3 years before with meds which worked so the insurance wouldn't pay out again as it was a pre existing condition.

My dog was in pain and couldn't stand up. The vet said he needed a scan to diagnose the problem then would need surgery costing another 3-4 thousand and no guarantee it would work.

I could have tried to find the cash but really didn't think I could and my dog was suffering. I did what was kindest for him but still feel really guilty and sad that I couldn't afford to help him.

All the insurance I had paid was a waste of money as they were not there when I needed them

Mine had a blown disc, the surgery is only the first step. Yes they are exploratory but it's the months and years after from hydrotherapy and physio to adapting the house that adds to the cost along with time and mileage. The estimate sounds about right but if your vet was unsure you did the right thing, you need referrals to specialists for any major op to stand any chance of success.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wow sorry to hear this is too vets cost us an absolute fortune which is horrendous there’s no price on his health he’s my best friend and my wife’s baby it’s unbelievable how attached we are and will miss him he’s 11 years old and hardly eating we are caring for him the best we can and will not let him suffer it’s truly heartbreaking hope yours will recover xxx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Might sound harsh but I had my dog put to sleep when I couldn't afford a bill of over £1000 for an mri scan.

I did have insurance and the issue was a spinal problem. He had been treated for it 3 years before with meds which worked so the insurance wouldn't pay out again as it was a pre existing condition.

My dog was in pain and couldn't stand up. The vet said he needed a scan to diagnose the problem then would need surgery costing another 3-4 thousand and no guarantee it would work.

I could have tried to find the cash but really didn't think I could and my dog was suffering. I did what was kindest for him but still feel really guilty and sad that I couldn't afford to help him.

All the insurance I had paid was a waste of money as they were not there when I needed them

I had trouble actually finishing reading this. That is awful. I really do feel for you.

Its heartbreaking losing a furry child. But also I understand the guilt you are suffering.

I think its fair to say any reasonable dog owner would agree you did the right thing. But such an awful decision for you to make.

Can I suggest (if you haven't already) maybe getting another dog? Preferably a rescue.

Dont think of it as replacing your dog.

You are infact giving another dog a chance of a better life.

And dogs have a natural gift of helping heal a broken heart.

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By *eavenscentitCouple
over a year ago

barnstaple

"I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?

My friend gives her dog paracetamol for pain relief. I would not do this but I have found alot of the meds and creams cheaper online."

I was advised by an on-call vet to give 1/2 paracetamol for pain twice a day. My boy is a cocker spaniel.

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By *ister_ee_1981Man
over a year ago

Sunniest Exeter...

"Insurance is what every dog owner should have, any other member of the family has health care covered so they should too!

I've only ever had to pay the excess on vet bills but I'd pay anything to make my dog well if I needed too, he's my baby. "

This. My cat racked up an £1100 vet bill (Yep, no typo on the amount) mainly due to needing a couple of nights round the clock care. Insurance stepped up and we only had to pay the excess (about £100)

Hope your doggo gets better soon!

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By *lueFireCouple
over a year ago

just somewhere around here

"I got up yesterday morning to find my doggo really poorly.

No improvement from last night,but hasn't gone down hill either.

The vets bill was £700!

Can you put a price on your animals before you say enough?"

No never they are family ??

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By *bi HaiveMan
Forum Mod
over a year ago

Cheeseville, Somerset

For those saying people without insurance are irresponsible....

Don't forget. Any claim no matter how minor will often cause future claims for certain areas to be excluded as a 'pre-existing condition' whether it is or not.

Have a dog, cat, horse or any animal with a bout of sickness that goes undiagnosed? You'll likely find bowel conditions excluded on renewal. Injured leg? That won't be covered again.

It's not just the rising cost of premiums that put people off insurance. It's the small print, the nightmare you often have getting a claim paid and the subsequent exclusions that make many insurance policies pointless.

Many just prefer to have a credit card sat waiting in case of emergency. And that can prove cheaper if you're lucky and have to claim once in an animals lifetime.

We've paid thousands in vet fees over the years largely because the animals were uninsurable, rather than because we didn't want insurance. And I'd happily sell a kidney to cover any bills for ours.

Except for the cat. Because as everyone knows cats are dicks. And he's pretty much abandoned us and chooses to live with a variety of neighbours these days.

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By *eliusMan
over a year ago

Henlow

"I'm not saying I won't pay as she is my family.

There are people that can't afford unexpected vets bills and had to make that choice.

But vets are taking the piss on charging £15 for 14 paracetamol!!!!"

No they’re not! You’re equating human care to those of our animals. There are no subsidies or NHS heath care for our pets. It’s a different set of rules and a different environment. However, we can agree that medication that is identical for both us and our pets, should be transferable across the pharmacy counter. My dog and I had virtually the same eye drops. £27 for hers, £9 mine - ingredients exactly the same! The pharmaceutical companies are to blame here not the vets!

Plus, please bear in mind that these vets that ‘are taking the piss’ have one of the highest suicide rates of any industry. They care (or at least most do)

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By *amantha_JadeWoman
over a year ago

Newcastle

I would spend my last penny on my dog if she needed it, but I agree vet fees are so expensive.

I have pet insurance, but it seems like money down the drain. By the time you pay the excess and the fact that you may not ever need to claim, I often wonder if it may be better just to put the money in a savings pot in case she ever needs anything and then pay outright myself.

Out of interest, is it pretty easy to get prescriptions from vets so you can order online? I always thought they would be really arsey with anyone who did that or would charge an ‘admin’ fee which would cancel out most of the online saving anyways?

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

"I would spend my last penny on my dog if she needed it, but I agree vet fees are so expensive.

It depends what you're getting and in what quantities. If it's a one off pain med, it's usually quicker and easier to get it from the vet, if it's ongoing or something like a yearly flea treatment then the number of online pet chemists means you can search for the product and find the cheapest price is across several sites - google what it is you're buying now and see if it's cheaper as a comparison. Just ask for an online prescription it's around £9.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Insurance is what every dog owner should have, any other member of the family has health care covered so they should too!

I've only ever had to pay the excess on vet bills but I'd pay anything to make my dog well if I needed too, he's my baby. "

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wishing your dog a speedy recovery.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think it depends if the animal has an ongoing chronic condition that will cost hundreds of pounds that would make anyone pause. I wouldn't be able to afford that but having pets is or can be really expensive. My foster Alfie had an awful mite infestation when I got him I've spent about £600 trying to get rid of it so many rounds of steroids etc. Looks like he has another nail infection which no doubt will be another £100 or so. I love my boys luckily Jax has only had to go twice in the 4 years I've had him. Alfie has been about 5 times in a year lol . I will probably only have Alfie another couple of years he is getting old now and didn't have a good life before me but whilst I can I will do everything in my power to keep him comfortable. If he ended up with something nasty I doubt I would be able to keep up with the bills though.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Insurance is what every dog owner should have, any other member of the family has health care covered so they should too!

I've only ever had to pay the excess on vet bills but I'd pay anything to make my dog well if I needed too, he's my baby.

Unfortunately that's not always possible. Especially if you take on a rescue dog with existing health problems. Insurance companies wont touch them.

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By *ewisbi76Man
over a year ago

west edinburgh

"Insurance is what every dog owner should have, any other member of the family has health care covered so they should too!

I've only ever had to pay the excess on vet bills but I'd pay anything to make my dog well if I needed too, he's my baby. "

For a cat I hit the £4k limit on my insurance policy and then spend another £1k in cash because there was always "just one more test we can do that might find something".

He had lost the use of his back legs and become incontinent but they couldn't find out why. in the end he had to be put down.

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By *atnip make me purrWoman
over a year ago

Reading

Yes plus I don't believe putting our pets through painful treatments.

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By *otsossieMan
over a year ago

Chesterfield

I think my record was £1500 emergency op.

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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago

yumsville

9K for me

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By *ustBoWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in Co. Down

"For those saying people without insurance are irresponsible....

Don't forget. Any claim no matter how minor will often cause future claims for certain areas to be excluded as a 'pre-existing condition' whether it is or not.

Have a dog, cat, horse or any animal with a bout of sickness that goes undiagnosed? You'll likely find bowel conditions excluded on renewal. Injured leg? That won't be covered again.

Many just prefer to have a credit card sat waiting in case of emergency. And that can prove cheaper if you're lucky and have to claim once in an animals lifetime.

We've paid thousands in vet fees over the years largely because the animals were uninsurable, rather than because we didn't want insurance. And I'd happily sell a kidney to cover any bills for ours.

Except for the cat. Because as everyone knows cats are dicks. And he's pretty much abandoned us and chooses to live with a variety of neighbours these days.

Exactly this. I had all my dogs insured and when I moved to the north I went to continue their insurance with the same company but because I moved from the south to the north of Ireland they wanted me to pay over £800 a year to cover the 3 dogs and then wouldn't cover any issues the dogs had anyhow. Even tho it was the same well known company after that I cancelled my insurance as there was no way I could afford over £800 for it. It had been less than 200 euros down south which I thought was good for 3 dogs cover.Such a jump in cost was unaffordable.