Pet Insurance?

I took an insurance class and we asked our teacher about pet insurance. He mentioned a health savings account and pet insurance is not worth it. That said, I have pet insurance and feel good about my decision.

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Originally Posted by ashleighelizabeth

Hi Diane,

I definitely think everyone has to make their own decision about insurance, putting money aside or ect. However I wanted to share with you what just happened to Sonny's sister. (I keep in contact with a couple of the owners of his siblings, so we chat frequently about our puppies growth, health, behavior and share pictures of course :)) Anyways, Sonny's sister hadn't been having any health problems and then roughly three weeks ago she started limping and yelping. They immediately took her to the vet and diagnosed her with two luxating patellas. She now is scheduled to have two surgeries consecutively with the first one on Monday and I think it is going to be about 5,000 dollars. Her owners had no reason to think that his sister was going to have any big medical stuff any time soon. She is still very young, she turns 1 on Tuesday and to this point has always had healthy check ups at the vet.

I struggled with saying something because I absolutely think you and your husband should do what is right for you guys and Wrigley which may be putting money aside, but I just wanted to let you know the situation his sister ended up in. His sister was insured, but her owners now have found out that the plan they chose does not cover patellas, so they are stuck with the bill.

Again, I'm not telling you this so that you change your mind and get him insured, I just wanted you to know the financial pickle that her owners found themselves in when they were least expecting it since she appeared to be a healthy 11 month old puppy.

Good Luck and I hope little Wrigley lives a long healthy life with out any big problems. :lotsaluv:

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Wow.. I have to say..sometimes this all just freaks me out & makes me worry. :( I never want anything to be wrong w/ Wrigley...and the more I read..seems so many Cavaliers end up w/ problems. As much as we want to be prepared for the "what if's"...I honestly do not know what the right decision should be.

I'm sorry, I didn't tell you that to make you worry. I just felt like I should share since his sister's owners were really taken by surprise and weren't expecting such a large medical expense at this point in her life.

I didn't realize all of the problems that cavaliers have either. :( I frequently worry about Sonny's health and get nervous that he is in pain, discomfort or is showing symptoms of some disease. I also tend to obsess and fixate on things, so I am trying really hard to balance being aware of possible health risks but also to just enjoy Sonny and try to do the best I can with him.

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Originally Posted by ashleighelizabeth

I'm sorry, I didn't tell you that to make you worry. I just felt like I should share since his sister's owners were really taken by surprise and weren't expecting such a large medical expense at this point in her life.

I didn't realize all of the problems that cavaliers have either. :( I frequently worry about Sonny's health and get nervous that he is in pain, discomfort or is showing symptoms of some disease. I also tend to obsess and fixate on things, so I am trying really hard to balance being aware of possible health risks but also to just enjoy Sonny and try to do the best I can with him.

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Oh I know you were just trying to make me aware...and I appreciate that. Maybe I'm being unrealistic in saying this... but I truly want to believe that Wrigley will be the exception to all this. That is my prayer anyway.
In fact my hopes would be that many of you that I have met here on this forum find yourselves w/ dogs that live out healthy lives rather than have a Cavalier w/ numerous problems.
Just like you shared..(*yes) ~ I TOO WANT to stay aware of their health risks...but I do not want to let the worries consume me. I'd rather concentrate my thoughts on positive things. Know what I mean?

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Originally Posted by DZee

Oh I know you were just trying to make me aware...and I appreciate that. Maybe I'm being unrealistic in saying this... but I truly want to believe that Wrigley will be the exception to all this. That is my prayer anyway.
In fact my hopes would be that many of you that I have met here on this forum find yourselves w/ dogs that live out healthy lives rather than have a Cavalier w/ numerous problems.
Just like you shared..(*yes) ~ I TOO WANT to stay aware of their health risks...but I do not want to let the worries consume me. I'd rather concentrate my thoughts on positive things. Know what I mean?

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Totally know what you mean. :)

I have VPI for all three of my dogs, and for big surgeries etc. they're good - as long as it's not considered preexisting. When my corgi needed surgery for hip dysplasia, they wouldn't pay; but they did cover 80% - nearly $2,500 - of my Havanese's leg surgery (tumor). For the "regular" vet bills, I guess you'd say the expected ones, I have a money jar that I put $10 a week in, and I have a membership with Pet Assure, which I guess is like an alternative to pet insurance; it's more of a discount program which saves me 25% at the vet for any treatment. In my financial situation I need a bunch of bail-out plans! LOL