Sick pet and PDSA

lemma1968

My parents are both registered disabled, are pensioners and in receipt of state pension and housing allowance.

They have a little Yorkie who has been unwell. Fearing for his health they took him to their nearest PDSA who said that as they did not live within their catchment area they would not be able to treat their little dog. The vet did do a quick examination and provisionally diagnosed cancer as a result of finding a lump. But he said they would have to find another vet and pay for xrays and scans to confirm the diagnosis and then obviously pay for treatment.

They do not have 2 beans to rub together. My dad is 81 and my mum is 70. When they asked why their address was not eligible the reply was "there is little call for it there".

Can anyone offer some advice please?

It would seem that their only option is to have their darling pet euthanised as there seems to be no other option and they do not want to see him suffer if it is cancer. They have no way of getting a full diagnosis though.

It goes without saying that they are both very distressed, he is their world.

lemma1968

My parents are both registered disabled, are pensioners and in receipt of state pension and housing allowance.

They have a little Yorkie who has been unwell. Fearing for his health they took him to their nearest PDSA who said that as they did not live within their catchment area they would not be able to treat their little dog. The vet did do a quick examination and provisionally diagnosed cancer as a result of finding a lump. But he said they would have to find another vet and pay for xrays and scans to confirm the diagnosis and then obviously pay for treatment.

They do not have 2 beans to rub together. My dad is 81 and my mum is 70. When they asked why their address was not eligible the reply was "there is little call for it there".

Can anyone offer some advice please?

It would seem that their only option is to have their darling pet euthanised as there seems to be no other option and they do not want to see him suffer if it is cancer. They have no way of getting a full diagnosis though.

It goes without saying that they are both very distressed, he is their world.

PolishBigSpender

Why are you angry? The PSDA is a charity (so Google tells me) and they are under no obligation to provide their services to everyone. In fact, they should be thankful that the charity was kind enough to provide a provisional diagnosis!

Why didn't they have pet insurance to cover this sort of eventuality? A pet after all can be an expensive business - and not having insurance is rather irresponsible.

Or of course - why don't you pay for the treatment for them? Seems the least you could do, rather than ranting about how a charity is being unfair!

viktory

Oh dear, I do wish pet owners would put insurance at the top of their 'must have' list when getting a new pet.

Is there a vet nearby that will be happy for them to pay in installements? Can you (and siblings?) not help out? Have you called the RSPCA?

KVet

If they are not in the catchment area then there isn't much they can do. Some charities may be able to help- RSPCA, Blue Cross and maybe PDSA petaid.

geri1965_2

I would try the RSPCA - they are a lot less stringent with their rules.

If it is cancer, my own personal view is that it is better to end the suffering sooner rather than later. I kept Spook alive for a couple of months after her diagnosis, and I often wonder if it was for my benefit more than hers.

chris_n_tj

Can i ask of they are recipt of council tax lemma. Also I see you are in Yorkshire, are you anywhere near the dogs trust? PDSA will help if you receive council tax benift.
CHeck it out http://www.pdsa.org.uk/eligibility.html I am so sure they will help you.
Chris n TJ

PS many vets take the PDSA forms for free treatment, I know ours does.

Look up on this link http://www.pdsa.org.uk/managed/finder_action.html

pookienoodle

just a note to those who always comment about pet insurance.
we took out pet insurance when we first got our dog 13 years ago,after years of the premiums creeping up this years renewal came in at £37 a month.
we simply do not have the money for this and as our dog is so old insurers either will not cover her or charge a similar amount.
I really don't know what will happen if she needs treatment.
the O.Ps parents could be in a similar situation.

BitterAndTwisted

PolishBigSpender that wasn't very constructive or sympathetic. Shame on you

ali-t

pookienoodle wrote: »

just a note to those who always comment about pet insurance.
we took out pet insurance when we first got our dog 13 years ago,after years of the premiums creeping up this years renewal came in at £37 a month.
we simply do not have the money for this and as our dog is so old insurers either will not cover her or charge a similar amount.
I really don't know what will happen if she needs treatment.
the O.Ps parents could be in a similar situation.

I think it is only fair that if people don't take out insurance they put the money away each month that they would have spent on insurance so they can spend it on vet bills at a later date.

I believe that owning a pet is a luxury and if people can't afford vets bills or insurance then they can't afford a pet. I find it very cheeky that some people expect to get things for free from charities that other people have funded with their hard earned money.

Granted if people's circumstances have changed and they can't afford something they previously could but TBH there are other sacrafices that can be made in most people's situations.

lemma1968

The dog was my sisters. She went to work away, and has been unable to contribute financially due to issues of her own and so my parents took him as by then he was part of the family. He was too old at that point to be insured. In any event they are on benefits and cannot afford it.

Thanks to those who have offered advice.

To those who are judging..shame on you. Don't assume that they are bad owners. They are the opposite.

I have contributed to his keep. He is on a special diet and i pay for that. I have 2 children and mine is the only income in the house as my husband is a student and has a degenerative illness so his lifespan will be cut short. I cannot afford expensive vet bills either.