Cat surgery - broken pelvis

delain

My little cat was hit by a car on Thursday, found by a dog walker and taken by the RSPCA to a local private 24hr vets surgery. This vets is locally well renowned for giving the utmost in animal care although it has the prices to match. My other cat is registered with this vets due to her tail amp. in December. Fortunately because my address was near where my cat was found (she hasn't yet been chipped) they called me on friday afternoon and asked if I knew where this cat might live and unfortunately it was my cat

I went to confirm that she was mine, and was told that she has broken her pelvis in two places, can't bear any weight on her back legs and needs surgery and metalwork to basically pin her pelvis back together which could cost £1,000. I do have pet insurance but wasn't sure if it would pay out, the vet lady was fantastic and said that they could transfer her to the PDSA because a weekend stay in their hospital with the meds she was on would be £500. So we took her to the PDSA, who then said they thought she might be able to manage without the surgery which was not what I was told by my local vet. Anyway the PDSA wanted to keep her until monday when their surgeon type person would decide whether to operate or not.

If the PDSA wont do it then I will take her back to the other vets on monday to have it done there, although obviously I would prefer not to be £1,00 in debt! The vets have said they are happy for the bill to be paid gradually and happy to do the surgery or just manage post op care if the PDSA do it.

I just wondered how one vet can say the cat won't walk again without pins and another can say she'll be ok with painkillers?!

Before anyone says a word I will be making a large contribution to the PDSA if the surgery is done, I just want her to be ok! She is very much a free spirit and she would really hate to be housebound for life

Sorry I just needed to get all that out I think!

hethmar

Have you checked with your insurer about them paying yet though?

I hope she makes a speedy recovery. xxx

geri1965_2

Sorry to hear about your poor cat.

I would wait and see what the PDSA vet says. I thought they only gave treatment to people on benefits who don't have insurance though.

Why do you think the insurance would not pay out?

KVet

With cats not all pelvic fractures need fixed unless the weightbearing square (acetabulum + ileal wings) are fractured. Most cats tend to recover with just cage rest only + painkillers. Would be hard to give advice without seeing the xrays. Your insurance SHOULD cover the operation

delain

I do receive some housing benefit.

The private vets said that it was the load bearing bones she had broken. I haven't been able to get through to the insurance company yet

The first vets said she would need 6 - 8 weeks cage rest which the PDSA said too, so I have ordered a 24inch cage for her which should be big enough for her not to feel too claustrophobic and small enough for her not to be able to overdo it (I hope) and a mat for the bottom of it.

jaymac_2

We had a cat who was diagnosed with a broken pelvis and didn't require surgery but he developed problems with constipation and needed enemas under anaesthetic every four to six weeks. I hope your cat makes a good recovery.

olias

You pay insurance to cover your cat for illness or accident. Your cat has an accident, and yet you are thinking of getting a charity to foot the bill instead at their expense (albeit with a donation from yourself) ????????

I'm sorry but much as I wish your cat a speedy recovery, I cannot see the logic in your thinking.

Olias

foreign_correspondent

I too would go down the insurance route - it is exactly what you pay your premiums for - I can't see any good reason why they would not pay out, as the injury was clearly caused by an accident there can be no accusation from the insurers that it is a pre-existing condition..

I do not see why the PDSA (a charity) should pay rather than your insurers (a profit making business). Effectively, if this happens, the charity would end up subsidising a wealthy company here - and £1000 represents a lot of days of volunteers hard efforts fundraising! Hope she makes a good recovery.

delain

She is at the PDSA hospital for the weekend. I have had a lot of problems with my bank, which is why I am unsure if my insurance will pay, because my bank have been bouncing a lot of my direct debits whilst I endevour to sort out my finances. I am about to look for a letter so I can ring them up and find out.

If they will pay out and my policy is valid I will collect my cat first thing on monday morning and take her back to the other vets and pay at least £100 to the PDSA.

I have called them up to check on her and they've said she is able to wee, which they said is good because her sort of injuries often result in damage to that area and they don't think she has it.

I already feel really bad about taking her to the PDSA, so there's no point trying to make me feel guilty about it, you can't make me feel any worse. It was bad enough that She had to make a 5 mile car journey in the rush hour whilst in pain without all the rest of this.

Having been back and spoken to the vets where she originally was, they have reiterated that they are happy to take over her care even though they know the bill would take some time to pay, so I am not just expecting the PDSA to foot the bill for something just to keep my insurance cheap if that's what you all think

I am leaning towards going to pick her up and taking her back monday regardless, because it's unlikely anyone will take me in the car seeing as they all think the PDSA should deal with her that will be three bus journeys for the poor little mite

geri1965_2

Do the PDSA not check that people have insurance before providing treatment then?

delain

They didn't ask me and it wasn't on the declaration I signed, I had to produce a housing benefit letter and sign to say that my cat was mine and always lives with me and that the housing benefit letter was me, and produce a bank card for my signature.