what to do about dog's vaccinations

zaksmum

Paradigm wrote: »

Do you have the policy wording to hand or is it available online?

This is something I've had a keen interest in for some time due to the variations in wording & it's possible implications regarding any claims.

Thanks.

This is AXAs response to a query on the subject....

Just checked the policy wording. It says under WHAT WE WILL NOT PAY...the cost of treating any illness your pet should have been vaccinated against. It goes on to say under GENERAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE WHOLE POLICY You must comply with the following conditions to have the protection of your policy. Care of the pet: You must arrange for your pet to be kept vaccinated against the following; DOGS: Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus.

Paradigm

zaksmum wrote: »

Just checked the policy wording. It says under WHAT WE WILL NOT PAY...the cost of treating any illness your pet should have been vaccinated against.

Totally reasonable.

GENERAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE WHOLE POLICY You must comply with the following conditions to have the protection of your policy. Care of the pet: You must arrange for your pet to be kept vaccinated against the following; DOGS: Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus.

Having already stated what they won't payout for this added extra is IMO misleading & is designed to give then some "wriggle" space. Nowhere does it state that the policy is in any way void/invalidated if not vaccinated.

It would be interesting to phone them & ask what would happen if you claimed for, say, a broken leg to an unvaccinated pet?

This from my insurer, Animal friends.....

Hi. In the presumptions section of our policy wording it states that we do expect the pet to be fully vaccinated. This is so that if a cat or dog was to fall ill from something it has been vaccinated against, then we could cover the claim. However, we do not refuse pets that aren’t up-to-date with their vaccinations. It just helps.

dancingbillie

Vaccinations for dogs are not necessary every year. A titer test shows if a dog needs to be boosted or not. This latest new test which only takes about 20 minutes to do at the vet's surgery, costs about the same as a vaccination but doesn't need to be done annually. It will not only save a lot of expense, it could also prevent a dog getting vaccinosis (bad reactions to vaccines, chronis disease caused by vaccines)
For those who don't vaccinate regularly and find that the normal titer tests are very expensive, ask your vet for this.

The Canine VacciCheck is a quick, simple and portable dot blot test kit intended for detection of antibodies.

Canine VacciCheck can assist in the diagnosis of three common diseases

Infectious Hepatitis (tested by Adenovirus Type 2 - CAV2)
Parvovirus (CPV)
Distemper (CDV)

Benefits include:

Determining if a dog requires additional vaccination, thus reducing
unecessary vaccination and potential side effects.
Useful when a dog's vaccination history is unknown.
Detecting if a puppy has received immunity from an initial vaccination programme.

The Canine VacciCheck provides semi quantitative serological results for three core vaccines, performed in one easy test with results in 21 minutes.

Your vet can obtain the Vaccicheck from the Woodley Equipment Company in Bolton Lancashire.
Ask your vet for it. It saves money and your dog.

analyst_2

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I had a "monumental" argument with someone called Scott in AXA Pet insurance yesterday, which has ultimately led me here.
I wanted to challenge their policy condition, which you must tick to agree prior to insuring, that:
"Your pet must have received the appropriate vaccinations/boosters within the last 12 months or as advised by your vet"

I cited the American research which indicates that canine vaccinations have been extensively shown to convey immunity for between 6-9 years. And which also shows that repeated vaccinations may induce illness which in itself could generate further claims on an Axa policy.

However, Scott was having none of it. His enlightened scientific reasoning for dismissal? . . . they are American!
Oh yes, a good old flag-waving Brit was he, obviously from the camp of "what can these bloody foreigners teach us anyway"

So his final words, if you fail to adhere to the annual vaccination regime your policy will be invalid.

Don't the Scotts of this nation ever learn, whatever America does today, we will copy in 10-15 years regardless.
C'mon now, haven't we imported from America . . . cheap TV, personality politics, war-mongering, mass obesity, a claim culture . . . the list just goes on and on.

And so the choice is yours, extensive scientific studies from America, or good old British intransigence - either way, you lose.

dawnie1972

Just to update from my post months ago - my dog is doing really well following his illness, his bloods are gradually getting better whilst still being high by normal standards compared to what they were they have improved greatly, he's back to eating his food with vigour and is a happy boy, for the first time this month he was able to be wormed & flea treated but will never be able to be vaccinated.

Paradigm

analyst wrote: »

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I had a "monumental" argument with someone called Scott in AXA Pet insurance yesterday, which has ultimately led me here.
I wanted to challenge their policy condition, which you must tick to agree prior to insuring, that:
"Your pet must have received the appropriate vaccinations/boosters within the last 12 months or as advised by your vet"

So his final words, if you fail to adhere to the annual vaccination regime your policy will be invalid.

And so the choice is yours, extensive scientific studies from America, or good old British intransigence - either way, you lose.

It would seem Scott is talking out of his rear....

Taken from AXAs policy wording.

You must ensure that Your Pet has
received the required vaccinations,
failure to comply with this may jeopardise
Your claim or cover – please refer to the
General Conditions in the Policy Booklet
for full details.

Nowhere does it say that the policy would be void & is further qualified with.....

Section 1- Vets fees, what we will not pay

15.
Any claims that result from anIllness
that Your Pet should have
been vaccinated against. For
dogs vaccinations should be for
distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis,
parvovirus and for cats feline
infectious enteritis, feline
leukaemia and cat flu.

This is a perfectly reasonable exclusion & if the policy was void there would be no need to include it!
To refuse a claim for an accidental injury because of a lack of Vaccs isn't reasonable in the slightest & would place them on very dodgy ground with the FSA/Insurance ombudsman.

Instead of arguing with the likes of "Scott" call & ask to speak to a manager in the claims dept.... have the policy wording to hand & ask for written clarification, as someone did (AXA) in my post #37 & I did (Animal Friends) post #43

Paradigm

dawnie1972 wrote: »

Just to update from my post months ago - my dog is doing really well following his illness, his bloods are gradually getting better whilst still being high by normal standards compared to what they were they have improved greatly, he's back to eating his food with vigour and is a happy boy, for the first time this month he was able to be wormed & flea treated but will never be able to be vaccinated.

Good to know he's on the mend

BECKIN1507

Interesting thread even if it is a old one. So I thought I'd put my thoughts in. I've always had puppies 1st injections done, then the next booster, then thats it. My opinion is that thats all thats needed, I have never heard of a older dog getting parvo, it is mainly puppys. My next door neighbour bought a puppy a few years ago, it had parvo. My dogs was 2,3,4,7 and 8 none of mine caught it, they also had a 7year old dog, she didn't get it either. Although I was panicing about it, and at the time I thought I wish I'd had the injections done, there was obviosly no need. My dogs had met the pup, I'd cuddled the pup, I went in the neighbours house when she was ill to see her, the disease would of been exposed to my dogs, but everything was fine and proved to me that boosters are not needed.

vicx

I have just read through the whole thread before realising it was an old thread!

My last 3 three dogs all had the puppy vacs and 1st year booster and nothing after that. They all lived to a good age and never picked up any diseases. I have never heard of getting boosters every year until I got my current dogs 7 months ago when I heard about vac4life for an extra £99:
http://www.vets4pets.com/healthy-pet-special-offers/vac4life/

My 2 current dogs are due their first booster in Oct but I don't think I will be getting them vaccinated each year. I am not sure what vets charge for the yearly booster these days but for those who want to vaccinate each year, I'm sure the vac4life will be a great saving - although only available at vets 4 pets.

Igottawii!!

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I wondered what everyones thoughts are on cat boosters, is it the same as with dogs, not really necessary yearly?