Nice people thread part 7 - a thread in its prime

GDB2222

lostinrates wrote: »

Grrrrr.

Insurers want a post mortem so we are probably not going to claim. A post mortem means stress for the horses left behind and lots for predators to be attracted to ( body is in the field so we cannot scrub down).

My vet is saying as far as he is concerned she meets the guidelines for having been PTS in the field without absolute diagnosis anyway.

Pfftf. There's a whole heap of money thrown away:(

Have the PM done elsewhere? It seems a bit ghastly to do it on the spot.

You can complain to the insurers, given that a PM is unnecessary according to your vet. I'd definitely be rattling their cage. Is the policy wording online? I'll be happy to have a look.

GDB2222

lostinrates wrote: »

It's in fact just that the puts me off parrots as pets. How do you know they will be ok after you? A parrot I took care of fell in love with me, which was bittersweet. She was very stressed in her home and performed several stereotypical behaviours, including pulling out all her feathers.

Losing loved family members is brutal, but leaving vulnerable ones to care you cannot oversee.....it terrifies me.

It shouldn't terrify you. People who care for you will know how you feel, and they will make suitable arrangements out of respect for you. That's assuming that they wouldn't do it anyway.

They might not be as skilled as you, but you can leave detailed instructions.

bugslet

lostinrates wrote: »

.

Losing loved family members is brutal, but leaving vulnerable ones to care you cannot oversee.....it terrifies me.

Having no family at all and Mr bugslet in a home with dementia, it's my main worry. Fortunately I have good friends that have typed lists about what to do in the case of illness/death, along with various bequests!

@ BertieUK, one of our drivers went in to his GP for a problem with his foot and came out with a referral regarding a mark on his forehead which turned out to be skin cancer. Very observant GP and luckily sorted out quickly. I wonder if it's years of being in a vehicle that contributes?

GDB2222

MIL, who is 89, asked what would happen to her dog if she outlived MIL. DW hates dogs for some reason, but she gritted her teeth and said that we would have the dog. I don't mind, as I like dogs. This one has been totally spoilt, but we'd get her fit in a few months. She's a tough old b1tch (the dog, not MIL).

lostinrates

GDB2222 wrote: »

Have the PM done elsewhere? It seems a bit ghastly to do it on the spot.

You can complain to the insurers, given that a PM is unnecessary according to your vet. I'd definitely be rattling their cage. Is the policy wording online? I'll be happy to have a look.

I'll have a look and let you know. As far as I was aware, and the vet who is a very good racing vet, we had to comply by the BEVA guidelines ( British equine vet association) for when to PTS ethically and for a claim.....this usually requires a definitive diagnosis....which we don't have, but the override, which was relevant, is that the horse is down for more than two hours without making effort to get up.

Insurers are pet plan equine.....we have always found them fantastic in the past. Her insured amount is a four figure number, we reduced it some time ago, as our ,main concern has always been to have her covered for vets fees, not death. I'd rather forgo the money than fight a battle right now....with all the other stuff going on.


As for moving her, that's what my wonderful vet has now arranged (he is actually at another emergency, a colic, and is calling to get updates when he can and I have told him I don't want the worry of their horse too, so we will talk later). But his surgery have on his instruction arranged for her to be collected as normal and then held while we decide what to do.

I think the insurers are going to try and wriggle out anyway. Tbh, I have had such a good deal from them in the past when she had operations for an accident and then when her daughter died that I feel it's balancing out a bit. There are something's I just don't want to fight.

Vet is cross though, and says he is disgusted, and that post mortem is not actually going to be helpful in his opinion, because of the likely cause.

Later this week I will send him a nice bottle of wine I think.

Also very nicely my sil, with whom my relationship has really been improving since Christmas, sent me a message silver car and GDB will know well ( I wish you a long life). This is especially meaningful on more than one count. It means she accepts who special girl was to us, a person, and joyfully for her, she is becoming more confident with her cultural background, and most importantly, herself.

BertieUK

bugslet wrote: »

@ BertieUK, one of our drivers went in to his GP for a problem with his foot and came out with a referral regarding a mark on his forehead which turned out to be skin cancer. Very observant GP and luckily sorted out quickly. I wonder if it's years of being in a vehicle that contributes?

When my GP sent me to see a Skin Specialist I was asked questions regarding my employment and said that the years of my being behing the wheel of coaches and articulated units contributed to the skin problem that I had. So your drivers GP was very observant as you say. Excellent observation:)

michaels

BertieUK wrote: »

When my GP sent me to see a Skin Specialist I was asked questions regarding my employment and said that the years of my being behing the wheel of coaches and articulated units contributed to the skin problem that I had. So your drivers GP was very observant as you say. Excellent observation:)

I had thought I had once been told that the most dangerous rays do not penetrate through glass (and thus the 'arm out the window' cancers showing up on different arms depending on the side of the road the country drives on). Is it true that glass porvides protection or is it a false reassurance?

BertieUK

michaels wrote: »

I had thought I had once been told that the most dangerous rays do not penetrate through glass (and thus the 'arm out the window' cancers showing up on different arms depending on the side of the road the country drives on). Is it true that glass porvides protection or is it a false reassurance?

I think that your assessment would be a correct one and the 'arm out the window' is indeed on many occasions can be in direct contact with the Suns rays. What the Specialist was maybe referring to was the fact that when we were waiting for the passengers to return most of us drivers would be enjoying the sunshine outside of the coach sitting around chatting or indeed cleaning windows etc.

So the glass does keep out the most of the dangerous rays is certainly my belief.

bugslet

Had to go and have a look around regarding glass protecting you from the most harmful rays:

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/cancer-questions/can-glass-block-sun-rays-that-cause-skin-cancer

"UVA causes skin ageing and research has now shown that it is also likely to cause skin cancer. UVB causes redness and sunburn and is a major risk factor for all types of skin cancer.

Most glass used for windows blocks UVB but not UVA. This means that although glass might reduce the risk of sunburn, it does not prevent long term damage from UVA. So, if you are driving long distances or sitting in your conservatory every day for long periods of time, you need to make sure you are using sun protection on sunny days"



So it seems there is partial protection, but if you are spending a lot of time behind the wheel, you need to use a good SPF.

GDB2222

lostinrates wrote: »

I'll have a look and let you know. As far as I was aware, and the vet who is a very good racing vet, we had to comply by the BEVA guidelines ( British equine vet association) for when to PTS ethically and for a claim.....this usually requires a definitive diagnosis....which we don't have, but the override, which was relevant, is that the horse is down for more than two hours without making effort to get up.

Insurers are pet plan equine.....we have always found them fantastic in the past. Her insured amount is a four figure number, we reduced it some time ago, as our ,main concern has always been to have her covered for vets fees, not death. I'd rather forgo the money than fight a battle right now....with all the other stuff going on.

LIR, was Special Girl insured under the Veteran Plan? The policy conditions state that you have to have a PM "unless you have spoken to us and we have advised this is not required".

However, in the circumstances, you might reasonably point out to them that this is very distressing for you, and ask whether they would accept a letter from the vet explaining the situation he found when he attended instead? I am quite sure that he would not have euthanised outside BEVA guidelines, and I'm sure he'll say so.

Indeed, I wish you long life, too.