Vet fees spiralling and I can't afford it

Ballerina78

Hi, 
I have pet insurance and have paid it for 3 years. My labrador needs surgery on her cruciate ligament and the insurance company will only cover £1500 of this. So far the vets invoices are up to £5000 but this doesn't include follow up appointments, xrays afterwards and any possible problems. The repair on the leg will inevitably lead to arthritis and the other leg has shown signs that it may have the same problem. My question is, will the vet give me the option of putting her to sleep if I refuse to do the operation. I could in theory put all these fees on my credit cards and max them out but I worry about her quality of life from going from a super active labrador to being on 8 week cage rest. Also, in this current climate with just coming off furlough it's such a big risk money wise. Yes she's my dog but ultimately I have children and a mortgage to pay. 

Artytarty

How sad for you and her too.
yes the vet will follow your wishes re putting to sleep.

boxer234

How old is your dog ? Is it worth following up with the insurance company to find out why they are only paying £1500 ? Or contact the PDSA ? 

sheramber

Remember, she will have a sore leg so limited exercise will not be too difficult. You build up exercise over the 12 weeks rehabilitation.
 After the rehabilitation weeks , if surgery goes as it should, she will resume her normal life. My !!!!!! was back doing gentle agility, working up to normal , from 12weeks. This was with the specialist's blessing. He said he would be very disappointed if she was not able to go  back to doing agility. 
He had a police dog back working after a cruciate repair.
My dog is now 11 and only showing some signs of arthritis now. She was operated on when she was three. Fortunately, her other leg has not ruptured.
There are many things you can use to help  arthritis such as glucosamine, green lipped mussel and many others.
If you cannot afford it then please contact  rescues to see if one will take her .The rescue I have used do sometimes take on dogs who need medical treatment  when they can.

Ballerina78

sheramber said:

Remember, she will have a sore leg so limited exercise will not be too difficult. You build up exercise over the 12 weeks rehabilitation.
 After the rehabilitation weeks , if surgery goes as it should, she will resume her normal life.

Thank you for this. My vet seem to suggest she is on complete cage rest for 8 weeks? She's not been out now for 6 weeks as she can't put any weight on the leg. 

Ballerina78

boxer234 said:

How old is your dog ? Is it worth following up with the insurance company to find out why they are only paying £1500 ? Or contact the PDSA ? 

It was a inner limit on the policy so the maximum she can claim. I have rang them multiple times and asked why I can't claim for the diagnostic xrays etc but it's all linked in to the cruciate limits. 

Bettie

I am in a  dog group and sometimes people are advised to do a "gofundme" or similar when they have large vets bills to pay and they are struggling financially. sometimes people can be very generous.

yksi

I will go against the grain here. As an animal lover myself, I 100% support your right to have your pet put to sleep rather than bankrupt yourself for an operation that will cause pain and discomfort to your animal, frustrate and confuse her while she's restricted from moving about, and has no guarantees of returning her to her full movement, plus there's the arthritis thing you mentioned!!! This is a no-brainer. As owners we make a commitment to do what's best for the dog. It is NOT necessarily best for the dog to live longer, it doesn't matter if she's one year old or ten. It is also not best for either dog or owner, to spend a fortune to extend their lifespan just to keep the owner happy! She is, and has been, loved and well-cared for, and had a good life. There is no fault at all if you decide that Rainbow Bridge is the right place for her now.

pramsay13

At some point you will need to make a decision based on what's best for the dog and what's best for you as a family, versus financial cost. 
It sounds like you have already learned your lesson about being under insured.
I wouldn't spend £5000 on a dog so my decision would have been made once the bills reached £1500.

Ballerina78

pramsay13 said:

At some point you will need to make a decision based on what's best for the dog and what's best for you as a family, versus financial cost. 
It sounds like you have already learned your lesson about being under insured.
I wouldn't spend £5000 on a dog so my decision would have been made once the bills reached £1500.

It's so hard because the vets are never very clear on costs and it always seems to be more than they tell you. Yet you mention putting the dog to sleep and everyone jumps on you like you're evil! 

Ballerina78

yksi said:

I will go against the grain here. As an animal lover myself, I 100% support your right to have your pet put to sleep rather than bankrupt yourself for an operation that will cause pain and discomfort to your animal, frustrate and confuse her while she's restricted from moving about, and has no guarantees of returning her to her full movement, plus there's the arthritis thing you mentioned!!! This is a no-brainer. As owners we make a commitment to do what's best for the dog. It is NOT necessarily best for the dog to live longer, it doesn't matter if she's one year old or ten. It is also not best for either dog or owner, to spend a fortune to extend their lifespan just to keep the owner happy! She is, and has been, loved and well-cared for, and had a good life. There is no fault at all if you decide that Rainbow Bridge is the right place for her now.

She's is also a dog who hates the vets that much she won't get out of the car. She's a shivering wreck and then usually poos all over the reception area. It took her two days to recover from just going in for the X rays!