Dylan's Insurance at 12yrs

[Jessie_Pup]

We have today received Dylan's insurance renewal. He was 12 yrs in June.  The renewal is for £1005 gone up by about 17% last years was over £800.

We are thinking of canceling it and putting the money away.   What would you do? We claimed recently for a small op for removal of two warts which came to just over £300. The first claim since his cataracts were diagnosed 4yrs ago. His insurance is with the kennel club.

Erica.

[Emilyoliver]

Hi Erica, I've just had the same dilemma with Emily's Sainsburys lifetime insurance that nearly doubled to £90pm.  No option to downgrade this policy as it would be treated as new policy and sainsburys wont insure dogs over 9 years.  She'll be 12 in December and has been such a healthy dog.  Thought I might cancel, but then decided to swap her over to Petplan essentials (it's all they offer to dogs this age) - £3000 limit/condition at £28/month 14 day changeover period just finished, when she was diagnosed with an anal gland tumour. Specialist referral, Ultrasound, x-rays and surgery £2600 so far. And luckily it's all out, however it was an aggressive type and may recur so I am taking her back every quarter for recheck, ultrasound, etc to keep her monitored. Am now waiting to hear from Petplan regarding my claim. But limit almost reached already. If only I'd known...  I had Pip on essentials plan too, but have cancelled my gym membership and upgraded him to lifetime cover. Ollie has to stay on Sainsbury's no matter what due to disc disease. It's scary having to make these decisions.

[Jessie_Pup]

Sorry to hear about Emily and fingers crossed for you and her that it does not return.   I think we have decided to cancel his policy and pay for anything he might needs whatever it is. We have made some moderate claims not large by any means. For a urine infection and they x-rayed his bladder, a claim when his cataracts were diagnosed, and just recently when his warts were removed on his leg all under £500.
He is due to see the vet on Thursday for his check up for his eyes so will discuss with our vet then.
Erica.

[Emilyoliver]

Thank you - she recovered really well and we caught it early so let's hope that's the last we see of it. She's very robust - vet couldn't believe her age. Petplan paid out yesterday - very relieved. Hope Dylan stays healthy - the oldies are very special 

[LurcherGirl]

My Dylan was also 12 in June, though he is a lurcher. His insurance premium now is £1896/year (that's £158/month), so you are still much better off than me. 

The question is: could you afford to pay a large bill if something happened three weeks after cancelling the policy before you have saved enough? If yes, then go for it, if no, then it would be safer to keep him insured.

[Jessie_Pup]

We had a chat with our vet today, Dylan had his three monthly eye check which we pay ourselves, and a test done on another cyst on his back. We have known our vet for over 20years. He said we can get a lot of treatment for £1000.00. He also said with an elderly dog would you want to put them through intensive treatment costing thousands and perhaps not a good outcome.  We have both decided if Dylan had major problems we would not put him through any major surgery but give him any medication to keep him comfortable till the time came.  It is such a hard thing to decide on.


Erica.

[MIN]

staffie poppy is 11 ( i think, can not check because gemma is sleeping on my lap) anyway she is insured with tesco for £33 per month. i thought that was dear. I did shop around at renewal  but could not change insurers because of her age. sounds like i still have a good deal

[LurcherGirl]

We had a chat with our vet today, Dylan had his three monthly eye check which we pay ourselves, and a test done on another cyst on his back. We have known our vet for over 20years. He said we can get a lot of treatment for £1000.00. He also said with an elderly dog would you want to put them through intensive treatment costing thousands and perhaps not a good outcome.  We have both decided if Dylan had major problems we would not put him through any major surgery but give him any medication to keep him comfortable till the time came.  It is such a hard thing to decide on.


Erica.

Whether you put a dog through major surgery though should be less based just on age, but on general condition of the dog. Despite his age, I would put my lurcher still through major surgery at this stage because he is very well in himself and as fit as a dog half his age, hence why I have decided not to cancel his insurance yet.
 

This is of course however a very personal decision that only you can make for your dog.

[LynneB]

KC insurance is so expensive, I always use Pet Plan.

[Holly Berry]

I'm soon going to have this with Rosie in the next couple of months as she will be 10 next week. Currently they are both insured with AXA!!.

I got a quote from Petplan for Rosie, on their essentials policy, the same one as Michelle has, and that came to £23 per month, so will probably go with that if AXA very expensive.

I've had cockers for nearly 30 years and didn't insure any of them until I got Ebony. I've been lucky and only had one lot of expensive treatment of £500. I calculated if I'd been paying insurance for all those years I would have paid thousands in premiums.

I agree with you Erica, when they get to a certain age you have to way up quality of life with treatment over quantity, even with insurance. It is difficult though.

[Jessie_Pup]

He is showing his age now,  stops and starts on walks takes us ages to do a walk with him now.  I take a ball for Jessie so she can run round a bit more. Took him to Thorndon today and was over an hour just to take a short walk.  Though there is no heart problems or limping think it is just the ageing process.

Erica

[Emilyoliver]

I also agree on no major surgery or treatment that will do little to improve quality of life during their senior years (or even on their earlier ones).  However, in emily's case, the benefits outweighed the negatives and she is now healthy (and x-rays, ultrasound show no evidence of spread). I haven't gone down the chemotherapy route, but will on the vet's advice, have her monitored quarterly. Feel very lucky we caught it early, but her treatment was £2600. I don't have that 'spare' so am just relieved I went for Petplan rather than cancelling completely. You just never know and it's such a risk.

[LurcherGirl]

He is showing his age now,  stops and starts on walks takes us ages to do a walk with him now.  I take a ball for Jessie so she can run round a bit more. Took him to Thorndon today and was over an hour just to take a short walk.  Though there is no heart problems or limping think it is just the ageing process.

Erica

Has he ever had his thyroid checked? Hypothyroidsm can often cause symptoms that look just like old age.  

On three occasions I thought my lurcher was "just getting older", each time it turned out to be a treatable condition. The first time it was diagnosis of his hypothyroidism, second time it turned out to be his cruciate (when all he showed was stiffness in his hind legs when getting up and slowing up on walks) and third time just last month it turned out that his thyroid medication needed upping as he was hypo again. Now he's back on track with his meds, he shows virtually no symptoms of old age anymore. I am never accepting anything as old age anymore unless everything else has been excluded.  

[Jessie_Pup]

Well interesting update.  OH contacted Kennel Club today as premium due to go through this month. He queried the premium and asked if they could lower it. They have taken a couple of things off such as insurance for him going abroad and boarding kennel fees. We have increased the excess to £150 and the premium is now  £823.  So we have decided to go with that and he will have insurance cover. When Jessie's insurance is due next year for renewal we will do the same.

Erica.

[Emilyoliver]

Good news. Great response from KC insurance.