cost of common health problems/surgeries

Wheaty

New member
I'm trying to decide on the level of vet insurance cover for Milo and wonder if those of you who had a misfortune of having to deal with a sick dog could advise me, please.

I would like to know the cost of:
1. Cruciate ligament repair.
2. Bloat emergency operations.
3. Gastropexy.
4. Arthritis management: any information about any treatment, conservative or surgical, from regular pain relief to Total Hip Replacement.
5. Cancer management: from chemotherapy, radiotherapy, amputation, limb salvage surgery to the holistic treatments.

I think it would be very helpful to have this information available, so that owners could make an informed decision regarding the level of cover they want their furkid to have. Eg, I can buy insurance policy with 12,000 GBP vet fees cover per year, but if most common problems can be treated for under 4K, why would I waste my money?

Thank you all in advance.
 

newflizzie

New member
I paid approx $3000 for each TPLO cruciate surgery. I pay $57.50 for each underwater treadmill session, and a little less for each laser or ultrasound therapy session.

Gastropexies cost me $250 each (they were already under for a spay though). I had a bloat surgery quote of $4000, but mine have not bloated so I can't say that one for sure (I asked so I could take out a Care Credit line for an emergency). We have not yet dealt with arthritis or cancer.

We have PetPlan Gold and they've paid all of our claims to date (all orthopedic).
 

Angela

Super Moderator
For an accurate list PM Victoria 1140 because she is in the UK and has had too much experience with illnesses and pet insurance over there.
 

victoria1140

Active member
Right cruciates anything from £1500 up to £3000 per side depends on procedure and severity.also if one side goes the other can be more at risk.

Bloat emergency operations allow £2000 - 3000.last dog l know who had this also had complications so this is only a ballpark figure.

Gastroplexy normally done when spayed but was told to allow another £200 on top of neutering costs.so approx £300.

Arthritis care allow approx £4000 per year .

Cancer - diagnosis £3000
Palliative radiotherapy £2750
Amputation was quoted at £5000 - 7000 but depends on location, severity, etc.

Normal radiotherapy £5000 and upwards.
Normal chemotherapy £5000 and upwards

Metronomic chemotherapy £200 a month for drugs £800-£1500 for ct scan
Bloodtests approx £120 a time.

holistic vets £200 for one appointment.

On top of that fuel costs, days off, kitchen machinery for new diet, homeopathic remedies, supplements, etc approx £2000 atm. Plus tons of research, worry and stress -unpriced.

So far Max is only 2 years old and his insurance with animal friends has paid out over £21,000 and rising.it costs me atm £1500 to insure him and dread my next renewal.

I have £4000 per condition per year lifetime cover and l wish l had taken out the £6000 per condition per year.l think for their top package it costs £75 a month .

However with specialist appointments at approx £200 an hour it doesn't take long to get a huge bill.

If you are using any other insurer you want between £10,000 - £12,000 cover per year.these babies are very expensive and if something goes wrong it isnt cheap to fix.
 

victoria1140

Active member
Also be careful as some policies have higher excesses or they want you to pay a % towards the bill.

Maxs insurance started off at £54 a month, renewal after issues £117 a month.next renewal l need to rob a bank to cover any increases.

Also my avatar is my first newf Beau who l lost at 4 1/2 years old to cancer .he was too far gone to be treated but from the time we rescued him his bills were in excess of £8000.

I would and always do buy the top insurance l can afford.

My gsd girl has just cost £3,500 and rising so any premiums l have paid for have already been paid back well and truly.
 
Last edited:

Wheaty

New member
Also be careful as some policies have higher excesses or they want you to pay a % towards the bill.

Maxs insurance started off at £54 a month, renewal after issues £117 a month.next renewal l need to rob a bank to cover any increases.

Also my avatar is my first newf Beau who l lost at 4 1/2 years old to cancer .he was too far gone to be treated but from the time we rescued him his bills were in excess of £8000.

I would and always do buy the top insurance l can afford.

My gsd girl has just cost £3,500 and rising so any premiums l have paid for have already been paid back well and truly.

Thanks again - this is VERY helpful, indeed. :hugs:
 

victoria1140

Active member
Also for anyone else make sure its lifetime covet so they are covered for ongoing illness,worth the extra money.
 

shellyk

New member
Wish we lived in NC. Our lab had TPLO this past weekend and it was $4,100. The underwater treadmill sessions are close to $95.00 a session. I think I will only do one or two at the Ortho Vet's office and then look for a less expensive place.

Anyone thinking that having insurance won't pay off - think again. We have it on our Newf but didn't get it for the Lab. For the Newf we pay $60.00 per month. If we had had it for the lab we would have already gotten our money's worth - 5 year old lab @ $60 x 60 months is $3600.

All our dogs in the future will have insurance!
 

Murphy

New member
Two words in my humble opinion. GET IT..

I would be living in a box under a bridge without it(which doesn't sound so bad right now) but I digress. Everything is triple with these guys and we all know what vets charge for .... well normal dogs. Good luck !!
 
Top