Dog seriously ill, due to go to Australia on Sunday

What a bizarre and silly retort!

You are claiming that someone is an "animal hater" merely because they are able to differentiate between a human and a pet?

@SecretSoul There is no need to take a sample ordinarily. It is normally a self limiting illness. I was suggesting a sample would be taken as part of saying the person was too ill to travel.
OP can try and claim she is too ill to travel, but she needs to be aware that her insurance may not payout.

That would be pretty easy to fake. There you go OP!

I imagine you'd need to send in a photo of the rash for chicken pox. We did last year with DS.

Not all D&V bugs will show bacteria in the poo. If it's viral gasteroenteritis, no bacteria.

Also, I have never been asked to give a stool sample to my GP for D&V. My DS had a horrendous D&V bug a few years ago, he was very nearly hospitalised with it - GP didn't take a stool sample (different GP to who we're with now).

Honestly, not all GPs are as rigorous as you might think.

I completely understand what you're saying. But logistically, how are they going to get proof of D&V? Unless they're got to sit in the room with you and watch you vomit?

You might have several hours between attacks but that would still render you unfit to travel, especially long haul to Australia.

In my previous career which spanned 14 years, I saw quite literally thousands of letters from GPs. And I can absolutely promise you that many of the things they were stating in letters as fact they would have had no way of actually verifying.

Chicken pox? Do you need to ‘prove’ that, or can you just ring the gp and say I’m meant to be on a plane in 10 hours and I’ve come out in the rash. Mumsnet will arrest me if I go anywhere within a fifty mile radius where a pregnant woman may have breathed in the last five years so I think it’s best if I isolate at home and miss the trip?

Then stay home and cuddle the dog. I hope he recovers well!

Even our vets say insurance companies will weasel out of paying if they can.

At least OP’s policy has allowed her £1,000 for holiday cancellation.
But seems the holiday is massively expensive.

@SecretSoul A GP would be expected to take a poo sample that would show the relevant bacteria.

It is not a sick note you need, that is easy to get. It is a letter saying the GP is advising you not to travel for medical reasons. That is tougher to get, and a GP is unlikely to just write it, as they could be sued for fraud by the insurance company if they did not have clear proof.

I don't travel these days so no idea about current holiday insurance plans, tbh.

But I did work in insurance for 14 years+, in the Claims department, rather ironically. In management.

It depends what the terms and conditions say, which is what I alluded to above. You would definitely need to check what they say first.

But surely holiday insurance is there to cover any incidence of ill health where you can't travel? If you're chucking up and running to the toilet, there's no way you could fly - from a personal point out of view, let alone the risk of contagion.

Some insurance companies are absolutely arseholes and try to wiggle out of paying legitimate claims. But it's a case of going back to the T&Cs and looking at any exclusions - it all depends on the type of cover you've purchased.

Seriously how hurtful the dog is ill it may not make it. if it does it will need aftercare and lots of love and attention and to some it's not just a pet ffs show some compassion

Sorry, cross posted!

I'm fairly confident a GP would issue a sick note for D & V if I just rang them and said that I need one. You can't travel if you have D & V so it's a fairly reasonable thing to claim for. It's also the right time of year for a D&V bug.

Just to clarify, I'm self-employed and have been for many, many years and I don't travel because of disabled DC. So I'm not ringing my GP and asking for sick-notes for any reason! However, my DP was having horrendous migraines and for several months his GP issued him sick notes without even seeing him. My GP prescribes for new conditions without even speaking to us on the phone. All we have to do is send in an e-consult, don't even need to submit photos most of the time.... I can't imagine it would be much of a stretch to get a sick note for a tummy bug...

Have you ever dealt with holiday insurance companies ?
They are no way going to pay out for something like a many thousands of pounds holiday unless it’s literally intensive care serious
( Family member tripped on an escalator and developed sepsis-
She was in intensive care for ages- That is the level you are looking at for a payout.

I'd have a look at the policy terms and see what's covered.

But just plucking something randomly out of the air, a tummy bug is easily conjured up and doesn't require any proof. You could easily ring the GP and say you've had D&V - I would bet that most GPs would issue a sick note without even seeing you for an acute illness like a tummy bug.

Ordinary D and V will not be enough. You need proof that you are not well enough to travel.
Ordinary stress/self declared depression also will not meet insurance pay out thresholds.
You need a Drs note that you are too ill to be able to travel.

Massive drip feed there that changes things. You wouldn't be leaving your dog with a reluctant family member pet sitting, she will be with her owner at home. Why is your partner not going with you to Australia, when it is a big birthday celebration? Or were they going, and staying because of the dog? If they weren't going in the first place for good reason, they have no right to guilt trip you about this.

Impossible.
They wouldn’t pay out without medical proof and back up
They won’t pay out many thousands just because someone says they have a tummy bug.

I wouldn't leave my dog with a random relative... but my dh absolutely i would. That your dog is with your partner changes everything.

I was looking to see if anyone had suggested this because honestly, this was my first thought too.

And technically, it's not a lie if you can claim for severe anxiety/mental health reasons? I know I would be way too stressed to travel in those circumstances, I'd be so anxious about my dog, I'd be non-functional. (Not actually bothered if anyone thinks that's an over-reaction - I love my dog beyond).

Failing that, D&V bug that unfortunately strikes just before you're due to travel?

I think this is one of those very rare circumstances where you are in a genuine dilemma - holiday companies and insurers make absolutely millions. If they were more accommodating about letting you change dates etc, you wouldn't be in this position. I wouldn't judge you at all for pulling a sickie and claiming on the insurance. It's still rubbish for you - losing a much-anticipated holiday. But I doubt very much you'd be able to enjoy it now, even if your dog does make it through.

I say this as a massive dog lover, dogs are literally my life. But I think you should go, as long as you completely trust the person looking after your dog, and they are happy to look after your dog after surgery.

Worst case scenario - your dog doesn’t make it. Losing a dog is THE WORST, but actually not being the one who is at the coal face of it all and having the distraction of a holiday may actually make that easier. And staying won’t make the outcome of whether or not your dog lives any different.

Best case scenario - dog recovers fine and you get all the licks when you get home.

Obviously you would never plan to go away if you knew this was going to happen, but you’ve spent so much money on the holiday. Your dog is clearly very loved and you being there or not on the day of the op can’t take away a lifetime of love. Don’t feel guilty, it’s not ideal, but I think you should get on that plane.

Quite clearly not an animal lover then!

In your shoes, I'd go if DH was looking after our dog, and I'd encourage him to go if the situation were reversed.

Will your DDog feel safe and loved with your DP? If so, I'd go, and you'll very likely come home to a recovering DDog.

Personally I wouldn't be able to go. I would also encourage my partner not to, mainly because I'd be surprised if they decided to go and would want to make sure they were thinking straight.
It's not just the surgery but the recovery afterwards, your dog will want you there.

It’s rubbish timing, but there is no way I could leave one of my dogs in this situation.

I really hope your dog comes through this ok.