I'm so upset and frustrated

[PinkyPia]

I have a flat faced breed (rescued at 4 months not bought) and she struggles on walks now to the point she just goes out to wee and back down street for 4 mins.

She needs BOAS surgery.

I found a place feom recommendations does the surgery and have saved for a year to get the money to have it done. She is insured but these days you have to pay first and then claim back. I am disabled so unemployed and unable to get credit etc.

So Ive spend a year saving and finally got enough for this place that is a specialist but much cheaper than normal.

I went to my own vets and got a referal.

The referral went through last week and I called to book and was told someone would get back to me about her suitability.

I just called and was told as of today they wont do surgery on over 5s. She is 5.5

I can't stop crying.

They told me to contact another place. The price is THREE times as much. I cant afford it.

I feel awful and frustrated and angry :(

Not at them but at myself for letting her down

I sent an email but it wasn't very detailed. I might send another one tomorrow asking to speak to the practice manager.

I means they've done it for years and theyve only just decided to stop.

I understand the risks are increased but I just feel like her quality of life will be so improved its worth the risk

OK,

My mum's girl needed hip surgery, and like you she is disabled and unemployed.

We talked to the insurance company and the referal vet, and it was agreed that the vet would do a direct claim. I still had to pay 10% upfront, but the rest was claimed from the vet direct to the insurance company.

Whereabouts are you (roughly) OP? If you are anywhere near bristol then i highly reccomend Ferlea Vets.

https://fernleavets.co.uk/

Don't feel daft, it's none of anybody's business why she's in the buggy in the first place and lots of people use them nowadays.
Have you asked your own vet if they can come up with some sort of payment plan?
Have they definitively states that you have to pay upfront and then claim back? Some vets deal direct with insurers and then bill clients for anything not paid out for.

It’s worth shopping around vets as ours will do a direct claim for anything over £1000. Just be 100% sure your insurance will cover is as you’ll be on the hook for the bill if they don’t pay out. Best of luck to you

My dog went under an anaesthetic when she was 16 years old, it couldn’t have gone anymore smoothly, no recovery time, she had a small lump removed and some problematic teeth.Her vets had cared for her since she was a pup, knew her well, maybe it just depends on the particular vet and that it’s a new vet.Refusing a dog a necessary operation, when they’re just over 5 years old, really taken a back by that.

You know i would do a go fund me people do this all the time ,but its not that striaght forward you will need someone who is internet advertising savy who works online with something like youtube or selling who knows how to advertise you post to groups and online or it wont get seen that way you may be able to raise the money for the more expensive place in time also ask them would they take part payments and carry on looking for other specialists in the mean time ,i would also get your vet to ring the specialist see if they can persuade them even if your paying a bit more shes only just over the age limit lastly i would look for animal charities that might help,for instance the cats protection league has grants to get your cat paid im sure there will be some dog ones especially if your dog was a rescue remember it takes one person that the money is nothing to to donate who may well have this breed themselves if its the breed im thinking of its very popular ,dont give up and when you have made the go fund me post it here so people can help post it in as many dog groups animal groups go fund me groups good luck x

Loads of people do this and the dogs love it! I always think it’s really cute and want to stop and talk to the dog! I’d rather talk to a dog than a baby!!

BOAS surgery isn't the same as a regular operation though - the dogs' already suffer badly from compromised breathing and the longer it's left, the more risky the surgery becomes. Five may sound young for a "cut off" age but many brachy breeds don't live beyond the age of about 7-8 due to how badly bred they are.

We're not talking about a healthy dog going under anaesthetic. Dogs with BOAS are already very, very unhealthy and suffer from a poor quality of life.

Have you contacted Blue Cross for help and advice?

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/veterinary-care

Essentially, this is surgery to attempt to correct the damage done by breading brachycephalic dogs (excessively short nosed dogs, e.g. pugs) which interferes with the dog's ability to breathe.

As someone said above, it is the breeders who are at fault here. Not necessarily the specific one that bred that dog, but the ones who created the issue in the first place.

It might be worth seeing if there are any breed specific Facebook groups or charities and message them. They might know of someone who can help.

Same here, we had Tesco’s pet insurance and we just paid the excess and then the rest was paid direct to the vet, for both the emergency out of hours vet and our regular vet. Had a 4k claim for a luxating patella surgery, and another for a dog attack. All of the vets around here take almost any pet insurance and most of them are paid straight to the vet. I thought it was only very particular insurances where you had to pay upfront rather than just paying an excess.

I’m sorry for your situation OP, it must be very stressful for you 🩷

Well done you for saving so hard! Such a shame and annoying that the vets have changed the goalposts.
We had BOAS on our rescue pug. £3400 just two months after we got him and it has changed his life. I would just be really sure your insurance will cover you if you go down that route. We are with co-op and they wouldn’t cover us due to it being a hereditary condition. We have lifetime cover up to £7000.

Little update.

I spent the day researching yesterday and found a local vets thats does both the throat flap and nostril widening for just 1500. Its a few hundred more than I have saved right now but I called them and booked an appointment for Thursday to get her assesed.
They said they can fill in a pre authorisation form to make sure she is covered by insurance beforehand.
And he age isn't an issue (they said more risk but its not a reason they wouldn't do it)

So fingers crossed for Thursday.

That sounds very positive @PinkyPia , 🤞🏻

Good luck OP.

A lot of vets nowadays insist that you pay up front then claim the money from your insurer,rather than having the insurer pay direct. I discovered this when my cat had to have an operation for bladder stones a couple of years ago. We WERE covered by the insurance,but the vet was adamant that we pay upfront. A real pain in the arse trying to come up with nearly a grand. I think the issue is that so many vets have had bad experiences with insurers paying up front, i.e. taking their time about it or changing their mind.

Yes my cat broke her arm a few years ago and I had to pay £700. I had to borrow from about 4 different people and luckily I was reimbursed very quickly but it was so stressful in an already stressful situation.

I don't know what I would do in a situation with it running into the thousands during an emergency. You think you're safe with insurance butbits really not so simple

Update for anyone interested.

Went to the new vets and they said they can do the procedure but it is risky due to her age and weight (she has been on a diet a month but its difficult because she can't exercise due to her breathing)

But he said it is a bad case and it does need doing as it will never get better, only worse as she gets older.

The did a pre authorisation with Animal Friends which was approved and they also have agreed to a direct claim so Ive just had to pay a few hundred to secure the operating date/pay excess.

So she is booked in for August 1st for the op.

I am feeling very scared as he was very honest about the risks to her due to several factors but he agreed its best to do it as her quality of life is so poor.

So please cross your fingers all goes well for her. So is genuinely my very best friend and I am pretty terrified.

Oh OP I am so pleased to read your update. Maybe use your doggy pushchair and let your little dog experience and enjoy somewhere different to exercise without overdoing it.
Give her the best week you can and then once she’s home again you can take her out in the pushchair until she’s fully recovered- obviously take the vet’s advice on that.
Please keep updating us.

Well done for sorting it out @PinkyPia , I know it’s scary with the risks but in honesty if she’s that severe it doesn’t sound like she would manage for much longer anyway , at least this way she gets a chance.

I might see if she will get in the buggy tonight and walk her to the local park and let her have a short plod about there. She didn't mind it when Ibgot it and she was sat in it in the living room but I feel like she will try and jump out, outside!

I'll wait till about 7pm as its quite warm still.

I'm so pleased to read your update OP - good luck!