Dog seriously ill, due to go to Australia on Sunday

[77788r]

My dog has become seriously ill in just a few days, she's having an operation on Wednesday next week and we've been told there's a 75% chance of success of her surviving the operation. If she doesn't have the operation she would likely have less than a month to live.

I am due to fly to Australia on Sunday for 2 weeks. The holiday cost me thousands. The travel insurance won't cover a cancellation or change in dates for a pet, and the pet insurance will cover £1000 which is better than nothing.

I feel devastated. It is a huge sum of money, I've saved up and done so much planning and preparation and I feel sick at the thought of it just going to waste. It was for a big birthday. The operation is also thousands of pounds, so this whole situation is costing nearly 6 months of salary for me. I also feel sick at leaving my dog, not knowing what the outcome of the surgery is gonna be or knowing if it's the last time I'll see her. I've spoken to family and friends who think I should go, aside from the family member who would be looking after her while I was away - they said it would be wrong for me to go and they would never consider going themselves.

I don't think I'll go but it hurts so much, I'm so upset at the timing of it all

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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

@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.

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?

I don't think a GP would resort to taking a stool sample just to write a letter for a travel insurer. If it's not clinically indicated, I don't think many would do it.

And it's entirely possible to have a clear poo sample and still have genuine gastroenteritis - viral GI won't show anything in the poo sample. So even if they did take a sample, a negative result doesn't disprove the illness.

If you're generally an honest person who doesn't try to blag being ill, most GPs will probably just trust you. Also, if you pay for a private GP letter, it's even easier to get....

The insurance company can only deny a claim on the basis of the terms and conditions so the OP needs to have a good look at what's written there. They can't enforce unfair conditions - the Ombudsman expects their conduct and their T&Cs to be reasonable. It's not reasonable to expect someone to fly with D&V. So it depends on the cover purchased and whether it's only intended to cover "critical" type events or whether it pays out if you're not fit to fly for any medical reason.

Many insurers try it on. You just have to argue the case using their own terms and conditions. For a claim to be denied, the reason has to be clearly specified in their terms - and it has to be fair.

I've got visions of the kids' books I used to read where they used lipstick/paint/crayon to put big round dots on their face and bizarrely, their parent used to fall for it 😂😂

How awful, I really feel for you. If that was my cat I couldn't leave her. I'd just cry the entire time I was away and not enjoy anything.

You can earn more money. You can see Australia any time. Your dog needs you.

I agree. I'm a huge animal lover, but I would leave a pet with a trusted person. Animals don't think like us, your dog is not going to spend all its time wondering where you are, as long as someone is caring for it.

Just want to say I'm sorry this has happened OP.

It's entirely up to you whether you can enjoy the holiday knowing you've left your dog and might never see them again. I doubt you could enjoy yourself.

I agree with previous posters your dog won't suffer extra as your partner is with them. However your partner may well suffer if he ends up on his own to deal with grief.

I would go, but the people who i’d trust with my dog have known him since he was a puppy and they’re as much his family as I am.

I wouldn’t go if I had to trust some random to look after him.

shitty situation :(

Agree. If you are devoted to your dog how can you go away without feeling awful and worried? How can you enjoy your holiday?
I know I couldn't.

I had an issue with my young dog years ago, I tried all treatment possible got into debt as I'd just stupidly cancelled his insurance. The last resort was crate rest for 6 weeks otherwise pts. I had a hen do booked within that time. Not in another country or for 2 weeks but it's sort of similar. I went for one night instead of 2 and just cut my losses for the money I lost as I still had to pay for both nights and the transport already booked then my own transport home too. He ended up being pts after the 6 weeks I was devastated but I was glad I'd spent as much time as possible with him. He was only 2. BUT I was single and didn't have a partner who was like his other 'parent'. Could you possibly go for less time? It's harder cause of how far away it is! You can't just go home easily if something goes wrong. Good luck x

I can’t believe how many ignorant people are suggesting insurance fraud to the op.

Not vile but rational and sensible. She stands to lose a lot of money.

It made me angry😳

My take on it is that if the money is gone it’s gone. What’s then left is a choice between a holiday or being with a much loved pet when they’re ill, may die and I may never see them again. For me, my dogs will always be more important than a holiday and I couldn’t enjoy a holiday knowing my dog was back home going through all that. I would want to be there for my dog. I’d always regret not being there.

There’s always one who tries the wind-up 🙄

Difficult one OP. For me it would depend on how close to the dog the person looking after is.
If it’s a close relationship and you know your dog will be comfortable with that person, then go.

If not, I’d try to sell the holiday and recoup some losses that way.

seeing as your partner and the co owner of the dog would be looking after them I’d probably go. It’s not like you’re leaving the dog with a cousin or sister who shouldn’t have to deal with stuff/make decisions.

one thing I’d be worried about though is that your partner doesn’t want you to go, will it cause an issue with the relationship?

my parents were in a similar situation many years ago and left me with their very sick dog at the age of 21. My dad had actually dug a grave in the garden in case the worst happened. I ended up having to make the decision to have the dog pts while they were away which was awful. But they went on holiday knowing it was quite possible and I don’t think ever regretted it. They said their goodbyes before they left just in case. Logically it made no difference to the dog, he was loved and cared for till the end.

Hope your dog pulls through.

I think it's very easy for other people to say they would give up a holiday of a lifetime when it's not them doing the giving up. We had a similar situation with a holiday and ill pet. We went and they spent an extra few days recovering at the vets (££££). The vet said they were fine and they loved all the attention from the staff. I suspect it depends on your dogs temperament and how well they know the person who will care for them once they are out.