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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

4 m Labrador having seizures- insurance

62 replies

Bambooshoots14 · 25/05/2016 23:11

We have a lovely nearly 4 month old Labrador

Last Wednesday (the day the insurance kicked in after the 2 week exclusion period) he was foaming at the mouth and had a fit (growling and barking and running around with tail between his legs). I took him straight to the vets a couple of doors down. A day later after being on a drip and having anti seizure medication he cams home, no side effects, back to normal. We thought he'd eaten something he shouldn't

Last night at 3am we hear ratting in his crate. Puppy is covered in diarrhoea, foaming at the mouth having a fit. We shower him off, give him the rectal diazepam the vets gave us to stop the seizure (which didn't work) and took him to the out of hours vets. He's been there since (well I've had to move him between out of hours vets and normal vets as neither are open 24h).

He's still fitting/ twitching and heavily medicated. They've run numerous tests but we still don't know what's wrong.

Our insurance policy is £4K per condition. We're already up to £2k after tonight then need to take him back to normal vets first thing so that will rise again (£4-600 per day and again per night). Once we reach £4K what should we do? I can't imagine getting him put to sleep but they don't currently know the cause and I can't afford £1k per day indefinitely. They have suggested a £1.5-2k MRI incase it's his brain but I can't afford that. Sad

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Bambooshoots14 · 27/05/2016 14:56

No genetic history, his a pedigree with a long line of health checked family.

Yes it is expensive! I was shocked

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Floralnomad · 27/05/2016 14:58

Fingers and paws crossed here that your pup is soon on the mend , he looks absolutely gorgeous .

angus6 · 27/05/2016 15:26

Sounds very encouraging. Fingers and paws crossed here too.

ClaudiaWankleman · 27/05/2016 15:29

Currently going through issues with a childhood pet. Feeling very tender and vulnerable, as I imagine you are too! Wishing you all the best.

Bambooshoots14 · 27/05/2016 16:44

They couldn't pull it out, apparently there is lots of hair and stuff in his stomach. He's now having the (expensive Confused) op. Fingers crossed

Sorry to hear that claudia fingers crossed for you too

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Floralnomad · 27/05/2016 17:05

Keep us informed ,sounds like he's been eating loads of crap he shouldn't have ,hope the op goes smoothly .

Bambooshoots14 · 27/05/2016 17:15

Op went well Grin

He'd eaten the ears off a dog doorstop we have. He can't damage anything with his little teeth so I know the bigger dog chewed them off never chewed anything before learning off the naughty puppy and I assumed he'd eaten them but seems the puppy ate them. That was weeks ago!

He's hopefully coming home on Tuesday (don't want to think of the cost of another 4 nights Hmm)

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ClaudiaWankleman · 27/05/2016 18:03

Just got news too ! My DD (dear dog) came through the op too. The vet is hopeful about rehabilitation and that he will be able to walk and run properly again. So glad for you Bamboo.

Bassetfeet · 27/05/2016 23:04

Bamboo and Claudia. So pleased to read about your dogs getting better . So so pleased .
Sending you both some Wine tonight and a peaceful sleep for you and the pooches .

guineapig1 · 27/05/2016 23:09

Absolutely Wine to you both. Fingers crossed for both doggies, they really are part of the family!

Bambooshoots14 · 28/05/2016 11:09

🐶🐶🐶🐶

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Bambooshoots14 · 28/05/2016 11:19

Just had an update. They're concerned. He's still very sleepy and unresponsive. So maybe that wasn't the only problem Sad

Unfortunately we've already spent at least £1k over insurance so not sure we could afford the MRI on top Sad

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Noitsnotteatimeyet · 28/05/2016 11:30

Oh no ... Keeping fingers crossed for you

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 28/05/2016 11:31

Presumably they've done all the cheaper tests like full bloods? Do you have the results?

Have you spoken to any other vets? The extortionate costs at your current vets means the insurance isn't going to cover much.

I hope he gets more responsive as the day goes on.

tabulahrasa · 28/05/2016 13:28

If it helps any...my dog had major abdominal surgery a couple of years ago (different cause). It took him a lot longer to properly come round after the op than they expected, but he had been ill for much longer beforehand than dogs who have that surgery usually are (didn't show the usual symptoms so extra days of trying to find out what it was) so given that your pup was very unwell for an extended time as well, it's entirely possible that it'll just take him longer than they expect to start perking up.

Bassetfeet · 28/05/2016 14:37

Thinking of you and the wee fella . So hope he is responding soon. Lovely pic you posted Bamboo. He looks gorgeous pup. Hope you are ok.Thanks

Floralnomad · 28/05/2016 16:13

Fingers crossed that the problem is just a hangover effect from the anti epileptics he was on and the GA , have you been in to see him today ?

Bambooshoots14 · 30/05/2016 08:40

Unfortunately he was put to sleep last night at 11pm as he'd deteriorated further Sad

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BestIsWest · 30/05/2016 08:41

Flowers so sorry.

tabulahrasa · 30/05/2016 09:05
Sad
Scone1nSixtySeconds · 30/05/2016 09:48

I am so sorry to hear your news Flowers

Floralnomad · 30/05/2016 10:36
Sad
FiveHoursSleep · 30/05/2016 10:49

I'm sorry to hear such sad news :(
We lost our lurcher last year after she got hit by a car and came away with chest injuries and a broken leg.
The ICU nursing over 2 days cost us over 2.5K and the initial surgery was 1.8K. We only had £4K worth of insurance and unfortunately she developed complications and had to go back for more Xrays and then another operation.
She survived the second operation but then collapsed and died 15 minutes later. We were left with a total bill of £8K>
It's not all about the money, obviously, but dog owners should be aware that £4K a year insurance may not be enough cover these days.
As far as the emotional side of things goes, I was quite depressed for months afterwards.

Bambooshoots14 · 30/05/2016 10:54

Yes I had no idea his expensive vet fees are. I am relieved that in the end if wasn't a decision we had to make as it was the vets recommendation. I really do feel devastated. We need to tell 2yo DS yet. His bunny died in January too (our friend who was looking after him while we were on holiday didn't shut the cage properly Sad)

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FiveHoursSleep · 30/05/2016 11:10

You poor things. You might find your son is pragmatic about it. My kids are older but after the initial tears, they were asking about getting a new puppy!
We ended up getting a rescue dog instead as I couldn't face the puppy stage!