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The doghouse

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

Original poster

no pet insurance

17 replies

notagain2018 · 26/06/2018 21:15

A friend of mine has a dog and has no insurance (he's not working so couldn't afford it). The dog has hurt her paw somehow. Its ok for a while but then she holds it up yelping and can't walk on it.
Anyway, he's worried about vet bills. Would it be possible to take out pet insurance and then wait the 10-14 days and then claim?
I know morally this is wrong but its the only way I can see him affording treatment. Its not great having to wait nearly 2 weeks to see the vet so its not ideal for the dog either.
Has anyone done this or any advice?

OP posts:
Pebblespony · 26/06/2018 21:16

Prepare for a flaming OP!

Original poster
notagain2018 · 26/06/2018 21:19

Yes I know what people will say. Its crazy not to have the insurance in the first place. And yes you shouldn't have a pet if you can't afford things like this. He lost his job though.
Flame away, its not me or my dog. But I do need some advice on this.

OP posts:
Nearlyoldenoughtowearpurple · 26/06/2018 21:25

Illegal and vets and insurers going to be suspicious. If unemployed has he checked if eligible for pdsa?

adaline · 26/06/2018 21:29

What about the PDSA? They'll help with vet bills if you can prove you're in receipt of certain benefits.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 26/06/2018 21:30

It's insurance fraud; and there's a chance that the vets would be able to tell the age of the wound.

That said; it's his call as to whether he could do something else - set up a payment plan or use a charity etc - or if this is his only option. No one can advocate him committing insurance fraud and if he does, he needs to be mindful that he may struggle to insure other things (car, house) in the future if he's caught.

Rantymare · 26/06/2018 21:36

I dont have pet insurance and didn't even when I had three dogs (now just the one, others were elderly when I adopted them).
However I have a £5k credit card, a fair bit in savings and people I could borrow from if a tragedy happened and if I didn't, I'd have insurance or wouldn't have pets.

He has been very irresponsible and the dog is suffering as a result. I agree with the above, beg/borrow set up a payment plan-whatever but he can't leave his dog suffering because of his irresponsible attitude. There's always a way, not always an easy one admittedly.

Original poster
notagain2018 · 26/06/2018 21:43

Thank you, we will check out PDSA. Apparently its worse today so he's going to take her tomorrow anyway so the insurance route isn't going to be an option anyway.
Hopefully its nothing serious but I know he will find the money if he has to. I will be insisting he sorts out insurance after this though!!!

OP posts:
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 26/06/2018 22:30

PDSA... and some local RSPCA branches (very different from the national RSPCA) will treat in such circumstances.

Wolfiefan · 26/06/2018 22:32

Would the vet do a payment plan?
PDSA will help if in receipt of certain benefits I think.
I'm glad the dog is going tomorrow.
How old is it and what breed? If it's cruciate and not paw it could be bloody expensive. Is there obvious paw injury? Poor dog.

Polymamas · 26/06/2018 22:35

If he is on benefits or low income he can go to the PDSA.

One pet registered for free or donation for treatment.

Another 2 at a reduced rate x

Emma198 · 26/06/2018 22:39

Most will have a minimum time before you can claim anyway. Hope it's something and nothing. Poor doggy.

SpanielsAreNuts · 27/06/2018 02:11

PDSA do not help. The animal must be 100% healthy to be accepted on to their scheme and then they only help with a maximum of 20% of any future vets bills.

RSPCA do have a scheme to provide assistance, if you call your area branch they should be able to get you through to the right person. However the scheme is under strain, as the PDSA are now actually advising people to try the RSPCA instead of them.

Also if he tells the vet there is no insurance and money is an issue, then they are generally good at keeping costs down.

Bananarama12 · 27/06/2018 02:22

I've tried telling people that spanielsarenuts
Apparently I'm wrong Grin

SpanielsAreNuts · 27/06/2018 08:23

banana I think people expect them to do what their fundraising implies they do. I mean their slogan is "for pets in need of vets". They don't tell you that it's got a long list of conditions to it, until you are in a situation where you need their help.

As well as the restrictions above there are silly conditions like, my brother's postcode is excluded because it's "rural" (and PDSA seem to imply its therefore a rich area), but is less than a mile from market town centre and is a little 2bed housing association property.

Still they have lovely offices and highly paid staff because of all the money their fundraising brings in. Shame they don't spend some of that money on actually helping "pets in need of vets"

Nearlyoldenoughtowearpurple · 27/06/2018 08:55

The pdsa do provide veterinary care in some areas if you are eligible ( the criteria are very strict and not flexible ) . They have veterinary hospitals where treatment is free and they ask for a voluntary contribution only. This certainly is the case in Brighton and some areas of London , the website says they are funding a new hospital in Manchester .

SpanielsAreNuts · 27/06/2018 09:12

Nearly I'm fully eligible by their published criteria but they wouldn't allow me to register my dog with them because there was a small chance my dog would need an operation (had a tiny umbilical hernia at 8weeks old). To be eligle for their help your dog has to be 100% healthy at registration with them. Now they will only fund 20% of costs of future veterinary care and are actually advising people to ask the RSPCA for help. I can't comment on the hospitals but considering the realities of the veterinary care they claim to fund for those who don't live in their hospital catchment area, I can't see the hospital being any better. They get people to donate under false pretences and they will not help OP's friend.

Wotrewelookinat · 27/06/2018 09:12

OP, your friend needs to take their dog to a vet ASAP and discuss financial issues befor treatment is started. You can phone around various vets to find which might offer a payment plan, or which has cheapest consult fee etc.

I worked for the PDSA for many years (vet) and have many friends who still do. Like many charities they have suffered through lack of donations and bequests in the past 10 years and have had to restrict the service the offer. The money has to come from somewhere. The clinics are extremely busy, staff often work way past their finishing time to get the work done. The vets and vet nurses get paid a lot less than if they were in private practice, but generally work there for ethical reasons. There have always been clients thepat take the piss...bring animal under other people’s benefit details...pay several hundred pounds for a pedigree puppy then expect free treatment...arrive on the car park in a new shiny BMW. I can’t tell you how frustrating that is to see.

So, why don’t you consider fund-raising for a veterinary charity? Then maybe they’ll have more money to spend on doing the work all their staff are desperate to do. You have a pet, it is YOUR responsibility to be able to pay for veterinary treatment.

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