How do you cover vet costs for rescue dog?

[Howtofund]

I was offered through a rescue centre an abandoned dog with unknown neurological condition.

is there any way I can get this dog insured? PetPlan have excluded pretty much everything in a just in case way.

I am having to say no to the dog as without any sort of cover the risk of unknown future medical bills is too great a risk for us to undertake.

is there any insurance company that will take on a rescue with unknown history?

A good rescue will cover the bills for pre-existing conditions.

Can you take the dog on as a long term foster? That way the rescue resume overall responsibility for him and cover the cost of vet bills but he lives with you.

I’ve done this with my cat as he started off as a foster but has something wrong with him which means he will be incredibly difficult to rehome. I kept him on long term foster with all vet bills paid by the rescue

The rescue have said they will treat as currently presents but won’t pay for any future conditions nor pay for a diagnosis.

i asked if they could support vet costs and we would pay for all other needs for the dog such as worm, flea etc treatment but they’ve said that’s not possible.

No one would blame you from walking away from this dog. You'd essentially be writing a blank cheque with no available insurance cover.

This dog isn't your responsibility, and the will be others in future.

I've found out the hard way that they will exclude pre-existing conditions. Agree that your only option seems to be to foster. Poor dog. The rescue have a duty of care surely?

I am afraid that I would also be walking away. Any reputable rehomer, knowing the dogs condition, would be covering future bills. No insurer will touch you. Given an undiagnosed problem - for anything! If there were a diagnosis and knowledge of complications maybe - but not in these circumstances ever.

You are right, I have to walk away from them. So very sad, but I do not have a bank account that could support the blank cheque, and I would hate to be in the vets and unable to authorise treatment due to cost.

Most rescues wouldn't be able to afford to commit to ongoing vet treatment. If you like the dog, I would take him on and give him a good home with quality of life for as long as you reasonably can. If he neurological issues, which could easily run into thousands, start to cause an issue for him then you pts, which would be realistic with any dog, rescue or not. Many insurances only cover up to £5k, which often doesn't even touch the sides with some treatments.

My issue is the fact that the dog can’t be insured for anything. My other pets are covered up to £12k per year with lifetime ultimate. It means that i can get treatment for ongoing conditions such as arthritis, thyroid etc but also the “one offs” such as grass seed removal etc. But this dog can’t be covered for anything, not just the neurological.

I disagree. Many small rescues may not be able to commit to that - but if they cannot they should not be taking on dogs that they cannot support. Reputable rescues would only take on dogs they had a reasonable prospect of rehoming, and in these circumstances that means (a) getting a diagnosis and (b) covering the costs of rehoming to the extent of the known risk. Anything less than that is unfair and dishonest to both dog and adopter.

What pet insurance covers is a moveable feast like any insurance, but I would be skeptical of any cover that is only up to £5k. That is exceedingly low. The average cover is £12.5k and even that is low for complex cases.

We have a rescue who was a stray so no history and we managed to get insurance for him but the vet considered him to be healthy so I don't know if this is why ?