How do you deal with vets bills with a rescue oldie?

[Champagneforeveryone]

Purely theoretical ATM as DDogs are still hale and hearty!

When the time comes, due to commitments etc, as well as several previous successful experiences we would be interested in rehoming a "golden oldie". DH and I are both experienced dog owners, adult child currently at uni, lots of experience with behaviour issues etc. Only sticking point would be ChampagneCat, but this would be a consideration with any dog.

We're obviously aware the DDog will have a limited life span and are prepared to deal with this aspect. However we don't have unlimited funds, which is why DDogs are still insured (despite the great cost) I'm guessing that we would find it hard (if not impossible) to insure an older dog.

Assuming bills are not covered by the rescue, do you make a decision early on about how much you will spend? It seems the stuff of nightmares to have to tell the vet you can't afford treatment for your pet, particularly if this will result in them being PTS. TBH this is making me question whether I would take on a dog of an age where we couldn't get insurance cover (so nothing older than around 8yo) My previous oldies come from a time when I had far fewer responsibilities and vets bills were dramatically cheaper!

We rehomed an oldie (now sadly no longer with us). We took out a plan at the vets that reduced the prices, but wouldn’t have covered anything near the cost of anything major.
He had some health issues that I believe the rescue had misinterpreted as far less serious than they were. He also had sporadic things like an ear problem and an eye problem. The consultations and drugs did cost me a lot of money.
In the end he became very unwell and I decided in advance that if it was something fixable, like a single operation that would fix him, I’d get him treated despite the cost. I think if it had been DH’s decision alone he wouldn’t have done. I also decided that bearing in mind his age and his need to be settled - I think the way that he came to be rehomed in his old age was incredibly traumatic for him - I would not put him through lengthy treatment and loads of vet visits if it turned out to be something serious and not easily curable.
It turned out to be the latter, he went downhill suddenly, the vet discovered a massive problem and there was really no hope of making him better. We put him to sleep on the day of diagnosis. The alternative was drugs to keep him going a bit longer but I felt that would have been for us, not him.
So basically yes I did decide that I’d pay for very expensive treatment if it would have been not hard on him, would have worked and given him a good quality of life. I realise that not everyone can do that and it’s a real dilemma you have.
As for a maximum amount that I would have been prepared to pay, I didn’t confront that to be honest!

Some rescues have golden oldie schemes where they will pay vets bills above and beyond routine maintenance. Worth looking into?

You could look at end of life/long term fostering?
So the rescue will cover vet bills to get older dogs out of kennels and into homes.

We took our first Golden Oldie was a 9 year old lab from a rescue centre as a permanent foster as he was on long term medication that would have been a financial burden.
He was basically our dog but we went back every 3 months to collect his prescription and he could see a vet if needed.

We then rehomed a 13 year old JRT as a private arrangement. She needed surgery within days so the previous owner’s executors covered that.

We didn’t get her insured and paid out for one major operation for a mammary tumour but tried to keep the costs down by declining histopathology as I knew we wouldn’t treat it if it was a malignancy. We had her until she was 16 when she thankfully went downhill quickly.

Just wanted to add PDSA will treat for free /donation if you claim any benefits if you fall within certain post code areas (may help someone who does, not asking your financials!)

Lovely thing you do by the way.

I also wonder if we rescue and there’s no background do you need to get a full health test, bloods, xrays to get insurance? Where do you stand with a 5 year old dog with no background. Or is it a clean slate….

We reviewed our pet insurance a couple of years ago. Our oldest dog (now nearly 14) had previously been uninsured (long story) but we included him this time. Premiums are £28 pcm. The excess is £160 and the cover is only up to £4k but that would take the sting out of any big bills. Exclusions relate to cruciate ligament ops on 2 legs. Our other dogs are covered for up to £9k.

Insurance is with Purely Pets. At one point we were with Direct Line and paying well over £100 pcm for a previous dog when she got old.

You’re fairly unlikely to have sudden huge bills with older dogs tbh, it’s things like long term medications adding up etc...

If the appeal is shorter term commitment - how about fostering? The dogs trust have a couple of fostering programmes, one for women leaving domestic abuse and I think one for people who are homeless... and all costs are paid by them.

Or there’s the cinnamon trust who help with people who are elderly or have terminal illnesses.

That's my thinking too fictionalcharacter, however it's the fear of what tabulahrasa said about long term chronic conditions that gives me the heebie jeebies.

We wouldn't qualify for any PDSA or similar kind of help.

Realistically I think we would have to cover ourselves by going for long term foster. I've seen a couple dogs on a rescue I follow on IG which on paper seem perfect, but at aged 9-11 and with no support it feels like a big gamble.

Charities like The Cinnamon Trust don't hold the same appeal for us really. We would like a long term commitment to an older dog for them to live the rest of their lives with us.

I'd give some consideration to long term fostering - this chappy looks like an absolute darling if you're in South Wales
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid09d3xoJYHZPsoKLe5WNe9wakRX9HMFhL7n3ckDQDGUpPDwwr9Uosharvgibs1zWy4l&id=100064536736157