We've exceeded our 10k pet insurance limit

[OhPolly]

Our DDog randomly develop pleural effusions and abdominal ascites. She's had numerous investigations and nearly a two week stint in doggy ICU including surgeries to get biopsies and she also suffered a cardiac arrest.

We have pet insurance cover up to 10k and tonight we've realised we have now exceeded that and DDog is no better then she was two weeks ago.

She's only four. She was a fit and healthy Labrador and if you were to look at her, you wouldn't think anything is wrong.

She's the goodest good girl and I'm heartbroken about the current situation.

Her abdomen is draining up to 1l of fluid a day via abdominal drain. She has a permanent chest port.

I don't know where we draw the line?

She's in a specialist animal hospital.

I just needed to get this out somewhere.

No advice but was in same position with our cat a few weeks back. Outstripped insurance very quickly and needed to raise over £10k with a good chance she’d not survive the surgery.

I took a hard decision. Did palliative and said goodbye to her on Monday. Awful but we did the right thing for her.

I feel for you. Hope dog owners can give you targeted advice.

Can you afford to continue the care? That’s the first question really. But then, is it the right thing to do? Your dog sounds very poorly and you don’t know what it is. She had a heart attack… it might be that it’s time to let go.

I would put to sleep. Sounds like it will be a serious and possibly very long term issue. Why put her through that?

Oh I'm so sorry. 4 years is so young. However, it does sound as though she's so very poorly. What are the hospital saying about her progress?

When does the insurance renew?

Speak to the vet- be honest, see if there is anything they can do to lower the cost.

I was in a similar situation and the vets did help and kept it within my claim limit.

I am very sorry though, we lost our six year old recently, very rapidly with no answer.

She's had biopsies of the heart, lungs and abdominal tissue- all negative.

She's had an abdominal drain in for 9 days now- maximum it can stay in is two weeks.

Her chest port isn't draining much but the CT scan showed some effusion present.

She's happy in herself and wagging her tail a lot. I know that doesn't really mean anything.

We have savings and can afford further input but without having a definitive diagnosis and they've already done so many investigations. A lot of what they are doing are trial and error now.

Apparently they've had a couple of labradors in the same situation but yet to find out what's caused the issues.

At the moment her abdominal drain is draining up to 50ml/hour. That's nearly a litre a day.

I'm really not optimistic at this point but I don't know how much more she can go through.

She just looks too healthy to put down. I know deep down she isn't.

I am a dog lover and have had dogs most of my adult life. Always rescue dogs, different breeds. One dog had a heart condition that wasn’t cureable but treatable with expensive injectable drugs, but he was terrified of the vets so we decided we couldn’t put him through a weekly visit for the meds and he was PTS aged 12. Our next dog ended up with diabetes, again terrified of the vets. After a month of very upsetting vets visits for him, where he was absolutely terrified, he too was PTS aged 8. One dog had kidney disease, was being treated relatively successfully but died at home all alone.
All dogs had insurance, so it wasn’t a money thing. I don’t believe we should let our pets suffer any longer than we have to. They have no say in some of the treatments offered, or putting up with pain they might be in. Having a sick dog PTS is heartbreaking - watching it suffer is worse.

The insurance renews next May.

We are up to 11.5k now (10k limit from pet insurance).

We've been told we could try steroids to see if it helps reduce the amount she's producing. It's not a given though and we don't know if it's definitely an autoimmune condition.

We are awaiting radiology reports from a CT scan she has today where they injected contrast to see if there were any issues in her lymphatic system.

We have no answers as yet.

Here is a photo of her at her birthday in March and then one from last week.

I know deep down, we shouldn't put her through more but I also want to give her every fighting chance?

She doesn't appear to be in pain but I don't think you'd be able to tell anyway as she always seems happy?

Oh I’m so sorry for what you are going through and that you don’t have any answers

it sounds harsh but what £20k even more without a definitive diagnosis doesn’t seem fair on you or what your dog will go through

i'd give anything for my cats but there does need to be a line somewhere

hope you are ok

I think we are going to see her tomorrow and will be having some very straight questions and chat about what is best.

She saved me when I thought I couldn't be saved.

I really feel for you, sending you a hug.

Our six year old lab/bernese cross became very unwell, very suddenly. Turned out to be lymphoma. He lived another nine months on once a month chemo sessions, still zooming around the woods. Then he wasn't zooming and we knew it was time.

Not having a diagnosis sounds the hardest part for you. A four year old lab is still not far beyond teenager in behaviour. Can you ask for a meeting with whoever is in charge at the hospital to discuss possibilities?

She's beautiful. I think you should have a very 'let's be frank' conversation with the vet about what the likelihood of recovery is. With one of my dogs, he developed a tumour and the position of it required radical surgery to give any hope of treatment. I had him PTS that day.

I meant to add, we'd just cancelled our pet insurance when our DDOG was diagnosed with lymphoma. It was such a hard decision on what to do and the costs of specialist vet treatment are crippling. Please don't feel bad for thinking of the financial side.

I’m so sorry to read this. As an outsider to this and having experienced a sibling fight to keep their pooch going with repeated illness and no answer in sight, I fear the kindest and most sensible is to choose palliative.

As someone who parents a pooch (yes parents), I understand how heartbreaking this situation must feel. I also often feel my dog rescued me and not the other way around.

sending love

I'm so sorry, she's absolutely gorgeous. I hope the scans give you some answers soon.

I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. Personally if you’re happy to spend your savings on a few more investigations then I would. But it’s your decision and you’ll know what’s best for your dog.

She’s a beautiful dog, we also have a fox red labrador and they’re the best.

Im so sorry you’re in this situation. I have my fingers crossed for you.

She saved me when I thought I couldn't be saved

A big unmunsnetty hug.

You love her, whatever you decide will be motivated by what is best for her. Doesn't make it easy.

I am so sorry. We’ve had golden retrievers for over 40 years- it’s horrible having to say goodbye. One in particular- only 8, but riddled with cancer. She had two operations, neither worked- we had to let her go. Our current Golden oldie has several lumps- which are growing- after a frank conversation with the vet, we are giving her “all the treats” and all the fuss- it won’t be long.
Don’t let your beautiful dog linger OP, let her go while she’s still enjoying life.

Dogs- they come into your life and steal your heart-they don’t life long enough.

I'm so sorry, OP.

I have no real advice, other than, as PP have said, have a frank talk with the vet about her outlook. She is obviously very sick - what happened to the other labs that the vets have seen with the same symptoms?

As far as I know with one of the others, it has regular drainage.

What that looks like or how often, I don't know.

There was talks of placing another port into her abdomen which could maybe be used to drain fluid. Or something like that. I'm just not sure how successful it would be.

She's absolutely gorgeous. My heart goes out to you.

Is it worth making a note of everything the vet has said and getting another opinion?

I am so sorry for everything you are all going through x

She's already at the specialist animal hospital and has been seen by several specialists.

She is a mystery to everyone and it's been complex. They've been fantastic.

Lost my girl earlier this year, different circumstances as she was elderly but became ill very quickly. The vet said it's a question of what they can do v what they should do. I think that you can apply the same principle. Your dog is young and may have many years ahead of her. So you need to know if there's a realistic chance of a good outcome. Is there a specialist vet who could help? I'd be guided by the vet at this point.