I’ve been putting off getting the doggy equivalent of Blue Cross. Now, $3000 later I regret not getting it. On Christmas day my dog Howie (pictured above) began vomiting. He couldn’t keep down even water. I immediately knew it was a block, i.e. he ate something big and now it was acting as a cork in his tummy. We made it into Pet ER at 1:35 am on 26th. They took some x-rays and couldn’t locate the blockage precisely. Since he hasn’t eaten or drank anything for about 12 hours the vet advised to put him on IV and have him spend the night at the clinic. The ultrasound tech wasn’t going to be in until noon the next day, so we left him there. Sure enough the ultrasound found an obstruction in his intestine. After a phone call and a short visit Howie was taken into the operating room for a 2 hours surgery. They removed a piece on rubber chew toy roughly 1 by 1.5 inches. I have no idea how he managed to even swallow a piece that big. He’s perking up now, on a strict diet of horribly smelling prescription food and a cocktail of meds. He has a long incision down his belly, which spans about half of his body length. So, it was quite a Christmas. Oh well, all is well that ends well. 
PS: Happy New Year everyone!
December 31, 2007 at 8:18 am |
I have three Chihuahuas and to get insurance for all three of them is too cost prohibitive. Also two of them are 7 years old, and the older your pet is, the more insurance you pay. I know that the older they get, the more likely it will be that I will have high vet bills. I have been pretty fortunate so far.
Glad to hear your pup is doing well.
January 4, 2008 at 10:01 am |
How much does Pet insurance cost tho. I have no idea. Is it 100 per month per animal?
January 4, 2008 at 10:13 am |
VPI, which is the best insurance service in US, will run you about $50 per dog for the top tier coverage. They will cover 90%, up to $14,000 annually with a $50 deductible. Plus they cover checkups, vaccines, tests, and meds.