They may
walk on four legs and have a fur coat but our pets aren’t that different from
us - especially when it comes to their health. Just like us, things happen
unexpectedly. Whether it is an emergency
situation or a serious health condition, our pets are not immune to the
unanticipated, the unforeseen, and the unpredictable. And just like us, health
insurance can play a huge part in whether the unexpected becomes an unbearable
financial burden.
While any
pet can become ill or require urgent care in case of an emergency, purebred
animals are often born with inherent health problems. English Bulldogs are one
of these breeds. Dexter is the reason people adopt English Bulldogs. He is friendly, expressive, playful, and full
of character. All of this is packed into the most compact little short-nosed
body, in other words: ADORABLE. He is
also an example of why it is so important to invest in pet insurance.
Dexter, in all his adorable glory! |
Dexter was
rushed to Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care with uncommonly
severe complications from a soft palate surgery performed at another practice. Poor Dexter was bleeding
excessively into his airways and needed immediate care. BRVC brought in a
specialist surgeon right away to control the bleeding and perform a tracheostomy
in order to help him breathe.
Bulldogs
and other short nosed breeds such as Pugs, Pekinese, French Bulldogs and Boston
Terriers, are brachycephalic breeds. These pets are born with anatomical
problems due to their short faces and stocky bodies. The most common of these
problems is a long soft palate, (the fleshy part of the roof of the mouth) that
will cover the airway and contribute to problems breathing. Brachycephalic dogs often require soft palate
surgery in order to help resolve breathing issues. Most of the time these
procedures go smoothly, but sometimes complications arise, as in
Dexter’s case.
Dexter and all English Bulldogs are brachycephalic |
In addition
to the complications that arose from his original procedure, Dexter developed
pneumonia (another condition Bulldogs are prone to). Altogether, Dexter
required nearly two weeks of hospitalization and follow-up care and underwent
three major surgeries in the span of eight days. Everyone at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center became very
attached to the little fighter. The specialists, doctors, and technicians
attending to Dexter did all they could to help keep the little guy going. His
very dedicated owner became a common sight in the hospital halls and spent
hours by the side of his beloved pet. It was touch and go for awhile but Dexter
eventually pulled through and made a full recovery. He now breathes better than
ever and is back to his adorable, playful ways.
Three
surgeries. Weeks of hospitalization. Medications and hourly treatments. Follow
up care. All of these things add up, and they add up fast. Dexter’s owners
loved him deeply and wanted to do everything that could possibly be done to
save his life. Fortunately they had signed Dexter up with Pet Plan Insurance when he was younger. Pet Plan is
one of the few pet insurance companies that cover hereditary and congenital
conditions, which makes it a great choice for purebred pets. While they worried about his
health and whether he would make it through the night, they never had to worry
about whether or not they could afford treatment. In the end, Pet Plan paid
almost 90% of Dexter’s medical care. Talk about peace of mind (and wallet)!
Dexter wants you to pet him... |
Dexter is now
a regular at Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center where he comes in for the decidedly
non-emergency kind of visit to have his toe nails trimmed, along with lots of
TLC. He has everyone there wrapped around his chubby little paw. The unexpected
and unforeseen happened to Dexter. He needed help and he needed it fast.
Luckily, he had an excellent insurance plan that allowed his family the
financial freedom to spare no expense when it came to Dexter’s health.
I have a mini-schnauzer and we have him currently covered under VPI. I'm wondering if they cover any kind of hereditary and congenital conditions. I would assume all insurance would covere these types of things, but now I'm definitely going to check since Schnauzer's notoriously have problems with their endocrine system. Thanks for sharing! I'm going to do my research ASAP.
ReplyDeleteMy dog has had both knee's done, now has plates so we call him bionic. He is 7 years old.
ReplyDeleteCan I still get pet insurance for him?
I hope the worst is past but still would like to have protection, "Just in case"
While most pet insurance companies will not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, some have plans that offer coverage for accidents and emergencies. A great site to visit to do a little research on the different plans available is www.petinsurancereview.com.
ReplyDeleteGreat Story! We Love Dexter!
ReplyDelete