More than once, I have been accused of worrying too much
about my pets’ wellbeing but, in my defense, my pack has had some unusual
health conditions. Ethel (A herding dog heritage, To breed or not to
breed) was crippled not once, but twice; first, by the parasite Neospora caninum and, second, by severe
bilateral hip dysplasia that necessitated total hip replacement at an early age. Calley succumbed to a rare presentation of
lymphoma (A gift of love), Truman
passed this summer after battling an uncommon neurological condition and, at
the tender age of three months, Daisy (The
pitter patter of puppy feet) was diagnosed with ameloblastoma (cancer of
the enamel of her baby teeth).
On the ride home from VA that first day, I discovered a lump
on her jaw. At first, my vet and I
believed it to be a swelling related to teething. When the inflammation did not react to
antibiotics, we began to suspect a cyst.
After radiographs were read by a veterinary dentist, we were referred to
a surgeon diplomat and I found myself driving Miss Daisy to Pittsburgh for the
first of two surgeries. Thankfully, her
second biopsy shows that the princess is now cancer free.
Another odd thing about Daisy is that she grew long
hair. She comes from a long line of
champion Rottweilers and her parents were screened for all the genetic
conditions common to the breed. I
suppose this just goes to show that, no matter how carefully we plan, nature
can still surprise us. While we think
she is the most beautiful girl in the breed, she can never enter the show ring,
because a long coat is a disqualifying trait in conformation competition.
Daisy’s breeder is a kind and honorable woman. When she learned of our tribulations, she
gifted me a second pup. The young
prince’s name is Horatio and he has turned the Lindeman household into quite
the whirling dervish. Both Ethel and
Daisy (not to mention the man of the house) are quite smitten with him. They sleep, romp, and play together in almost
perfect harmony. Note the word: almost.
While both girls tolerate Horatio’s puppy teeth, shrill
bark, and almost perpetual motion, Daisy refuses to share food (or anything she
perceives as edible) with the new addition.
In the first seven days of their cohabitation, she has engulfed hooves,
rawhides, a stolen pork chop (bone included) and, two days ago, a number of metal
rings designed to attach tags to collars.
Of course, I worried about her digestion and her comfort as
she completed the process. I worried
about internal bleeding, pancreatitis, and her mental health. There are two things, however, that I didn’t
worry about: her care and how I would pay for it. We are blessed to have an incredible
veterinary team and I am grateful that I had the foresight to purchase
veterinary pet insurance.
While there are limitations to any policy (for instance,
preexisting or preventable genetic conditions like Daisy’s cancer or Ethel’s
hip dysplasia), I am truly impressed with the benefits we receive. The costs of Calley’s chemotherapy and
supportive therapies were nearly 100% reimbursed. Ethel’s chronic conditions are covered. Daisy’s treatment for enteritis (a.k.a.
garbage gut) will be paid in full after our deductible. Horatio’s wellness rider allows for
semiannual checkups, vaccines, parasite preventatives, wellness screenings,
dental cleanings, and even toenail trims.
There are numerous reputable companies to choose from and levels of
coverage to fit almost any budget. I
encourage each pet owner to consider a policy of your own so that you, too,
have one less thing to worry about.
(Rebecca is the president and executive director of The Ethel Fund
Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing assistance to family pets
in times of catastrophic veterinary need.
To learn more, please visit www.ethelfund.org or www.facebook.com/The
EthelFund. You may contact Rebecca at
rslindeman@ethelfund.org.)
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