The Pet Thread

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Yes. I’m on the fence about whether it’s worth it or not. We didn’t have it on the first 2 dogs and spent a fortune when they got older. We have it through Nationwide for the two we have now and expect they will continue to raise rates as they get older and we will still end up paying a fortune between insurance, deductibles and out of pocket costs. But we are giving it a shot.

There are annual caps on reimbursements and caps of reimbursements for certain costs and I think they have it set up to avoid a situation like human health insurance where claims can significantly exceed premiums. Generally, you also need to pay out of pocket and file claims to get reimbursement, which is a minor PiTA.

If you are considering it, you need to buy it before there are any pre-existing conditions or they will be excluded.

Yes, I think I remember reading about your expenses so I understand your concern.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I’ve seen some advertisements for it. I’m not interested in monthly payment medical insurance for my cat. She goes to the vet once a year. I’ll take my chances on anything else.

Pretty much the same here, I think. Ours is an older cat that sees the vet 1X or 2X/year depending upon vaccination dates. I'm good w/2X as she's 16½ now, and I don't mind her being seen more often in case it turns out to matter.

Fortunately, vets don't cost as much here as they did in New England and the Bay Area. We've only had one cat that cost us a fair amount out-of-pocket. I was perfectly fine spending it on her - pretty much in vain, as it turned out. I really hated losing that one.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Pretty much the same here, I think. Ours is an older cat that sees the vet 1X or 2X/year depending upon vaccination dates. I'm good w/2X as she's 16½ now, and I don't mind her being seen more often in case it turns out to matter.

Fortunately, vets don't cost as much here as they did in New England and the Bay Area. We've only had one cat that cost us a fair amount out-of-pocket. I was perfectly fine spending it on her - pretty much in vain, as it turned out. I really hated losing that one.

I had a 14yo cat with lymphoma that cost us a lot some years ago. Our current cat is 11 now and I expect there will be some expenses near the end of her life.

[leopard print]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

To all the pet owners here, do you have pet insurance?

I’ve had it for the 4 years I’ve had my little guy. Used it once for for procedures totaling around $1k I believe. Thinking about cancelling it since I’ve paid out way more than I’ve gotten back. But knowing my luck, once I cancel something major will happen

[JJ 911SC]

.

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

To all the pet owners here, do you have pet insurance?

Got it this past year for the first time through my wife's company. Sometimes a pain to get a claim paid...but has been worth it.

The Apoquel the white GSD requires is $160 a month alone...much less anything else that comes up.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Got it this past year for the first time through my wife's company. Sometimes a pain to get a claim paid...but has been worth it.

The Apoquel the white GSD requires is $160 a month alone...much less anything else that comes up.

Are you using the Apoquel for skin allergies / paw licking and biting? We have both dogs on it (much lower doses than a GSD, I presume) and find it is ok. First 10 days when they were on double dose, it worked really well. Still works better than nothing but does not solve the issues for us and wondering if it is worth it (even with insurance partial reimbursements).

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Are you using the Apoquel for skin allergies / paw licking and biting? We have both dogs on it (much lower doses than a GSD, I presume) and find it is ok. First 10 days when they were on double dose, it worked really well. Still works better than nothing but does not solve the issues for us and wondering if it is worth it (even with insurance partial reimbursements).

Exactly that...she's got a skin condition in her cootchie that requires it full time. We've tried many different items, but the Apoquel was the only item that worked. Licking and biting only makes it worse. She requires 2 pills a day, anything less and it comes right back. To help, this was a pre-existing, so there's no assistance from insurance on this one.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Exactly that...she's got a skin condition in her cootchie that requires it full time. We've tried many different items, but the Apoquel was the only item that worked. Licking and biting only makes it worse. She requires 2 pills a day, anything less and it comes right back. To help, this was a pre-existing, so there's no assistance from insurance on this one.

Have you ever tried a steroid shot? That has worked well on my cats when they get a hot spot from licking and scratching too much at an irritated area. It goes away and doesn't come back. Of course a "cootchie" problem could be different. lol

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Exactly that...she's got a skin condition in her cootchie that requires it full time. We've tried many different items, but the Apoquel was the only item that worked. Licking and biting only makes it worse. She requires 2 pills a day, anything less and it comes right back. To help, this was a pre-existing, so there's no assistance from insurance on this one.

We give the bigger one a 3.6 mg pill once a day and the other gets 1/2 of a 5.4 mg pill once a day. I guess I should feel fortunate that pill is covered by insurance for both dogs. The doggie dermatologist seems to get the best coverage from insurance so far. But I feel we will end up running into a reimbursement cap on it somewhere along the way.

[JerryW235]

One of our dogs was on Apoquel for a while, and Zoetis Petcare, the manufacturer has or at least had a rewards program you could use at the vet's pharmacy to reduce the cost of the next refill.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by JerryW235

One of our dogs was on Apoquel for a while, and Zoetis Petcare, the manufacturer has or at least had a rewards program you could use at the vet's pharmacy to reduce the cost of the next refill.

Thanks for the tip. ShopVac:

https://www.zoetispetcare.com/rewards

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Have you ever tried a steroid shot? That has worked well on my cats when they get a hot spot from licking and scratching too much at an irritated area. It goes away and doesn't come back. Of course a "cootchie" problem could be different. lol

I'd need to go back - this issue started 5 years ago and she's had several different goes as a treatment...worst being a steroid cream that needed to be directly applied (made the wife do it - though, I needed to hold her down).

I don't recall any shots offhand...but doesn't mean we didn't give it a go at one point. I don't know how long Apoquel has been around, but feel like we were a bit of a trial experiment with it (at least from our vet's point of view).

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Thanks for the tip. ShopVac:

https://www.zoetispetcare.com/rewards

I'll have the wifey look into this and see how it compares to the 1800 PetMeds thing we've been getting them from. Appreciated this...

And just for reference - ours takes 16mg pills - twice per day (32mg/day). Cost wise...just close my eyes on paying.

[EDWYER]

My boxador is getting bigger.

[JJ 911SC]

Happy Valentine Tiggie...

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

Happy Valentine Tiggie...

Help us here; is that Tiggie's tongue out all the way up to her nose?

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by dradernh

Help us here; is that Tiggie's tongue out all the way up to her nose?

Yes and I think I've seen a bit longer on other close encounter

[Lady Jane]

Husky paradise.

[JJ 911SC]

Mom will not be happy with you Tiggie...

[Dino GT]

Chi-Chi took the wife's scarf and was very happy with it until I saw it 😄

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Dino GT

Chi-Chi took the wife's scarf and was very happy with it until I saw it 😄

Nice to see The Ox Princess again, Dino. Pretty Kitty.

[Lady Jane]

I'm not lost; I'm just taking the scenic route.