Calling all vets... / insurance bods?

[Jenks]

Hi, We have just had bad news from our vets following a recent string of bad luck with the dog.

We took out insurance when i went away to germany for 2 weeks leaving the dog with my mum, within this time, she started to show weird symptoms of pain, and wouldent do anything, just sit on the floor, wouldent go up stairs, wouldent jump, wouldent get on the sofa. So my mum took her to the vets. We have had xrays and it turns out she has had Hip Dysplacia, and its so seveer the only real option left is a double hip replacement..
Does anybody know about the costs for this type of treatment on a cocker spaniel? Where would we stand with insurance, as we are not sure if we can afford it if the insurance decide not.

*Insurance does state that there must be no clear clinical signs before 2 weeks of taking out insurance, and she only started acting differently about 3 days after this 2 weeks..*


Anybody shed any light?! Any experiances!? Were at a serious loss here, as we are not sure if we could afford it if the insurance wont pay.
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1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[stinkwheel]

It is really fucking expensive to do billateral hip replacements. (maybe £3-4,000 for both).

I can't see how it could possibly have gone from asymptomatic to requiring a billateral hip replacement in two weeks. I suspect an insurance company would feel the same way.

Hip dysplasia is there the hip joint is poorly shaped for fitting together. Over time this leads to osteoarthritis.

It strikes me you have a fairly young dog in that you were able to insure her.

Are you certain the vets recommended hip replacements or did they say the only way to FIX the problem would be hip replacements. I would consider it a more normal thing to manage the problem medically.

Obviously I can't directly comment as I haven't seen the dog. My concern would be they are possibly trying to milk your insurance or that one of their vets has recently learned to do hip replacements and wants a go.

I have never seen a cocker spaniel with severe hip dysplasia and have never seen a small breed dog needing a hip replacement.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Jenks]

i can only go on from what ive been told so far, But apparently hip dysplasia is a genetic problem in cockers?
the vets have even said that you often dont see anything when there is a symptom because your with the dog everyday. and some dogs dont show any symptoms untill in severe discomfort or pain.

as i said, we only noticed when she suddenly stopped jumping up on the sofa.

were going to the vets tonight to see kizzii and the Xrays and can only go from there.

Its just a frigging pain that everything seems to fall into place- ie insurance + Claim.
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi

[stinkwheel]

I suspect there has probably been some misunderstanding.

You couldn't FIX hip dysplasia other than by hip replacement as it is the shape the dog was born with. You would usually attempt to manage the arthritis caused by dysplasia with a combination of rest, weight loss if necessary, dietary supplements and pain killer/anti-inflammatory drugs.

There is a genetic componant to hip dysplasia. I wouldn't say cocker spaniels are regarded as particularly bad for it in general. Hip shape and size can be scored in dogs intended for breeding by looking at x-rays. They give a score between 0 (perfect) and 106 (how the hell is it still walking?). 745 cocker spaniels have been tested with a mean score of 14, roughly the same score as working sheepdogs.

I would discuss all the options with your vet. If you don't understand something, ask.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Jenks]

Aparently the reason why she has said that is because the actual ball and cup on the hip have actually gone so far and changed shape.
____________________
1978 MZ TS 250 1 Supa 5
1992 yamaha fzr1000 exup
1998 aprilia af1 sintesi