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Lungworm, slugs and slug-bait – considering the risks
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Lungworm, slugs and slug-bait – considering the risks

By admin On April 26, 2013 - Comments

What is lungworm?

‘Lungworm’  – a life-threatening parasite in dogs – has been attracting a great deal of attention in the veterinary press over the last decade, but has been previously regarded as a problem limited to the southern part of the UK. Since its recognition in the UK more than 30 years ago, lungworm has been spreading throughout the UK and northern Europe. This change in distribution is, at least in part, due to a changing climate and we do indeed see this at Northwest Surgeons.

Lungworm may go undiagnosed until severe life-threatening signs develop – dogs may be infected for months before developing clinical signs and may then die within hours of showing signs of illness.

The scientific name for dog lungworm is Angiostrongylus vasorum – but other lungworms exist in other species. Looks pretty nasty, doesn’t it?

Angiostrongylus is contracted by the dog eating a slug or snail harbouring lungworm larvae.

The larvae then migrate through the body to reach the major blood vessel between the heart and the lungs (pulmonary artery). Here the larvae mature to adults and lay eggs. The eggs hatch to immature larvae which migrate into the lung tissue and are coughed up and swallowed. The larvae end up in the dog’s faeces, to be ingested by other slugs and snails. Click here to view the lifecycle. 

What problems can lungworm cause?

Cough, coughing blood, breathing problems

Lethargy

Heart failure

Collapse

Sudden death

Which dogs are at risk?

The majority of dogs affected are young dogs, but we have diagnosed cases in mature and elderly dogs. As slugs and snails are fairly ubiquitous, most dogs are potentially at risk. Studies show that very few infective larvae are found in the slugs’ or snails’ slime trails, but a puddle contaminated with a dead slug may contain huge numbers of larvae.

Dogs may inadvertently or intentionally ingest slugs or snails. Many of the dogs that we have diagnosed have not been seen by their owner to eat slugs or snails.

How is lungworm diagnosed?

The initial suspicion is based upon the clinical signs, but x-rays, heart scan, blood tests, blood clotting tests and faecal examination for parasites (Baermann examination) will form part of the diagnostic work-up.

Can lungworm be treated?

With early diagnosis, lungworm can be cured with no lasting permanent damage. Unfortunately, significant damage may already have occurred by the time of diagnosis.

Can lungworm be prevented?

Preventing exposure to slugs and snails is difficult, but a monthly spot-on treatment is available to prevent lungworm. The treatment should be used year-round but is particularly important during periods of high snail and slug activity.

What about eliminating slugs and snails?

The most common slug bait – metaldehyde – is extremely toxic to pets and we would not recommend using this.

Use some safer alternatives:

-       Encourage natural slug and snail predators such as hedgehogs or birds.

-       Buy ‘Nemaslug’ – a live nematode worm that kills slugs

-       Place non-toxic slug traps – either homemade or proprietary

-       Adhesive copper tape around pots to protect the plants.

What should I do now to protect my dog?

Discuss lungworm prevention – along with other parasite control measures – with your veterinary surgeon. The licensed preventative spot-on is a prescription medication – it cannot be bought in supermarkets or pet stores.

You will still need to use a regular dewormer in tablet form.

 

 

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New Year 2013 Party
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New Year, New Blog!

By admin On January 8, 2013 - Comments

With the New Year well underway you may be left pondering your resolutions. Right across the scope of what life throws at us there are things we wish to do better, things we’d like to learn. Where specialist veterinary advice is concerned, let our blog ‘On the pulse’ help you.

The Northwest Surgeons blog is designed to help you, the pet owner and aims to be a reliable source of veterinary advice. Have a look yourself and you will see the wide range of topics we tackle from infection control and MRSA right through to the ins and outs of veterinary specialisation. We all love a behind the scenes tour. That’s why our blog and our website are both full of photos and case studies. We want you to see the work that goes on behind the scenes in achieving our goal of providing the very best to your pet.

At Northwest Surgeons we are much like the consultants of the veterinary world. If your dog or cat needs specialist care, your vet can refer you and your pet to us, much as your GP would refer you to a consultant at your local hospital. So yes, we deal with complicated cases day in day out – but some seemingly complicated cases could have been avoided with simple veterinary care.

You should never overlook the importance of routine worming and vaccination. Five years ago, lungworm (Angiostrongylus) was rare in the north west of England. Nowadays this disease, which can prove fatal, is becoming a more frequent diagnosis. Dogs and cats should both be wormed at least every 3 months with a good quality wormer purchased from your vet. Don’t be tempted to accept a cheaper supermarket brand – it is cheap for a reason. Parasites are incredibly good at evolving ways to become resistance to wormers so an inferior product may leave your pet vulnerable to disease. The first noticeable sign of lungworm in your dog could be as obvious as a cough but this horrible disease is not always caught in the early stages and our internal medicine specialists have all dealt with fatal cases.

One of the worms which infects dogs, Toxocara canis, can be dangerous to infants. If eggs of this worm are ingested by children, the eggs become larvae and migrate through the body. If these larvae reach the eyes, the result can be blindness. This is one major reason why dogs are kept out of children’s play areas in parks and away from beaches where children play. If you are a dog owner with young children it is imperative that you worm your dog. In dogs it is rare to see external evidence of worms (I wish I had £1 for every time I heard an owner tell me there’s no way their dog has worms! We’ve all seen the way dogs lick one another!)

Thanks to widespread vaccination many diseases, which previously affected dogs are rarely seen. This is truer for dogs, Distemper for example. In cats, the diseases that we vaccinate against are still prevalent (cat flu and feline leukaemia) due to the fact that there are more wild cats than dogs and people are less likely to vaccinate their cats.  In dogs, parvovirus and leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) are two diseases that are still seen daily by vets in certain areas of the UK and we should no way become complacent. Dogs and cats should be vaccinated every 12 months – ask your vet for more details.

Parvovirus is a major cause of dysentery-type diarrhoea in puppies – there is no specific treatment and this highly contagious disease can prove fatal. (If you are on Twitter you can sign up for parvo alerts in your area).

Leptospirosis is a challenging disease because there are many types (serovars) of this disease and it can even affect dogs that are vaccinated – this is because it is impossible to vaccinate against every different variation. It causes liver and kidney failure and is also transmissible to people.

Are you reading this looking at your pet, thinking they need to join you in the New Year dieting? Like in man, obesity in dogs and cats is getting worse. Fat pets suffer from similar problems to obese people such as diabetes and arthritis. It’s official – quality of life improves when obese pets lose weight! Your local vet nurse will happily advise you on the best way to trim those pounds from your pet – first thing to do: zero tolerance on treats!

If all of this is leaving you a little concerned about the cost of maintaining your pet, have you thought about insurance? It may surprise you that many vets and nurses insure their own pets. That’s because when something goes wrong, we all want the very best. And there is no NHS for pets. Yes, veterinary specialist care is not cheap, but neither is private medical care.

Our advice is to insure your pet. But, like everything in life, you get what you pay for. Look for a policy that covers a condition for life – if your dog suffers with diabetes, a lifelong condition, what’s the use in a policy that stops paying after one year? So how much cover do you need? If your dog or cat gets hit by a car and needs specialist treatment the bill is likely to be several thousands of pounds. There are many £2000 policies on the market, but these may leave you short, so aim for at least £4000 per condition, per year. For more detail see our blog on pet insurance. Warning – if it’s cheap there’s a reason why. Every month we deal with clients who thought they were adequately covered with a good policy. Ask your vet who they insure their pets with!

Maybe your aim for 2013 is a little training for your best friend? For great advice on dog training see our link to the Blue Cross

Whatever you decide for 2013, make a resolution to check back on our blogs and see what we’ve been up to! Happy New Year!

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It’s Movember!
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It’s Movember!

By admin On November 9, 2012 - Comments

In true charitable spirit, the gentlemen of Northwest Surgeons are growing and taming moustaches in support of Movember. Essentially, we are having fun!

The idea of Movember was born in Melbourne, Australia  and has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. Last year saw over 800,000 Mo Bros taking part with the aim of educating men and increasing awareness about men’s health.

Funds raised through sponsorship in the UK go in part to programmes run directly by Movember as well as Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research. Movember aims to support a broad range of innovative, world-class programmes in line with strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.

The Rules

Once registered at movember.com each Mo Bro must begin the 1st of Movember with a clean shaven face. For the entire month each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache. There is to be no joining of the mo to the sideburns (that’s considered a beard), there’s to be no joining of the handlebars to the chin (that’s considered a goatee) and each Mo Bro must conduct himself like a true gentleman.

A Mo Sista is essentially a woman who loves a Mo. An individual that is dedicated to supporting the Mo Bros in her life through their moustache growing journey; whether it be a friend, colleague, family meMo Kittymber or partner. These inspirational women are committed to raising awareness of men’s health issues and much needed funds for men’s health along the way. Check out our Mo Sistas!

As well as Mo Sistas we even have Mo Pets! Look at this gorgeous kitty seen at NWS this week and his great Mo!

For all the latest on Movember see http://uk.movember.com/

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Heart Beats
Feature, General

The latest findings from cardiology

By admin On June 14, 2012 - Comments

In the world of cardiology, clinical trials continue to aim to answer some of the important clinical questions we have.  Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle which affects certain breeds of dogs.

The results of the PROTECT study were presented at the recent International Cardiology Veterinary Symposium.  This was a double-blinded placebo-controlled randomised multicentre trial that screened Dobermann pinschers for preclinical DCM.  If affected, they were randomised to receive pimobendan or placebo and followed to signs of heart failure or sudden death.  The placebo group had a mean time to endpoint of 441 days while those on pimobendan was 718 days, a significant difference in survival times.

The cardiology service at Northwest Surgeons is delighted to be able offer a screening service for those dogs that might be affected by DCM.  DCM is a disease where the heart muscle becomes dilated and poorly contractile.  There is usually a long asymptomatic phase were the dogs may have changes on echocardiography (heart scan) but are outwardly normal.  Eventually, the signs of heart failure become apparent, typically exercise intolerance, breathlessness and collapse.  Unfortunately, once heart failure develops, the average life expectancy is 9 -12 months.  It is typically seen in large and giant breed dogs.

Screening dogs involves a visit to Northwest Surgeons and a stay of a few hours.  An electrocardiogram (ECG) is performed, usually with the dogs lying on their side for a few minutes.  An echocardiogram (heart scan) is also performed with the dogs lying down on a table.  A detailed echocardiogram allows us to evaluate the heart structure and function to see if the heart is affected by DCM.  In addition, an idea of the severity of the disease can be made.  The measurements are difficult to obtain accurately, and as a result, a specialist should perform these examinations.  Sedation is not required for the procedure although small patches of hair may need to be shaved on the chest.

The good news for owners is that once we have been able to identify affected dogs, we can delay the onset of failure by starting them on a drug called pimobendan.  This drug improves contractility and eases the workload of the heart.  The tablets need to be given twice daily on an empty stomach but are very palatable.  Very few side effects are seen.  A recent trial, the PROTECT study, showed that time to the onset of heart failure was nearly doubled by the administration of pimobendan.  The cardiologist at Northwest Surgeons, Simon Swift, was involved in the early stages of this trial.

Dogs that should be screened include dogs that are from breeds typically affected by the disease, DCM.  Boxers, Dobermann pinschers, great Danes and Irish wolfhounds are the most commonly affected breeds.  However it can occur in any large or giant breed.  There are no outward signs but the local veterinary surgeon may detect an abnormal heart sound such as a murmur or gallop.  In addition, an irregular rhythm may also suggest the disease is present and warrant further evaluation.

If a dog is affected re-evaluation is recommended in 6 months to see if the disease has progressed.  For dogs that are unaffected at the time of examination, repeat examination in 12 months may be indicated if the dog is less than 8 years old.

 

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stent
Feature, General

Tracheal stents – a management option for tracheal collapse

By admin On May 4, 2012 - Comments

Tracheal (windpipe) collapse is characterised by the dorsoventral (top to bottom) flattening of the tracheal rings with a laxity of the dorsal tracheal membrane. It is thought there is an intrinsic weakness of the tracheal rings, resulting from a reduction in glycoprotein and glycosaminoglycan content of the hyaline cartilage of the tracheal rings. There is a reduced capacity of the cartilage to retain water and this consequently diminishes the rigidity of the rings. The syndrome causes dogs to cough with varying degrees of breathing difficulty. Clinical signs of this condition can be seen in young adults through to older toy or miniature breeds, with the Yorkshire Terrier the commonest breed seen with this problem. Any section of the trachea can collapse, a common region being the thoracic inlet, where the neck meets the thorax (chest). Once signs of coughing have developed, the syndrome of tracheal collapse is perpetuated by the cycle of chronic inflammation of the tracheal mucosa (lining).

Treatment should always start with medical therapies used singularly or in combination, such as the use of anti-inflammatories, anti-tussive (cough suppressants), short courses of antibiotics or bronchodilators. Patients should always be exercised using a harness and dogs carrying excess weight should be encouraged to reduce their body condition. For the majority of dogs the medical management alone is enough to control their clinical signs. However, tracheal collapse is a progressive condition and for some dogs their breathing difficulty is severe and quality of life poor even with all the medical treatments on board.

Is there any other option of management?

YES – for those dogs that have exhausted medical managements, at Northwest Surgeons we have the ‘know-how’ and technology to place self expanding tracheal stents. The stents are made of nickel and titanium and are delivered by a thin catheter system directly into the trachea using fluoroscopy (real-time x-ray imaging). Measurements are taken prior to stent placement to determine the tracheal lumen size and length of collapse. The stents are made by Infinti Medical in the US and are shipped to Northwest Surgeons within a week. So, no surgery required, very short anaesthesia time and often home the same day.

A stent immediately restores an open lumen to the collapsed section of the trachea. The patient can breath easily. Some patients will still have a cough as there are irreversible changes within the tracheal lining and some do require more long term medications to reduce inflammation. However, most patients with stents placed can partake again in the day to day activities they have not be able to do for years and can cope with situations that stimulate excitement without the constant worry to owners of a life threatening respiratory crisis.

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General

Veterinary Nursing in focus

By admin On March 26, 2012 - Comments

A common comment when I explain to people that I am a Qualified Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN), is, “that’s amazing”, and then I listen to the perception that I play with puppies and kittens for the majority of my working day!  I would love to say an element of that is true however there is much more involvement in my daily role as a RVN.  It is very common for clients to know how long the Veterinary Surgeons’ training is.  It is however uncommon for clients to understand the content and length of the Veterinary Nursing qualification including our options for further qualifications.

The Veterinary Nursing qualification currently involves two years of difficult studying with practical examinations, oral examinations and written examinations to qualify as a RVN.  It is then common for newly qualified nurses to work alongside the Veterinary Surgeon normally in first opinion veterinary practices to gain experience and become more confident as a newly qualified nurse.

Another option that Veterinary Nurses can undertake is specialising in certain subject areas such as Medical Nursing, Radiography or Anaesthesia.  The nurse would have to ideally work alongside specialist Veterinary Surgeons and partake in research and submit case reports to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to obtain the Higher Education Clinical Veterinary Nursing and Advanced Veterinary Nursing Diploma.

This involves two and a half years of intensive study, submitting case studies, oral examinations, practical examinations, written examinations and a final written dissertation with an additional examination.  This qualification is recommended and recognised by the RCVS and results in the Veterinary Nurse achieving a specialist qualification.  It is considered by the RCVS the highest clinical nursing qualification available to Veterinary Nurses at this current time and is a great achievement to gain.

In the past Veterinary Nurses were never accountable for their actions or negligence if such occurred – this always fell with the Veterinary Surgeon. However recent improvements to the Veterinary Nursing profession has included Veterinary Nurses having their very own governing body and as a result RVN’s are now accountable for their actions, similar to that of Veterinary Surgeons.  An addition to the title Veterinary Nurse has been established and newly qualified nurses are now titled Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) and must perform continuing professional development (CPD) regularly to remain on the RVN register which is monitored by the RCVS.

There are a wide range of CPD courses for RVNs to keep up to date and learn new techniques from anaesthesia to surgical nursing and oncology to dermatology so you can rest assured we never stop learning!

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nose
General

Airway obstruction, can surgery help?

By admin On March 8, 2012 - Comments

Bulldogs and Pugs are two brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds that unfortunately suffer with breathing problems due to excessive soft tissue in their mouths and a narrowing of various components of their airways. Bulldogs and Pugs are usually very friendly in nature and are lovely to have as pets but they are often unable to engage in  normal family activities due to the compromise of their upper airways. Exertion, particularly in hot weather can result in extreme difficulty in breathing ( dyspnoea) and collapse.

The usual problem areas are :

The nasal apertures (openings)  are often stenotic ( narrowed). So the patient’s initial ability to draw air into the nostrils is reduced. Currently in the soft tissue surgery department at Northwest Surgeons, we would advise that a lateral wedge resection is performed to widen the nasal apertures. A triangular wedge is removed from the side of the each nostril. The wound bed created is sutured to create a wider opening. The sutures placed are small, soft and dissolvable.

The soft palate is often over long and dangles over the top of the epiglottis and into the airway, obstructing airflow. The soft palate is a muscular structure that should contract and shorten, allowing the epiglottis to flip upwards and protect the opening of the airway (glottis). Surgery is advised to shorten an overlong soft palate so that the ‘new’ edge is level with the back end of the tonsils. At Northwest Surgeons we perform a staged cutting of the excess soft palate tissue and meticulously over sow the cut edge using a dissolvable suture material.

The laryngeal saccules are two fleshy balloons of airway lining near the vocal chords that evert and obstruct the opening of the airway (glottis) if there is excessive friction in air movement. In the brachycephalic breeds there is often a lot of constant airway friction, a high pressure gradient as the patient tries to draw the air past the larynx into the windpipe. The saccules can spend most of their time everted and swell with oedema (fluid), which for some individuals means that the aperture of their airway is reduced in size by 50%. We would recommend that the everted saccules are removed surgically.

Hypoplasia of the trachea is yet another additional condition that can hamper the breathing efforts, particularly in bulldogs. This is a congenital condition and is characterized by a significant narrowing along the entire length of the trachea. This causes yet more resistance to airflow when the dogs breathe in and out. This condition cannot be corrected surgically.

Recovery from airway surgery is a time for vigilance and careful preparation by our specialist in anaesthesia, Matthew Gurney. Our patients have a smooth transition from the endotracheal tube delivering oxygen to a laryngeal mask. This enables oxygen delivery for a longer period during recovery and can be safely removed as the patient becomes more conscious. Surgery to the upper airway, not matter how meticulous can cause localised swelling which could lead to temporary airway obstruction . It is therefore vital that provision is always made for an emergency tracheostomy, though it is very rarely required. Airway patients at Northwest Surgeons, always stay hospitalised the night of the surgery so that they can be regularly monitored and the surgeon is on hand should a problem arise.

What happens if patients do not have surgical correction of the above problem areas?

The constant increased respiratory effort and low airway pressures may cause the laryngeal ( voice box) cartilages to tire and lose their rigidity. The cartilages become floppy and scroll inwards, the patient can develop a progressive collapse of their larynx.

At Northwest Surgeons we feel that the vast majority of our brachycephalic patients do benefit from  corrective surgical procedures. They will always have excessive upper airway noise despite surgery but we hope  that the removal of some of the obstructive  tissues enables these lovely pets to enjoy  a more full and active life style.

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Feature, General

My cat cannot wee!

By admin On February 24, 2012 - Comments

Does your cat sit on the litter tray for ages but not actually pass any urine?

Does your cat make frequent trips to the litter tray but only pass a small amount?

Does your cat vocalise whilst urinating?

Does your cat have blood in its urine?

If your cat is showing any of these signs then he or she may be struggling to urinate.

This can be a life threatening situation and veterinary attention should always be sought. The main reason for an inability to urinate normally is a blocked or partially blocked urethra – the tube that links the bladder to the outside. Cats with complete urethral blockage require urgent treatment to relieve the blockage – this is one of the big feline emergencies to be aware of as a cat owner.

For more information on medical management of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) click here to link to the next blog.

Despite medical management some cats still form enough crystals to make a ‘plug/stone’ which blocks the urethra, causing ongoing misery to the cat in their attempts to pass urine. For those cats with stones stuck in their urethra, further investigation and possibly surgery is necessary.

Often under sedation the lodged stone can be dislodged back into the bladder with flushing via a catheter which is inserted into the urethra. Sometimes the catheter is left in place for a few days for the urethral inflammation to settle. In the meantime the urine is analysed to see if there is infection and /or crystals present.

The dislodged stone that is now back in the bladder may be dissolved slowly with the use of the correct prescription die. Not all cats require a cystostomy (surgical opening of the bladder) to remove the offending stones but in some cases this is essential. For any stones that cannot be dislodged from the urethra or in cats with frequent reoccurrence of obstruction, surgery is required.

A perineal urethrostomy (removal of the penis and part of the urethra) would be the procedure of choice for obstructive episodes affecting the penile urethra. The aim of this surgery is to remove the penile urethra, which is a very narrow tube in order to prevent any stones becoming lodged and to make a new opening for urine to pass through. A new aperture, a much wider opening to the urethra is created surgically.This allows any debris/crystals/stones to pass without obstructing the urethra and also enables a good flow of urine to be voided.The patients do not require indwelling urethral catheters following surgery and they do not experience urinary incontinence. A perineal urethrostomy can be an extremely successful procedure, giving a large number of cats long lasting relief from their obstructed urethra.

 

Important points in the treatment of FLUTD

  • Observe your cats urination
  • Feed the correct prescription diet
  • Promote water intake
  • Administer GAG supplements
  • Reduce stress

Remember if you see your cat struggling to urinate then seek veterinary attention immediately.

 

 

 

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My cat still can’t wee! (part 2!)
General

My cat still can’t wee! (part 2!)

By admin On February 24, 2012 - Comments

FLUTD (Feline lower urinary tract disease) is a common problem which can cause distress and misery in cats if not treated correctly. For the first blog on this theme, click here.

Uroliths (crystals) can be found in any age of cat. It is more common with overweight male neutered cats that are kept indoors but can occur in females too. Some cats such as Burmese, Himalayan and Persian breeds can be very prone to having uroliths. The common forms of crystals found in the bladder are struvite and calcium oxalate.

The majority of cats can be controlled on a special diet and medication to help prevent crystal formation in the bladder. The diets available are specially formulated and designed to produce moderately acidic urine, control the content of minerals in the urine and increase the amount or urine produced. These foods are available in a wet and dry form.

There are also medications available called (GAG) supplements (Glycosaminoglycan) which aim to restore the protective mucosal layer (thin layer of mucus) within the bladder wall. Cats with FLUTD can often have chronic cystitis and haematuria (blood in the urine) which can lead to the breakdown of the bladder’s mucosal barrier resulting in inflammation, dysuria (difficulty urinating) and increased permeability of the bladder lining. GAG supplements can be very useful and of huge benefit to cats with FLUTD and are part of the long term management of FLUTD.

Stress can also be an important factor and can influence the recurrence of FLUTD signs in cats so should also be considered when treating FLUTD.

Cats don’t like:

  • Overcrowding
  • Changes in diet
  • Changes in environment
  • Changes in weather
  • Owner stress
  • Introduction of new pets or people.

All these points should be considered when treating a cat with FLUTD. Certain points to remember are:

  • Provide a secluded place for the litter tray
  • Place litter trays away from feeding areas
  • Provide extra litter trays with different types of litter
  • Ensure the litter trays are cleaned regularly
  • Provide escape/hiding zones around the house so the cats can get away from other cats or people
  • Provide play time and owner interaction time
  • Use pheromone sprays

For cats with FLUTD it is important to promote water intake. This can be difficult with cats especially if they go outside a lot as it can be hard to observe their drinking habits.

Some other things to try to promote and encourage drinking are:

  • Cat water fountains
  • Prawn water/stock
  • Ice cubes with fish in etc
  • Water bowls with a wide diameter as cats don’t like getting their whiskers wet!
  • Extra bowls of water around the house

 

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Feature, General

Choosing an insurance policy

By admin On February 7, 2012 - Comments

Of the cases we see at Northwest Surgeons, 95% of these are insured for veterinary fees. Like everything in life, you get what you pay for. Even the insurance companies say this! So how do you know which insurance policy to choose for your dog or cat?

NEWSFLASH

Lloyds TSB and Halifax have pulled out of the pet insurance market. This has left many consumers stranded. If your pet has an on going condition covered which has already been subject to an insurance claim you probably will not be able to get cover for this on a new policy. 

The best insurance policies will of course be more expensive, but choosing a cheaper policy could leave you with inadequate cover or no cover at all. So where do you start?

The question how much can you afford can be viewed many ways! Firstly, work out how much can you afford per month for an insurance policy. Then check the policy limit. Consider what happens if you reach the limit on your insurance policy. Many people don’t realise that there may be a gap between what the insurance will pay out and the vet bill, and because there is no NHS for pets it will be you left to pick up this amount.

How much cover do you need?

Insurance policy limits vary from £500 to £12000. The days of limitless policies are gone.

Bills for specialist veterinary treatment can be somewhere between £2000-5000 so this gives you an idea of where to start, but bear in mind that certain conditions can be more than this.

In recent years there has been an increase in cheaper insurance policies and of course, at the same time veterinary fees are increasing. In many cases this is leaving a bigger gap between what the insurance covers and what the client has to pay. If your cover limit is £2000 and your vet bill is £4500 you need to find £2500 out of your own pocket.

What is an excess?

Most policies will have an excess. This is an amount, usually around £70-£100 which you have to pay yourself when you make a claim – so really it is not worth claiming on your insurance unless the bill is over this amount. The older the pet, the higher the excess will be. Some policies also require that you pay a percentage of the claim, usually 10-20%, although this is more common with older animals. Beware on a £3000 bill this will be £300.

How long will the insurance pay out for a condition?

Dogs and cats diagnosed with diabetes will need lifelong insulin treatment, to pick an example. The cheaper policies will only pay out for a year, so if you need the reassurance of lifelong cover make sure you get the right policy. Don’t make the mistake of picking the cheapest online policy. Phone the company and discuss your needs to make sure you fully understand what you are buying. And read the small print.

What is pre-authorisation?

Many private medical insurers insist on pre-authorising claims. This is a slick process whereby you are assured that your insurance will pay for your private healthcare. Some pet insurers request pre-authorisation for certain claims but the process is rarely a well-oiled one and can delay your pet’s treatment. It is not uncommon for our clients to have to wait several hours for this. Check when you buy a policy whether the company ask for pre-authorisations.

What not to do!

Cancel your policy – all of us have seen clients who, having never claimed on their policy decided to cancel it, only for the worse to happen and the pet become ill. Only do this if you can afford to pick up any subsequent bills!

How we can help you

If you are referred to Northwest Surgeons for specialist treatment, for certain insurance companies we will process the claim for you and the insurance company will pay us direct (known as a direct claim). This saves you having to pay us first and then claim back the money yourself. We do not do this for all companies because some have poor reputations for paying claims. (Although we would like to tell you which companies to avoid this is not particularly professional!) We have a dedicated Claims Manager to process claims and communicate with the insurers which is why we levy a small fee for doing so. You must provide us with your certificate of insurance and sign a direct claim agreement which allows us to act on your behalf to make the claim.

So think carefully when buying pet insurance and check exactly what you are paying for and what is not covered. If in doubt, ask your vet.

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