A 4 year old female Dachshund, Tasha, was found one evening shaking and crying on the basement stairs. Her pet parents could not make her comfortable and her crying persisted, distressing everyone involved. Over the next couple of days, Tasha showed symptoms of acute onset of pain and whining, she would not climb stairs, jump or play, and had a decreased appetite - she was not herself at all.
The first emergency visit resulted in a prescription for inflammation but this course of treatment did not help very much. Her pet parents knew something more serious was going on and a subsequent visit to her regular vet assured them that Tasha needed to see a specialist where she was diagnosed as having a Intervertebral Disk Herniation. The specialist performed at hemilaminectomy about a week later to resolve the disk herniation (this procedure creates a surgical "sunroof" out of the bone overlying the spinal cord and removes the herniated disc material, relieving pressure on the spinal cord.)
Since her surgery, Tasha has healed very well, and the long scar on her back is slowly being covered by soft, shiny, long black hair again. She was in a lot of pain when she first came home, but she is a happy, frolicking camper now.
Cost of surgery and the related care to date: $4,825.51
Reimbursement: $3,700.42 The annual deductible and co-pay percentage make up the pet owner’s out of pocket expenses.
Policy details:
Annual Premium: $348.70 including a spay/neuter discount of 5% and microchip discount of 5%.
Policy choices made: $200 per year deductible; 20% copay; $10,000 annual maximum; the drugs and dental extension was selected; continuing care extension was selected
Quote from Tasha's pet parents:
Thanks so much for your prompt attention to our claim. She is our baby, and to see her suffer, or to lose her prematurely would have devastated us. Tell the world what a sweet-tempered and loving little creature she is.
Embrace Note: Apart from her wonderful temperament, we have it on good authority that Tasha has the fastest tongue in the West when it comes to kissing. We're glad to bring the kisses back, Tasha.
