One of the more horrifying conditions that can occur in dogs (typically in larger dogs) is gastric torsion, also known as bloat or gastric dilatation volvulus (in cats, a saddle thrombus is equally as sudden and actually more lethal, with very little that can be done for the cat).
You can spot it when your dog goes from being a happy and healthy pet not particularly doing anything unusual to a sick dog wretching and suddenly bloating around the midriff. If you see these symptoms, do not pass go, do not collect your $200 - go straight to the vet immediately.
Here's an example of Lucy, a 10 year old standard poodle who was minding her own doggy business, when she suddenly started to behave oddly, becoming very restless and pacing around.
Within an hour, she started to vomit although nothing came up. That's when her owners became very concerned and rushed her to the emergency vet in Boulder Colorado for immediate treatment of a 360 degree twisting of her stomach.
Here are the costs associated with Lucy's treatment:
| DATE | ITEM | BILLED AMOUNT |
| 8/7/2009 | CBC/Chem | $191.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Lactate Test | $ 36.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | IV Catheter | $ 89.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | 1st L Normosol | $ 65.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Addl L Normosol | $ 38.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Ketamine, Lidocaine and Morphine i | $ 85.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Metoclopramide/Reglan 5mg/ml | $ 29.50 |
| 8/7/2009 | Cefazolin Injection | $ 30.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Famotidine Inj | $ 36.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Electrocardiogram Lead II | $ 45.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | PCV/TP (repeats) | $ 21.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | PCV/TP (repeats) | $ 21.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Hospitalization Level 2 | $157.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Radiograph 3 plates | $180.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Examination | $ 90.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | CBC | $ 0.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Anesthesia (Inhalant-1st hr) | $149.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Anesthesia Monitoring | $ 46.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Anesthesia Monitoring Technician | $ 37.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Gastric Torsion Repair/Gastropexy | $767.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | OR Disposables | $114.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Surgery Room Use | $ 36.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Pack Fee -Major | $ 57.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Medical Progress Exam | $ 0.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | IV Fluids Infusion Pump | $ 14.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | IV fluids Each Addl 100ml | $ 0.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | EKG's in hosp, Monitor | $ 29.46 |
| 8/7/2009 | Cephalexin500mg Qty 14 | $ 16.54 |
| 8/7/2009 | Carafate 1gram Qty 15 | $ 19.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Rimadyl 75mg Qty 7 | $ 0.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Packed Cell Volume | $ 29.49 |
| 8/7/2009 | Tramadol 50mg Qty 20 | $ 15.85 |
| 8/7/2009 | Antibiotic Injection | $ 46.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Anti-Nausea Injection | $ 45.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Oral Medications | $ 6.75 |
| 8/7/2009 | Daytime Hospitalization | $ 42.50 |
| 8/7/2009 | Hospitalization | $ 125.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Cefazolin Injection | $ 60.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Oral Medications | $ 24.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Addl L Normosol | $ 38.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Famotidine Inj | $ 36.00 |
| 8/7/2009 | Tax | $ 2.54 |
| Total | $2,869.63 |
Lucy's policy paid out $2,446.42 of the $2,869.63 vet bill since she had a $100 annual deductible, a 10% copay and the take home drug coverage was not included.
Since Lucy was an older dog when her policy was taken out, she was only eligible for accident-only coverage butsince Embrace considers bloat not an illness and therefore an "accident", her treatment was covered by her $13.95 a month policy.
Thank goodness for that, don't you think?
