Embrace Pet Insurance Blog

Happy Cinco de Mayo from Embrace Pet Insurance

Couldn't resist - Happy Cinco de Mayo from Embrace... and Stella, an Embraced bulldog.

How Much Did You Say Surgery to Remove a Swallowed Foreign Object Cost?

In our experience, anywhere from $1,600 to $4,300 (even without surgery, costs range from $300 - $1,200)

Here's an example of emergency surgery and 2 additional hospital days to remove undergarments from a 2 year old mixed breed dog in Cleveland, Ohio (December 2008.)

The total cost for this surgery was $2,406.51 - I'd hate to think how much it would have cost in NY City or LA (at least $1,000 more).

DATE	ITEM	BILLED AMOUNT
Day 1	VSS CBC/Profile UA	$          0.00
Day 1	Sampling Fee	$       14.00
Day 1	Biohazard Fee	$          3.00
Day 1	CBC/Profile	$     100.20
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	VSS Exam Only	$          0.00
Day 1	OVSN SLP Exam	$       65.00
Day 1	VSS Soft Tissue	$          0.00
Day 1	IV Catheter	$       23.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       33.00
Day 1	Extension Set	$          7.00
Day 1	Anesthesia	$       69.00
Day 1	Large Suture Pack	$     168.00
Day 1	Suction	$       15.00
Day 1	Electrocaut	$       15.00
Day 1	Skin Staple	$       38.00
Day 1	ICU Cage Fee	$       82.00
Day 1	Intensive Nursing	$       22.00
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 1	Perisurgical Monitoring	$       51.00
Day 1	Technician - Anes	$       89.00
Day 1	Surgical Drape Pack	$       47.00
Day 1	Duragesic 100mcg	$     100.46
Day 1	Duragesic 50mcg	$       52.20
Day 1	Enterotomy	$     859.95
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       92.00
Day 1	Medications	$       38.00
Day 2	Fluid Therapy	$       69.00
Day 2	Oral Medication	$       17.00
Day 2	Medications Inj	$       57.00
Day 2	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Day 2	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 3	Daily Case Management	$       36.70
Day 3	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Total		$  2,406.51

We paid out $1,715.86 on this claim as the pet parent had selected a $500 annual deductible, 10% copay with a $10,000 annual maximum. The policy's annual premium for this pet (there are 3 dogs on the policy) is $197.10.

As you can see, it's not a good idea to leave your undies out where your dog might find them :s

In our experience, anywhere from $1,600 to $4,300 (even without surgery, costs range from $300 - $1,200)

Here's an example of emergency surgery and 2 additional hospital days to remove undergarments from a 2 year old mixed breed dog in Cleveland, Ohio (December 2008.)

The total cost for this surgery was $2,406.51 - I'd hate to think how much it would have cost in NY City or LA (at least $1,000 more).

DATE	ITEM	BILLED AMOUNT
Day 1	VSS CBC/Profile UA	$          0.00
Day 1	Sampling Fee	$       14.00
Day 1	Biohazard Fee	$          3.00
Day 1	CBC/Profile	$     100.20
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	VSS Exam Only	$          0.00
Day 1	OVSN SLP Exam	$       65.00
Day 1	VSS Soft Tissue	$          0.00
Day 1	IV Catheter	$       23.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       33.00
Day 1	Extension Set	$          7.00
Day 1	Anesthesia	$       69.00
Day 1	Large Suture Pack	$     168.00
Day 1	Suction	$       15.00
Day 1	Electrocaut	$       15.00
Day 1	Skin Staple	$       38.00
Day 1	ICU Cage Fee	$       82.00
Day 1	Intensive Nursing	$       22.00
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 1	Perisurgical Monitoring	$       51.00
Day 1	Technician - Anes	$       89.00
Day 1	Surgical Drape Pack	$       47.00
Day 1	Duragesic 100mcg	$     100.46
Day 1	Duragesic 50mcg	$       52.20
Day 1	Enterotomy	$     859.95
Day 1	Medications	$       19.00
Day 1	Fluid Therapy	$       92.00
Day 1	Medications	$       38.00
Day 2	Fluid Therapy	$       69.00
Day 2	Oral Medication	$       17.00
Day 2	Medications Inj	$       57.00
Day 2	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Day 2	Intensive Care Management	$       52.00
Day 3	Daily Case Management	$       36.70
Day 3	Daily Cage Charge	$       41.00
Total		$  2,406.51

Barnes follow up

It's been a week since Barnes moved on to bigger and better things and slowly the hole in our lives starts to heal. It's going to be a very long time before I don't look for Barnes in the bathroom when I get up in the morning and on the bed when I turn out the light to go to sleep. Sometimes I feel he's still there, but he's not.

I dropped by the vet's office today to pick up Barnes's ashes to put on the shelf beside Simon, his litter mate (RIP Aug 21 2004). One day this spring, we'll plant a hydrangea in a sunny spot and use Simon and Barnes's ashes in the base. They both loved going outside so it only seems fit to have them lounging under a bush together, just like the good old days.

I also dropped off all the left over cans of low protein cat food we'd tried on Barnes over the last few months. Our vet assured me that they would go to a good home - likely a shelter that could use the food for their older cats.

Lily doesn't seem too affected, although very confused that I moved her food bowl from her old "subordinate" spot in the kitchen, to her new "head of the family" spot where Barnes's food used to be. We will probably adopt another cat later this year to keep her company, but for now, we're showering her with love and attention and appreciating her joy at the spring weather (exception was the snow today - no-one was very excited about that today).

Time for spring and new life and sunshine to grace our lives...

Where is Laura?

Don't worry, I'm still around but have not been able to find my blogging feet as of late. I have been tweeting once in a while on Twitter so you are more than welcome to follow me at http://twitter.com/laurabennett.

In the meantime, I'll resume normal programming as soon as I can.

One of our latest Embraced pets - I couldn't resist!

Bilateral Elbow Dysplasia - $5,900 surgery

At Embrace, we aren't perfect but we darn well try hard to be. We are mere mortals though and it seems like we spend all our time focusing on our failings instead of celebrating the good that we do.

So I wanted to share with you an email we received today from Donna. She sent it after we approved a pre-certification for bilateral elbow dysplasia surgery that Huck, her Bull Mastiff puppy, is going to have before Christmas.

Huck's estimated surgical bill is $5,900 and if the actual vet bills comes out the same as the estimate, we'll be paying just over $4,100 (Donna has a $500 annual deductible, 20% copay and no take-home drug coverage - annual premium $349.06.)

When Donna heard this good news this afternoon, she sent us this email:

Dear Christine and everyone at Embrace,

Spread the word? I will SHOUT it from the roof tops!!!! Embrace has saved Huck and I. As a reasonably intelligent person, I did all my homework and thought I was doing my very best to purchase a great healthy puppy. Then real life happens, as it does with humans and here we are, in this terrible economy, with this very expensive problem.

My decision to purchase Embrace is the one of the wisest decisions I have made in my 52 years. You bet I will spread the word, and I know so many dog people who are as crazy in love with their dogs as I am Huck. Bless you all for this terrific news! You have saved my beloved pet as well as my 29 year marriage:) To see Huck pain free and happy and healthy will be our Christmas miracle. He is a wonderful, sweet soul, and he deserves to feel good. I cannot thank you all at Embrace Pet Insurance enough.

Very gratefully yours, Donna C & Huck the Mastiff

It's a nice way to end the week.

Embraced pets: say hello to Bandit, a Cavalier King Charles puppy

You may recall back in July, I posted about Pixie, one of our Embraced dogs who died of dry drowning, not even a year old.

Well, we heard back from Suzie earlier this week when she bought an Embrace policy for Bandit, the latest Cavalier King Charles addition to her family.

I had emailed her to congratulate her on her new puppy and how happy all of us at Embrace Pet Insurance are for her, and this was her response:

Thank you Laura. Thank you! I appreciated the quality service and heartfelt compassion your company provided to us when we lost Pixie. She is forever missed, and there is a huge void that she left here in all our lives.

We are losing our hearts again, however with little Bandit! He is a little doll. As a single mom without the resources to handle an unexpected, high vet bill, I appreciate the service you provide. I keeps pet parents like me from having to worry about being forced to forego medical treatment for our dog due to financial reasons in the event of something major occuring.

Enjoy the photos, there's enough warm and fuzzies here to keep us all going for the week.

Dog days of summer: Gizmo and Batman

Can't let the dogs have all the fun this week - here are Gizmo and Batman (both aged 1 mixed breed cats). We're all wishing the Batman well as he's been suffering from severe asthma this summer :(.

Dog days of summer: Kaiya, Abby, and Kiara

Continuing our theme for the week, here are Kaiya (Labrador Retriever puppy), Kiara (a 2 year old Labrador Retriever) and Abby (a 4 year old Labrador Retriever) just hanging out together. Bet they are fun to take for a walk.

Dog days of summer: Jeter and Lulu

Another Embraced pet for your pleasure while I'm away on vacation in Minnesota. Here are Jeter (2 year old Yorkshire Terrier) and Lulu who look ready wear out the carpet with all that character overflowing.

This one is crying out for a caption - suggestions welcome in the comments.

Dog days of summer: Trixie

Continuing my spotlight on a daily Embraced pet while I'm on vacation, here's Trixie, a 3 year old Toy Poodle. Talk about melt your heart on the spot...