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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    Your thoughts - wellness pet package

    Our vet offers a wellness pet care package. Faye and I have discussed enrolling; we'd like to learn your thoughts about it.

    As you may know our dogs are seniors. Achilles is who knows how old. Our informed guess is 11. Stella is 12 plus. At their ages pet insurance is very costly, if available at all. The package our vet offers is not insurance against major or catastrophic expenses. It is coverage for visits, regular exams and some procedures, and vaccinations. Here's what is included.
    ----------------
    Unlimited consults (regular hours exams).

    Annual exam.

    A second (biannual) exam.

    Annual vaccine package (parvo, rabies, and bordetella - Lyme and Lepto also included though we do not vaccinate against them).

    Fecal parasite screen (not a great concern for us yet you don't know).

    Deworming if that was needed.

    HW and Lyme blood screen. Stella is Lyme +, thankfully asymptomatic.

    Basic blood panel including kidney, liver, blood sugar, and TBC values.

    Advanced panels. CBC, thyroid, urinalysis.

    10% off dental cleaning.

    Spa day, a bath and claw trimming. Meh. I trim their claws and we aren't concerned about baths.
    ---------------------
    The cost is about $45/month for each one. While I still need to run the numbers for the last two years' expenses for all of these items, my memory and gut suggest that averaged by month, we are spending this much if not a little more.

    For the past year we have self-insured, setting money aside by targeting the cost of the annual exams including basic blood panels, and HW/Lyme testing. What's most appealing about this plan is that the unlimited consults, the second exam, advanced blood panels, and dental cleanings discount are included.

    What are your thoughts? Thank you in advance.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    I like the unlimited consult part of the package but would decline all those vaccinations, personally. (Yearly is just crazy!) Just for the exams, bloodwork and unlimited consults it might be worth it for a senior.
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    Mr Kleb (07-26-2015)

  4. #3
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    does your vet do YEARLY vaccinations? (for the core?) Still surprises me that some vets do that.

    You'd have to cost out the parts you would use - you would pay $540 a year. Rock gets the blood every six months at like $150 (plus) a shot so that gets me to $300 a year plus his visit ($90) so I'd be getting pretty close. I don't intend to vaccinate him anymore at this point (he's 11, i am on the fence about giving him his rabies as he's due this year on the three year cycle). HW 4 way thingy is like what, $80-90 so yeah I am getting to about $540 already. And if there is every a need to do advance panel or urinalysis (we were doing urinalysis but after awhile results were good so I am not doing this regularly) then you are saving money at that point. Actually, I am starting to wish my vet offered this LOL!

    If they literally mean you can make ANY vet appointment to chat - FREE… I may be in on the package for Rocky (as we are following his bloodwork pretty close and the bugger always gives me some reason to go in for something). Absolutely not worth it for Penny at this point in time.

    In the end it really depends on the dog and what they are at in vet needs. I mean obviously anything can happen to any dog, but not sure it's worth it for a young healthy dog. A senior with some quirks and on which you are doing regular bloodwork anyway - then you could save.

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    Mr Kleb (07-26-2015)

  6. #4
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    Is that a spa day a month? Heck for 45.00 a month, I'll take that deal. Sorry Andrew, not much help

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    Mr Kleb (07-26-2015)

  8. #5
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Thinking back on my seniors, after about 12 or so, I feel like they saw the vet less and less as they were inside more and less active, so less likely to get injured or pick up anything. My boys lived to be 16+ though and both were PTS due to old age, not illness, so I'm more or less remembering their very, very late years when you're just pretty much keeping them comfy and feeding them and maintaining. And with them we didn't have illness or anything.

    I'd be inclined not to do it, personally. But run the numbers, first and figure out what, in that list, you'll really take advantage of. See how it pencils out.

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    Mr Kleb (07-26-2015)

  10. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Labradorks View Post
    Thinking back on my seniors, after about 12 or so, I feel like they saw the vet less and less as they were inside more and less active, so less likely to get injured or pick up anything. My boys lived to be 16+ though and both were PTS due to old age, not illness, so I'm more or less remembering their very, very late years when you're just pretty much keeping them comfy and feeding them and maintaining. And with them we didn't have illness or anything.

    I'd be inclined not to do it, personally. But run the numbers, first and figure out what, in that list, you'll really take advantage of. See how it pencils out.
    I agree ... with mine, they had didn’t see the vet much the last couple years (two lived to 15+, one was 2 months short of that). Once they reached the age where we were pretty sure we weren’t going to treat anything aggressively, they mostly didn’t go. They each had at least one visit towards the end of life to confirm the diagnosis and that was about it until it was time to let them go. Our vet doesn’t do routine bloodwork even on seniors - only if they are having symptoms.

    Now with a younger senior (11-13 for us), especially one with health issues (thyroid, etc) that might call for frequent visits it might be worth it.
    Annette

    Cookie (HIT HC Jamrah's Legally Blonde, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015
    Sassy (HIT Jamrah's Blonde Ambition, UDX, OM2, BN) 6/4/2015

    Chloe (HIT HC OTCH Windsong's Femme Fatale, UDX4, OM6, RE) 6/7/2009

    And remembering:

    Scully (HC Coventry's Truth Is Out There, UD, TD, RN) 4/14/1996 - 6/30/2011
    Mulder (Coventry's I Want To Believe, UD, RN, WC) 5/26/1999 - 4/22/2015

    And our foster Jolie (Windsong's Genuine Risk, CDX) 5/26/1999 - 3/16/2014

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    Mr Kleb (07-26-2015)

  12. #7
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    I believe in paying as I go (unless I were offered a very terrific deal like I was years ago w/ my old Honda CRV--- $99 lifetime oil changes... w/ a free car wash each time! Boy did they lose their shirts w/ me after 13 yrs!!!).
    I spend very little at the vet's offices considering my numbers here, and it seems like when I have, they've been emergencies so this would not work for me. Anne
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    Mr Kleb (07-26-2015)

  14. #8
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    Thanks everyone! I'm working on the numbers. The incomplete analysis is inconclusive. Stella's recent dental trouble and Lyme+, though asymptomatic, condition, might lean me towards getting it for her. Achilles, maybe not - he's been a very healthy dog all his life. I'll continue working on it.

    Good points about vaccinations - our vet uses IMRAB 3, and the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association's guidance is to follow the manufacturer's label instructions. So we can discuss that with the vet. Parvo - I don't yet know the requirements. Bordetella - requirement for us as we board.

    Thank you again.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dallas dawg View Post
    Is that a spa day a month? Heck for 45.00 a month, I'll take that deal. Sorry Andrew, not much help
    Once yearly. Stella likely would not mind. On the other hand, Achilles believes water is best confined within a bowl.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

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    Dallas dawg (07-27-2015)

  16. #9
    Best Friend Retriever Snowco Labradors's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Kleb View Post
    Our vet offers a wellness pet care package. Faye and I have discussed enrolling; we'd like to learn your thoughts about it.

    As you may know our dogs are seniors. Achilles is who knows how old. Our informed guess is 11. Stella is 12 plus. At their ages pet insurance is very costly, if available at all. The package our vet offers is not insurance against major or catastrophic expenses. It is coverage for visits, regular exams and some procedures, and vaccinations. Here's what is included.
    ----------------
    Unlimited consults (regular hours exams).

    Annual exam.

    A second (biannual) exam.

    Annual vaccine package (parvo, rabies, and bordetella - Lyme and Lepto also included though we do not vaccinate against them).

    I would not be vaccinating anymore - titer for parvo and distemper instead and only every 3 years. Jean Dodds feels after age 11 titers are no longer needed if the past titers were good. Rabies should only be every 3 years if your state allows it.

    Fecal parasite screen (not a great concern for us yet you don't know).

    I don't do a fecal unless I see an issue in stool. I don't panic at the first site of diarrhea or mucus. If it continues for days then I test.

    Deworming if that was needed.

    I only do this with litters (and for mom) and it can be done by you, no need for the vet to do it, even if you choose to do it yearly. Your heart worm meds take care of other type of worms/parasites.

    HW and Lyme blood screen. Stella is Lyme +, thankfully asymptomatic.

    You don't do lyme vaccine so she is not positive as a result of the vaccine. Have you done a quantative C-6 to check her levels? When they test positive you do the C-6 (30 or higher is treated) treat with Doxicycline (ask for monocylcine its a lot cheaper) for 30 days and 6 months from the last day of treatment do another C-6. If her level did not come down to zero this could be why she tests positive every year. I pay around $45 for the srean (4 way snap) You must do the initial C-6 prior to starting the treatment. c-6 here runs around $100.

    Basic blood panel including kidney, liver, blood sugar, and TBC values.

    I do this yearly from age 7 on for around $175 and it includes a urinalysis.

    Advanced panels. CBC, thyroid, urinalysis.

    The panel I do above includes CBC, t4 thyroid and urinalysis

    10% off dental cleaning.

    I don't do dental cleanings as my seniors don't need them.

    Spa day, a bath and claw trimming. Meh. I trim their claws and we aren't concerned about baths.
    ---------------------
    The cost is about $45/month for each one. While I still need to run the numbers for the last two years' expenses for all of these items, my memory and gut suggest that averaged by month, we are spending this much if not a little more.

    For the past year we have self-insured, setting money aside by targeting the cost of the annual exams including basic blood panels, and HW/Lyme testing. What's most appealing about this plan is that the unlimited consults, the second exam, advanced blood panels, and dental cleanings discount are included.

    What are your thoughts? Thank you in advance.
    I think your vet is making out pretty darn well on this package as opposed to your just going in and paying as you go.

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    lovemylabby (08-16-2015)

  18. #10
    Senior Dog
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    I totally agree. I would rather pay as I go.

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    Mr Kleb (09-04-2015)

 



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