I don't see why insurance company wouldn't pay for it. Hope everything goes well for you *hugs*

i may be wrong,(i dont want to type this)but i think there may be a problem then
i think direct line(is that who u are with?)have it in their policy,they must be notified of the 'condition' within 6 months.i soooo hope im wrong.
sorry

The vet is suggesting that they would class it as an existing condition as he's had since he was born and as it's exisiting then they wouldn't pay out. Insurance companies will always wangle their way out of paying up so i'm not getting my hopes up!

Probably very pessimistic of me but i think it's best to think worst case scenario and be realistic about both outcomes rather than get carried away in believing insurance will pay.

But if we didn't know what it was or that it was a dermoid cyst until now then surely we couldn't have notified them within 6 months?

We were always told it was a birthmark and ours vets never queried it in any way until we saw one of the practice partners and that was the first time we were told we should do something about it.

Do you reckon I have a better case with that arguement?
I'm fully prepared for the fact that they probably won't pay but I ain't going down without a fight!

oh Esmed what an awful position to be in.

I have no idea what i would do.

Was wondering whether it was worth getting another quote from another specialist, but presumably all specialists will charge a similar amount (I know from the people that I've spoken to that once 'specialists' come into the equation the bill never seems to be less than £2k.

Fund raising is a possibility and/or a bank loan - though of course with the banks the way they are, it might not be easy to get a loan.

As the others have said, you have nothing to feel guilty about - you weren't to know that it would come to this and I think it really, really stinks that you are now being penalised for being willing to see past his cosmetic imperfection when you chose him.

Personally I'd be happy for any Dogsey callender money to go towards his op but (1) that will take too long (2) the amounts we are likely to raise aren't like to make a scratch on the over all bill.

I really really hope that you can find some way of working things out. x

oh yes!!! fight all the way!!!
who told you it was a birthmark?(if it was the vets,was it noted in his file?) and when was it you saw the practise partner?

I think you would be very lucky to have the insurance pay out sadly. If it were me and I didn't have enough, i'd be looking into a loan or even a credit card, I wouldn't want to leave it, as you say, it could be £4k next year. Have you spoke to the vet about a repayment scheme?

I think their argument would be that it was clearly evident when you brought him home and you should have had it checked out there and then, it's not their fault that you let it be.

That's not my POV, I totally understand your side here, but I don't want you to get your hopes up that they might pay when it looks so unlikely, we all know they will do anythign to get out of it and even if you contest it and fight and win, it's likely you will need to pay up first and then claim it back. If you prepare for the worst and then they do pay, then that's all the better for you. You weren't to know really and were led to believe it was nothing, so please don't blame yourself. Very difficult for you. x

Well if insurance doesn't pay out then it looks like i'll saying goodbye to my beloved car and getting a banger.

I just have so many thoughts running through my head that i think i'm confusing myself more. Part of me says we could take our chances and leave it and see what happens, enjoy whatever time we get with him before it becomes a major issue but he's my boy and i just want to do right by him because i feel like i've failed him and if paying £3000 "fixes" him and means he'll be with us as long as he should be then i'll find a way.

I've been playing with him for hours tonight and then having cuddles with him and i keep looking at him and thinking what it would be like without him here and i can't picture it.

I would ask around at other vets, thats so much money, I think all the surgery benzmum had to have on bens spine and the hospital stay for weeks came to not that much more than that.