ZaZu having his Echo cardiogram this morning - Page 2

tends2dogs · ‎05-08-2010

@SeaMaiden Glad you are home and that ZaZu's problem can be controlled. I am just like you. I would have to read about it and then go ahead if it seemed the right thing to do. Four years old - there is a lot of life left - even in dog years!!

Fear not Brothers and Sisters! I have read THE BOOK..........we win!!!

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

@SeaMaiden Thank you for letting us know what the specialist said. I would be doing lots of research about this, too. It sounds like he probably needs the pacemaker. I'm so glad you have pet insurance. I do, too, with Healthy Paws.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@NickNack wrote:
@SeaMaiden Thank you for letting us know what the specialist said. I would be doing lots of research about this, too. It sounds like he probably needs the pacemaker. I'm so glad you have pet insurance. I do, too, with Healthy Paws.

@NickNack I have Healthy Paws too! So it will be interesting to see if they cover this.....and do not drop my coverage afterwards..... have you used the insurance yet? Just curious if they follow through and take care of their customers. I will let you know how things progress.

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@NickNack wrote:
@SeaMaiden Thank you for letting us know what the specialist said. I would be doing lots of research about this, too. It sounds like he probably needs the pacemaker. I'm so glad you have pet insurance. I do, too, with Healthy Paws.
@NickNack I have Healthy Paws too! So it will be interesting to see if they cover this.....and do not drop my coverage afterwards..... have you used the insurance yet? Just curious if they follow through and take care of their customers. I will let you know how things progress.

@SeaMaiden I've used them several times, and they have paid each time. I've never used them for a surgery or something large like this but would trust that they would pay. They have a complete list of exclusions on their website. They also say that they don't drop you for a claim or raise your premiums. They raise premiums annually, not based on claims, and that's all. I'll be very interested in following your experience with them. I've had insurance for my dog for several years. When I got my kitten last summer I got it for him, too. I would imagine I won't need to use it for him for many years.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

Jtdmum · ‎03-17-2010

Seamaiden you're a good dog mom! Hope your ZaZu is enjoying his day home today.

Lots of prayers and good thoughts for you both !

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@NickNack wrote:
@SeaMaiden wrote:
@NickNack wrote:
@SeaMaiden Thank you for letting us know what the specialist said. I would be doing lots of research about this, too. It sounds like he probably needs the pacemaker. I'm so glad you have pet insurance. I do, too, with Healthy Paws.
@NickNack I have Healthy Paws too! So it will be interesting to see if they cover this.....and do not drop my coverage afterwards..... have you used the insurance yet? Just curious if they follow through and take care of their customers. I will let you know how things progress.

@SeaMaiden I've used them several times, and they have paid each time. I've never used them for a surgery or something large like this but would trust that they would pay. They have a complete list of exclusions on their website. They also say that they don't drop you for a claim or raise your premiums. They raise premiums annually, not based on claims, and that's all. I'll be very interested in following your experience with them. I've had insurance for my dog for several years. When I got my kitten last summer I got it for him, too. I would imagine I won't need to use it for him for many years.

I have a PetPlan Insurance and one of my dogs needed surgery that was very expensive. I collected 8k in benefits one year.

I have had had no problems with claims. You must submit itemized bills with the procedure and diagnosis on them. Since I worked in health insurance, I knew to submit the bills correctly. Most claims that are denied are because of missing indormation on the bills.

You will probably not have a problem. Insurance companies must pay claims if there are contracted to do so. Most allow you to get a predetermination before you have the procedure done.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@Carmie Thanks so much for your input! Yesterday I got the approval email that my check was on the way from Health Paws insurance. That is pretty good in that it has been just a few days since we submitted the information to the insurance. I had a $100 yearly deductible to meet and have 90% coverage so I am getting back most of $500 for the Echo CG. If we go ahead and do have Zazu get the pacemaker that will cost about $4000 dollars so having insurance will be a good thing.

I have things to consider... that he is A- systematic right now... feeling good even though his beats per minute is at only 60. If he remains at this level he may feel fine for a long time... maybe the rest of his life....

But, in time if the level drops to say 50 beats per minute and then he starts having weakness, fainting/ collapse plus having organ failure affected by the poor blood flow through his heart....

So do I want to be proactive and fix this issue BEFORE (IF) his heart rate continues to go down and he becomes systematic?? It has nothing to do with cost. It has everything to do with putting him through a surgery and healing process after the pacemaker is installed. So my heart weighs heavy on this decision. ......

ccassaday · ‎10-21-2010

Because he is only 4 I think you should do the surgery. You have the insurance so that’s great. If he was say 10 I probably wouldn’t. But he has a lot of life to live.

Sammycat1 · ‎03-09-2010

@SeaMaiden

I've written to you before as a pet parent to one with severe heart problems. May I suggest:

1. Get a second opinion from another cardiologist if you're concerned. You should be able to get them to read the same echo and issue an opinion.

2. You want to stay ahead of heart problems and not let them get ahead -- it's much harder to deal with. If he's got a heart issue now, he'll have it later, and worse -- and his heart rate is already too low. Better to put off "later" as long as humanly possible. These things don't self-correct.

3. Pacemaker insertions are minimally invasive and dogs typically bounce back very quickly. A dental cleaning can be far more risky than a pacemaker insertion.

4. He's 4. Give him a chance at a long, happy life with the one he loves most -- you.