5
out of 5
POSTED: | BY: George
Best Pet Insurance Ever!!!
Anyone who has had a family pet for a long time knows that having a sick pet can be in many ways be akin to having a sick child, and this is something Healthy Paws Pet Insurance truly understands and values. Which is why their impeccable customer service skills and no hassle policy is exactly what the doctor ordered when our family went through the extreme stress and grief of our beloved family pet’s unexpected and sudden cancer diagnosis. Shortly after Bad Mash’s 9th birthday we witnessed him straining to urinate, which quickly became large amounts of blood in his urine. We quickly took Bad Mash to our local vet and after an X-ray and ultrasound the vet was able to see a cantaloupe size growth connected to Bad Mash’s bladder. The vet prepared for surgery and removed the mass from Bad Mash’s bladder. After the initial surgery Bad Mash’s health did not improve, it worsened.
We received the call that any pet parent fears, the vet stated that there was nothing else he could do. Our options were to put Bad Mash to sleep or take him into a specialist. We were not ready to say goodbye to Bad Mash, so we decided to take him to U.C. Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). As soon as we reached VMTH they prepared for an emergency surgery to address Bad Mash’s septic abdomen. The doctors at VMTH let us know that the success rate of the surgery was about 50%, but we knew Bad Mash was a fighter! After the surgery was completed, another concern arose, Bad Mash was leaking urine in his abdomen. The doctors at VMTH performed a second surgery to address the issue. While in his abdomen they stated that all his vital organs: kidneys, prostate, bladder, etc. looked well, however they were able to see that the left ureter (the connection from the kidneys to the bladder) has been severed. They performed a procedure to reconnect the ureter to the left kidney and the bladder. The surgery up to this point has been successful, however we received yet another blow. The cantaloupe sized mass that had been removed by our local vet came back from biopsy and it was diagnosed as Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC). Our little fighter had to go through multiple surgeries over a very short span of time and now was on a very long road to recover being diagnosed with TCC which would include chemo and radiation therapy.
After a handful of these unforeseen surgeries within such a short timespan our concerns were solely around Bad Mash, and not focused on the mounting medical costs. We were doing everything we could to save a very important member of our family. However, it was Healthy Paws Pet Insurance that came in for the rescue when Bad Mash’s condition stabilized, and we inevitably turned our attention to the mountain of bills that had piled up in such a short timeframe. Throughout the process they focused on the care of Bad Mash above all else and helped us through the process of reimbursement step by step. I never imagined I’d need to use the insurance the way we did, but I can honestly say that it was one of the smartest decisions I’ve ever made. I was able to preserve the life of my best friend, without completely sacrificing my family’s finances. I encourage every person who loves their pet like a member of their family to get Healthy Paws Pet Insurance the day you bring your new family member home and rest assured if the worst were to ever occur they would be right by your side during your toughest time.