Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I adopted Ruby a couple of weeks ago and at the moment she is still covered by the months free veterinary insurance provided by the rescue organisation. I am looking into options to cover her going forward and just wondered about people’s experience of insuring Tripawds.
I’m in the UK, so not looking for recommendations of specific companies (unless you happen to be in the UK too) but im thinking more about what might or might not be considered a pre-existing condition if it could be considered as relating to the amputation.
Ruby lost her leg due to a fracture, so in a sense that’s that. There’s nothing else that can go wrong as far as the leg is concerned and so far she is managing really well on three legs. But… she is only nineteen months old and hopefully we have many years ahead of us. What if, down the line she experiences problems with her remaining rear leg, which might be considered more likely due to the extra impact. Would that be covered? And what if she needed for example acupuncture on her back because of the impact of her altered gait?
it would be really helpful to know if anyone has any experience relevant to this. Some of the insurance quotes are really expensive, and if they would discount anything that could be in any way linked to the amp, then it’s probably not worth going for a really comprehensive package (including chiropractic, acupuncture etc) but if she would be covered for pretty much anything going forward it probably would be.
Does that make sense? Sorry to be so long winded…
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 20 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
So I’ve now done what I should have done in the first place and searched for Insurance in the forums 
. Lots of really useful info, especially requesting a medical record review, so I am going to get on with that.
Would still love to hear Insurance recommendations from anyone in the UK
thanks
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 20 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Hi Clare and Ruby♥️ Others will chime in with some suggestions .
I just want to way yet again, how happy we all are to see you and Miss Ruby together and back here 🥰 Of cour, pictures of thos pretty gal are always an extra bonus👍
I really like your "signature" and the thought and love you put into it♥️
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Clare, I will chime in. You know we are not in the UK, but yes, we got insurance after Purrkins amp for both the boys in 2018, so six years in August, we have Embrace. It has been a massive blessing for us. Of course, a lot is not covered, but we knew that going into it, and still, it saved us over and over. They are upfront about what is covered and what's not, so you will know once the review is done & not be shocked. They got all the boy's records and, yes, scanned for anything & everything, and those became the exclusions, and or a few things could expire and then be covered.
So, if possible, yes, get Ruby covered ASAP and swap them when the other expires. The only exclusion she will have is being a tripawd orthopedic. I know to you right now that's everything, but she is so young A LOT WILL be covered!!
We get claims reimbursed quickly, and it's all a straightforward process. For us and all the boys' health issues, we didn't have to have that horrible convo about how or could we do this, not once on $ factor. Thats a gift!!! If you can make the monthly payment, it will PAY for itself; it has for us anyway!!!! We would never own another furmily member without insurance, even with the exclusions!!! YES!!!
But… she is only nineteen months old and hopefully we have many years ahead of us. What if, down the line she experiences problems with her remaining rear leg, which might be considered more likely due to the extra impact. Would that be covered?
NO - pre- existing
And what if she needed for example acupuncture on her back because of the impact of her altered gait?
NO - pre -existing
But being 19 months you will benefit significantly with insurance!!!! Anything other than Tripawd issues will be, which is a lot to cover in a lifetime. I know we only think on three legs or C here. Still, we have used it for everything else and major stuff: neurology, MRI, cardiologist echoes for Saxton (purrkins cardiology is not covered. He had a heart murmur on file), thyroid, all our exams, labs, meds. ( meds alone would have killed us with all Saxton's heart meds!!!! 80% covered after our 500 deductible. ( we chose the $500)
For Purrkins, anything other than C, three legs, and his heart are covered! Saxton only had his poop issue as pre-existing. We THOUGHT it was a no-brainer for Saxton and took the chance with Purrkins, and thank god we did. We don't submit our acupuncture chiro, but it would have been covered if we were covered before the amp. I still would say GET IT.
Embrace does do Eastern and Western medicine coverage, but not all do. That was the main reason we chose them years ago;
but if she would be covered for pretty much anything going forward it probably would be.
Does that make sense? Sorry to be so long winded…
EXACTLY, and yes, it makes purrfect sense, and I highly recommend insurance if you can make the payment. Get it and stay on it for life! The first two years, we waffled and wondered if we should keep paying this premium, and I had this nagging feeling: do not let it go. I listened to that, and then everything hit the fan with our boys, and all was covered!!! I recommend anyone who can do it to do it!!
No regrets and lessons learned. It's likely tmi, but I wanted to share since we got insurance AFTER the C and amputation.
Smooch to the Model Rockstar Ruby, please
Hugs
Clare this is a great question and since pet insurance is always changing it's good to refresh the topic.
I am fully as enthusiastic as Holly about having pet insurance. We also have Embrace for our Nellie, and we had Trupanion for Wyatt for his whole life. It did come in handy for a lot of the wild stunts he pulled, like eating inappropriate objects, and other health scares like aspiration pneumonia.
But where it didn't cover was anything related to orthopedic needs. Funny because at first they did cover ortho related needs, for about two years. Then they denied a claim and I pushed them for a reason. Turns out they messed up. None of it should have been covered they told me, but they wouldn't ask for the money back. Oh. Gosh. How. Nice.
I was really mad at first, then upon further digging with other companies found that it's par for the course with any pet insurance company. A dog or cat with a missing limb that gets insured will not be covered for any needs that the company can pin on the condition. We learned this again when we went to insure Nellie in 2022. So, anything related to osteoarthritis, joint disease, etc, forget it. It's one reason why we are managing her bad leg condition with medication and not the $10k surgery that may or may not fix it. I haven't tried getting reimbursed for her librela injections but I think I will just to test them. I'll keep you posted.
Unfortunately ortho care is one of the biggest and most expensive needs for a Tripawd. And no company, I was told, will cover it. We dig into the topic a bit in a tripawd talk episode, recorded pre-Nellie.
https://tripawd.....-tripawds/
It bums me out that she won't have coverage for ortho. The company also denied a claim for UTI care because she has an inverted vulva! But we keep her coverage for oddball things like cancer and mishaps. Thankfully we haven't had any. I'm confident the company will come through if we do. At nearly $100 a month they better!
I do have mixed feelings about pet insurance. It's good for people who can afford it and it saves animals from horrible situations. But the reimbursement model it's created upon is not sustainable or fair. It leaves out a whole lot of people who can't afford to wait for reimbursement. And the companies are also making claims approval decisions based solely on profit and not in the best interest of the vet or their patients. Many vet med professionals are not pleased with the way it's working. There's got to be a better way but for now if you can swing it, it's worth it in my opinion.
Many vet med professionals are not pleased with the way it's working.
I am sure you are referring to orthopedics, and yes, we can see & relate!! Any other health issues though - Dr R has often said how thankful she is when her clients are covered. She can do her job more easily, help her patients and run the tests she needs.
I haven't tried getting reimbursed for her librela injections but I think I will just to test them.
Submit it- u already know /think it won't be covered, so if it goes through, whoo hoo and bonus. We did submit Purrkins cardiology exam & echo for the same reason to see, and yeah, it got bumped back. Nothing to lose submitting, submit them all and some will go to your deductible if it's not met. We have no issue meeting ours and quickly.
It leaves out a whole lot of people who can't afford to wait for reimbursement.
Mark and I can't speak highly enough of Embrace and the speed at which our claims get taken care of! We always charge our expenses, so we are not OUT 100%. We get the 80% back and make that payment. I do know it still leaves some out and just stating how we handle it and we use our care credit our reimbursments are always back.
We would do the wellness and all that if and when we added another furmily member. I did check for Purrkins meece, and Embrace does not cover exotics. Dr R said she would help out if we needed care for them.🥺
We can't remember exactly, but Mark and I think the boys were 40 a month when we started. Purrkins is now like Nellie's & yes, it has still been worth it in our experience.
XOXO
💝💝💝
Thank you so much everyone. This is really, really helpful info and thanks for the reminder of the importance of pet insurance for all the unknowns and unforeseeables. Ruby was surrendered at the vet when she fractured her leg – presumably because her owners did not have insurance and could not afford to pay for treatment. I absolutely owe it to her to be certain that I will always be able to meet her needs going forward.
So.... how is this for FABULOUS NEWS!!!!! I approached PetSure, a UK Insurance company who specialise in insuring older dogs and those with pre-existing conditions. They are a multi-award winning company with excellent reviews so I can be confident we are in safe hands. Anyway, I filled in a medical questionnaire all about Ruby's pre-exisiting conditions which include skin allergies and an ear infection as well as the amputation and then I rang them up because I couldn't believe what it said, but it's true: Ruby is fully covered for anything and everything orthopaedic, even if it could be related to the amputation, e.g. a cruciate repair on her remaining hind leg, arthritis etc. I explicitly questioned them about this and I have it in her policy documents. Even for her skin condition (which I am hoping has resolved in any case), they will not cover current treatment, but they will cover any new treatment if it worsens and they will also cover any new ear infections. Amazing.
The cost is £90 per month, around $115.
I do agree with you, Rene re the reimbursement model, though in my experience most vets here will deal with the insurance company direct so long as it is one they know of. But definitely time for some new ways of doing things.
Cxxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 20 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
WOW!!!!! OMC. AMAZING
We need to move to the UK for many reasons... and we have discussed this and looks like we need to discuss again;)
This is unbelievably fabulous news!!! Done !!! 💳✅🏃♀️Get and never waiver.
We are thrilled for you & Ruby!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Im very sorry for the owners and the heartbreaking situation but we could not be happier you have rescued sweet Ruby.
💝💝💝
WOW! Clare that is amazing! I'm so happy you found that company, they seem fantastic! YAY! RUBY WINS AGAIN!!!! I hope this company will make an impact overseas. I hope this model translates over!
Holly, when I say vet med professionals are not happy with the state of pet insurance, I mean across every type of practice, not just orthopedics. Some of general practice folks I have spoken with, from vets to vet techs, believe that the pet insurance industry is driving vet med to a bad place, solely motivated by profits and not in the best interest of the patient, or the pet parent's wallet.
For now, yeah, it's the best that is available for a select group of pet parents to help their pets in a health crisis. But like our own health care industry, there has got to be a better way out there.
Interesting that Purrkins' premiums are so similar to Nellie's! We have a 90% coverage with a $700 deductible.
And yep ours is 80%/$500
Our cats have been more expensive, and we see the vet more than any dogs we have owned. You would be surprised at our costs as the boys now boy age and their health issues, meds, and seeing Dr. Matt regularly.
We agree we can & hope to see BETTER all across the board for ALL!!!
I'm THRILLED Clare will have coverage on all aspects. That's a huge blessing, and yes, it comes at a cost, but if we figured in our Dr. Matt, etc., that adds up quickly and will give you lots of peace of mind for Ruby!
What is the percentage they will cover, Clare?
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I just wanted to update this thread as, following your responses above and advice elsewhere on the site, I wanted to double and triple check precisely what Ruby is and is not covered for. My concern was that the cover PetSure were offering was based solely on my answers to their questionnaire re Ruby's medical history and this left me feeling uneasy. For example, when I declared Ruby's amputation, I had to answer 'yes' or 'no' as to whether she was fully recovered from it. As anyone on this site will know, this is hardly a 'yes' and 'no' question. I was worried that any orthopaedic problems she might have in the future, could potentially be linked to the amputation and then they would say that I had answered incorrectly and refuse to pay up – despite what the agent had told me, as it would not be the agent making the decision, but the underwriting department. So I phoned PetSure again and asked them if they would do a medical record review (Thanks, for the tip, Rene, really really helpful). They flat out refused, even when I offered to pay for the privilege, so then I was really worried. They said that the underwriters would only look at her history in the event of a claim. Which is ludicrous. Even when i said that I wouldn't keep Ruby insured with them unless they would do a record review, they continued to refuse.
So I then approached other insurance companies, some of which also offer (or purport to offer) cover for pre-existing conditions and they all operated on the same principle. Call me a cynic, but hmm....
The only exception was PetPlan, which is the oldest and probably the best known pet insurance company in the UK, and also the most expensive. They do not have a specific policy with regard to pre-existing conditions and consider them on a case by case basis. So, PetPlan were happy to do a medical record review, and they finally came back to me today to say that Ruby's amputation will have no impact on her cover going forward. There are no exclusions added relating to anything orthopaedic. The only exclusion they have added relates to her skin condition/allergy, and even this will be lifted if she remains symptom free for two years (without meds).
I was fully expecting them to exclude orthopaedic issues, and was still going to insure with them just for the fact I would know for certain what was covered and what was not, so I am over the moon at this outcome.
It is expensive. The monthly premium is £130 ($166) and this will increase as Ruby gets older, though it will not be impacted by any claims we may make.
The cover is £12,000 per year ($15,400) plus £2000 ($2500) for acupuncture, chiropractic etc. This cover renews annually and all conditions will be covered for Ruby's lifetime.
You pay the first £120 ($150) of each new claim but after that 100% is covered.
Once Ruby is ten years old, this will change to 80%
I cannot tell you the relief I feel at knowing that this is sorted. Meg blew out her insurance at the age of 3 (she was on a different sort of insurance which paid out up to £10,000 per condition and then no more for anything related), and I am still paying for the cost of trying to save the leg she lost more than 8 years ago.... 
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experience. Hugely appreciated.
C xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 20 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
WOAH! First, thank you for updating. This is SO HELPFUL!
Clare you are so smart for inquiring beyond the preliminary info given by PetSure. You ran up against the same exact bureaucracy that I did when searching for a new company for Nellie. Most will not do medical record reviews, and most will not give you any real idea of what's covered until a claim is filed and underwriting gets their hands on it.
But YOU, my furiend, you didn't give up! I love that! And your persistence paid off in a big way! CONGRATS!
Thank you for letting us know here. And for doing the currency conversions, that is so nice of you!
I'm going to update our Pet Insurance for Tripawds post with a link to your discoveries. And then I'm going to look further into PetPlan for Nellie, which is now called Fetch here in the US. It does look like they operate on a different model, but I'll do more digging. Once I get done with that investigation I'll update even further with a new post, and here.
THANK YOU! Ruby is one lucky pup to have such a great mom who doesn't give up easily!
An update on whether or not Petplan will cover an adopted Tripawd's orthopedic needs ....
I spoke with them about Nellie's situation, and the sales rep is confident that nothing would be covered as far as orthopedic or rehab needs that can be traced back to living with a missing leg. He gave me the "it's up to underwriting" line.
When I asked if the company would do a medical record review so that we could know for sure, the agent was unfamiliar with the concept but went digging around and learned that they will do a review if we start a policy on her. We could cancel the policy if we don't like what the review says they will or won't cover.
I also asked if prosthetics and assistive devices are covered, and he couldn't confirm but said he would find out for me. That was over a week ago so I doubt he remembered.
Meanwhile, as soon as I can put together the funds to take out a second policy on her, I'm going to do it. I'll keep you posted!
. Hopefully, it will pay off and what they cover and do not cover will be very clear rfrom the start egarding three leggers (or 3 1/2).
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
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