Whatcha Think??

[Jennifer and Jack]

My mom lives in the adult version of Disney World... They have all kinds of clubs, She belongs to the dog lovers club. Tonight they had a Doggie Dentist come in and speak...  This women ONLY does cat and dog's teeth. They do cleaning, root canal and other services.

I have always used Petzlife and Jack to date has always had since then mild tarter build up.. We are coming up on his fourth birthday in March. 

This Dentist states that even if you don't see any visible tarter that doesn't mean that your dog is free from disease. Jack does have stink breath at times ( sorry Jack) She said dogs need a full exam. She does a full set of x rays (just like humans get) to make sure nothing is growing in the mouth.  Then she puts them to sleep and does a full exam and cleaning. She will fill cavities and do root canals if the owners want.

She said just brushing your dogs teeth alone does not get up under the gums where the bacteria is hiding and it can cause all kinds of disease from kidney, liver and heart. Also  she said dogs are very stolic (she doesn't know Jack) and they can be walking around with a broken tooth and root exposed and we would never know.

Needless to say she is against bones and chewing on hard surfaces... 

So her fee is almost $400.00 for full x rays, cleaning and lab work to be done in advance.  I just logged on to Pet Plan to see if our insurance covers it.. It looks like it does from what I can tell... 

Points of interest.. his insurance says that if a vet recommends a dental procedure and you don't do it, they are not responsible for any disease that occurs.. To date Jack has not been officially recommended to have teeth cleaning, but Molly has.

So if Jack were to get sick and it was linked somehow to his teeth... His insurance is null and void.

I really hate, especially given he is adrenal insufficient to be put under. He doesn't have any signs of disease that I can see but what do I know????  

I am torn.... I know his insurance will cover the bulk of it but do you think she is just trying to drum up business??? I think she has some valid points but ??

Also as a side note., as I was going through Pet Plan exclusions do you know if your dog gets LEPTO and you have not kept up with vaccinations, they don't have to pay for any care related to the disease or any of the other diseases you CAN but are not required to get shots for as well.

I never noticed that before????

Why can't I ever make a rational decision when it comes to Jack ever? I swear I am educated. I swear I am not an air head but when it comes to him I just love him so much.

Do you all go to regular dog dentists? Do you let you dog get put to sleep? She said that if you don't let the dog go to sleep they can't do proper exams. 

Thanks in advance.

Signed

Crazy, Paranoid Doodle Mom.

[BG and Gavin]

Here you go Joanne:

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Great. I'm circled.   I'll have to call them.  This bothers me.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

How often do you get the vaccine?  One time?  Every year?  Every three years?

Going through his records now trying to find if I may have just missed something?

[BG and Gavin]

I got it from day 1 and get it every year.  I have a very dear friend who is very pragmatic and a dog lover in her own right.  When I phoned to tell her I got a new pup she said "Congratulations, make sure you get him a lepto shot asap."

[F, Calla & Luca]

I get it for my dogs yearly too. Of course we are in a circle too.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just a thought but you would think as many times as I have gone in to follow up on swimmers ear, telling them I need a Bordetella because we will be swimming at the dog park all summer, repeatedly telling them I no longer live in their area, I live in 'The Lakes Area' of town, that someone may have suggested this vaccine  to us.

Thank goodness for my internet!  Where did you get that information, the internet?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I found the most recent Heart Worm but not information on Lepto.  The maps won't load.

Anyone else find a map on the the incidence of Lepto?

[Adina P]

Glad I STILL live in a white zone.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Heart worm is so common here in SC.. many, many dogs are positive for it.. We are free from the hot spots of Lepto but right in the thick of Heart Worm. Even though I never not medicate for it, we are always checked yearly anyway.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Linda  yes that is what I mean..

If Jack gets parvo and he is not UTD on shots or titers.. he is not covered for care or Parvo

I live in SC and my vet does NOT recommend Lepto for Jack because of his size..... I wonder if I could get her to write a letter now and send it to the insurance company to have on file.. though I know if pushed my vet would give it..

[Jennifer and Jack]

Sorry No I didn't meant that.. I mean that if my dog gets sick with Lepto and or Lepto complications.. He is not covered unless I can show proof that he has never lapsed in his vaccinations over a certain amount of time...

It makes sense I just never noticed it on there, Jack does not get a lepto shot, his vet recommended against it.

Sorry I didn't communicate that right..... It would just be any disease that would come with Lepto.... Just like if the vet notes on your chart that your dog needs a teeth cleaning and you don't do it...then down the road you have problems with the teeth or mouth, Pet Plan will not cover it.. If you want I can cut and copy the exclusions from their website.  

[Jennifer and Jack]

 PET

1. In order for your policy to remain valid you must take care of

   your pet and arrange and pay for your pet to have the following: (1) An annual health check.
   (2) An annual dental exam.
   (3) Any treatment normally suggested by a primary vet to

   prevent illness or injury.

2. If your pet has not been examined by a primary vet within the

   twelve (12) months prior to the effective date of the policy you must arrange to have your pet examined at your own expense within the first 30 days after the effective date of the policy. The examination will be used as the basis for determining any pre- existing conditions.

c. To be afforded coverage for the diseases listed below, you must keep your pet vaccinated at your expense, as recommended by your primary vet. We will not pay any claims that result from or are related to any illness that is listed below that a  vaccine would have prevented.

(1) Canine distemper.
(2) Canine adenovirus 2 (canine viral hepatitis). (3) Canine parainfluenza.
(4) Canine parvovirus.
(5) Leptospirosis.
(6) Rabies.