SchnauzerMax

My first thought would be fat content. I try and keep the fat % below 15%. I have a mini and a standard schnauzer. Schnauzers commonly have hyperlipidemia (sp?) which is elevated levels of fats in the blood and with that (according to my vet) comes a predisposition to pancreatitis. I don't go overboard, I just avoid giving them really fatty things to eat. So, for example, they don't get pigs ears.

I thought she was a POW :laugh:

I'll give an example: Miniature schnauzers were 'created' by crossing standard schnauzers with smaller dogs such as affenpinschers and poodles. A pedigreed miniature schnauzer will have pedigreed miniature schnauzer parents but their ancestors will include standard schnauzers and the other breeds. EFS

Mine love apples. I'm lucky to get half if I try to eat one in front of them! :D

As best I can tell - from reading a lot of pdfs (product disclosures or the fine print) - all the ones backed by Holl ards - which is all of them except the Alli a nz one - they all changed some time last year. All the H-backed ones except maybe medibank for people on that before they changed (not sure how the renewals are going now), no longer cover "bilateral" ie they will cover the first cateract in the first eye - but not any in the other eye... and there is a 20% co-payment in addition to the excess (which was reduced). I didn't get a say in that, they just changed all the cover to less cover and upped the premium. I considered swapping but I couldn't find one that was different. I think if my dog gets something nasty that doesn't go away with one treatment - like cancer - then I have life time cover up to a limit around $15,000. But if she gets something that drastically ruins quality of life - I'm not likely to spend squillions keeping her alive just because I have insurance to cover it. As best I can tell - paying a higher premium can get some preventative treatment covered (but why would you claim with the excess and co-payment making a net nothing for you) or it gets a higher annual or lifetime cover limit eg different premimums affect whether they cover up to $10K to about $15K max annual or lifetime (for one disease). Point me at a pdf that says something different (and isnt the big A) and I'll consider swapping to them. Not all insurance is bad - I've been very glad of my car insurance (although the company refused to pay for the listed accessories which I was pretty mad about) and health insurance. With Medibank pet insurance I think the excess/co-payment doesn't apply to the preventative stuff for the higher premium. It's just a straight amount for 3 of the listed items, each one a maximum of $50 (?). Not that it makes that much difference.

Have you tried the UK version of Amazon - amazon.co.uk ??? It doesn't seem to have the same restrictions (?)

touche! I didn't get much a feel of remorse for poor Dougals passing either. Just because they didn't write it doesn't mean they didn't feel it.

All anti-imflammatories have side-effects. In a very small minority of dogs these side-effects can be immediately serious and have fatal consequences. In the majority of dogs the side-effects are neglible BUT the longer the drug is taken and / or the older the dog the more chance of problems. Rimadyl is a COX-2 inhibitor - think Celebrex or Vioxx for dogs. Those drugs caused such a furor because of the long-term side-effects (heart attack and death). I have had 2 dogs develop pancreatitis while on long-term anti-inflammatories (both dogs with Previcox and the second dog with Rimadyl as well). Tramadol in some dogs causes disorientation and what Sheridan describes as beserker dog. Its a balance between effective pain relief and minimising the side-effects.

Yes, but the magic words on your claim were 'abcess' and 'trauma'.

It will depend in part, on how your vet describes it on the claim form. If they consider the procedure 'cosmetic' or for removal of a deciduous (sp) tooth then they won't pay. They are more likely to pay if the tooth is fractured or there is an infection and yes it ultimately depends on the claims assessor.

Imagine what he would do if his girlfriend/boyfriend died

Wow! What a transformation. he loks so much happier now.

Yes! Thank you :D

Except that liver shunts don't often show up on blood results - the liver enzymes can be normal in dogs with liver shunts so often they don't show up until they become more sick with other problems. And it is possible that the dog wasn't showing as obvious signs of spinal pain at the time of the first visit when the OP thought it was the mouth. I was told by a vet that one symptom of a liver shunt can be a dog smaller in size than its litter mates but the diagnosis is tricky (and costs $$) unless the dog is showing active signs of liver problems.

a what!? x 2

Awful news. I'm so sorry.

My little guy Max had an abdominal infection (gall bladder, liver, pancreas) and ended up at SASH in critical shape. The infection was massive and his blood pressure was really low. He was on 15 minute observations. The thing that saved his life was a plasma transfusion. Expensive but worth it. He's as healthy as a very tiny horse now. I'm not sure if it would be indicated in your case but perhaps something to consider/ask about. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery

I'm so sorry ScratchCat. I was so hoping for better news. Keep him comfortable and spoil him rotten!

Max (our mini schnauzer in my avatar) started on 4 meals a day but we put it back to 3 meals a day after a couple of weeks. Where's the piccies?:D

Glad to hear there were no dramas!

Small donation made via Paypal. Schanuzer rescue have a mini schnauzer in care at the moment in a similar condition. I've only seen pictures but boy it breaks my heart to see such cruelty.

Generally soft or clueless owners will get walked over by any schnauzer - mini, standard or giant.

Scratchcat, After all my experiences, I am a big fan of ultrasound because it shows what's happening with the soft tissues, the stuff that x-rays and blood tests don't show. Ultrasound can show inflammation e.g. a bile duct that is enlarged due to infection or it can show if something (soft tissue) is growing in there that shouldn't. Vets are often reluctant to use ultrasound. I don't know why this is so but with humans one of the first diagnostic ports of call is often ultrasound.

Scratchcat, when you say vomiting water do you mean vomiting up a clear or slightly tinged liquid? Whenever my dogs (past and present) have done this it is has been a precursor to what has turned into pancreatitis. One occasion was triggered by rimadyl, another by previcoxx, both as long term treatments for arthritis. The third occasion was a gall bladder infection which turned really nasty. Ultrasound of the abdomen mght show if there is a problem in that area.

The membership form has room for 2 names. maybe you can ring them up and add hubby to yours?