Tag: pet insurance

Categories
Community Stories

How does Pet Insurance help with medical costs?

© Momo Studio Singapore | www.momostudio.sg | +65 92220684

Hi there! I’m Denise.

My Bulldog, Boo, has been always been an angel on fours. It’s just like any other relationship where there are ups and downs but it’s just me compromising with her all the time (haha!).

 Nevertheless, she is really one of a kind. You can say she’s my soulmate.

Boo’s Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) Changed our Lives

Boo has always been the priority in my life so her diagnosis did not deter me from loving her. However, I guess with IVDD, it requires much more effort to care for her now. 

She is unable to walk, pee or poop on her own, so she requires somebody to empty her bladder every couple of hours. I can’t spend late nights out with my friends as I have to be back home to check on her and give her nightly massages. For almost 2 years, I also gave up my bed and slept on the floor with her.

Honestly, it was so tough during the first few months, I was financially and mentally drained. But it gets better with time as we start to understand her schedules and needs, and of course with help from my family members. Emotional support was very crucial. Dog cafes and dog runs are places I avoid, instead, we go to pet-friendly places. Basically, every action I take has to cater to her.

Photo Credit: Instagram @boo._thefrenchie

Discovering Aon Happy Tails Pet Insurance

As a breed, French Bulldogs face a long list of medical problems and sadly to say it was because of humans. The best-looking dogs were bred to meet the market demands which resulted in common medical conditions such as IVDD.

I found out after researching pet insurance that Aon Happy Tails was the only one that covers surgical and its breed issues. After some research, I found out that Aon Happy Tails was the only one that covers surgical costs as well as hereditary and congenital conditions. At that point in time, it was extremely crucial for me as the surgical intervention of IVDD is expensive.

I signed up to be covered by them at Pet Expo (don’t we all miss them). They offered promos for the first year and a couple of free gifts. It was very easy. Basically, all you need to do is sign up, consult a vet to sign and approve a document stating your pet’s medical condition and send it back. We were insured just like that. It was fuss-free. 

Claiming Process

Well, Aon Happy Tails covers breeds medical issues like IVDD. Boo is afflicted with a serious case of IVDD hence surgical intervention is needed. I remember I paid close to 14k on Boo’s surgery and her stay (excludes X-ray and all the miscellaneous tests). Through Happy Tails, I was able to redeem around 5-6k (Don’t quote me on the value! I claimed 2 years ago).

At that point in time, I was so relieved about owning the insurance. The best part was I did not even get the most expensive plan they provided. 

Claiming via Aon Happy Tails was so easy as well. Surprisingly, their helpdesk was incredibly responsive and helpful. Just submit all necessary documents and they will get back to you on the claims.

** We recommend interested pet owners to engage in their own self-research for Aon Happy Tails. Do note that the claim amount quoted by Denise is not an accurate representation of the reimbursement rate.

Advice to Pet Owners

Avoid thinking of insurance as taboo! 

It is always good to keep informed on your pets’ medical needs at any stage of their lives. Always do your research on the coverage you require out of insurance, e.g X-rays, surgery, MRI. 

Of course, I am not advising you to purchase pet insurance that you can’t afford. Just don’t ever give up on your pet due to expensive medical bills. There are always solutions to your problem.

Remember, all your pet has is you.

You are their whole lives.

Aon Happy Tails pet insurance covers a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions such as:

  • Luxating Patella
  • Hip and Elbow Dyplasia
  • Cherry Eye
  • Glaucoma
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
  • Femoral Head and Neck Excision

** DISCLAIMER: There is a ninety (90) days waiting period for sicknesses and a twelve (12) month waiting period for Specified Hereditary and Congenital sicknesses from the policy’s first commencement during which sicknesses claims are not payable.

During the twelve (12) month waiting period, if conditions or symptoms of IVDD begin to emerge, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and will no longer be covered by Aon Happy Tails.

For more information, you can also check out their dedicated online portal which helps pet parents obtain a library of pet-related information, as well as ensure their sign up process is smooth and easy to access. You can also access their pricing plans via their website. Simply enter your details and get a quote!

With Aon Happy Tails, rest assured your pet is in safe hands.

Follow Denise and Boo on Instagram.

For more information about Aon Happy Tails pet insurance, check out their Instagram or Website.

Categories
Brand Highlights Community Stories

Let’s Protect our Loved Ones with Pet Insurance!

The month of August marks a special event for Singaporeans.

On the 9th of August, Singaporeans gather around to celebrate their National Day. Due to heightened pandemic alerts, celebrations were held online. As such, many Singaporeans took this opportunity to spend some time with their loved ones in the comfort and safety of their homes. 

Since adopting Dexter, the 9th of August marks more than 1 special occasion for Shermaine. Here’s what she had to say:

What does Singapore mean to you and how will you be celebrating National Day this year?

Growing up in Singapore, this country symbolises comfort and security for me. 

Especially during these trying times, I am glad that our pandemic situation has not spiralled out of control. I feel assured that we are reasonably protected in Singapore!

I also enjoy the peace and security we have in Singapore that I think we should definitely not take for granted! 

This year, the performances have been postponed, but I believe my family and I would still be up to watch the parade! Definitely can’t miss out on the flypast, am I right? ?

Afterwards, it would just be a really chill day. I intend to catch up on some family time and celebrate my little monkey’s* birthday! I ordered a birthday cake for him so I am pretty excited about that. It will be a small celebration though since we are unable to invite his doggy friends. 

*Little Monkey is the nickname Shermaine has for her pomeranian dog, Dexter.

Oh wow, what a surprise! What does it mean to celebrate both Dexter and Singapore’s birthday on the same day?

I was relatively surprised too when I found out that he is a National Day baby. It is great because I can be sure I would always have time to celebrate his birthday since it is a Public Holiday. Plus, enjoy some fireworks! (though not this year) 

Dexter is my second dog after the sudden passing of my first dog named Junior. Hence, I understand wholeheartedly the importance of cherishing every moment I have with him. He is an integral part of my family so I always feel the need to protect him. Especially since he is dependent on me for his living.

He is my baby and I will do anything to keep him safe and happy!

That is so sweet! I can sense that you share a deep bond with Dexter. What are some steps you take to protect your furkid?

I bring him out for regular checkups which are super important. I also believe in the importance of vaccinating your pets. Since Dexter is relatively small, I have to be sure not to over-vaccinate him. Just the essential shots to reduce his susceptibility to illnesses. Prevention is better than cure!

My expenditure for vet visits is constantly increasing. Based on my past experience with Junior, medical costs are always a concern. From the pet owners I have talked to, most of them recommended pet insurance. I think it works similarly to human’s insurance, right?

If we purchase insurance for our family members, and Dexter is family, then certainly I should be getting him some too!

Speaking of pet insurance, have you heard about Aon Happy Tails?

Yes, I have!

I heard that toy and small breeds like Pomeranians are very prone to joint issues such as luxating patella. Dexter is one of them. For an active dog like him who is constantly jumping and running around, I worry about him constantly. However, I am aware that luxating patella is only covered by Aon Happy Tails pet insurance if it is not a pre-existing condition.

That being said, for dog owners who are extremely concerned about their dog’s safety- I would recommend looking into Aon Happy Tails pet insurance. Even though Dexter’s luxating patella would not be covered, I would still consider purchasing it, in case he develops further issues in the future.

Plus, I’ve always heard good recommendations and reviews regarding Aon Happy Tails. Just remember to cut down on the BBT* so that your little one is well protected! #WorthIt

* BBT refers to bubble tea, one of Shermaine’s favourite drinks.

Aon Happy Tails pet insurance covers a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions such as:

  • Luxating Patella
  • Hip and Elbow Dyplasia
  • Cherry Eye
  • Glaucoma
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
  • Femoral Head and Neck Excision

** DISCLAIMER: There is a ninety (90) days waiting period for sicknesses and a twelve (12) month waiting period for Specified Hereditary and Congenital sicknesses from the policy’s first commencement during which sicknesses claims are not payable.

During the twelve (12) month waiting period, if conditions or symptoms of luxating patella begin to emerge, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and will no longer be covered by Aon Happy Tails. For Shermaine’s case, since luxating patella is already an existing condition for Dexter, it would not be covered under her purchase of Aon Happy Tails pet insurance!

For more information, you can also check out their dedicated online portal which helps pet parents obtain a library of pet-related information, as well as ensure their sign up process is smooth and easy to access. You can also access their pricing plans via their website. Simply enter your details and get a quote!

With Aon Happy Tails, rest assured your pet is in safe hands.

You can find out more about Aon Happy Tails pet insurance via their Instagram or Website.

Follow Shermaine and Dexter on Instagram.

** All information found within this article is subject to the terms and conditions of Aon Happy Tails.

Categories
Community Stories

Pet Health Insurance Explained

As a pet parent, you are responsible for keeping your furry friend safe and healthy. However, you cannot always protect them from unexpected accidents or illnesses. In this case, you must ensure that they can get the treatment they need, and to do that, you must be able to afford it. This is where pet insurance can help you with that.

What is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance provides coverage for veterinary care. It can be partial or full, and there are two types:

  • Accident Only: Covers a portion of the cost of treatment in case of an accident.
  • Accidents & Illness: Covers fully or partially any type of illness unrelated to any accidents.

Important: There are policies that exclude coverage of specific health issues, such as pre-existing conditions or behavioral problems. Pet insurance does not usually cover:

  • Regular check-ups
  • Vaccinations
  • Annual bloodwork
  • Dental services
  • Flea medications

Remember, every policy is different.

How Pet Insurance Works

Dog or cat insurance is essential to treating your pet in case of an accident or an illness. By investing in a plan, you are ensured that any treatment for your pet becomes more affordable. The pet insurance company helps you cover some or all of the costs for them. You can do this in 3 simple steps:

  1. Pay the veterinary bill
  2. Notify your insurance agency
  3. Get some or all your money back

Each insurance plan has a different cost that you pay every month. The factors that affect the cost are:

  • The type of pet you have
  • Breed
  • Age
  • Where you live
  • Your plan’s deductible & reimbursement level
  • Your plan’s annual payout limit 

To better understand how pet insurance works, you need to familiarise yourself with a few terms. These are:

  • Deductible: It is the amount you pay for veterinary services before the insurance company starts reimbursing you. There are different kinds such as annual, per condition/incident, or per visit. Unless you exceed the deductible, you won’t be reimbursed.
  • Reimbursement: Occurs when the pet insurance company pays you back. Depending on the plan you have, you get reimbursed for the full cost or a smaller percentage.
  • Payout Limit: If your plan includes a payout limit where the insurance company only pays up to a certain amount, then you must pay for any expenses that exceed said limit. This gets reset at the start of each policy year.
  • Filing a Claim: After you pay for a veterinary bill, file a claim in order to get reimbursed. Once it’s approved, the pet insurance company will pay you back.

Is Pet Insurance Worth it?

You may be skeptical about investing your money in insurance. However, pet insurance is indeed worth it, and here’s why:

  1. Treatment of any of your pet’s injuries is affordable as pet insurance helps cover the costs.
  2. It is a small investment that requires small payments that saves you money in the end.
  3. It is more reliable than having a savings account, as you pay the company to ensure coverage.

Most importantly, pet insurance is truly your furry friend’s lifesaver. Eliminate your worries about paying for expensive treatments. Ensure that your pet stays healthy and overcomes any obstacle that comes their way!

This article is contributed by Cooper Pet Care. Cooper Pet Care provides instant access to vet support via chat and video calls as well as honest pet insurance with fair and transparent terms.

Categories
Community Stories

My dog might inherit Hip Dysplasia, what can I do to offset medical costs?

Hip Dysplasia is a skeletal condition that commonly affects large and giant breed dog breeds. It might also occur in smaller breeds occasionally.

Hip Dysplasia affects your pet’s hip joint function. For dogs with hip dysplasia, their ball and socket joints are misaligned, making them rub and grind instead of moving smoothly.

Over time, it can also cause the joints to deteriorate, resulting in the loss of the joint’s function.

This condition is hereditary, however, it can also develop due to excessive growth rates, exercise habits, unhealthy weight and/or improper nutrition — (Source)

For pet owners whose dogs suffer from hip dysplasia, keeping up with their medical expenses can be tricky. Diagnosis of the condition alone incurs costs such as X-ray examinations, blood tests and radiographs.

We spoke to Sandra, owner of Dizzy and Woozy, of which the latter suffers from the aforementioned medical condition.

1. Hello, nice to meet you! Tell us more about your relationship with Dizzy and Woozy.

Dizzy and Woozy are our 2 golden retrievers. We could never imagine owning Golden Retrievers as they shed a lot!

However, in 2019, we had the chance to look after Dizzy due to our job as pet sitters. He came to us fortnightly for a couple of months.

Afterwards, my fiancee and I decided that we are ready for our own furkid, hence we began looking around for a doodle. As luck would have had it, we were given the opportunity to be Dizzy’s pawrents! 

We’ve been looking after him since he was 5 months old and we finally adopted him when he was 10 months old.

Dizzy grew up in an environment with other boarders and daycare furkids. When Covid happened, it got quiet around the house as fewer boarders came to us.

We wanted him to have a sibling to play and grow up with. During the 2020 circuit breaker, we were given a chance to provide Dizzy with a little brother. Hence, we adopted Woozy who was 10 months old at the time.

Dizzy will be turning 3 years old in Aug 2021, while Woozy will be turning 2 years old in 2021. 

We enjoy a very close relationship with both of them.

As we are pet sitters, we are home nearly 24/7, always doing things together especially during the circuit breaker ◡̈ They follow us around the house no matter what we are doing! They particularly love going on adventures and car rides!◡̈

2. How does having Hip Dysplasia affect your everyday life with them?

We suspected that Woozy might have hip dysplasia from the way he walked (his hips tend to sway). He doesn’t seem to have the strength to climb stairs, jump up onto the sofa/bed, and car either.

We have to carry him up to the car, help him up onto the bed and sometimes even wait for him while he climbs up the stairs.

3. How did you find out about your pet’s medical condition?

After a long 8km walk, we noticed that he began to walk a little funny. His hips were swaying a lot, which was very different from Dizzy’s.

Other golden retriever owners also informed us of this irregularity – many of them commented that his hind legs appeared to cross over each other as he walked, which were not common for most dogs.

Out of concern, we spoke to a vet about it. She suspected that he might have hips dysplasia but could only confirm via X-Ray under general anaesthesia, which we did not want.

So, we did not seek any treatment for it as it didn’t seem to be causing him any pain/discomfort.

4. Did you take on any activities/treatments for Woozy as a result of this condition?

The vet suggested swimming lessons and to reduce Woozy’s walking actions. We bring him for swimming 2-4 times a month, each session costing us around $24.

We also feed him rosehip powder daily, around $70-$140/month depending on the promotions available.

Because of swimming sessions, we also have to send him for grooming after swimming, which costs us around $80-$100/session. 

  • With regards to offsetting medical costs, we also checked with Sandra about her interest in pet insurance and how it might help her and Woozy.

5. Do you think pet insurance is helpful to owners whose pets are affected by hip dysplasia?

We have attended a lot of animal events since entering the pet industry, and have heard about pet insurance.

With regards to how it helps– I think it really depends on what the insurance covers. As you can see, hip dysplasia is an illness that requires long term care regardless of it being mild or serious. For e.g. swimming/supplements, and in serious cases, even surgery.

Will any insurance cover all of this? 

If it is suitable for our boys, we are definitely interested in purchasing it.

To answer her question; Yes! Aon Happy Tails does cover hip dysplasia under their specific hereditary and congenital conditions!

Under their insurance policy, the surgical treatment of any sicknesses, injury or accident including post-surgical follow-up during the policy term.

Also covered are specified hereditary and congenital conditions and cancer treatment.

Photo Credit: Instagram @aonhappytails

However, there is a ninety (90) days waiting period for sicknesses and a 12-month waiting period for Specified Hereditary and Congenital sicknesses from the policy’s first commencement during which sicknesses claims are not payable.

During the twelve (12) month waiting period, if conditions or symptoms of hip dysplasia begin to emerge, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and will no longer be covered by Aon Happy Tails.

Hip Dysplasia coverage will only be applied to pets who are enrolled before six (6) years of age.

You can find out more about Aon Happy Tails pet insurance via their Instagram or Website.

Follow Sandra, Woozy and Dizzy on Instagram

Categories
Community Stories

Why I Like Pet Insurance

Closeup view of client with cute dog signing pet insurance policy at veterinarian clinic, panorama

Many people around me are getting furkids rather than having human children due to many reasons.

  1. A furkid will always shower you with love no matter how old they get.
  2. The cost of raising them is lower than human kids where you would need to think about getting a place near the ideal school and the cost of university, etc.

Talking about cost; The cost of raising a furkid is definitely not all fields of flowers, especially when it comes to medical cost since pets are unable to tell you when they are not feeling well. The most they can do is to hit their head against the wall or keep licking themselves etc.

Erm sorry I think most cats are not this big haha

This is where you can consider getting pet insurance.

Pet insurance is similar to hospital insurance for yourself. There are more and more pet owners who will get pet insurance for their furkid recently.

The cost of Pet Insurance starts from $300+ and can cover up to 50% of your vet bill.

I am an agent selling pet insurance, I can say that I am quite fortunate that I do not have much claim experience so far.

Hi there

Last year I had a claim where the poor girl had food poisoning and a visit to the vet set them back by $631.

Not sure about you but the bill kinda scares me…

Compared that to the premium of $350, doesn’t this feel like a bargain now?
For the interested parties, feel free to reach out to me as stated in this blog or visit my website: www.pettoshield.com.

See ya guys~

Categories
Community Stories

Aon Happy Tails Pet Insurance – Interview with Debby and Mocha

We always want the best for our pets.

The cost of pet ownership is high, and the cost of their medical bills even higher. When owning a pet, it is important for us to determine their physical health before engaging with surgeries. Our pets are unable to verbalise what they feel internally hence the multitudes of consultations, x-rays and blood tests before we are able to truly determine what ails them.

Last month, we heard from Jane and considered the benefits of pet insurance with her. This month, we decided to reach out to a paw-rent who has recently discovered Aon Happy Tails pet insurance and to garner a better understanding of what drew her to consider Happy Tails.

Hi there! Tell us more about Mocha, and your relationship with them!

We got Mocha at the end of 2018. My previous dog, Jack Russell had passed on six years before and my son had been bugging us to get a dog so we thought that it was finally time to get a new fur kid.  Mocha is very timid and shy, it took quite a while for her to actually get comfortable with us but once she did she started following me everywhere. During CB (Circuit Breaker 2020), we truly bonded with her and she became much more comfortable being playful with us. On trips to the dog park, she remains happy to explore the park and runs around even if she is not playing with other dogs.

How do you and Mocha spend time together this June holidays?

This June Holiday, there is not much we can do as we are still under phase 2A (ha) in Singapore. Yet, we still made time to go for walks in the parks. We also plan to bring her for a swim once we can meet up with more people.

How do you work to ensure the safety and well being of your furkid?

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of my furkid I always give her fresh good food, supplements, and bring her for regular walks so that she has enough exercise. She is not very active at home. Additionally, I always make sure to bring her to the vet if I notice anything amiss with her.

What concerns do you have when visiting the vet?

Just like humans visiting the doctors, our main concern when we visit the vet is the cost of the treatment.

–

Upon hearing this, we asked her about her knowledge of pet insurance. Aon Happy Tails in particular, helps to offset some of the costs incurred by medical procedures.

Have you heard of pet insurance prior to this conversation?

I have heard of pet insurance prior to this conversation! I heard about it from fellow fur parents who had signed up for pet insurance. I think it is important because it will help us cover the cost of any emergency treatment for our furkids.

How do the coverage plans offered by Aon Happy Tails alleviate your concerns (as mentioned above)?

I think the coverage is pretty good as I am very concerned about IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) as a dachshund owner.

IVDD is a paralysis caused by back problems and short-legged dogs are quite prone to having it. Treatment may include rehabilitation or even surgery hence finding out that Aon Happy Tails covers surgery in their insurance plan made them quite appealing to me.

Will you be purchasing Aon Happy Tails in the foreseeable future?

Yes, I will!

Debby’s concerns regarding treatment costs and emergency medical procedures are extremely common amongst pet owners. Simplydollar states that medical costs are the most expensive aspect of owning a pet, with the average vet visit ranging from $50 to $400. 

When it comes to sudden health complications, costs can go even higher, or double, to accommodate the needs of the pet.

Aon Happy Tails’ comprehensive insurance scheme prioritises supporting pet owners through sudden surgical procedures that may arise from new complications in their pet’s health. These complications do not include pre-existing conditions which have already been assessed by the vet.

Regardless, as Debby has aptly mentioned, pets are always at a growing risk of developing new conditions such as the IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) for dogs. To ensure the safety of our pets, and to reduce wallet pains from unexpected medical costs – Pet insurance is a great way to keep us and our loved furkids safe and protected!

You can find out more about Aon Happy Tails pet insurance via their Instagram or Website.

Follow Debby and Mocha on Instagram.

Categories
Community Stories

What is Pet Insurance? Why Do I Need It?

Man vet examining boston terrier with stethoscope in clinic. Veterinarian doctor making checkup of a dog. Young man vet examining dog by stethoscope at pet clinic while nurse making notes in background.

In one of our previous articles, we learnt about Jane and Milky’s experience with entropion. Entropion is a condition in which eyelids begin to roll inwards to the eyeball. It commonly affects animals who have thick eyelids, such as Chow Chows. 

At the end of her anecdote, she wonders about Aon Happy Tails Insurance. 

We sat down with Jane once more to discuss the benefits of pet insurance, and how owning one might have eased the financial burden she experienced.

Photo Credit: Instagram @oolongmilkytea

Hi Jane. We understand that it’s been some time since Milky underwent his eye surgery. Can we ask how he’s doing now?

Jane: He is doing great now! However, the vet recommended undergoing 2-3 more surgeries as his eyelid will continue to drop as he grows older. 

For now, we pay close attention to his tear stains, and/or if he starts scratching his eye excessively. It pains our heart to see him go through multiple surgeries at a young age.

I felt truly distressed reading about Milky’s experience with entropion. In your articles, you mentioned having to pay out lots of money to cover Milky’s consultations and surgeries. What was the total estimated bill incurred?

Jane: All in all, we spent close to $6,000. As it was our first time overcoming the entropion issue, we went for multiple vet consultations. We also had to cover for corrective surgery as the first one was unsuccessful. It was a very stressful period as we had to manage our emotions of watching our boy go through a difficult time. We also struggled to decide whether to go for the best treatment or the best financial decision.

Luckily, I had my husband with me hence we were able to share the burden, and alternate between roles (i.e. when he gets too emotional, I will try to be the logical one and make a decision from gathered data, and asking questions).

I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope your family feels much better now. Overall, what would you conclude was your biggest takeaway from this experience?

Jane: At the end of the article, I mentioned coming across Happy Tails pet insurance. I think having said pet insurance might have helped us A LOT. Compared to Western countries, local pet owners are unlikely to purchase insurance as they feel it might be more expensive in the long run.

Yet, I disagree! We spent a lot of money to ensure Milky’s health. If we had been insured, we might have been able to alleviate some of the costs incurred especially through insurance claims!

Photo Credit: Instagram @oolongmilkytea

I see! Do you think owning pet insurance is important?

Jane: Owning pet insurance might be beneficial in the long run. I think a large stigma against pet insurance stems from the fact that there are no agents actively selling pet insurance. As a result, pet owners are afraid claims will be difficult, and/or there will be hidden clauses. 

I would advise pet owners to make sure they read the T&Cs carefully to ensure that they fully understand the policy and what type of expenses can be claimed and what cannot be claimed. Also, check the duration given between each claim!

Thanks Jane!

Pet Insurance helps to protect the well-being of your fur friends. Like regular insurance, pet insurance covers medical fees incurred by vet visits. 

In Singapore, options for pet insurance are rather limited. However, for pet owners who are largely concerned with the cost of medical bills- Happy Tails pet insurance offers a comprehensive medical plan. Their coverage extends beyond one-off accidents, going beyond to consider outgoing costs in medical care for injuries and illnesses.

Aon Happy Tails Pet Insurance promises to cover a wide range of fees and expenses such as:

  • Diagnostic tests such as x-rays and blood tests culminating in surgery
  • Surgery fees
  • Medications
  • Chemotherapy charges
  • Room and board charges
  • Post-surgery follow-up treatments
  • Surgical implants

This helps to alleviate some of the burden pet owners might experience with veterinary medical bills. Like Jane, many pet owners may undergo repeated consultations and surgeries to ensure the well-being of their pets. With pet insurance, such expenses can be covered and subsequently claimed. That way, you can keep your pets safe while reducing the pressure unexpected surgical procedures can have on your wallet. 

Photo Credit: Instagram @aonhappytails

You can find out more about Happy Tails pet insurance via their Instagram or Website.

Categories
Community Stories

Our experience with entropion (cherry eye)

@milkythecloud

entropion/ɪnˈtrəʊpɪən,ɛnˈtrəʊpɪən

  1. a condition in which the eyelid is rolled inward against the eyeball, typically caused by muscle spasm or by inflammation or scarring of the conjunctiva (as in diseases such as trachoma), and resulting in irritation of the eye by the lashes (trichiasis).
This is Milky, out little boy.

This is Milky, our 1 year Chow Chow coming back from Pet Expo 2019. We would celebrate his 1st birthday on 23rd July, and continue to gush over his mini eyes, not knowing that it’s the start of something more.

1. THE WARNING SIGNS

Milky started tearing a lot. His tear stains got really bad and he started barking at empty spaces (especially at night). He had always have had tear stains but it always got better after we applied eye drops – but this time, it was different.

Eventually, we brought him to a clinic near our office at Clementi area and things just spiral down from there.

2. THE START OF A NIGHTMARE

I remembered talking to 3 different doctors from the same clinic – and realised that 2 of them couldn’t manage Milky for the eye-drop test in any way.

Yes, he struggled A LOT. The female doctors & nurses aren’t able to handle him – so case in point: if your dog is big, consider looking for a male doctor or an experienced doctor who can handle big breeds.

Luckily, Milky is not aggressive at all so he didn’t try to bite. He was just really scared because they needed to drop yellow solution into his eye and check the extent of entropion through a microscopic medical tool.

Eventually, Milky was diagnosed with entropion and needed a surgery. To put it in simple terms – Milky’s eyelid has so much folds that it started to curl in and caused his eyelashes to poke at his eyeball 24/7. The constant poke caused abrasion on his eyeball and caused his eyesight to worsen (explaining the barking) because he thought that there was someone there, but most likely it was just the blurry eyesight that confused him.

We scheduled the surgery; and off he went.

The day of the surgery. Silly boy still didn’t know what’s going on

The surgery took a day, and we came to pick him up thereafter. Look at his REALLY puffy eyes!

It is worth noting here that Chows Chows have a thin windpipe and drools a lot – because of that, their risk of dying during a surgery due to GA increases with age and frequency. This was from another doctor (not from the same clinic)

Look at my little baby.

3. IT DIDN’T END HERE

The doctor who did the operation was honest – he told us that he is a general surgeon and not a specialist when it comes to eye surgeries like these. He was very assuring and empathetic (which I really like), but the surgery didn’t go well and was in fact, not a successful one.

We thought that everything was over and things are all good; fast forward 3 weeks – his eye got worst.

This was 2-3 weeks AFTER the surgery. We spent $4K+ in total for the first surgery.

4. THE MOST DISAPPOINTING VET

We went back to the clinic and asked – what’s going on? The doctor who did the surgery wasn’t on-duty, and it was a Japanese doctor who attended to us. It was pretty bad (not her), but in the sense that she didn’t really know what was going on and I can’t really understand her accent.

There were a lot of Huh? and Why? and eventually, she referred us to another hospital – let’s call it V.

I had the WORST experience at V.

At this point, I just want to make it very clear that this is my personal experience and doesn’t represent the views of the general public. But I believe as a paying customer, I reserve the rights to share my own thoughts and opinion. This is my rights as a consumer.

I remembered it was a Saturday when I brought Milky over to the hospital (9pm+) and the said doctor known to be an eye specialist wasn’t around. I have an important family lunch the next day that clashed with the doctor’s only availability (2pm+).

Eventually, we decided to board Milky at the hospital for 1 night and let the doctor check on his eye the next day. I would then head over to the hospital to catch up with the doctor after my lunch.

And that is the start of the most disappointing conversation with said vet. I reached the hospital at around 3pm+, and the vet was free to have a quick chat.

??‍⚕️: “Milky has entropion and need another surgery. The cost will be around $4K+.”

??‍♀️: “But he just had his surgery 3 weeks ago – why would he need another surgery?”

??‍⚕️: “I don’t know, I didn’t do the surgery. He will need another eye surgery and I am available earliest next week”

I was livid; and got very emotional. What do you mean “I don’t know, I did not do the surgery?” My POV is that as a doctor, I would have expected at least a breakdown of

  • What happened?
  • What probably went wrong?
  • Is it safe to do the surgery within such a short span of time?
  • Are there any other alternatives we can go about?

No, he simply told me that HE DIDN’T KNOW and walked off when the conversation ended.

I paid for the bill – $400+ for:

  1. Overnight boarding
  2. Doctor consultation
  3. Medicine (I can’t remember if this happened)

The entire process took less than 24 hours. I boarded Milky 9pm+ and brought him home the next day at 3pm+.

5. THE PETS COMMUNITY

At this point – I was distraught. I called the surgeon and told him about the really bad experience I’ve had with V and said doctor. I wasn’t confident to let a doctor who dismissed a patient with “I didn’t do the surgery” to touch Milky.

He apologised for the failed surgery, and also for the bad experience I had. He was again, very empathetic and I really like that because I felt like a worried mum and his assuring (tone) helped make things much better.

He recommended Dr Heng from Mt.Pleasant, who is the only other doctor who is known for eye surgery in Singapore. It was also at this time that the other Chow Chow owners on Instagram knew about my situation and invited me into a WhatsApp group with over-pouring love, care and help.

2 weeks after his corrective surgery with Dr Heng

I don’t have any photos of Milky going for his corrective surgery, but I must say it was a great experience with Dr Heng. She knew what she was doing, and the total cost came to about $1.6K for 1 eye.

FUN FACT – Mt Pleasant operates as a franchise so whilst they share the same brand name, each outlet runs differently. Reason is because we were initially not comfortable with Mt Pleasant due to a bad experience.

6. CONCLUSION

Dr Heng mentioned that Milky has a 75% chance of going blind in his left eye if we did not proceed with the corrective surgery. But even then, there were doubts like “Well, doctors would always be pro-surgery cause it’s more income”; and i think it was just a very stressful period for us because information is not exactly readily available.

Everything became much clearer only after we joined the CHOW CHOW WhatsApp group and got the advice from all the owners who have done the surgery with their furkids before.

We also wondered if we should have bought pet insurance for Milky (Aon, Happy Tails do cover cherry eyes) but alas, it would only take into effect 1 year into purchase so we wouldn’t be able to claim anyways.

My little baby feat. July 2020

Through this episode, I really started to appreciate the power of a community and seek to replicate that via Woof Agency & Pawjourr.

We are still building this ecosystem as we speak, but it’s very important to me that pet owners do not need to be alone when they navigate through pet ownership.

If you have any questions relating to entropion, please feel free to email me at Jane@thewoofagency.com. I am no expert but would be more than happy to share what I know 🙂