Thoughts on IOHC case please -

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Robert FalconerTaylor — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 10:36:45 GMT

[quote user="madeline pike"]

Must be more to this with the insurance?

[/quote]

Maybe? I only have what I have been told by owner and owners vet who did the first op. I requested the dog's clinical histories from 8 weeks old up to adoption and sent them to owners current vets who sent them to insurance - there is nothing on those at all. So if there is something else, it must be with dog's current vet. One of the current vets did make a comment in their notes 'pre-existing', which they retracted when they saw the entire dog's history - insurance was told...

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

madeline pike — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 21:37:51 GMT

Must be more to this with the insurance?

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Robert FalconerTaylor — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 16:12:37 GMT

Thanks very much for all the comments folks -

INSURANCE COMPANY - Direct line - I sent dogs entire clinical history to owners current vet who took this up with DL - it went to ombudsman and it seems unlikely that they are going to pay up for the first surgery. Problem is the dog is no longer ours so we can't do anything to intervene here.

COSTS / BREED - thanks David, very helpful. Not sure the charity can influence the owners current vets decision on who they referred to, BUT if we are going to pay for the surgery, then I will def. speak to them and ask for a [charitable] discount!

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

David Mills — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 19:42:37 GMT

I'm not sure you can call this IOHC definitively if the other elbow is (truly) clear, at least not a classic one.

The procedure if not that difficult, so maybe shop around for a fee lower than that. There is a dogma that Springers require some special consideration, but they essentially just need a big (4.5) screw +/- plate. We've treated plenty that have shown no obvious difference in outcome to other breeds.

Some places prophylactically screw the normal elbow at the same time, but that's a judgement call.

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Bob Russell — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 13:49:39 GMT

If the dog was previously asymptomatic and no screening procedures had revealed a potential problem then there is no reason why the insurance company decision should not be challenged.

I suppose a cat with a fractured femur may have a claim rejected because it had a preexisting femur and a tendency to cross roads!

A threat to name and shame plus the threat of contacting the ombudsman is in order. It is up to us to challenge unfair decisions as owners are often not in a position to know the ins and outs.

Just reread the post! The ombudsman pressure should be maintained!

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Dinu Catilina — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 13:00:40 GMT

Newer name is intracondilar fissure and there are suspicions that it might be a stress fracture rather than an incomplete ossification. If genetic predisposition is enough to rule something out then no cover for basically most things: cruciates, dysplasia, many cancers, corns, atopy, etc

Which insurance company is it?

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Julie Innes — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 12:07:14 GMT

Thank you! Known to me as That-thing-spaniels-get-where-they-fracture-their-condyles

Re insurance: There are already signs that insurance companies will not cover certain breeds for eg cruciate rupture. there is a box on many forms that insists you tick that there was a traumatic incidence causing the rupture and not due to breed disposition. Wonder how long they will pay out for BOAS surgery in brachy's too.

I think breeding in ignorance or just not caring causing many of these issues. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if the person who bred the dog had to pay for any breed related condition! Will never happen though!

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Clive Ansell — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 10:19:24 GMT

[quote user="Virginia Campbell"]If insurance companies are going to refuse to pay out on spaniels' elbows, what else? Cushingoid Bichons? Flatcoats with cancer? Cruciates in...everything? [/quote]

Maybe it's time to start billing the breeders, certainly in cases where they knowingly breed animals with heritable defects?

Earlier this week I removed an abdominal testicle and repaired a large umbilical hernia in Lhasa Apso. An insurance claim is being submitted, but in all honesty why should they pay out, when the woman (Also a client at the practice) who bred it did so against veterinary advice because previous litters have had the same.

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

gdbvet — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 09:39:18 GMT

English is a beautiful language.The use of acronym's in these forums is dementing.

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Virginia Campbell — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 09:06:57 GMT

Incomplete ossification of the humeral condyles.

Leading to not-very-traumatic condylar fractures: goes out to the garden for a wee, comes in with a busted elbow. I don't know that stats on the other side going.

What insurance company was it? If insurance companies are going to refuse to pay out on spaniels' elbows, what else? Cushingoid Bichons? Flatcoats with cancer? Cruciates in...everything?

RE: Thoughts on IOHC case please -

Julie Innes — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 08:59:45 GMT

I know I'll look like a pillock, but what does IOHC stand for?