SGT and ops advice

[betty]

I haven't ever done that before as the veterinary options just weren't there for an large claims (vets wouldn't routinely test, x-ray, scan etc) and meds were not as expensive as they are now - so all you ever really got was some antibiotics or some cheap pain meds (well metacam/meloxidyl stil is).

However, now this is becoming more of a 'thing' and some vets are specialising in this branch of vet med - it certainly could be. I would ask around at some exotic vets inititally to find out if anyone has ever managed to claim for anything smaller than a rabbit - and if so who was it through. I have heard that there are several exotic insurances being touted, but like you - I am not aware of the exclusions or the excess. Most canine insurance policies have the excess at around £120-£150 - with dogs/certain breeds already paying up to an additional 20% of total cost on top of the claim too. So it doesn't seem hopeful as to what a small animal policy would be able to help with.

Most canine and feline policies don't pay for dental work either (which is quite expensive with most quotes for dental work being between £300 to £1200) - not too helpful for most rodents and rabbits who have tooth related life-long conditions.

It is a tricky world out there in insurance - but get the right policy and it is golden - and saves and extends valuable lives. I hear some great good news updates from some of our pet owners - puts a smile on your face that something so simple could make so much difference to the animals.

Perhaps as a forum - we team together to start to research options for our expanding range of gerbil care options - and coping with its growing costs.

[tanzanyte]

I think that would be a good idea moving forward. The rising costs are going to mean that proper care is inaccessible for a lot of owners and I dread to think what will happen then. There was also a £45 increase from Max's op a month ago to Pepsi's,despite it being the same place and the same surgeon. So between that and Marks vets more than doubling the cost a few months on from Blake having his procedure I just don't see how people can keep up with this.

Thankfully Pepsi has made it through his op ok. I couldn't afford a biopsy on either of them. To be honest I'm just happy they've come through successfully so I'll never know whether it was cancerous, but they said neither of them looked nasty, even though Pepsi's was very fast growing.
It's so funny that Max went round and round in circles following his anaesthetic. I was worried that he had had a stroke or something but he obviously just didn't know what to do with himself for the entire evening. Whereas Pepsi is like he's on speed. He is off at mach 3 if something scares him, and currently won't stop chewing, but I'm thinking that may be more for calming. Hopefully he will chill out a bit more tomorrow. He is proving to be a nightmare with the meds so I'm just hoping we successfully manage to get the loxicom down him twice a day for the next week to 10 days.

[betty]

The biopsies are only an extra anyway for us humans - they won't change the treamtment plan anyway as currently there aren't any treatments/meds for gerbil cancer anyway - apart from possibly regular scans and subsequent removals if you wanted to keep on top of things.

As for the meds - usually loxicom/metacam/meloxidyl are all super tasty - and so dripping the dose on to a raisin is always a winner with mine. they love it. Although do make sure they get to eat it all themselves - not have it stolen by a tank-mate. Watch closely as otherwise you need to treat the thief too!

[Markpd]

I wondered about pet insurance for my gerbils too, I think I did ask before, but I can't remember what was said!

Sorry to hear about your further gerbil woes and the hefty vet bill!
Glad Max is ok, have you posted about Pepsi elsewhere?

[tanzanyte]

I don't think I did post elsewhere for Pepsi, although I could have done and forgot.
He's been fine, he was like he was on speed when he came to after surgery - totally different to Max who just stumbled everywhere and went round and round in circles. All has healed, although this past week we've noticed another lump on his abdomen. I have no idea what to do now other than play the watching and waiting game to see if it grows as it's teeny tiny like a little pimple atm. Last time his grew quite quickly so I hope it won't be the case this time.

[TJ's Rodent Ranch]

hi there.

I'm so sorry to hear Pepsi has another strange occurrence.
If the bill is okay I might try to get him in with the vet again. I understand if you can't. Vets can seem sometimes as if they just want to suck every last drop of money/time/energy you have, so don't worry about it.
I assume if there's another lump, they didn't remove the whole scent gland?
If you decide to opt for another surgery, I would suggest seeing if they can do that, if they haven't already. Otherwise, I would assume the cancer has spread beyond the SG.

[betty]

Yes, if they didn't remove the whold gland - as we always recommend - then another tumour can grow on the remaining tissue unfortunately. Certainly having a word with the same vet is helpful here as not only might they give you a free or at least reduced re-check appointment - they can hopfully learn enough to change their practices to ALWAYS take off the whole gland.

Alternatively, it could just be a blimp in the tissue above of below the wound that has just runckled up from the stitches or where the skin was matched up unevenly down the mid-line after tissue was removed. Obviously having a vet have a look at it could really put your mind at reast if this is the case.

Either way it's a win-win to revisit your same vet as part of that same treatment package. Fingers crossed it is the latter....