Refrigerated Yorkie Eats Holiday Ham
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Just One of Last Year's Top 10 Unusual Claims Submitted to
Veterinary Pet Insurance
ANAHEIM, Calif., May 30 PRNewswire
Pets need health insurance, not only for the most common
ailments, but also for some of the most extraordinary. To
demonstrate that fact, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI)combed
through its claims to find the top ten list of most unusual
claims in the year 2000. Fortunately for these pets, their owners
had purchased Veterinary Pet Insurance policies.
"While some of these cases may seem humorous in
retrospect, we have to remember that, at the time, they were real
emergencies for the pets and their owners," says Jack
Stephens, DVM, founder and Chief Executive Officer of
VPI."The lesson to be learned is that pets can get
themselves into an amazing variety of dangerous predicaments.
From what we can tell so far, 2001 is going more smoothly for
this group."
Case #1: Chilly Dog
With guests on the way and meal preparation in high gear, no
one noticed Rex, the wily Yorkshire Terrier climb into the
refrigerator (perhaps disguised as Yorkshire pudding). By the
time he was discovered, the well-chilled pooch had managed to
nosh half the family's holiday ham.
Diagnosis: Pancreatitis from overindulgence.
Hypothermia from excess refrigeration.
Case #2: Dream Kitty
Think you have wild dreams? Stuffie, a Himalayan cat, was
catnapping on a window ledge when she suddenly awoke and jumped
straight up in the air. Too straight, unfortunately, because as
gravity kicked in and she hurtled down to the floor, her back
paws smacked against the ledge.
Diagnosis: Two broken paws.
Recommendation: No more catnip before
bedtime.
Case #3: Pane and Suffering
What's a dog to do? Cora, an Alaskan Malamute, was walking
along minding her own business, when she saw a cat sunning itself
in a house window. To any normal, red-blooded American pup, this
is an invitation to playtime.
Diagnosis: Severe lacerations from crashing
through the window.
Case #4: Nailed
Enu, a Yorkshire Terrier, took "sleeping at the feet of
his master" a step too far when he climbed into his owner's
work boot for a little snooze. Not realizing his puppy was in
there, the owner tried to pull on his boot.
Diagnosis: Scratched cornea from owner's
toenail.
Case #5: Stick-to-it-tiveness
While chasing a rabbit through the desert, one determined
Border Collie named Jesse zigged when he should have zagged.
Diagnosis: Severe lacerations on nose, face
and body from an encounter of the cactus kind.
Case #6: Getting a Seasonal Glow
Every year, a brightly lit tree stands in the living room. And
those electrical cords from the strings of lights are mighty
tempting to dogs and cats alike. But curiosity nearly got the
best of VPI-insured Honey. The orange Tabby's shocking discovery
nearly dimmed everyone's holiday.
Diagnosis: Severe burns.
Near diagnosis: Electrocution.
Case #7: One Tough Chew
Cabot, the Beagle wasn't sure: Was it a chew toy or was it a
rawhide? Neither. It was a metal pipe.
Diagnosis: Broken jaw.
Case #8: Rear-ender
Chasing cats is normal for dogs. Chasing cats and running into
cars is not. Tockey, the chocolate Laborador Retriever was so
focused on getting the neighbor's cat that he didn't notice a car
coming down the street. Fortunately, the car stopped.
Unfortunately, Tockey didn't.
Diagnosis: Soft tissue trauma and multiple
lacerations.
Strong recommendation: Switch to fetching
tennis balls in the back yard.
Case #9: It Was Raining Cats and Dogs
"when I slipped and fell in a Poodle. Only in this case,
it was on a Bichon Frise." Yes, sad to say, a New Yorker was
walking little Snowflake one dark and stormy day when he slipped
and fell right on top of her.
Diagnosis: Broken leg (the dog). Severe
remorse (the owner).
Case #10: Sheer Madness
Dogs insured by VPI have ingested a menu-long list of
delicacies --tinsel, prom dresses, golf balls, pagers, needles
and thread, hearing aids, human medications, drywall, snail bait,
anti-freeze and small flashlightbatteries. But Max the Italian
Greyhound hit a snag when he ate an entire pair of pantyhose
(taupe, control top, reinforced toe, tall).
Diagnosis: Gastrointestinal obstruction.
Other likely, but ruled-out, diagnoses: Intestinal
perforation, indigestion.
Case note: Max reoffended a few months later
with yet another pair of pantyhose. Owner extremely grateful for
VPI coverage.
Claims Outcome
The cost of veterinary care submitted as claims in these cases
ranged from$105 to $1275 per incident. Luckily, each of these
pets has made a full recovery.
Doing What Comes Naturally
"The dogs and cats we share our homes with are
intelligent, playful and sometimes obedient. But they're always
mischievous," notes Stephens. "The fact is, most claims
received are from pets doing what comes naturally."
Fortunately for pet owners, pet insurance can cover more than
6,400 medical conditions related to accidents and illnesses.
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