One of my neighbors adopted a 2nd dog (lovely SWEET sheltie-spaniel) within the last 6 months from Muttville which specializes in senior dog rescue -- Long story short: this woman is NOT wealthy, and her very modest budget is being drained so heavily by that good deed, she has begun fearing the heartbreaking option of having to return poor old Manny-Moe to the welfare shelter

Muttville told her to use Banfield in PetSmart as this dog's Vet, and she has been taking him there -- They conned her into buying into their quite costly Insurance Plan, which covers NOTHING of what all they insist he needs, which is:

(I'm transcribing from her handwritten notes, so not sure of spelling)...

A) Gabapentin 100 mg/2-3 caps every 12 hrs INDEFINITELY for Back Pain

B) "ding tang shen ling bai zhu" 1/2 teaspoon every 12 hrs "for stomach"

C) Exclusive diet of 1 can Rx Purina Pro-Plan EN Gastroenteric daily

D) EfA1N Omega 3 Antioxidents nutri-supplement 2 pumps/day to increase weight

This good Samaritan is being BANKRUPTED, so I suggested she ask My Vet for a "consult" to discuss the chance of arriving at a LESS EXPENSIVE home health care routine for that dog !!! But I also promised to share her concerns with my knowledgeable friends on the Leerburg Forum to see what opinions regular members here might wish to offer, before she pays for an appointment at the clinic I use, just so she'll have the benefit of your experience in hand ahead of time -- I'm in tears while typing, at the thought of this extremely loving & well-behaved "gray muzzle" facing the unbearable possibility of yet another re-homing ... Manny-Moe deserves to live out his life (he does NOT appear in discomfort/distress) with this kind lady & her daughter, so I'm hoping for some GREAT advice from some of you that she can run by my dogs' doctor ASAP

 Quote: Candi Campbell

One of my neighbors adopted a 2nd dog (lovely SWEET sheltie-spaniel) within the last 6 months from Muttville which specializes in senior dog rescue -- Long story short: this woman is NOT wealthy, and her very modest budget is being drained so heavily by that good deed, she has begun fearing the heartbreaking option of having to return poor old Manny-Moe to the welfare shelter

Muttville told her to use Banfield in PetSmart as this dog's Vet, and she has been taking him there -- They conned her into buying into their quite costly Insurance Plan, which covers NOITHING of what all they insist he needs, which is:

(I'm transcribing from her handwritten notes, so not sure of spelling)...

A) Gabapentin 100 mg/2-3 caps every 12 hrs INDEFINITELY for Back Pain

B) "ding tang shen ling bai zhu" 1/2 teaspoon every twelve hrs "for stomach"

C) Exclusive diet of 1 can Rx Purina Pro-Plan EN Gastroenteric daily

D) EfA1N Omega 3 Antioxidents nutri-supplement 2 pumps/day to increase weight

This good Samaritan is being BANKRUPTED, so I suggested she ask My Vet for a "consult" to discuss the chance of arriving at a LESS EXPENSIVE home health care routine for that dog !!! But I also promised to share her concerns with my knowledgeable friends on the Leerburg Forum to see what opinions regular members here might wish to offer, before she pays for an appointment at the clinic I use, just so she'll have the benefit of your experience in hand ahead of time -- I'm in tears while typing, at the thought of this extremely loving & well-behaved "gray muzzle" facing the unbearable possibility of yet another re-homing ... Manny-Moe deserves to live out his life (he does NOT appear in discomfort/distress) with this kind lady & her daughter, so I'm hoping for some GREAT advice from some of you that she can run by my dogs' doctor ASAP

I'll address everything I can, so this will be long.

I suspect that the items causing the biggest hit to the wallet might be the insurance and the RX food. I don't know anything about the insurance, but I'm thinking that pet health insurance is probably more useful as a hedge against emergencies and serious illnesses than as help with prevention. But again, it's not something that I'm knowledgable about.

I did find this review site, though, that contains a lot of good general info about pet health insurance (as well as their ratings). I read the whole thing and thought it was quite informative. At the very bottom, there's a link to "Best Cheap Pet Insurance," too. And I'm sure there are other such sites that will come up from Googling similar phrases.
https://www.reviews.com/pet-insurance/

The topic of the RX food is near the bottom of my post.


Please note that not only am I NOT a health professional, but I don't know anything about this individual dog, even if I were.

That said, IMHO a second opinion, when in doubt, is always a good plan. JMHO.

I'd like to make a couple of comments, though, just in passing and not necessarily meant as criticism (but more as things to consider).


Shen Ling Bai Zhu Pian might be what was meant here .... I don't know much about Chinese herbal supplements, but I think this is a spleen-support supplement -- possibly also a general digestion aid. I'd probably ask both about the cost and maybe about possible alternatives. (Again, I really don't know much about Chinese herbal supplements.)


EFA1N

I'm a huge proponent of long-chain Omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) for dogs (as well as for us).

And fish-body oil may well be our most efficient and practical source of these long-chain EFAs. (I say "fish BODY" to differentiate from fish LIVER oil.)

Dogs who don't regularly get something like sardines may well benefit from a high-quality, very carefully handled (refrigerated, protected at all times from light and heat and exposure to air) oil from named wild fish (not just "fish oil" or "marine oil") that's lowest in toxins and heavy metals (anchovies, sardines, salmon, etc.).
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/smart-seafood-buying-guide?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjavryqSn3AIVjNlkCh0brAk4EAAYASAAEgISE_D_BwE
(Again, and throughout this post, this is strictly my personal non-professional opinion!)

But it's not meant to be used as a weight-gain supplement. In fact, to use it as a significant source of calories may result in over-supplementing (IMHO). To make a very long story short, its benefits to dogs are largely related to the anti-inflammation properties of DHA and EPA, the long-chain EFAs that make the oil in fish so valuable.* (Chronic inflammation is a major component of countless ailments, and is the primary component in many. A few of the many ailments caused by or related to inflammation are diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and allergies. These are just a few of an extremely long list.)

Cancer too is on this list. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/chronic-inflammation

(Please note that though we often come across mention of other anti-inflammation aids, such as NSAIDs, including aspirin, this is a whole other topic and not one to be treated casually, particularly with reference to dogs. Dogs are vulnerable to NSAID toxicity, and NSAIDs, including such common ones as aspirin, are administered very carefully, with continuous monitoring and with pre-protocol blood work and repeated blood work during. We should all familiarize ourselves with the challenges of NSAIDs for dogs, I believe, and understand that we need to know about their dangers as well as their real benefits.)
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/nsaids-and-your-dog/
and
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/urinary/c_dg_nonsteroidal_anti_inflammatory_drug_toxicity (addressing both long-term use and acute overdose)

Having said all this about the benefits of marine-source Omega 3s for dogs, I would still add (again) that these EFAs are not meant to be used as a weight-gain aid. Probably more important is consideration of possible lower-cost (but still high-quality) choices.
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_9/features/Fish-Oil-Supplements-For-Dogs_20600-1.html
https://www.puppywire.com/fish-oil-supplement/

I'd also check with the vet about natural vitamin E supplementation (d-alpha tocopherol, preferably "with mixed tocopherols," not dl-alpha tocopherol) with dogs who get fish oil because of the vitamin E used by the dog's body in processing the PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) in polyunsaturated oils such as fish oil.
http://dogaware.com/articles/suppsoils.html#fishoil (Scroll down to "Cautions" for comments about adding vitamin E when supplementing with fish oil.)
Also http://dogaware.com/diet/supplements.html#vitE (Scroll to "For dogs with a variety of health problems")


Now about the Rx Purina Pro-Plan EN Gastroenteric food ... There's no indication here of what condition or suspected condition is the reason for the RX food. That makes it hard to research suitable alternatives.

I can say that despite their practice of not using their usual "star" grading system on prescription dog foods, the pet food analysis websites do go through their ingredient lists and comment on the separate ingredients.
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/purina-veterinary-diets-en-dry/

This article from WDJ about the huge proliferation of these RX dog foods is very well done. It's probably worthwhile to read it all (and get a good overview of this burgeoning industry), then to scroll to "Dog Foods for Allergies and Gastrointestinal Disease," which has many sub-categories.
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/5_10/features/Veterinarian-Prescribed-Dog-Foods_5490-1.html
Here's a quote from the article that I personally find interesting:
"And finally, keep in mind that medical diets are formulated to address specific medical concerns, not to maintain long-term health in dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. These foods rarely meet WDJ’s normal selection criteria for top-quality foods ... "

If we knew more about the reason behind the RX food, it would probably be a fairly straightforward thing to suggest possible alternatives in a list to take along to the second-opinion vet. For example, if a dog had a condition requiring a reduced-fat diet, here's just one of several resources:
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/11_12/features/Healthy-Low-Fat-Dog-Foods_16088-1.html (This is just an example of info about a hypothetical problem with dietary fat.)
(The author, Mary Straus, is a name that comes up often on this and other sites with canine nutrition and health sections. She is the owner of the excellent DogAware.com and a regular contributing writer for the very good {JMO!} magazine Whole Dog Journal {and other publications}.)

I would be happy to help with a list of possible alternatives to the RX food mentioned, linking to knowledgable sources, if you'd post the condition(s) that led to its recommendation.




* About the importance of EPA and DHA:
From https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/omega-3-fats/ ...
"Omega-3 fats are a key family of polyunsaturated fats. There are three main omega-3s:
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) come mainly from fish, so they are sometimes called marine omega-3s.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the most common omega-3 fatty acid in most Western diets, is found in vegetable oils and nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds and flaxseed oil, leafy vegetables, and some animal fat, especially in grass-fed animals. The human body generally uses ALA for energy, and conversion into EPA and DHA is very limited."

Gabapentin info (particularly not discontinuing it on one's own) ...
https://www.thelabradorsite.com/gabapentin-for-dogs/
https://www.bestfriendsvet.com/library/orthopedics/rehabilitation/pain-medication-101/ (Scroll down to "Other commonly used pain medications")

I forgot to add that I think that the particular fish oil the dog is now getting is an "available only from vets" brand. In my experience, that can also mean that it's more expensive.

Can you find out how much she is paying?

I can probably get the contents (the kind of fish and the EPA-DHA concentration) online. Then it will be doable to compare prices.

Candi, I really feel for your friend and her new dog. It's heartbreaking when there are people who sincerely want to adopt a dog and provide for its needs but find it causes financial hardship to do so.

Connie has very thoroughly addressed most of the topics you asked about, and I can't add anything to her very comprehensive and knowledgeable answers there.

On the insurance, I'll just say that I would definitely recommend your friend look into the cost-versus-benefit ratio of paying for health insurance, especially since it doesn't cover most of the expenses that she currently has with this dog; but as Connie mentioned, if she feels she needs it, there may be less expensive policies out there.

If this dog is to continue on prescription medication (gabapentin), I do want to suggest she compare what she is paying now, wherever she is getting it, to the prices at ValleyVet.com. I have two senior dogs, each on a number of cardiac medications, and I have been getting their meds at this very reputable online equine/livestock/ pet supply site. I pay a lot less for their meds than I otherwise would buying it from a vet or a local pharmacy. A prescription from the vet is required, of course.

I think it might be helpful to know approximately how old this dog is. (I realize his exact age may not be known.) "Senior" can cover a lot of ground. There's a big difference between a 9-year-old and a 14-year-old, and the treatment options that are best for a given condition may differ based on just how "senior" the dog is, i.e., palliative care versus aggressive treatment. I'm not saying that anything you've described would be called aggressive treatment now, but I'm thinking about future issues and how an owner might handle things with a very old dog. It would be very helpful to know exactly what conditions the dog has been diagnosed with.

It's a tough situation, though, and you are a good person to be trying to help her.

THANK you Both (And I also got your PM, Connie, thanks!)

I will print out the whole thread at day's end & give it to my neighbor this evening...

Am also going to ask that she please Join the Forum now, so there can be FASTER more DETAILED communication here -- You guys are providing the Expert Research to back up my own opinions already shared with her, so I have HIGH HOPES that this Financial Crisis can be weathered just long enough to Switch things Up by CHANGING VETS and taking a Cheaper SAFER Path for dear old Manny-Moe...

I agree with wanting to know more about the specific health concerns the dog has. That will make it easier to give suggestions for alternatives.

As for health insurance, I have never used it- and with and older dog I would imagine most conditions would not be covered anyway, but if she wants to carry it I would suggest calling other carriers to compare prices.

As always, when in doubt about what the vet is saying get a second opinion. It may be well worth the extra office call.

You really need to be able to trust that your vet has your dogs best interest at heart- and it really doesn't sound like that is the case here. My vet is like a member of my family- and she has made mistakes, but she always acts on behalf of the dog. That kind of relationship is priceless.

Best of luck to your friend and her new pup- seniors and those frosty muzzles pull at my heart....

The gabapentin is for back? For disc disease?
In some dogs this drug makes the difference between surgery or no surgery. Life or death in a dog without financial backing.
It's usually used for like 2 wks until symptoms are gone.

There is no substitute that I'm aware of.

Also, some little dogs have really touchy stomachs. Especially little dogs with disc disease, in my experience.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

Also, some little dogs have really touchy stomachs. Especially little dogs with disc disease, in my experience.

Thank you, Betty, was hoping for your Input

UPDATE:

I printed out this thread & gave it to my neighbor, distilling our Basic Recommendations down to the following...

1) Cancel that pet insurance ASAP

2) Schedule a CONSULT with my Vet

3) Bring her Manny-Mo's health records (she has a very L-O-N-G detailed copy)

4) Explain the family's financial limits & ask for ECONO alternatives for this dog

5) Join our chat-board for Faster DIRECT Communication

Hopefully, that's what she'll decide to do, rather than choosing the (less costly & more simple) alternative of returning this extremely sweet & greatly deserving 9 year old boy to "Muttville"...

(P.S. His records ID him as a Flat Coated Retriever, but Not to My eyes.)

Just be careful on the cancellation of the insurance policy. Depending on the policy term and how much she has already paid into it, she may not get back as much money as expected. Sometimes, if insurance is canceled at the request of the policyholder, it can be short-rated, which basically means they are going to keep something extra for their trouble. I've been out of the insurance business for a long time, so I don't know how common this still is.

Ideally, she has a policy that she simply pays for on a monthly basis, and when she stops paying (or requests cancellation), the coverage stops, but if she's paid in advance for a longer term and she wants to cancel it now, she should find out from the company how much of her money she will get back. You want any refund to be pro-rated, not short-rated.

I'm not totally against pet health insurance. I'm sure there are situations where people are very glad they have it. But insurance companies are for-profit entities, and the way they make profits is that almost everybody pays more into it than they get out of it. If you're one of the ones who has a claim, though, you might be glad you have it. In your friend's shoes, I would have to make my decision based on my dog's current health conditions, what type of coverage the policy provides, and what type of things it excludes. Without knowing all of that, it's hard for me to have an opinion in this particular situation.

Just my own feeling, but in spite of having a dog who has had more than his share of health issues over the years (and wishing on occasion that I did have insurance), I probably still will not purchase it on any future dogs.