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Old 05-16-2022, 11:03 AM   #11
cloudy
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Default Re: Vet fund

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
I've looked into insurance before Cloudy. I think in the end I decided I was better off just putting it into a bank account.

It is good that you are thinking more in the sense of hundreds of pounds, I often see people say approx£75 for a vet fund, and I'm like that won't go far if you need treatment and to go back for a follow up appointment.
Thank you very much Cosmic. Maybe it would make more sense to just save the money instead then. Only, it will take me longer.
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Old 05-16-2022, 11:58 AM   #12
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Default Re: Vet fund

i think it comes down to personal circumstances and which way works out best for you financially and what would happen if you did have a big bill. Only you will know what is best for you.
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Old 05-16-2022, 12:16 PM   #13
cloudy
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Default Re: Vet fund

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Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
i think it comes down to personal circumstances and which way works out best for you financially and what would happen if you did have a big bill. Only you will know what is best for you.
Thank you Cosmic. I appreciate you replying.
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Old 05-17-2022, 12:38 PM   #14
heidii
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Default Re: Vet fund

I don't have a set amount for either of my boys, but I wouldn't ever go for a small animal insurance. I always keep a few hundred about, just in case any emergency pops up. Though, that goes for both the hamsters and my area is relatively cheap for hamster care.
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Old 05-17-2022, 12:38 PM   #15
cloudy
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Default Re: Vet fund

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Originally Posted by heidii View Post
I don't have a set amount for either of my boys, but I wouldn't ever go for a small animal insurance. I always keep a few hundred about, just in case any emergency pops up. Though, that goes for both the hamsters and my area is relatively cheap for hamster care.
Thank you for sharing that with me.
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Old 05-17-2022, 04:54 PM   #16
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Vet fund

I'd also go with a vet fund and no insurance. I looked into the insurance once as well and decided against it but can't remember why. With Syrian hamsters, they are usually pretty healthy if well cared for and in a good environment. None of mine have needed the vet until they got old. Except for Pickle who needed an op at 21 months (which is getting near old age). Then you get the old age things and possible old age diseases. And usually not much to be done apart from prescribe metacam.

However female syrians may be different - there is the risk of pyometra before old age.

When you mentioned what the insurance covers, it reminded me that vets, like Doctors, can recommend all kinds of expensive procedures if they know you have insurance, and while that may or may not be useful, there's also the aspect of stress for the hamster with too many procedures.

There are very few vets who can properly diagnose or treat Cushings, which, thankfully, isn't that common. They can't take a blood sample - it's a highly skilled thing that most vets don't do. But maybe your vet does.

Whatever you're comfortable with though. If you do go with insurance I would read the small print carefully!

I'll give examples of our hamsters:#

1st Syrian - needed his teeth trimming age 2 then nothing except Metacam in old age. Had to be pts at 2 yrs 8 months.

2nd Syrian - didn't need any vet treatment until old age when he failed then pts due to beginning to swell and suffer. Age 2 years 4 months approx.

1st Robo - developed lumps at 18 months old. Lumps too big an area for surgery. Kept on metacam until he began to suffer then pts at age just under 2 years approx.

3rd Syrian - adopted at a year old, developed a large lump at about 2 years old. On metacam. Died in his sleep age 2 years 4 months approx.

4th Syrian - Developed a scent gland lump at 21 months old. Had surgery costing about £360 in total which included an optional biopsy and meds. At 2 years old developed eye problems and on metacam and antibiotics. Had to be pts due to secondaries behind eye area. Just over 2 years old.

These were all male hamsters. So basically my experience is - they tend to be healthy if well looked after. If they develop lumps or tumours it's usually when older when it's too late to operate or too much body area for surgery for the hamster to survive.

Apart from that £360 bill for Pickle most of my vet fees for hamsters have been a maximum of a couple of consultations and a couple of bottles of meds. Tooth problems can lead to some regular vet bills but not necessarily large ones. But again if well cared for it shouldn't be a problem.

With female hamsters or dwarf hamsters it may be different. Pyometra could be an emergency operation. Thankfully haven't seen many cases of that amongst members on here.

Dwarf hybrid hamsters can get diabetes. Most cases I've heard of have been in old age.

Hamsters don't live that long and once elderly it's unfair to put them through too much.

I'd probably put £300 in an account and add £15 a month.

Edited to add their ages

Last edited by Pebbles82; 05-17-2022 at 05:27 PM.
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Old 05-17-2022, 05:01 PM   #17
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Vet fund

Just to add - the only thing I considered a scan or x rays for was Pickle's eye to establish what was going on behind it. I would have paid for that except for two things:

1) It was considered it would still not give a clear diagnosis
2) Additional stress and procedures for a sick hamster.

The other thing I've come to think is that - once they get to about 2 years old, it doesn't really matter what the diagnosis is - at first there is an instinct to want a diagnosis to know what to do about it. Then you realise you can't really do much procedure wise for them at that age without reducing their quality of life or putting them through too much. So it's a case of keeping them comfortable whatever it is.

Cushings, old age, kidney failure and heart failure can all have similar symptoms.
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Old 05-17-2022, 05:15 PM   #18
sushi_78
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Default Re: Vet fund

For my hamsters:
- Female Robo (Pumpkin) - developed a lump at about 18 months. She required one vet visit, some Metacam and then to be put to sleep when the mass grew too big. This all cost about £60.

- Female Russian dwarf (Athena) - she never needed to see a vet until she had to be put to sleep aged 20 months because she couldn't eat. She had a gradual decline into frailness before that. The cost was £38.

- Female Russian dwarf (Bramble) - she is still alive and currently 2 years 2 months old. About a year ago she developed a lump and a sore near her ear and needed 3 vet visits, Metacam and Baytril which in total probably cost about £100. Surprisingly after that she had a new lease on life: the sore eventually healed up, the lump shrank and she's getting a bit wobbly now but hasn't needed to see a vet in months!

- Male Syrian (Kebab) - he is also 2 years and a couple of months old but I've only had him for 6 weeks. However I have a copy of his medical notes from his previous owner. Apparently he had fleas about 6 months ago which required an anti-parasite, and he saw a vet for an eye issue 2 months and needed some eye drops and Metacam.

I would add that when it comes to expensive tests and surgeries, everyone has their financial limits and I don't think you have you have to be able to afford every treatment possible to get a hamster. Personally I think that at minimum, a hamster should always be taken to the vet for evaluation when needed, given basic treatment such as pain medication or antibiotics if required, and never allowed to suffer even if that means having them put to sleep.
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Old 05-18-2022, 12:10 AM   #19
cloudy
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Default Re: Vet fund

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
I'd also go with a vet fund and no insurance. I looked into the insurance once as well and decided against it but can't remember why. With Syrian hamsters, they are usually pretty healthy if well cared for and in a good environment. None of mine have needed the vet until they got old. Except for Pickle who needed an op at 21 months (which is getting near old age). Then you get the old age things and possible old age diseases. And usually not much to be done apart from prescribe metacam.

However female syrians may be different - there is the risk of pyometra before old age.

When you mentioned what the insurance covers, it reminded me that vets, like Doctors, can recommend all kinds of expensive procedures if they know you have insurance, and while that may or may not be useful, there's also the aspect of stress for the hamster with too many procedures.

There are very few vets who can properly diagnose or treat Cushings, which, thankfully, isn't that common. They can't take a blood sample - it's a highly skilled thing that most vets don't do. But maybe your vet does.

Whatever you're comfortable with though. If you do go with insurance I would read the small print carefully!

I'll give examples of our hamsters:#

1st Syrian - needed his teeth trimming age 2 then nothing except Metacam in old age. Had to be pts at 2 yrs 8 months.

2nd Syrian - didn't need any vet treatment until old age when he failed then pts due to beginning to swell and suffer. Age 2 years 4 months approx.

1st Robo - developed lumps at 18 months old. Lumps too big an area for surgery. Kept on metacam until he began to suffer then pts at age just under 2 years approx.

3rd Syrian - adopted at a year old, developed a large lump at about 2 years old. On metacam. Died in his sleep age 2 years 4 months approx.

4th Syrian - Developed a scent gland lump at 21 months old. Had surgery costing about £360 in total which included an optional biopsy and meds. At 2 years old developed eye problems and on metacam and antibiotics. Had to be pts due to secondaries behind eye area. Just over 2 years old.

These were all male hamsters. So basically my experience is - they tend to be healthy if well looked after. If they develop lumps or tumours it's usually when older when it's too late to operate or too much body area for surgery for the hamster to survive.

Apart from that £360 bill for Pickle most of my vet fees for hamsters have been a maximum of a couple of consultations and a couple of bottles of meds. Tooth problems can lead to some regular vet bills but not necessarily large ones. But again if well cared for it shouldn't be a problem.

With female hamsters or dwarf hamsters it may be different. Pyometra could be an emergency operation. Thankfully haven't seen many cases of that amongst members on here.

Dwarf hybrid hamsters can get diabetes. Most cases I've heard of have been in old age.

Hamsters don't live that long and once elderly it's unfair to put them through too much.

I'd probably put £300 in an account and add £15 a month.

Edited to add their ages
Thank you for sharing this with me it was very interesting. I am happy to hear with your hamsters they have not had too many health issues.
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Old 05-18-2022, 12:12 AM   #20
cloudy
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Default Re: Vet fund

Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi_78 View Post
For my hamsters:
- Female Robo (Pumpkin) - developed a lump at about 18 months. She required one vet visit, some Metacam and then to be put to sleep when the mass grew too big. This all cost about £60.

- Female Russian dwarf (Athena) - she never needed to see a vet until she had to be put to sleep aged 20 months because she couldn't eat. She had a gradual decline into frailness before that. The cost was £38.

- Female Russian dwarf (Bramble) - she is still alive and currently 2 years 2 months old. About a year ago she developed a lump and a sore near her ear and needed 3 vet visits, Metacam and Baytril which in total probably cost about £100. Surprisingly after that she had a new lease on life: the sore eventually healed up, the lump shrank and she's getting a bit wobbly now but hasn't needed to see a vet in months!

- Male Syrian (Kebab) - he is also 2 years and a couple of months old but I've only had him for 6 weeks. However I have a copy of his medical notes from his previous owner. Apparently he had fleas about 6 months ago which required an anti-parasite, and he saw a vet for an eye issue 2 months and needed some eye drops and Metacam.

I would add that when it comes to expensive tests and surgeries, everyone has their financial limits and I don't think you have you have to be able to afford every treatment possible to get a hamster. Personally I think that at minimum, a hamster should always be taken to the vet for evaluation when needed, given basic treatment such as pain medication or antibiotics if required, and never allowed to suffer even if that means having them put to sleep.
Thank you for explaining this to me. From reading all your comments I now realise I think I have misunderstood that hamsters are not so likely to need continuous vet treatment. I did not realise this. This is all very reassuring.
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