It’s been just 2 1/2 months since I purchased Petplan – prompted by our research project to find and study top rated pet insurance companies – when whamo,  a pet emergency unraveled right before my eyes at home in my living room! Curled up with a fascinating book – Outsmart Your Cancer by Tanya Harter Pierce – I was snuggled in the relaxed company of my two canine companions last Sunday afternoon on a couch too small for all three of us but try telling that to a dog! Bending themselves like pretzels around me I was startled when Brad Pit suddenly jumped down off the couch and began vomiting. As I started to call for maid service (yeah right)…things got worse. He lost all control of his bowels and then collapsed. “Oh my God,” I gasped, when I looked at his mucous membranes (inside lip and gums) – instead of a fleshy pink-red, his color was ghost white! With our clinic closed and no time to spare – like superwoman I picked up my 45 lb limp dog like he was the weight of a 5 lb Chihuahua and ran out the door into a speeding vehicle wishing Mario Andretti was at the wheel – “No cop is going to ticket a vet with a dying dog in route to the ER,” I kept shouting to the driver as tears blurred my vision and fear paralyzed the optimism I struggled to hold on to…

Vet perk #1: You get to stay and assist when your own pet gets sick – comforting my Braddy during his IV fluid therapy at ACCIM last Sunday.

Vet perk #1: You get to stay and assist when your own pet gets sick – comforting my Braddy during his IV fluid therapy at ACCIM last Sunday.

So what happened? An undetermined cause (as is often the case), such as some a kind of toxin or pathogenic strain of bacteria hit his gut and caused a circulatory type of shock, resulting in a rapid drop of his blood pressure. Within seconds of rushing through the emergency doors at Advanced Critical Care and Internal Medicine (ACCIM) in Tustin, the ER doc and support staff huddled around us: An IV catheter was immediately inserted into Braddy’s forearm for blood collection/analysis and intravenous administration of fluids and drugs. At the same time, a blood pressure cuff was tightly wrapped around one of his hind legs while another tech took his vital signs (temperature, pulse and respiration) and yet another attached electrodes to monitor his heartbeat (EKG). As a panicked spectator, I watched an ultrasound probe search his abdomen looking for a life threatening internal hemorrhage. “Oh no, I can’t lose my sweet beloved dog,”  was all I could think but not dare say out loud.

Mercifully, within minutes, my worst fears were replaced with hope: lab results and the ultrasound revealed no blood loss or damage to internal organs. After an intense 30 minutes, Braddy began responding well to the rapid fluid infusion (to bring up his blood pressure) and a warming blanket to bring up his low body temp. Now I was the one that needed medical attention for the surge of adrenalin that was still spiking my B.P. and racing my pulse. Over the next three hours he (and I) stabilized – I thankfully took him home and praised the attentive staff for the excellent care he received.

On Monday, Brad Pit is reunited with his duck – they are inseparable!

On Monday, Brad Pit is reunited with his duck – they are inseparable!

A full 24 hours later while recuperating at home with his personal physician on call (and mom on duty), Braddy was back playing with his squeaky stuffed duck and it was music (no longer noise) to my ears…It was like my three hour nightmare never happened. But it did. Let that be your wake-up call.

Obviously you know why I am sharing the events of last Sunday with you. Last week, I became that one second statistic: Every second a pet owner is faced with a $1000 vet bill. Emergencies happen. Illness happens. You must protect your pet and yourself if and when medical costs exceed what you can afford. Insurance is no longer an option when your pet’s health and safety is at risk. I never thought I would be spending a Sunday afternoon in the ER with a healthy dog that was happy and playful that same morning!

Now – as promised – our insurance review is complete and confidently endorses Petplan. If you have not read the comments left by readers on our pet insurance review – please take a few minutes to do so as you may share some of the questions asked – see our answers.

Note: the first claim I submitted to Petplan 6 weeks ago (exam and lab work for another mysterious case when Brad Pit went off his food, feeling punk and then rebounding the next day without treatment) has been paid without question or hassle.  :-)   I received an apology for the reimbursement taking longer than the normal waiting period of 3-4 weeks because of the holidays. My advice is to keep one credit card with a limit of at least $5,000 in a safe place (not your wallet!) in case of pet emergencies. Submit your claim immediately and most likely your reimbursement check will arrive before the payment due date!

If Petplan is your pick too, please use this referral code when you enroll ANP5000263-00 and $25 dollars will be automatically donated to our Homeless Pet Sponsorship Program. And if you are looking to adopt a great dog, please come by and visit our fosters: Roni, Barney and Freeway. We want to see these sweeties celebrate Valentine’s Day in their new homes with someone special to love them…

We hope you will share this important information about pet insurance and our adoption program with your friends, co-workers and loved ones.

Someone will thank you (or lick you) for spreading the word and so will we!