Who? Trudence the French bulldog
How old? 8 months
What happened? Bone fracture
Cost of treatment: $7,142
Pumpkin plan paid back*: $6,299
Ever tried to stop a zooming Frenchie pup to take a potty break? It’s tricky, as pet parents Kay and Jess found out when they first brought home their energy-charged pup Trudence “Trudy” Stevens! Her mom Kay affectionately calls Trudy “the world’s cutest little velociraptor pup,” and describes the first few months of Trudy’s life as a whirlwind.
“She had opinions about everything, so we had a great time trying several expensive foods for a sweet girl that was perfectly content eating her own poop. She also HATES the cold, so we did everything possible to avoid going outside during a Michigan January, and Trudy took hostile ownership of the heated blanket.”
When Trudy turned four months old, her parents finally felt like they had established a good routine and were mastering the art of Frenchie parenting. Kay thoroughly researched the health issues French bulldogs tend to be prone to and chose to get pet insurance for Trudy as early as possible.
Even though she was already thinking ahead for Trudy’s health needs, Kay hadn’t anticipated they would need to use their pet insurance plan so early in Trudy’s life. One day, an unexpected accident seriously injured Trudy, throwing her poor parents into a world of stress.
“I was getting her ready for a little walk and as I gathered my things I heard one thunk and a cry. I ran to her and she wasn’t putting weight on her leg. I wasn’t sure what happened but guessed that she jumped from the couch. I called the vet, hoping it was nothing and they’d tell me to stop worrying, but we went in, got x-rays, and ultimately they confirmed it was a Salter-Harris fracture.”
Trudy had fractured her front leg during the fall, and not just any fracture. She had a fracture of the growth plate, known as a Salter-Harris fracture, which occurs in pets whose bones are still growing. This injury requires surgery, which can be difficult as puppy bones are so fragile. Kay sprang into action to find an orthopedic surgeon who could perform the procedure Trudy needed.
“After sending x-rays to 12 different offices, and playing phone tag with every office in the state, we found a specialist that could do the surgery quickly. Some research I did between phone calls confirmed this was definitely the best surgeon for the job. She specializes in this type of fracture and had experience with Frenchies. Money didn’t matter! Only the best for Trudy! So I set it up. And then the price set in – the price I agreed to pay when we dropped our little nugget off. I thought, “There’s how many zeros?”
Kay wanted to give Trudy the best chance at a complete recovery. She knew the surgery would be expensive, even more so as it was hyper-specialized. Factoring in Trudy’s hospital stay, anesthesia, and Rx medication, Trudy’s treatment costs totaled $7,142. Fortunately, Trudy’s Pumpkin plan was there to support them both. The plan helped Trudy get the care she needed by paying back a massive $6,299 on her covered vet bills.
“We are so impressed with Pumpkin and plan to have this coverage for the rest of her life. The surgery she had to have was very difficult and required a specialist, which meant a very high bill. Without this insurance, I don’t know how we would have afforded that sudden expense.”
Having their Pumpkin plan’s support meant that Kay and Jess could focus on Trudy’s recovery and ensure she could get back to normal – even if Trudy had other ideas!
“We focused on loving Trudy even though she was fighting mild sedatives for two months so things got hilarious and stressful and adorable all at once. Eight weeks of healing later, she’s back to zooming and soccer and sitting on her sister’s head!”
Luckily, Trudy can leave her surgery in the past and continue to live her best life while her parents do all they can to keep up with her! The best part is that as Trudy continues to grow and her health needs evolve, her Pumpkin plan will be there to support her along the way.
DISCLOSURE
