Would these be considered preexisting conditions? I currently have insurance for my dog and have used it a few times.
I noticed some discharge from his penis and took him to the vet. A urinalysis showed mild blood in the urine. The vet suspected bladder stones and referred me to a specialist for an ultrasound, which came back clear. The vet suggested it might have been from him licking his genitals.
I also mentioned he was “bunny hopping,” so the vet referred him to a specialist for hip x-rays, which also came back negative.
If I wanted to switch pet insurance, would these issues be classified as preexisting, even though full examinations were done and everything came back normal, and my pet is healthy?
Since nothing was diagnosed and all the tests came back negative, you should be able to switch insurance without any issues. If the new company asks why the tests were done, just explain that you wanted to be thorough and ensure your dog’s health because you take their well-being seriously.
On a side note, my male dog had various discharges from his penis over the years, ranging from light lime green to clear, milky, and sometimes urine dribbles on the bed. Blood work and tests always showed he was healthy. Dogs can have smegma build-up, similar to humans, and they get into all sorts of mess, rolling in dirt, licking themselves, etc. Once, I freaked out seeing something bright orange on his erect penis, only to realize it was a piece of carrot I’d given him earlier!
By the way, with the mild blood in your dog’s test, did they rule out a UTI? It’s something to watch for. A quick tip: if you’re unsure, you can use a white paper towel when your dog pees. If the urine looks more brownish, it could indicate an infection.
Thanks, This is really helpful. The ultrasound ruled out a UTI as well. They mentioned it was likely just what you said, excessive licking. The blood could have been from a small cut caused by his teeth while he was grooming himself.
Be cautious as it depends on the insurance company. For instance, Spot Pet Insurance doesn’t go by the date of diagnosis. I recently had a claim denied for something my cat was diagnosed with just a month ago, despite having the insurance for two years. They claimed that since my vet and I discussed the possibility of this being an issue four years ago, it was considered preexisting.