Last week I posted a topic about my Ellie coming down with some strange illness.Started being a bit 'off it' on the Sunday, not eating and then had the worst smelling breath I've ever encountered- like something had died inside her mouth! The vets were baffled, blood tests were completely out of normal ranges, but didn't point to any particular condition. On the Weds she started with a cough and really started to go downhill. She was admitted, sedated, had IV fluids and antibiotics, and an endoscopy. Turns out the poor little mites respiratory tract was all inflammed, but nothing else found. Meanwhile, Ruby( no. 2 dog) starts with a cough... The vets have just put the episode down to an extremely bad reaction (they expected her to die) to the kennel cough virus, but are looking into the possibility that she might have Addison's Disease. Anyway, the good news is she came home last Friday and is doing OK- not back to full fitness, but getting there. We are taking her back to the vets for a review tomorrow. The bad news is, my bank balance is £600 lighter...Am sorting out M+S insurance ASAP!! 

Good to hear that Ellie is on the mend - I'm sure you were out of your mind with worry!

Just a pointer with regards insurance though - it doesn't cover anything that may relate to any existing or past illness :rolleyes:  Its such a pain!  Insurance companies should introduce policies to cover exsiting/past illnesses even if they have a higher premium as it would be worthwhile for the owners but not covering them at all is shocking in my opinion!

Hi Bunty

What a terrible Christmas for you.  Take out the M&S insurance any way, if it was Kennel Cough it is unlikely to reoccur although you may have the bad luck to catch it again.

If nothing else is diagnosed before you take up insurance you will be covered for any other problems that may come up that are not related to any previous illness.  M&S will want to contact your vet to confirm what they will and will not cover as regards any future illness, but generally they are very good.  No one can criticise you for not having insurance as you went straight to the vet and paid out all that money, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Addisons disease is really quite awful, I hope she doesn't have it.

Please let us know how you go on.

Thanks for the comments guys. We took her back today- she's still not quite back to full fitness and has been put on antibiotics for another week. The vet said there shouldn't be a problem with insurance following this episode, although she probably wouldn't get any cover relating to her Von Willebrands Disease ( which is really why we didn't have insurance in the first place- so many exclusions- which seems really stupid now I know). I think both us and the vets are in agreeance that she's a bit of a mystery and although her immune system seems OK, the chances of her becoming extremley unwell again will no doubt increase the older she gets..:rolleyes: