VET Januarie / January 2025 The Monthly Magazine of the SOUTH AFRICAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION Die Maandblad van die SUID-AFRIKAANSE VETERINÊRE VERENIGING Disorders of the integumentary system of backyard poultry – Part 1 of 2 CPD THEME Pet Insurance nuus•news Access to CPD Articles: https://www.sava.co.za/vetnews-2024/
Dagboek • Diary Ongoing / Online 2025 February 2025 April 2025 May 2025 SAVETCON: Webinars Info: Corné Engelbrecht, SAVETCON, 071 587 2950, corne@savetcon.co.za / https://app.livestorm.co/svtsos Acupuncture – Certified Mixed Species Course Info: Chi University: https://chiu.edu/courses/cva#aboutsouthafrica@tcvm.com SAVA Johannesburg Branch CPD Events Monthly - please visit the website for more info. Venue: Johannesburg Country Club Info: Vetlink - https://savaevents.co.za/ South African Equine Veterinary Association (SAEVA) Congress 20-23 February Venue: Skukuza, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Info: support@vetlink.co.za or visit www.saeva.co.za Wildlife Group of the SAVA Congress 27 February – 01 March Venue: Future Africa, University of Pretoria Info: https://vetlink.co.za/wildlife-congress-2025/ or conferences@vetlink.co.za Oranje Vaal Branch Congress 11 – 12 April Venue: Khaya Ibhubesi Conference Centre, Parys Info: conference@savetcon.co.za RuVASA Annual Conference 18 – 21 May Venue: Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Johannesburg, O.R. Tambo Airport (Gauteng) Info: www.vetlink.co.za August 2025 September 2025 14th International Veterinary Immunology Symposium 11-14 August Venue: Hilton Vienna Park, Austria Info: corne@savetcon.co.za or visit www.ivis2025.org 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife and 53rd Annual PARSA Conference 14-18 September Venue: Skukuza, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Info: corne@savetcon.co.za or visit www.savetcon.co.za October 2025 11th International Sheep Veterinary Congress 27-31 October Venue: Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia Info: https://intsheepvetassoc.org/11th-isvc-2025
Vetnuus | January 2025 1 Contents I Inhoud President: Dr Ziyanda Qwalela president@sava.co.za Managing Director: Mr Gert Steyn md@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)12 346 1150 Editor VetNews: Ms Andriette van der Merwe vetnews@sava.co.za Bookkeeper: Ms Liezel Viljoen accounts@sava.co.za/+27 (0)12 346 1150 Bookkeeper's Assistant: Ms Sonja Ludik bookkeeper@sava.co.za/+27 (0)12 346 1150 Secretary: Ms Sonja Ludik sonja@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)12 346 1150 Reception: Ms Hanlie Swart reception@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)12 346 1150 Marketing & Communications: Ms Sonja van Rooyen marketing@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)12 346 1150 Membership Enquiries: Ms Debbie Breeze debbie@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)12 346 1150 Vaccination booklets: Ms Debbie Breeze debbie@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)12 346 1150 South African Veterinary Foundation: Ms Debbie Breeze savf@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)12 346 1150 Community Veterinary Clinics: Ms Claudia Cloete cvcmanager@sava.co.za/ +27 (0)63 110 7559 SAVETCON: Ms Corné Engelbrecht corne@savetcon.co.za/ +27 (0)71 587 2950 VetNuus is ‘n vertroulike publikasie van die SAVV en mag nie sonder spesifieke geskrewe toestemming vooraf in die openbaar aangehaal word nie. Die tydskrif word aan lede verskaf met die verstandhouding dat nóg die redaksie, nóg die SAVV of sy ampsdraers enige regsaanspreeklikheid aanvaar ten opsigte van enige stelling, feit, advertensie of aanbeveling in hierdie tydskrif vervat. VetNews is a confidential publication for the members of the SAVA and may not be quoted in public or otherwise without prior specific written permission to do so. This magazine is sent to members with the understanding that neither the editorial board nor the SAVA or its office bearers accept any liability whatsoever with regard to any statement, fact, advertisement or recommendation made in this magazine. VetNews is published by the South African Veterinary Association STREET ADDRESS 47 Gemsbok Avenue, Monument Park, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa POSTAL ADDRESS P O Box 25033, Monument Park Pretoria, 0105, South Africa TELEPHONE +27 (0)12 346-1150 FAX General: +27 (0) 86 683 1839 Accounts: +27 (0) 86 509 2015 WEB www.sava.co.za CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please notify the SAVA by email: debbie@sava.co.za or letter: SAVA, P O Box 25033, Monument Park, Pretoria, 0105, South Africa CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS (Text to a maximum of 80 words) Sonja van Rooyen assistant@sava.co.za +27 (0)12 346 1150 DISPLAY ADVERTISEMENTS Sonja van Rooyen assistant@sava.co.za +27 (0)12 346 1150 DESIGN AND LAYOUT Sonja van Rooyen PRINTED BY Business Print: +27 (0)12 843 7638 VET nuus•news Diary / Dagboek II Dagboek • Diary Regulars / Gereeld 2 From the President 4 Editor’s notes / Redakteurs notas Articles / Artikels 6 South African Pet Insurance Companies 15 Is pet health insurance able to improve veterinary care? 20 Pentosan Polysulphate – The Ultimate Sugar Association / Vereniging 22 SAVA Benefits 24 SAVA News 30 In Memoriam 36 Legal Mews Events / Gebeure 33 Veterinary History Society: 2019-2024 34 OP Class of 1976 holds their class reunion Vet's Health / Gesondheid 41 Life Coaching Technical / Tegnies 38 Dental Column Relax / Ontspan 46 “Oh Oh! Here Comes Trouble!” 48 Life Plus 25 Marketplace / Markplein 42 Marketplace Jobs / Poste 43 Jobs / Poste 45 Classifieds / Snuffeladvertensies 6 34 27 Click on the image to access Vetnews CPD articles «
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 2 « BACK TO CONTENTS I would like to thank Paul Van Der Merwe our past president, the Board of Directors and Fedco for successfully steering SAVA over the past few years. It is an honour and privilege for me to serve as the president of the association. One I don’t take lightly and one I humbly accept. As we usher in the new year I am also filled with hope and excitement and the promise these new beginnings hold! This is not only from a personal perspective but regarding SAVA, as well as our profession. I take the reigns from Paul during a difficult time for SAVA. The challenges we face are likely to impact our activities over the next two years. We will however persevere and navigate through this period. I always say great challenges unleash great opportunities and this period is no different. It’s an opportunity for SAVA to reflect and ensure that SAVA’s operations are sound and offer a firm foundation for the role it plays in the agricultural sector. Over the next six months, the focus will be on the development and implementation of the appropriate governance tools including policies and financial controls. In our reflection we also need to look outwardly, essentially to determine “who we want to be” on a somewhat changed local, continental and global stage. This requires that we collaborate with a renewed mindset to ensure that we attract the appropriate partnerships and collaborations to effectively carry out our mandate. Some of this work has already begun with great benefit for the fraternity. You may remember the Lincoln Institute of Veterinary Business, MentorVet, WSAVA, Royal Canin Merck and UC Davis mental resilience and wellbeing partnership training course which Gert and his team are working hard to ensure becomes a success. On the local front, SAVA is looking to work closely with the Veterinary Para Professional organisations, the Black Veterinary Forum as well as the Southern African Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. Such collaborations will also enable us to play a bigger role within the continent. HWSETA remains a very important strategic partner, and I hope that over the next few years, we will build on the programmes they fund, for greater impact. I had the privilege to attend the WOAH Continental Conference titled: “Towards a More Resilient Veterinary Workforce for Africa” in Nairobi Kenya from 26 to 28 November 2024. Amongst many interesting discussions held at the conference, there were exciting talks, spearheaded by the WVA on officially launching a Federation of African Veterinary Medical Associations. We eagerly await the formal invitation to join this federation. Another important conversation held at the conference was regarding the formation of a Continental Association for Women Veterinarians. This will be a powerful empowerment platform for women to engage in technical and social issues. There are several regional women’s veterinarian associations with activities ranging from conducting vaccination campaigns and “spayathons” to marketing and selling pet products produced by local women’s groups during such campaigns. I will share in subsequent issues on the developments however an opportunity to join the East African Women Veterinary Association was extended by Dr Marilyn Karani, its Interim Chairperson during the deliberations. During December 2024 representatives from SAVA also had an opportunity to meet with the Minister of Agriculture who so graciously entrusted SAVA with several responsibilities. Enjoy this issue and as we enter into the new year let us resolve to continue to serve with excellence! v Happy New Year! Ziyanda From the President Dear members, Challenges always present opportunities Female Veterinarians and VPP's are invited to join the Eastern Africa Women Veterinary Association (EAWVA) Dr Marilyn Karani Interim Chairperson EAWVA mrm.karani@gmail.com +254 722 283136
Vetnuus | January 2025 3 Vetnuus | August 2024 3 To find out more: Building better practice, together. The co.mpanion partnership is a co.llaborative model that gives you the ownership, support and autonomy you need to build your individual practice’s legacy inside a growing network. co.mpanion is not a corporate body, it is a professional owned and led veterinary model that is right for you if: You are looking for a support structure. You are looking for a better way to exit from or sell your practice. You want to become a shareholder. www.companion.partners Download Value Proposition View Video WhatsApp Sr Dale Parrish
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 4 « BACK TO CONTENTS While you are reading the first edition of Vetnews of 2025, I will God-willing still be in Europe visiting my daughter and newly acquired son (he says he does not have a mother-in-law – only mothers). Where we left in one of the worst heatwaves in decades, I am sure we will experience little heat other than the warm hearts waiting to welcome us. This month in Vetnews, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, well-rested and eager for the new year, we look at the Topic of Pet Insurance. It has always bugged me a little that I do not hear of a lot of people with pet insurance. Definitely, not in the circles, I move (in itself not significant). I had a look at the major pet insurance advertisers and tried to summarise their main benefits, waiting periods, and an idea of premiums and exclusions. Pet insurance is similar to insuring a vehicle of household contents, more for the preparation for possible expenses and is not like a human medical aid at all. A very interesting exercise to say the least. In addition to the summary article, there will also be an article on the possible ethical obligation for owners to make provisions for affording veterinary care. An interesting view indeed. I have always been a person who strongly, acutely believed in the truth. I would forsake a person for the truth. Not the best of traits. Until I was literally brought to a standstill reading a piece of scripture, not new to me, but with a very very new fresh lesson. John 1v14. It speaks about how Christ became flesh and lived among us, and that we could see his glory as He belongs to and is part of God, but then carries on the say He is full of Grace and Truth. That hit me like a hammer. I was always strong on the truth part, not so much the grace. I realised that the two are so intertwined that they can never be separated, they cannot function alone. The Truth without Grace is harsh and unforgiving. It is a religion and not a relationship with the living God. Grace without the Truth is an airy-fairy business without responsibility, a little bit of New Age or even Woke where there is no firm structure or repercussions. My prayer for you for 2025 is that you shall value Truth and Grace equally. Andriette v From the Editor Editor’s notes / Redakteurs notas
Vetnuus | January 2025 5 STUDY VETERINARY MEDICINE IN CYPRUS DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE (DVM) 5-Year Programme for High School Leavers unic.ac.cy/vet EARLY CLINICAL EXPOSURE AND TRAINING in small groups with both large and small animals from year one. CURRICULUM ALIGNED WITH RCVS, AVMA, EAEVE, AND WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH INNOVATIVE, HANDS-ON CURRICULUM designed to offer you the necessary Day One skills required to follow any career pathway in veterinary medicine. COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ANIMAL WELFARE volunteerism and service opportunities with sheltered animals. TALENTED AND DEDICATED FACULTY MEMBERS AND STAFF facilitating and guiding your learning and development as a veterinarian. FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE The following SAVA members are available on the SAVA stress management hotline. If required, they will refer you to professionals. The SAVA Stress Management Hotline is there to assist members who are experiencing personal problems by offering access to professional counselling/advice. Ken Pettey 082 882 7356 ken.pettey@gmail.com Aileen Pypers 072 599 8737 aileen.vet@gmail.com Willem Schultheiss 082 323 7019 willem.schultheiss@ceva.com Mike Lowry 084 581 2624 mikelowry@sai.co.za Tod Collins 083 350 1662 tcollins@isat.co.za The hotline can assist with referrals or simply offer much needed emotional support when anxiety, depression, anger, grief, lonelinessand fear are at their highest. 24-Hour, Toll-Free Helpline Manned by psychologists, social and frontline healthcare workers: 0800 21 21 21
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 6 « BACK TO CONTENTS South African Pet Insurance Companies In South Africa, there are no Medical Aids for pets. What you find is Pet Insurance, which is more like a vehicle or house content insurance in other words short-term. All quotes are risk dependent. As far as possible all the big companies are covered (sic) in this summary. This article is an anecdotal summary of Pet insurance offered in South Africa by common advertising and social media. No companies were approached to provide inputs. The information reflected here is solely on what is advertised – or gathered after reading in depth about what the companies offer. Please verify with the insurance companies as some of the data may be incorrect or outdated. Vetnews and the author will not be responsible for any incorrect information. Daily consumers are bombarded by advertisements in print and digital media of pet insurance companies. But what do they offer? How do they compare at face value? Insurance (according to AI) is: Insurance is a contract that protects you from financial losses that might happen unexpectedly. When you purchase insurance, you transfer the risk of an unfortunate event to the insurance company, who will pay you or someone you choose if something bad happens. Insurance policies can help with a variety of risks, including: • Unexpected events: Accidents, injuries, or property damage • Routine costs: Annual medical checkups, dental visits, and other routine expenses • Liability: Legal responsibility for damage or injury caused to a third party There are many types of insurance policies, including life, health, homeowners, and auto. The policyholder is the person or company that receives the policy, while the insured is the person or entity that is protected by the policy. For example, if a company buys life insurance for an employee, the employee is the insured and the company is the policyholder. The core components of most insurance policies are the premium, deductible, and policy limits. Pet insurance is not really any different: Pet insurance is a policy that helps pet owners cover the cost of veterinary care for their pets: • Unexpected medical expenses Pet insurance can help pay for unexpected illnesses or accidents that may happen to your pet. • Routine care Depending on the plan, pet insurance may cover routine check-ups, vaccinations, flea control, and sterilization. • Emergency care Pet insurance can cover emergency care expenses. • Exotic pets Some pet insurance plans also cover exotic pets, such as birds, bunnies, rodents, or reptiles. Pet insurance is a monthly agreement between the pet owner and the insurer. The cost of pet insurance varies depending on the pet’s needs. When you key in Pet insurance in the Google search bar the first (sponsored) response that pops up is for: OUTsurance: - Only insures dogs and cats. - Only pay a fixed excess, regardless of the claim amount. - Receive a cash OUTbonus after three consecutive claim-free years. - Get a premium discount if your pet achieves an ideal body score. - Enjoy benefits such as puppy socialisation classes (see our Pet-Act-OUT benefit).
Vetnuus | January 2025 7 - The premium you pay is unique to your pet. With our advanced underwriting model, you could pay less to insure your pet with us and you will not subsidise any other pets. - We pre-assess Illness and Accident claims with estimates above R15 000. - Enjoy cover for rehabilitation treatments as part of our HelpPet-OUT optional cover. - Get cover for corrective behavioural treatments under our Pet-Act-OUT benefit. - We have a simple benefit structure and pay up to the maximum cover amount, subject to annual aggregate limits. - Emergency kennel care If you are hospitalised due to being incapacitated and unable to care for your pet, we will pay the cost of the boarding of your pet at a licensed kennel or cattery or towards the cost of getting someone who is not a member of the household to look after your pet. - Advertising for a lost pet If your pet is stolen or missing, we will pay the cost of advertising up to the limit specified on your policy schedule per policy year. - Third-Party Liability Optional Cover. You will be covered up to the limit specified on your policy schedule against the amount you are legally liable to pay for damage to property, bodily injury or death that your pet might cause to someone other than you or a member of your household. - Health Booster optional cover You will receive the following benefits: o Chronic medication Any chronic/ongoing medication prescribed by a vet and administered for a period longer than three months will be covered. o Prescription food Dog and cat food as prescribed by a vet in support of a medical condition such as arthritic joint support. o Supplements This refers to any product prescribed by a vet and administered orally or topically in support of a medical condition. Examples include supplements to support arthritic joints, fatty acids to reduce shedding and improve coats and probiotics to relieve gastrointestinal problems. - Vaccinations Your pet should have a yearly check-up and receive annual vaccinations recommended by a vet to prevent certain illnesses. If you neglect to do this and claim for such an illness, it may affect the outcome of your claim. - Help-Pet-OUT claims do not affect your OUTbonus. - A 12-month waiting period applies to hereditary and congenital conditions. There is no cover for pre-existing conditions. Set a fixed excess amount, starting at R850 for Accident and Illness claims, and R300 for Vet Visit claims. - Member of the RMI Holdings Group Leading Article Plan Types Accidental Core Standard Executive Overall annual limit R16 000 R47 000 R47 000 R70 000 Premium Not supplied Not supplied Not supplied Not Supplied Covers Claim limit Claim limit Waiting Periods Accident Claim limit R10 000 R35 000 R35 000 R52 500 N/A Illness claim limit No cover R35 000 R35 000 R 52 500 60 days Vet Visit annual limit No Cover No cover R4 400 R5 500 30 days Pet-Act-OUT annual limit No cover No cover No cover R1 100 30 days Optional covers Claim limit Annual limit Claim limit Annual limit Claim limit Annual limit Claim limit Annual limit Waiting Periods Third-Party Liability claim limit No cover No cover R5 million R5 million N/A Help-Pet-OUT annual limit R2 500 R2 500 R2 500 R2 500 90 days Health booster No cover No cover N/A R2 650 N/A R 2650 90 days >>>8
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 8 « BACK TO CONTENTS One Plan-Pet_Insurance - Get up to 25% DISCOUNT on your monthly pet food and supplies in the Onepet Premium Pet Store for the lifetime of your policy. - Get paid BEFORE you visit the vet with the Oneplan App & Oneplan Claim Card. - Visit any vet of your choice - Pay NO excess with Oneplan’s Excess Buster - No sub-limits & co-payments - Keep track of your pet’s health with Oneplan’s Wellness Tracker - Multiple Pet Discounts apply. - Underwritten by Bryte insurance - Claim card and administration fee R160 - EXCLUDED FOR 12 MONTHS FROM DATE OF INCEPTION: Cancer • Arthritis • Heart disease • Tumours/masses/growths, IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia), Tuberculosis (TB) • Diabetes • Congenital, hereditary and pre-existing conditions. - Premiums are risk profile dependent. - Excess Applies: Month 1 to 6 - 25%, Month 7 & onwards - 10% - Minimum of R500 per claim. - Terms and Conditions Apply. - Pets must be older than 8 weeks and; Small Dogs younger than 11 years Medium Dogs younger than 10 years | Big Dogs younger than 9 years. Cats younger than 11 years. - All healthcare cover amounts are paid onto your Oneplan Claim Card. - Max 8 pets per policy - Only dogs and cats are covered - Dogs up to 11 years old can be put on the cover, even with pre-existing & hereditary conditions see exclusions. Leading Article Plan Types Accident Plan Primary Plan Hospital Plan Classic Plan Super Plan Covers Waiting Periods Premium per pet per month R 80 From R160 From R190 From R280 From R430 Overall annual limit R8 500 R 18 000 R48 500 R52 000 R75 000 DAY-TO-DAY BENEFITS Casualty (Pawsualty for pets) No Cover R 1000 per annum No Cover R5 600 per annum, Up to R1 400 per visit R6 600 per annum, Up to R1 650 per visit 30 Days Pet Med savings No Cover No Cover OR + R350 per annum with Pet Med Booster No Cover OR + R350 per annum with Pet Med Booster R800 per annum (Double up cover with Pet Med Booster) R900 per annum (Double up cover with Pet Med Booster) 30 Days
Vetnuus | January 2025 9 Leading Article HOSPITAL BENEFIT Hospital admission Up to R8 500 Illness does not apply Up to R15 000 per annum Up to R38 000 per event Up to R43 000 per event Up to R58 000 per event Accident immediate Illness 60 days Post-operative care No Cover Up to R2 000 per annum Up to R2 150 per annum Up to R2 150 per annum Up to R5 250 per annum Apply – not specified. Kennel cover No Cover No Cover R1 800 per annum, Up to R180 per day R1 800 per annum, Up to R180 per day R2 000 per annum, Up to R200 per day 60 days Burial & Cremation Up to R1500 Up to R1 500 Up to R1 500 Up to R1 500 Up to R1 500 12 months OPTIONAL ADD-ONS PER PET Excess Buster Not available R25 per pet per month R30 per pet per month R35 per pet per month R40 per pet per month Immediate Pet Med Booster Not available R35 per pet per month + R350 to Pet Med Savings per annum R35 per pet per month + R350 to Pet Med Savings per annum R80 per pet per month + R800 to Pet Med Savings per annum R90 per pet per month + R900 to Pet Med Savings per annum Immediate for excesses 30 for Pet Med Booster savings Diagnostic booster – only diagnostic procedures Not available R120 per pet per month (Adds R3 000 for Diagnostic Procedures per annum) No Cover R200 per pet per month (Adds R5 000 for Diagnostic Procedures per annum) R220 per pet per month (Adds R5 500 for Diagnostic Procedures per annum) 60 days Multiple pet discount Not available 5% for 2nd pet, 10% for 3rd + pets 5% for 2nd pet, 10% for 3rd + pets 5% for 2nd pet, 10% for 3rd + pets 5% for 2nd pet, 10% for 3rd + pets Onepet Premium Pet Store Discount Access only Up to 15% off Up to 15% off Up to 20% off Up to 25% off Dotsure - Get treatment. Go to any trusted vet of your choice. From Musina to the Mother City. - Submit a claim. Upload your vet invoice anytime, anywhere on our 24/7 Manage Portal. - Get reimbursed, fast! We’ll transfer the money back into your account, superfast on valid claims. - Pre-existing and congenital conditions are not covered. - Dogs, cats, birds and reptiles are covered. >>>10
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 10 « BACK TO CONTENTS Plan Types Basic Standard Superior Covers Waiting Periods Premium per dog or cat per month From R200 From R352 From R483 Annual policy Limit R 27 500 R 38 500 R 76 450 Third Party liability R 229 020 R 229 020 R 382 030 Accidental Cover per claim up to R 9 240 R 12 980 R 15 290 No waiting Illness cover per claim up to 50% of claim up to R 4 620 R 12 980 R 15 290 30 Days Per claim Annual limit Per claim Annual limit Per claim Annual limit Wellness benefit No Cover No Cover No Cover No Cover R 611 R 2 310 Hereditary treatment annual limit No Cover No Cover No Cover No Cover R 1 221 R 3 058 Medication R 611 R 3 058 R 765 R 3 058 1 155 R 3 058 Surgery per claim R 2 310 R 4620 R 7 590 Radiology annual limit R 919 R 3 058 R 1029 R 3058 R 1 155 R 3 058 Pathology annual limit R 919 R 3 058 R 1221 R 3058 R 1 155 R 3 058 Hospitalisation cover annual limit R 1 067 R 3 058 R 1 221 R 3 058 R 1 529 R 3 058 Non-elective procedures per claim R 4 620 R 4 620 R 6 105 Non-elective euthanasia per claim R 231 R 231 R 231 Excess 10% of claim minimum R200. Dogs younger than 6 months R300 additional excess on illness claims Dogs older than 6 months no excess on illness claims. See illness claims 10% of claim minimum R200. Dogs younger than 6 months R300 additional excess on illness claims Dogs older than 6 months no excess on illness claims. See illness claims 10% of claim minimum R200. Dogs younger than 6 months R300 additional excess on illness claims Birds Exotic Exotic Plus Premium per small bird from R144 R211 Premium per Large bird from R220 R336 Premium per Bird of Prey from R 259 R384 Annual Policy Limit R 25 850 R 30 250 Third Party Liability R 216 150 R 231 000 Accidental Cover per claim up to R 8 690 R 7 260 No Waiting Illness Cover per claim up to 50% of claim up to R 4 345 R 7 260 30 Days Medication R 578 R 2 882 None Surgery per claim R 2 178 None Leading Article
Vetnuus | January 2025 11 Radiology R 864 R 2 882 None Pathology R 864 R 2 882 None Hospitalisation Cover R 1 007 R 2 882 None Non-elective procedures per claim R 4 345 None Non-elective euthanasia R 218 None Excess 10% of claim (minimum R200) on all claims. An additional excess of 10% of claim (min R200) will apply if no photo is sent within 48 hours of inception. On all illness claims where the pet is younger than 6 months, an additional excess of R300 will apply. 10% of claim (minimum R200) on all claims. An additional excess of 10% of claim (min R200) will apply if no photo is sent within 48 hours of inception. On all illness claims where the pet is younger than 6 months, an additional excess of R300 will apply. Premium per Reptile from R 259 R384 Annual Policy Limit R 25 850 R 30 250 Third Party Liability R 216 150 R 231 000 Accidental Cover per claim up to R 8 690 R 10 890 No Waiting Illness Cover per claim up to 50% of claim up to R 4 345 R 10 890 30 Days Medication R 578 R 2 882 None Surgery per claim R 2 178 None Radiology R 864 R 2 882 None Pathology R 864 R 2 882 None Hospitalisation Cover R 1 007 R 2 882 None Non-elective procedures per claim R 4 345 None Non-elective euthanasia R 218 None Excess 10% of claim (minimum R200) on all claims. An additional excess of 10% of claim (min R200) will apply if no photo is sent within 48 hours of inception. On all illness claims where the pet is younger than 6 months, an additional excess of R300 will apply 10% of claim (minimum R250) on all claims. An additional excess of 10% of claim (min R200) will apply if no photo is sent within 48 hours of inception. On all illness claims where the pet is younger than 6 months, an additional excess of R500 will apply. Premium per small or exotic mammal from R 240 R 345 Annual Policy Limit R 25 850 R 30 250 Third Party Liability R 216 150 R 231 000 Accidental Cover per claim up to R 8 690 R 10 890 No Waiting Illness Cover per claim up to 50% of claim up to R 4 345 R 10 890 30 Days Medication R 578 R 2 882 None Leading Article
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 12 « BACK TO CONTENTS MediPet - Cats and Dogs of all shapes and sizes. - No breed restrictions & no waiting period for hereditary condition cover. - Chronic care support as an add-on to Essential & Ultimate360 pet plans - Dental care is covered in the Ultimate360 pets plan and allows for 1 dental visit per year - An in-house veterinary team accesses each and every claim, using their health knowledge, communicating directly with your veterinarian and motivating underwriters. - An excess is the minimum amount payable for some insurance claims. This is deducted from the refund as is standard with all insurance as it is not a human medical aid. - No access applies to Benefit Booster add-on, Chronic Care Support add-on, behaviour treatment, costs due to theft, missing pet advertising, cremation, sterilisation & prescription food. - Accidental injuries for all plans have no waiting periods, & are covered immediately, so long as the accident happened & the cost was incurred after your cover was accepted. See the full list of accidents here. The pet must be seen by a vet within 48 hours of the time of the incident. - For Essential & Ultimate360 plan members, there is a 50% co-payment period from day 31 after joining to day 60. - A waiting period of 6 months from joining applies to all treatment & surgery for conditions affecting the following: knees & hips, elbows & shoulders, eyes, respiratory system & spine. - It is important to note that all diagnostics within this waiting period will be limited to a maximum of R5000. - Pets under 4 months of age at joining may be considered for part or full cover of the above treatments. A motivation & pre-approval may be submitted to consider full or part payment for one of the above surgeries, on a case-by-case basis. - There is a 4-month waiting period for dental, prescription food, & sterilisation claims. - There is a 6-month waiting period for cremation benefits claims. - There is a 30-day waiting period for routine care and optional add-on benefits. - There is a 30-day waiting period for Benefit Booster claims. - Any condition that shows signs, or symptoms or was treated before your policy was initiated is deemed “pre-existing” and is only covered under the LitePlus plan. - The Benefit Booster can also provide cover for a pre-existing condition Surgery per claim R 2 178 None Radiology R 864 R 2 882 None Pathology R 864 R 2 882 None Hospitalisation Cover R 1 007 R 2 882 None Non-elective procedures per claim R 4 345 None Non-elective euthanasia R 218 None Excess 10% of claim (minimum R200) on all claims. An additional excess of 10% of claim (min R200) will apply if no photo is sent within 48 hours of inception. On all illness claims where the pet is younger than 6 months, an additional excess of R300 will apply 10% of claim (minimum R250) on all claims. An additional excess of 10% of claim (min R200) will apply if no photo is sent within 48 hours of inception. On all illness claims where the pet is younger than 6 months, an additional excess of R500 will apply Leading Article
Vetnuus | January 2025 13 Leading Article Coverbokkie is an agent for other insurance companies. Petsense is an agent for other insurance companies. Petinsure is an agent for other Insurance companies AAPet - It appears that AAPet only insures cats and dogs - All insurance is risk-based. You can only receive a schedule of Insurance and Benefits after completing the application. - Policies cover a wide range of veterinary expenses, including diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalisation, and medication. They offer a range of different limits to suit your budget and your pet’s needs, so you can choose the level of cover that is right for you. - Once you make a claim, they will pay out according to the standard rates and annual limits, less any excess or levy that may be due by you. This ensures that you are not left with unexpected costs. - They are committed to providing a high level of customer service, so you can always reach out to them if you have any questions or concerns about your policy. - This section explains what an Excess is and how it is calculated. An Excess is the amount that you are responsible for paying on each claim, which is deducted automatically after the payout has been calculated. The Excess amount varies depending on the situation. Here are the details: - Excess: R150 or 10% of the benefit, whichever is higher. - If your pet is under 13 months old when treated, a minimum excess of R330 will be charged. - If you receive treatment for the same condition within 31 days, an excess of 16.5% will be charged. - Script Levy: If you have a chronic condition, you pay R100 for the first script. - If you have a non-chronic condition, you pay R50 for the first script, as stated in your Schedule of Insurance and Benefits. Plan Types Lite Plan Liteplan Plus Essential Plan Ultimate360 Plan Accident plan Covers Waiting Periods Premium per dog per month from R 299 R 590 R 410 R 590 R 257 Premium per cat per month from R 199 R 450 R 270 R 390 R 257 Overall annual limit R 40 000 R 40 000 R 60 000 R 72 000 R 25 000 Excess 25% of claim minimum of R300 25% of claim minimum of R300 15% of claim R150 minimum Hospital access N/A N/A 25% minimum of R350 25% minimum of R350 N/A Day2Day access N/A N/A R300 R300 N/A Holistic Wellness/ Supplements/ Emergency boarding N/A N/A 18% of claim 18% of claim N/A Dental Care N/A N/A N/A 25% of claim minimum of R500 N/A >>>14
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 14 « BACK TO CONTENTS - No specific plans - Offer Everyday Wellness For R82,50 per month - Excess buster benefit at R48,98 per month - Dental benefit at R67,29 per month - Hereditary Treatment Benefit R112,50 per month - Search and Rescue benefits R 41,67 per month - Legacy of Life Benefit R65 per month - Underwritten by Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Limited - Public liability covers for dogs only - Complementary Treatment: This benefit covers treatments that are not part of the usual veterinary treatment, such as homoeopathic remedies, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, and physiotherapy. Complementary treatments are only covered if they are provided by a registered veterinarian, veterinary nurse or practitioner (such as a physiotherapist) with the South African Veterinary Council. - Annual Limit: With AA Pet, you have the flexibility to set your own annual limit, which is the maximum amount that will be paid out in a policy year for all valid claims. This means you can choose the level of coverage that suits your pet’s needs and your budget. The number of Insurance companies can be overwhelming and the one that is the most visible will most likely get the most business. Do Veterinarians in South Africa consider pet Insurance an option for the payment of treatment? v Leading Article
Vetnuus | January 2025 15 Is Pet Health Insurance Able to Improve Veterinary Care? Why Pet Health Insurance for Dogs and Cats Has Limits: An Ethical Consideration on Pet Health Insurance Michelle Becker 1, Holger Volk 2 and Peter Kunzmann 1 Simple Summary: The standards of veterinary medicine are increasingly approaching those of human medicine. As a result, the cost of veterinary medicine is also rising noticeably. For many veterinarians and also pet owners, the question therefore arises as to whether animal health insurance is a possible solution. Based on a thought model, we have classified pet owners into four groups according to their willingness to pay and their dispensable funds. We found that animal health insurance can reduce price discussions, but reaches its limits as soon as an animal owner can afford neither the veterinary costs nor a monthly insurance premium. Abstract: Background: Owners often feel the cost of veterinary care is too high, as there remains a limited understanding of the cost of health care in human and veterinary medicine alike. Pet health insurance is often seen as a universal solution. However, especially for patient owners with few financial resources, both the bill at the vet and the monthly premium for pet health insurance can become a challenge. Hypothesis: Pet health insurance can prevent or ease many price discussions at the vet, but it does not offer a solution for patient owners with little financial means. Methods: To verify for which patient owner’s pet health insurance can be a solution, four theoretical groups were formed depending on the patient owner’s willingness to pay and his/her dispensable funds based on a theoretical model. Results: Dispensable funds are a factor that cannot be influenced by the veterinary surgeon. However, low dispensable funds as a result of an insufficient willingness to save (whether due to a lack of financial education or a lack of will) can be solved by pet health insurance. Willingness to pay, on the other hand, can be influenced by empathetic communication from the veterinary surgeon and thus also from pet health insurance. Nevertheless, situations remain where pet health insurance is not a solution either, because owners can neither afford the veterinary costs nor a premium for pet health insurance. 1. Introduction Financial discussions occur daily in small animal practice [1], which can be frustrating for the whole veterinary team, but for the veterinary surgeons in particular. Owners often feel the cost of veterinary care is too high, as there remains a limited understanding of the cost of health care in human and veterinary medicine alike. Dealing with financially limited clients can quickly become a burden for veterinary surgeons and increase their stress levels at work [2,3]. This is in part due to veterinary surgeons wanting to provide the best possible care for each individual animal, which clashes with owners’ financial constraints and the misconception of some owners that veterinary surgeons are mainly motivated by making a profit. Kondrup’s results show that ethical issues arise, affecting veterinarians personally and guiding the selection of treatment options [1]. The veterinary profession has advocated for strengthening the pet health insurance market to improve pet health care for the benefit of all stakeholders [2,4]. Can pet health insurance really solve most of the challenges of small animal practice mentioned above? The stakeholders in a veterinary appointment are the animal, the owner and the vet. What are their needs, and is pet health insurance able to better fulfil those needs? According to the RCVS code of professional conduct [4,5], it is part of the veterinary profession to “ensure the health and welfare of animals”. This is also part of the declaration every veterinary surgeon makes. The owner can also be said to have a fundamental interest in the welfare of his animal, since in many cases the relationship with his animal can be described as similar to that of his own child. [6] Clients’ expectations were also identified by Kirsty Hughes et al. [7]. They designed a “Veterinary client hierarchy of needs”, which defines clients’ needs as follows: • The animal’s welfare; • Clinical problem-solving ability; • Professionalism; • Communication skills; • Working in partnership. “Some capabilities are considered essential while others are considered as valuable add-ons once the fundamentals are in place. It may be that our clients coming to see the vet that their first priority for their animal is its safety and physiological needs and that once they see those being met, they can then prioritize their own psychological needs”. In addition, both in the UK and in Germany, pet owners are legally obliged to care for their pets. The UK legislation defines the duties of a “person responsible for an animal to ensure welfare” as follows [8]: “(2) For the purposes of this Act, an animal’s needs shall be taken to include— (a) its need for a suitable environment, (b) its need for a suitable diet, (c) its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns, (d) any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals, and (e) its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease” German legislation sees the protection of animals as a human responsibility and holds that “pain, suffering or harm” [9] to animals can only be applied with a legitimate and justified reason. Thus, from a legislative perspective, pet owners should be able to care for their pets adequately in health and disease. Legislation provides a basis for deciding how costs can be paid in an emergency before the emergency occurs. Otherwise, dilemmas can arise for all parties involved, which can put a heavy burden on the parties involved (animal, owner, veterinarian). Veterinarians and owners have a common interest in the welfare of the animal.
Vetnews | Januarie 2025 16 « BACK TO CONTENTS As mentioned in UK legislation, German legislation defines the responsibilities of pet ownership as follows: Your duties are to offer a diet, care and accommodation according to the needs of the pet. You may not restrict species-appropriate movement if this causes unnecessary suffering and pain. You have to acquire appropriate knowledge about the points mentioned above [9]. The animal’s expectations can be defined as the fulfilment of basic needs, such as the Five Freedoms, but also the quality and quantity of life should be maximized. The Five Freedoms are defined as freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; freedom to behave normally; and freedom from fear and distress [10]. The freedom from pain, injury and disease can especially be addressed by pet health insurance. Veterinary surgeons often find themselves in a difficult situation, on the one hand wanting to care for the animal, and on the other hand considering the owner’s financial capabilities and value system. It is a conflict between the original decision of becoming a vet, with the fulfilment of the animal’s needs as the highest value and letting owners decide which diagnostic and therapy they want to choose. “For in any veterinary consultation in any branch of the profession, there are three interested parties: the client, the animal and the practitioner him- or herself” [11]. One possible solution for this conflict may be understanding the patient’s needs. These are as described by Coe [12] as follows: “Care of the animal should take precedence over monetary aspects. [ . . . ] There was an expectation among some participants that out of a shared interest in the pet, the veterinarian would work with the client to find a solution if the client could not immediately afford veterinary care. [ . . . ] Discussions of costs should be initiated upfront. Costs of veterinary care should be placed in a meaningful context. [ . . . ] Costs should be discussed within the context of their pet’s health and prognosis, stating, for instance, that “I want the information about cost in the context of what’s a reasonable prognosis.” Client suspicion should be addressed. [ . . . ] The most consistent suspicion arose from the conflict between the idea of veterinary medicine as a health-care profession versus a business.” Meeting the needs of clients is important to satisfy both veterinary surgeons and clients in daily veterinary practice. It may also make a huge difference in a better working environment with fewer daily conflicts. Johanna Kersebohm [4,13] has identified vets’ expectations of their workplace and working environment. The two most important ones are a good working atmosphere and an appropriate salary. These two factors are largely determined by how the vet experiences their time in consult: most of the time is spent in consults every day, which are also the main contributors to the revenue of a practice. During this time, discussions about cost and ethical dilemmas can arise [14]. Insurers, as one of the stakeholders of pet health insurance, see an interesting niche market in Germany that they would like to tap into. They are aware of the problem of unpaid veterinary bills and would like to establish veterinarians as multipliers to create a win-win situation [15]. Despite pet health insurance being a solution to improve pet health care, many owners choose not to take out a policy for their pets due to financial constraints or restricted coverage. The current study investigates if a voluntary pet insurance system could resolve these conflicts and provide accessible care for pets. Would this have a direct effect on animal welfare (“According to studies, dog owners with pet health insurance spend 29 per cent more annually for veterinary care; cat owners 81 per cent more.”[16]) or only an indirect one by enabling the vet to have discussions with the owners which are not financially restricted and to see cases on routine health check-ups? As mentioned above, veterinary surgeons have a fundamental interest in the well-being of their patients. However, in contrast to the patients’ owners, there is one additional point: to be able to work in the profession in a financially sustainable and healthy way (physically and mentally). This work aims to find out if pet health insurance is really as helpful as is claimed in the veterinary press. “Since the 2005 change in the law preventing veterinary surgeons from recommending particular insurance products, we have lost a very useful symbiotic relationship with the insurance industry” (GB) [17]. “[ . . . ] [Owners] will no longer have to worry whether or not they can afford the necessary veterinary attention. If an animal is insured by a caring owner for this laudable reason, it frees us to consider only the animal’s health and welfare and ensure we reach an accurate diagnosis and satisfactory conclusion [ . . . ]” (GB) [4]. 2. Methods To find out how to solve price discussions, it is worth taking a look at their origin. This work is based on a theoretical model. Due to the fact that surveys often distort the picture of reality, we have deliberately chosen a thought model. This effect has already been demonstrated in the area of price sensitivity for fresh meat. In surveys, the majority of consumers stated that they would accept a price premium of just over 30% if more animal welfare could be guaranteed [18]. In a supermarket study, however, this willingness to buy was disproved [19]: “The results are surprising, as various surveys have shown that many consumers are willing to spend significantly more money on meat if it has been produced according to higher animal welfare standards. The results of the present suggest that the observed reality of actual purchasing behaviour is more differentiated and complex. The basic willingness to spend more money on such meat in the test for such meat is only pronounced to a limited extent. General statements on willingness to buy should therefore be viewed critically.” Although the consumption of meat is a voluntary purchase, while consulting a veterinarian in the event of illness is not a voluntary decision, the parallel is intended to illustrate how large the gap often is between a statement made and actual action in society. Therefore, the added value of this theoretical model is that supported by the existing literature and a theoretical analysis of the current situation, potentials and limitations of animal health insurance can be shown. The basic idea of the following thought model is that price discussions often arise for two reasons: either the owner does not have the financial means to pay, or he does not want to use the required resources. Thus, financial conflicts can be reduced to two fundamental factors: willingness to pay and dispensable funds. Article
Vetnuus | January 2025 17 These two factors combined lead us to four different situations. Thus, we have developed a model which helps to classify patient owners in terms of their willingness to pay in relation to their financial capacity. Based on this model, predictions of pet health insurance limitations and capabilities can be drawn. The two factors “willingness to pay” and “dispensable funds” of patient owners can be combined into four different categories: 1. High willingness to pay (WP) and high dispensable funds (DF); 2. High WP and low DF; 3. Low WP and high DF; 4. Low WP and low DF. WP depends on the human-animal bond. When the relationship of the owner with the animal is very close, the owner is more willing to spend money on her or his pet. (According to the NAPHIA Press Kit, pet owners spend more at the vet when they have pet health insurance in place. Reasons for purchasing PHI include that it “is helpful to pet owners,” “shows you love your pet” or “helps avoid the need to make painful choices about care.” In other words, many reasons for taking out pet health insurance indicate a close relationship with the pet and are intended to open the door to expensive diagnostic and treatment methods [16].) In the media, you often find only positive statements about the relationship, especially between man and dog [20,21], but this relationship can be very complex [22]. Owners rarely would admit that they have a more practical, less caring relationship with their pets. 3. Results Four groups of patient owners could be identified in the model above. Group 1: high WP/high DF This owner loves his pet and is willing to pay all the bills that come with it. This group is found in many households that acquire a dog or cat which lives with them inside the house. Health insurance for the pet is self-evident, as the vet has recommended it and the owners want only the best for their pet. Group 2: high WP/low DF This owner also loves his animal but has limited dispensable funds available. Often the animal is an emotional support or at the time of purchase the awareness of possible costs and the responsibility to care for the animal was low. This group is often found in socially weak households. In this case, if the owner is aware of possible veterinary costs, PHI is a good way to cushion financial peaks and convert them into monthly amounts. Groups 3 and 4: low WP/high DF and low WP/high DF This owner has a low emotional attachment to his pet. This may be the case if the animal has a specific task. In the case of dogs, for example, this can be the herding of sheep or personal protection. In the case of cats, this could be keeping away pests such as mice or rats. As part of the pet owner’s responsibility for the animal, a monthly payment might actually be more convenient for these owners than individual vet bills, as it makes costs more predictable. A low willingness to pay can also occur if not all family members agreed with the acquisition of the animal. Groups 3 and 4 differ only in the (non-)presence of financial means. 4. Conclusions As shown in Figure 1, pet health insurance is not needed for the high WP/ high DF group, but is a solution for owners who have been categorized either in high WP/low DF, low WP/high DF or low WP/low DF. However, for the high WP/low DF or low WP/low DF group, the question remains if pet ownership is in general justified. In the high WP/low DF group, owners would be willing to pay but their means are restricted, leading to the high frustration of owners and vets alike. The low DF is because the income or assets are generally too low to pay for veterinary bills. In Germany, anyone who “keeps, cares for or has to care for an animal” is legally responsible for “feeding, caring for and housing the animal in a manner appropriate to its species and needs” and for acquiring the Article Figure 1 Patient owners’ willingness to pay depending on dispensable funds. >>>18
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