Hero Pet Teddy, the little Cavalier who found his appetite for life

Today, Teddy is a happy little Cavalier who loves his food. But when his family brought him home at just eight weeks old, even keeping a meal down was a struggle.

A serious medical condition, specialist surgery and weeks of recovery lay ahead. With care from Murdoch Vet Hospital, a devoted family and support from Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance, Teddy now has plenty to look forward to, including his next meal!

When something wasn’t right

Bringing Teddy home should have been the beginning of a wonderful new chapter. His family were excited to welcome their little puppy, but they soon realised something wasn’t right.

After every meal, Teddy would bring his food back up. The only thing he could keep down was puppy milk.

At first, the vet thought Teddy might not yet be ready for solid food. His family continued feeding him puppy milk and gently trying to introduce food, but the same distressing pattern continued.

Repeatedly bringing up his meals also led to aspiration, when material enters the airways, and Teddy needed frequent courses of antibiotics.

Despite his family’s efforts, their little boy was struggling to get the nourishment he needed.

Finally, some answers

By around 12 weeks of age, Teddy needed further investigations. After X-rays, scans and blood tests, his vets discovered that a blood vessel near his heart was constricting his oesophagus, the tube that carries food to the stomach.

At last, his family had an explanation for why Teddy couldn’t eat properly. But by then, he was very malnourished.

Teddy needed to be referred to Murdoch Vet Hospital for specialist surgery. His family were told the operation could cost between $10,000 and $20,000.

“I was devastated,” his owner recalls. “I couldn’t believe it and had no idea how we were going to afford it. My heart broke.”

A decision that made all the difference

Fortunately, Teddy’s owner had taken an important step before he even came home.

Wanting to understand how to care for a Cavalier properly, she had visited the vet for advice. The vet recommended pet insurance, so she researched her options and chose Bow Wow Meow’s Nose-to-Tail Cover.

She insured Teddy before welcoming him into the family, never imagining how soon they would need that support.

When she learned that Teddy needed surgery, she emailed Bow Wow Meow with the details to find out whether his procedure would be covered. To her enormous relief, she received confirmation that it would.

The family could move forward with Teddy’s treatment.

Helping Teddy get back on his paws

Teddy underwent surgery at Murdoch Vet Hospital and spent a week in hospital. When he returned home, he still needed a feeding tube for another four weeks.

It was an anxious time for his family, but having support with the cost of treatment eased some of the pressure.

They used GapOnly^®, allowing them to pay the difference between the vet’s invoice and the approved claim benefit, rather than the full bill upfront.

As Teddy’s owner explains, “Instead of worrying about money, we were able to focus entirely on helping Teddy recover.”

The happy outcome ♥

For a puppy who once struggled with every meal, Teddy’s love of food today is especially wonderful.

His owner describes him as “a happy, beautiful little boy living life to the fullest”, and says he absolutely loves his food now.

Teddy also has a little sister, Ruby. After their experience with Teddy, the family chose Bow Wow Meow cover for her too, although thankfully they haven’t needed to claim for her so far.

“We are forever grateful to Murdoch Vet Hospital and, of course, Bow Wow Meow, because without pet insurance, Teddy wouldn’t be here today.”

We’re delighted to celebrate Teddy as a Bow Wow Meow Hero Pet. His brave journey, his family’s dedication and the care of his veterinary team have given this little boy so much to enjoy.

Here’s to many more happy days,  and delicious dinners, for Teddy!

Watch Teddy’s story

Hear Teddy’s owner share his journey, from those worrying first weeks to the happy little boy he is today.

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Note: Pet Insurance covers a portion of eligible vet bills. Testimonials are based on individual circumstances and varying factors such as cover options, excess, risk ratings and available discounts apply.