How Quick Thinking and Pet Insurance Saved Zoey the Cat
They say curiosity killed the cat, but thanks to quick thinking and pet insurance, Zoey came through unscathed. Paris adopted Zoey as a tiny domestic shorthair kitten and everyone who meets her falls in love instantly. Sweet and curious, Zoey has a personality that draws people in. While Paris had already used her Embrace Pet Insurance coverage a couple of times for smaller issues, she wasn't prepared her for the emergency that would test both her quick thinking and her insurance coverage.
The crisis began on a normal day. Paris's partner had been using minoxidil, a common hair growth treatment, and left the bottle out without its cap properly secured. Paris happened to glance over at the counter and spotted Zoey there, licking her lips. The sight immediately triggered alarm bells. She searched the house and found that Zoey had managed to get into that minoxidil.
Paris and her partner quickly called animal poison control to assess the danger. Even though Zoey had only gotten a small amount, poison control instructed them to take her to the emergency room immediately. Minoxidil is extremely toxic to cats, affecting their blood pressure, breathing, and multiple body systems. There was no time to wait and see if symptoms developed.
At the emergency hospital, the veterinary team jumped into action. They administered activated charcoal to absorb any remaining toxin and shaved patches of Zoey's fur to attach EKG leads and other monitors. Paris watched anxiously as machines tracked her cat's vital signs. "I tried not to freak out because I didn't know if I was going to lose my cat or not just because of this freak incident," she recalls. The fear was overwhelming, but she focused on getting Zoey the help she needed.
Fortunately, Zoey never showed symptoms of poisoning. The quick response and overnight monitoring at the hospital had prevented the worst from happening. But when the bill arrived, Paris faced another shock. The emergency treatment cost close to $2,000. Thankfully, she hadn’t based Zoey’s treatment plan off of cost, because she knew she was covered by Embrace. The company reimbursed 90 percent of the bill, turning what could have been a financial crisis into a manageable expense.
The experience reinforced Paris's belief in pet insurance. "Knowing I was going to get that money back was also another relief," she says. Beyond Zoey's recovery, which was the most important outcome, the financial protection meant Paris never had to hesitate about getting emergency care. Zoey’s near-miss proved that a little curiosity doesn’t have to mean catastrophe when you’re covered.