As always, a very warm welcome to The Journal, a glimpse into all things puppies, pets and people that I meet along the way!
A recent trip to Sydney allowed me to catch up with a very special and elusive sort of vet; the kind you don't often see unless things are a little more serious or when you require specialised care for your pet ... Dr Andrew Levien is an orthopaedic veterinary surgeon who has achieved more than most and after recently selling his advanced treatment centre in Sydney, he and his 11 year old hound mix, Jesse, are headed to the USA. Before they hopped on a plane, I managed to catch up with Andrew to chat about access to specialist veterinary care, what surgeries he has performed on Jesse and why he has pet insurance. Plus, find out about how GapOnly could support you and your pets to take the sting out of your vet bills. |
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Over 10 years ago, I was an eager and very nervous student observing one of Dr Andrew's surgeries. I was trying to play it cool and not faint - on this day, I learned that eating before surgery would be essential in my career ... I'm not sure if I'm glad Andrew remembered the younger clueless me, but nearly a decade on, it was great to catch up and meet Jesse who, I'd say, has unknowingly won the veterinary lottery. |
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JESSE, THE VETERINARY LOTTERY WINNER, SYDNEY, NSW 2025. |
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SPECIALIST VET CARE ON THE RISE |
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After at least five years of (quite gruelling) university study - which defeated me - many junior vets become qualified and ready to embark on a career in general practice. For others, it's merely a precursor to further ongoing (much more gruelling) study to progress down a rigorous specialist career path that seems to never end!
Specialist training is on the rise and has been driven by a greater affluence in the pet-owning community, which has created more need for and interest in specialised care for our pets. This, coupled with increased scientific knowledge about animals, means there is growing scope for taking diagnosis and treatment further. This raises a lot of ethical questions and rightful concerns, particularly around accessing this care and the cost to pet parents. |
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AT HOME WITH ANDREW AND JESSE, SYDNEY, NSW 2025. |
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Unlike human healthcare, veterinary care is privately funded and has no Medicare-like framework to support it. That means that you must cover 100% of the cost for care. It hurts, but what hurts even more, is cost limiting your access to gold standard care for your pets when they need it most. Cost constraints are a major barrier to care, which can discourage you and your veterinarian from focusing on what is medically needed for your pet when they are unwell. No one wins. "Vets have an important role in helping you navigate the very fine line between medical necessity and financial reality", says Andrew. |
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THE PEACE OF MIND WE ALL NEED |
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"When I ran my hospital, I wanted to pay for my pets' treatment in the same way my clients would. I believe strongly in leading by example...that culture of proactive care matters and it starts at the top." Andrew's dog Jesse remains blissfully unaware of his good fortune; after becoming quadriplegic, Andrew performed an MRI to find a disc rupture and rushed Jesse to surgery at 2am to perform an emergency spinal decompression, relieving pressure on the spinal cord... as you do. It wasn't because he was the surgeon nor that he owned the hospital with all the equipment, "the outcome was a testament to the value of having rapid access to advanced care," says Andrew. Jesse's top level insurance cover enabled him to make a full recovery, walking within 10 days of the surgery and returning back to normal after just 3 months!
Jesse has also had several lumps removed, including a cancerous mass as well as being under the care of a veterinary dental specialist. "These aren't simple cases, and they all highlight how important it is to have access to experienced specialists across different fields." For Jesse, Andrew explains that having pet insurance was crucial for each of these scenarios.
Having pet insurance doesn't always yield the desired outcome, but it can provide clarity through investigation that would not otherwise be possible. "We also had a cat who became severely unwell and ultimately had to be euthanized. I was able to pursue a thorough workup, which gave answers and clarity even if we didn't get the outcome we'd hoped for. Without insurance, we simply wouldn't have been able to investigate that far."
Andrew says, pet insurance is just as valuable for vets as it is for our clients, "it allows us to focus on what matters most: doing what's best for the animal." |
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ANDREW AND JESSE, SYDNEY, NSW 2025. |
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Some say we've gone too far with prolonging the lives of our pets. I put this to Andrew: "I don't think we've gone too far, I think we've just evolved and with evolution comes the responsibility to communicate, educate and lead with compassion." Andrew says euthanasia shouldn't be avoided at all costs. "I believe in it as a humane and necessary part of veterinary care." As a specialist, Andrew hasn't had to perform a euthanasia in years, he says "that's a reflection of the specialist environment I am in...I have such deep admiration for those GP vets who do it with grace and compassion. Those practitioners who provide home euthanasia services provide something truly special at an incredibly hard moment."
Prolific in his field, Andrew has co-authored numerous research publications, pioneered bionic legs with human surgeons, performed the highest number of total hip replacements in NSW and he believes fervently in "learning form those who came before us." So, what's next for Andrew? He hopes to invent a surgical technique that will become a lasting contribution in his field, but for now, he's headed to the USA to broaden his skill set and experience, with the intention of returning to Australia to continue in his meaningful work to improve the lives of our pets.
You can stay up to date and read more about Dr Andrew Levien and his work at osseovet.com. |
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GAPONLY ON THE SPOTS CLAIMS |
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If you would like more information on pet insurance providers, I would recommend looking into GapOnly insurance partners. GapOnly is an important service that is supporting pet owners and vets by offering on the spot claims and processing integration with your local vet. Eligible claims can be quickly processed on site and you will only pay the gap on your way out! You can contact your local vet to find out if they offer GapOnly. If you are looking into pet insurance, consider a GapOnly approved partner so you don't have to process those pesky claims.
It's not quite Medicare, but it's a pretty good start! |
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To each and every one of you,
thank you for being here, even if just for a moment!
Until next month! |
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