Why You Need Dog Insurance

By Geraldine Dimarco

Have you ever considered getting dog insurance to cover the medical expenses and veterinarian care that your dog or puppy may need in the near future? The truth is that most pet owners do not consider taking out dog health insurance until they experience an unplanned visit to the veterinarian to treat an injury or illness, which ends up costing hundreds or thousands of dollars.

And how easy is it for a dog to break his or her leg, do you think? Well, just as with humans, bone breakages in dogs happen every single day, and they can occur in your back yard and inside your house, as well as outside while exercising your dog in the park or at the beach. So how much do you think that broken bone might cost in veterinary fees? Well, the average vet cost for a broken bone is $900.00. By comparison, the monthly premium for dog insurance is just a few dollars, and you're covered for every eventuality.

Dog Insurance Coverage

As with any insurance plan, the types of coverage offered and the prices for these premiums will vary from company to company. However, you can expect the top dog insurance plans to offer coverage on the following veterinarian services:

Spaying/Neutering: Unless you are a serious breeder then it is only ethical that you have your dog spayed or neutered. Your dog health insurance plan may cover up to 100% of the cost. And remember, having your dog fixed helps keep animal population under control and reduces the chances of dogs roaming the streets looking for a mate, often resulting in injuries due to fighting or other accidents.

Prescription Flea Control: Some dogs just don't respond adequately to over-the-counter flea remedies. And fleas must be taken seriously, not only for your dog's comfort, but because they also carry various diseases and encourage other parasites. Dog insurance plans may cover the costs of the more potent prescription flea control products.

Annual Examination: Whether or not your vet has conned you into thinking that annual vaccinations are essential for your dog, the annual examination is a necessity. It will identify minor health problems before they become major health problems, and treatment can start while there's still a good prospect of success. Your dog insurance policy should cover the annual exam.

Heartworm Treatment: If your dog is diagnosed with heartworm, immediate treatment is required. And it's expensive. Although it's certainly by far preferable to avoid the heartworm infestation in the first place by using heartworm prevention, your dog insurance should in fact cover the cost of heartworm treatment should the need ever arise.

Lab Fees: Blood tests and other lab work should also be covered by most dog health insurance plans. Such tests may include blood work for worms, diseases, and abnormalities with pregnancy.

Teeth Cleaning: Some dogs need their teeth cleaned under anaesthetic on a semi-regular basis. Other dogs may never need this procedure. But how do you know? Your dog may need his/her teeth cleaned, and if you have dog insurance, you'll probably be covered for this.

Hospitalization Costs: Your dog may need to be hospitalized if he becomes ill or if he is injured. We already know that injuries are a considerable expense. And yes, hospitalization is an additional impost. Make sure you pick a dog health policy that covers hospitalization (all the good ones do). - 29895

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here