Most dog owners never consider dog insurance until they’re faced with a large veterinary bill. And the fact is that you can never foresee when you’ll need to seek veterinary care, or how much it will cost. Not infrequently, a visit to the vet to treat an injury or an unexpected illness can cost hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. Ouch!

How easy would it be your dog or puppy to break his leg? It happens every day, regardless if these pets stay indoors or are allowed to roam free in the yard. And can you guess how much it will cost you out-of-pocket? The average veterinarian costs for a broken bone is around $900. The monthly premium for dog insurance is pennies compared to such an expense for medical care.

Dog Insurance Options

Look into the different types of dog insurance plans available. The same as with other types of insurance, dog insurance policies do vary, so it’s wise to compare a couple before you buy. All good dog insurance policies should cover the following items:

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: Many over-the-counter flea control products do not work on every dog. Fleas are not only a nuisance to your pet, they can also cause warms and serious skin conditions. Dog insurance plans may be able to cover the costs of more potent, prescription-only flea control products.

Annual Veterinary Examination: This is essential for all dogs, even if you think your dog is in peak health. The annual checkup can identify illness and disease before it progresses into something much worse, so that treatment can start at the earliest opportunity. Many dog insurance policies cover the annual veterinary examination costs.

Heartworm Medication: If you forget your heartworm prevention meds, your dog may contract heartworm. This condition is more prevalent than most people realize. And it’s expensive to treat. Your dog health insurance plan is likely to cover this cost also.

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: If your dog suffers periodontal disease, or you are unable to keep his teeth clean by other means, surgical teeth cleaning is often required. And because it’s performed under anaesthetic, it’s pretty expensive. Good news – your dog insurance should cover this, too.

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).

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Despite the vast number of pet owners in the U.S., a huge percentage of them, believe it or not, do not have any form of pet insurance; these animals are, however, generally considered a part of the family – a family for whom every other member has insurance. We don’t hesitate to purchase health insurance for ourselves; should we be forgiven for not caring enough about our pets then?

This is an often overlooked area and thought to be superfluous by some; pet owners soon learn how costly it is when they require treatment. In the last ten years there have been many areas that have seen price increases and vets are amongst them; the result of this has meant that pet insurance premiums have also risen as well.

So other than rising costs, what are the main reasons you should consider cover for your pets. Unfortunately, domestic animals become sick from time to time or are involved in an accident; when this happens, the cost of treatment may even cause financial strain.

If you are in this unenviable position then a choice may have to be made; the last thing you should have to deal with is the stress over the expense of saving your animal.

A few years back, my vet told me treatment for our dog would cost more than two thousand dollars; what choice did I have, and although I regret it now, I did wonder if we could afford it. Medical science cannot cure everything and pets are vulnerable too; if they do not survive despite the vets best attempts, the bill for treatment has still been incurred and will need to be paid.

The average person does not always consider the costs involved with owning a pet; this is even more relevant if you are experiencing financial difficulties. You may have other pressing financial commitments to attend too so raising further capital can sometimes be a problem.

Ensuring that your pet receives the treatment it requires should be every owners aim; this situation can be avoided if a pet insurance policy is set up. Although pet care insurance costs are rising they are not going to break the bank; the average monthly premium will be less than forty dollars. And there are other options that can be paid yearly and are even less expensive – as little as one hundred dollars a year.

You can choose from a range of pet health insurance services; discounts are often available should you decide to place all household pets all on one policy to reduce the monthly cost. All pet owners should think carefully about what pet insurance provision they have made for their pet.

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