Dog Insurance: Why You Should Have Dog Health Insurance

If you have taken out dog insurance to cover the veterinary costs you may incur for your dog or puppy, then you're in the minority. The majority of pet owners never think about dog insurance - until, that is, they receive a vet bill in the hundreds, or thousands, of dollars. And to think that dog health insurance would have covered those fees!

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 Coverage

As with any type of insurance, dog insurance types vary from company to company. Some label their products as pet assurance, as opposed to pet insurance, but it's pretty much the same type of cover. Either way, you can expect most dog health insurance plans to provide coverage for the following:

Spaying and Neutering: As you know, all dogs (except those being professionally bred, or shown) should be de-sexed. Many dog insurance policies cover the entire cost of spaying and neutering, which is great, because those procedures cost at least a couple hundred dollars for a straightforward operation - never mind if your dog experiences expensive complications, which can happen with any surgery.

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 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 Medication: Should your dog be diagnosed with heartworms, the medication needed may also be covered by most dog insurance plans.

Pathology Lab Fees: Blood tests and other lab work is covered by most dog insurance. You never know when blood work will be needed, and it is important in quickly identifying serious conditions such as heartworm and dog diabetes.

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).