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Show
pets love with regular check-ups
February
14, 2008
This morning, as I climbed over Lola, the only dog I know that likes
to sleep in late, and heard Caesar, our high-energy dog, running
back and forth across the hardwood floors harassing our cats, Sylvie
and Pepper, who were meowing for breakfast, I wondered what would be
the perfect Valentine's Day gift for all of them. Even though they'd
love it, chocolates are out of the question because a component in
chocolate called theobromine is extremely toxic to animals' systems.
Although practical gifts aren't always fun, taking care of our pets
with regular veterinary visits and keeping them healthy is one of
the best ways to express our love. Being prepared to cover those
costs also is important. As human health care costs continue to
increase, health care costs for our pets can be just as expensive.
The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association estimates that
in 2007 pet owners spent $9.8 billion on veterinary care. Annual
vaccinations and checkups can be budgeted for, but unexpected costs
and medical emergencies stretch our finances.
Pet insurance is one option to consider. One of the first things to
do is to investigate what, if any, types of insurance your
veterinarian honors. I recently went online to request rate quotes
from one company and discovered that their program is not yet
available in Louisiana.
Some pet insurance plans work as a reimbursement program, so it's
not limited to which veterinarian you use. The LA/SPCA, for example,
recently started offering a complimentary gift of 30 days of pet
insurance with all new adoptions. The insurance is a joint program
of HomeAgain Microchip and PetFirst Healthcare and is a
reimbursement insurance program.
If your pet is the type of breed that is prone to chronic medical
conditions, insurance may be a sound investment, but Consumer
Reports points out that unless that's the case, pet insurance
premiums might cost more than they're worth.
The premium you may be facing depends on the number of pets in your
household, and the age and type of animal. It's estimated that
premium costs for pet insurance typically range between $10 and $40
a month, per pet. That's why it's important to do some homework and
decide which if any is the best plan for you.
You can also use tools like the Better Business Bureau and Consumer
Reports to see if there have been any complaints or problems filed
regarding a particular insurance company.
Although not very common, some companies are offering pet insurance
as an additional employee benefit. ComCast, The Home Depot, Walt
Disney and Del Monte are companies that have added the benefit. In
these cases, the pet owner covers the entire premium, but it still
makes a strong statement that the company recognizes that for their
employees, pets are an important member of their family.
To insure or not to insure is a relatively new option to consider.
The important thing is to plan ahead for unexpected medical costs,
either through pet insurance or a typical savings program. That, and
NO chocolate, is a perfect gift for Valentine's Day or any day of
the year.
- Gloria
Dauphin
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