Large Dog Breeds Exceptions: Many companies offer an exclusion for German Shepherds, Great Danes, Rottweilers and Staffordshire Terriers because of their history with hip dysplasia.

Bulldog Issues: Bulldogs have many health problems, thanks to their flat facial structures and breathing issues. They tend to react negatively to warm weather and can have problems sleeping at night. Many bulldogs also suffer from hip dysplasia as they age.

Cocker Spaniel Waiting Period: Many pet insurance companies will not ensure an English Cocker Spaniel until the dog is two years old. This is because this breed of dog has been known to develop Familial Nephropathy, a genetic condition that is normally fatal. The disease tends to make an appearance in the first two years of a Cocker Spaniel’s life, which is why pet insurance owners require the two year waiting period.

Liability Insurance Requirements: According to the Lester Kalmanson Agency, certain dog breeds must have liability insurance before some pet health insurance companies will consider coverage. This list typically includes:

• Akitas
• Boxers
• Chow chows
• Doberman pinschers
• Great Danes
• German shepherds
• Pit bulls
• Siberian huskies
• Presa Canario bulldogs
• Alaska malamutes

What is the Real Price of that Cute Puppy Behind the Glass?

You may find this surprising, but the reality is that you may end up spending over $20,000 on your family pet in his or her life span.

You can’t believe this?

Let’s bark about this for a few moments. Sure, you may only pay around $100 to get that puppy from your neighborhood animal shelter, but by the time you add in expenses for the next twelve years, you have just made the initial payment on a brand new home.

Because it is such a huge financial expense to pay for pet care, you might want to consider getting a pet insurance policy while the animal is still a puppy. Having a pet insurance can alleviate your vet bills that stem from necessary, preventative pet care, accidents, and illnesses. Of course your pet is more than just an animal; he or she is a treasured family member. For this reason, you want to be able to give your furry friend the finest in quality care.

You Actually Underestimate the Pet Cost

The financial figure is broken down in this manner: the yearly cost associated with having a canine is estimated on average as $2,080; feline owners pay an estimated average of $1,320. This number includes not only day-to-day expenses such as food, toys and treats, collars, leashes, and training but also fees related to grooming, vet care, and boarding. Not surprisingly, half of that cost is vet care. That share does not include the price for medicines and other medical supplies.

Cat owners are estimated to annually pay $1,320 in costs associated with their pets while dog owners pay an estimated annual expense of $2,080.

Obtaining a health insurance plan for your pet is an easy way to manage the costs that come with owning a pet. A large number of the pet health policies will come with a detailed schedule of benefits that makes owners aware of the allowances available to them during each policy year. All of the allowances are itemized and classified by condition and corresponding treatment. The complete reimbursement amount can be received for each incident in which the animal experiences a unique, injury that is not related to a previous one. The deductible must also be considered with each reimbursement request.

This fighting like “cats and dogs” does not have to be the norm because the two species can get along with each other. Sometimes the animosity may exist because of the animal’s previous experience with the other species before the two became paired together. At other times, the communication differences may be the source of the problem. For instance, when a cat moves her tail about it is typically to  show she is unhappy. A dog, on the other hand, moves his appendage to show he is happy and/or excited. You can help your two pets survive comfortably together by remembering and respecting the needs and innate behaviors of both animals.

If you plan on having a home where the cat and dog get along together in some way, then your best choice of pets is a dog who has had some positive experience with cats and a curious feline who is not afraid of canines. When you adopt the new pet, the shelter or other organization where you find your furry friend can help you decide which animal is most likely to be a suitable friend for the pet you already have. This selection will be made after the personalities of both pets have been reviewed.

There are some pets that do not make good partners for pets of other species. Case in point, canines who are basically hunters, like terriers, herding dogs, and hounds, do not do well with felines because their natural instinct is to catch and kill. Cats who have lived in the wild will not do well in homes with dogs either because of their previous experiences with “the enemy” in their natural environment.

Check the Water Before Jumping into the Pool

Even more so than dogs, cats can be quite territorial; they do not like change so in order to keep things comfortable for everyone involved, the introduction should be slow. At this time, patience is a necessity because the introductory period could take as little as a couple of days to a number of weeks to a month or two. To speed along the process, it is important that the pet owner remember to spend one-on-one time with each individual in their respective spaces.

Kind, soft words will go a long way towards making each animal feel special. It is also of vital importance that the oldest, animal family member does not feel neglected during this time. The animals can be exposed to each other through brief meetings in a common area of the house. These short meetings will let them both know that there can be two pets in one household.

A Restrained Meet and Greet

To maintain control of your dog during the initial meetings, it is a good idea to keep him on a leash in case he becomes a little too excited. The “down/stay” command will be quite beneficial if your pooch is trained. For both safety and emotional reasons, the cat should be kept clear of the dog’s bite range during the meet and greets. When the cat wants to move away from the door, it should be allowed to do so.

Some pet owners have their animals meet for the first time on the reverse sides of a gate. Even so, the animals should not be allowed to mingle or even touch each other’s noses until they have become more familiar with one another. In other circumstances, one pet has been placed in a pet carrier while the other is given freedom to walk around the carrier and sniff the other animal. The latter situation may vary in effectiveness depending on the behavior and personalities of the individual pets.

Use Common Sense and Share Scents

Unlike humans, animals do not use face-to-face conversations to get to know each other; they learn about each other through their scents. For this reason, your two pets could learn about each other before they actually meet. To begin the scent exchange, softly rub a washcloth, shirt, towel, or sock over your dog, and then place the piece of cloth somewhere near an area where you know the cat will be, places like the cat bed or eating area.

After a couple of days, rub the scented item on the feline so the two animal scents will be mingled. Now, the same process can be use to acclimate your dog to the cat’s scent. Performing this sharing of scents will provide the animals with at least a little awareness of each other so they will not be complete strangers at their first meeting.

A Safe Space for Your Feline

Since cats are extremely territorial, your cat (and it does not matter if the cat is the resident or new family member) will need his or her own private area for a while during the introductory period. This private space should be a room or area with some type of door or divider that will allow the feline to have alone time without fear of being disturbed. In this area, there should also be water, food, a bed, toys, a clean box filled with litter, and a scratching post or similar item. This safe space will give you cat a sense of security because it will know it has a retreat away from the dog. The dog should not be allowed to hang out around the feline’s safe spot because its presence will create an air of tension that is counterproductive to a comfortable environment.

Provide Individual Eating Areas

Separate eating spaces should be set up so that each of the animals can eat without worrying about the other pet. To keep the dog from grabbing the cat’s food, it is a good idea to have the cat’s eating area located on a high surface like a windowsill or a countertop. There is another benefit to having each animal eat in its own area; separate dining tables assures that each animal will receive the right food. Dog and cat foods are not the same. Most cats have no interest in canine foods, but dogs tend to like the fat and protein content that is found in most feline diets. Dogs who eat cat food on a regular basis tend to gain weight and do not receive the proper nutrients.

Are You Considering a Dog?

Have you been thinking about getting a dog for a while now, but you are uncertain which dog to choose? If this applies to you, then you need to research and decide which type of canine would make the best addition to your family. A huge benefit of going with a dog that is purebred is that you can be certain about the dog’s attributes as far as appearance, size, temperament, and care needs. Knowing how you dog will behave and look as it matures will be an instrumental factor in your decision-making process.

Your Canine and You

People tend to forget all reason when they are selecting puppies. This statement seems even more true when children are included in the puppy selection. Even so, it is best to be knowledgeable before choosing your dog because the more you know; the better prepared you will be when you actually have the pet at home. Knowing all you can is important not only when it comes to choosing your specific breed but also when you’re deciding where to obtain the dog. It is highly recommended that you thoroughly research before purchasing your canine. Dogs are lifelong acquisitions; not temporary appliances.

When you are doing your research, make sure that you remain honest. You may love that beautiful Collie with the gorgeous coat, but will you have the time to care for that coat every single day? Perhaps you would do better with a dog with fewer grooming needs. Sure, you love that beautiful Golden Retriever, but will she enjoy living in your small one bedroom apartment? Where will she run and play since you do not have a private yard? You will need to answer questions such as these when you explore your options and make plans for being a good pet owner and a good neighbor.

Are you ready for the responsibility of having a dog? Having a dog requires more work than caring for a goldfish. Take the time to chat with breeders about the needs of the dogs, and do not hesitate to ask them questions. Conscientious breeders will gladly share their experiences and knowledge.

Finding the Right Breeder

These same breeders are responsible and seriously care about the canines they breed and raise. They make it a top priority to breed dogs who are in the best shape mentally and physically. It is from these highly-regarded individuals that you want to buy your puppies; this suggestion cannot be over emphasized. When you have chosen a breeder, screen that person or company. You should request to see either the dam or sire of the puppy you are purchasing. You should also pay attention to how all the canines in the breeder’s care respond to their “pack leader” and to you. Are the puppies happy and friendly or skittish and fearful? Any decent breeder will be checking you out as well to ensure their puppies are going to good homes.

The Financial Expense

You have to think about more than just the buying price when it comes to the financial expense you will be incurring when you get a puppy. You will need to add in funds for all the supplies and maintenance that make up good care for your pet; these are items such as food, collars, leashes, toys, and preventative health care such as vaccinations. Before you buy that adorable puppy, make sure you can afford to give him or her the life they deserve.

As a responsible pet owner, you will have to be prepared to take care of all your dog’s health needs for its entire life span. Of course, you will have to pay for things like shots and physicals, but you should also be prepared for unexpected illnesses and accidents because sadly they do happen. A review of your financial state would also include your ability to meet all of your pet’s financial needs.

The Importance of Obedience Training

Since a dog who does not behave well is an issue for everyone who lives with you or near you, obedience training is very important. First of all, you have to deal with a pooch that does not listen, and your neighbors may even be concerned about their own families if your dog gets out of hand. When your dog is well-trained, it represents the entire dog community in a positive light. Even more, when a person has a dog who is well-behaved, that person comes across as being someone who is indeed a good and responsible pet owner.

They hope to support insurance companies which take in more in premiums than they pay out in claims. Underwriters are expected to be responsible and good judges in character and business. You should know the underwriter of a pet insurance policy before you begin paying the premiums.

If that company is not reputable, you may want to reconsider the insurance policy because the coverage could be worthless. Your State Department of Insurance can tell you more about underwriter ratings.

In addition to looking at the underwriters of your prospective pet insurers, you should also take note of how long the insurance company has been operational. Many new firms can be trusted, but there’s always more security with a trusted and established company.

Filing a claim for pet insurance is not the same as filing your own insurance claim. Normally, when you get ill, your health provider will make sure that he gets paid. If the claim is accepted, your insurance company pays the hospital or doctor directly. You do not have to do a thing.

With pet insurance, you have to pay the bill yourself in full, no matter whether or not it is covered on the policy. Then you, yourself, have to file your own claim with the pet insurer. The claim documentation may require proof of treatment from your veterinarian. If your claim is accepted, the insurer will send you a check since you have already paid the bill in full.

The demand for pet insurance policies has grown by leaps and bounds. From 1995 to 2004, the number of policies rose from 50,000 to 400,000. With this demand, you can imagine there might be a few disreputable companies around.

Honest companies will allow you to customize your own policy. You should be able to select your own deductible and be allowed to add-on extra coverage for an additional fee. Remember that you get what you pay for, and if the fees are too good to be true, they probably are.

Domestic pets are always eating something that they shouldn’t, and then they need a surgical treatment to get better. Some of the things that are most commonly surgically removed are socks, underwear, pantyhose, rocks, balls, chew toys, corncobs, bones, hair ties/ ribbons, and sticks.

Pet lovers who do not purchase pet insurance usually just take a pragmatic approach to their pets. If the price of healthcare is too much, then they will typically decide to have their pets put down. There are some pet owners who think they can draw the line at a certain amount, but they find it hard to do so when the time comes.

There are many reasons for this behavior: their children are upset, the vet assures them the treatment will work, and they experience feelings of guilt. When this happens, some pet owners just break down and spend the money.

If you can’t afford to pay for your pet’s medical treatments in case of an emergency, then you should think about getting your pet insured. Before you select an insurance policy for your pet, you should first do a little research on the subject so that you will be knowledgeable enough to get the best plan for the least expensive price.

• Look around first because policies and premiums can vary widely. Don’t only look at the monthly or annual cost but also look at the differences in deductibles, copayments, and treatment caps. See which one will limit the payouts by incident, year, or your pet’s lifespan. You should ask the company if they offer discounts for having multiple pets insured or if your employer offers pet insurance as an optional voluntary benefit.

• Take your time to carefully examine the policies companies offer. Be certain that you understand what each company excludes. The conditions that are excluded from the policy are the illnesses and injuries that will most likely afflict your pet.

• Try to increase the amount of money you have in savings. It was said in a consumer report that pet owners with insurance may spend more on their pets than those owners without insurance.

Whether or not you decide to purchase pet insurance, you can help control how much your pet will cost you. Here are some other ways to lower vet bills:

• When your pet needs shots, go to a low cost clinic. It is possible that your vet hosts one or two clinics a year. If not, then you can call your local Humane Society, animal control department, or veterinary hospital for help on where you can find inexpensive shots for your pet.

• If your pet seems to be ill, always get a second opinion. For most illnesses you will have time to talk with another vet before having to commit to costly treatments or medicine. You can also go online to The Merck Veterinary Manual for information and suggestions on how to deal with your pet’s condition.

• See if your vet has any samples. It may be possible that your vet has some free starter packets for a lot of the popular medications. Even if they do not have complimentary samples, you have not lost anything by asking.

• Look around for the best price on medications. You can call other vets, look in pet catalogs, and even search online for the most affordable products.

• Don’t always buy the cheapest brand of food available in stores. If you spend a little more on food, then this can pay off in fewer health issues; this is especially the case in cats. Cats are more likely to get urinary tract infections if they are fed cheap cat foods.

• Watch your pet’s weight. Animals are just like humans in a sense that if they are obese, this will increase their likelihood of having health problems.

• Keep your pet in the house or in the yard on a leash. Your pets will live longer if they are kept inside. If you let your pets run around outside, they are more likely to have accidents and contract more illnesses.

• Think hard before you choose a pet. Keep in mind that dogs end up in the vet twice as often as cats. Therefore, if you do not have a great deal of discretionary income, then a cat may be a better choice for you. You should also carefully consider the breed of dog or cat you are buying. Some animals are predisposed to hereditary illnesses, and you want to avoid vet expenses as much as necessary.

Pet Diabetes

When your veterinarian informs you of your dog’s diabetic condition, you should know that he or she is trying to offer you some good suggestions, but most of what is known about pet diabetes is from books. Few veterinarians have actually taken care of diabetic dogs in home environments.

The Symptoms of Pet Diabetes

Three types of canine diabetes exist. Not surprisingly, all diabetic dogs display common symptoms. The most obvious ones are listed below:

• The dog urinates more frequently.
• The dog has excessive thirst and drinks more often.
• The dog loses weight.
• The dog appears more exhausted and naps more than usual.

While the symptoms above do not apply solely to diabetes, they are usually the first evidence of diabetes observed by dog owners.

Urination Increases

Dogs with diabetes will urinate more often because they have too much glucose in their bodies since they cannot process it correctly. In its attempts to get rid of the glucose, the canine’s body works to eliminate it through urination. Because of the excessive urination, the animal experiences an increased desire to drink in order to replace the lost water.

The Presence of Ketones

If a dog’s body is unable to get enough energy from the food it takes in, then it will burn its stored fat for fuel. This will result in a dog losing weight and the formation of ketones. It is not unheard of for a diabetic canine to suffer weight loss even when it is eating regularly and has a larger than usual appetite.

An animal’s body can be tested for the presence of ketones, and if found, they can be treated, typically through dietary therapy. If ketones are not treated, a possibly fatal condition could arise.

Does Your Dog Have Diabetes?

Perhaps the symptom of diabetes seen most often in canines is when a dog who is house trained suddenly begins to urinate about the house. At times, this behavior may be confused with other conditions such as a bladder infection and incontinence in dogs of advanced years, but a blood test can provide a reliable diagnosis.

Dog diabetes will respond to the same tests used for assessing human diabetes. If the tests are positive for diabetes, a management program for the condition should begin immediately.

What is a Pet Trust?

A legal plan which makes arrangements for a pet to receive care after the death of his owner is a pet trust.  This trust lies within the category of trust law and is one possibility for those who own pets.

In the circumstance of the grantor’s death or disability, pet trusts are designed to keep cash and property which are to be used for the care of the surviving pets. The grantor is the individual who created the pet trust, which can either come into effect at the time of the grantor’s death or when he or she becomes permanently disabled.

Under the stipulations of the trust, a preselected caregiver receives funds to care for the pet(s) regularly. Typically, pet trusts will provide benefits for a maximum of twenty-one years or until the pet dies.

In some cases, depending upon the state law, the trust will pay out for as long as the pet lives, without regards to the twenty-one year time limit. This extension is of great advantage to animals that are expected to live for a long period of time like parrots and horses.

The major benefit of pet trusts is that they provide a way by which pet owners can ensure their pets have everything they need forever. In the trust, a caretaker is named for the pet and is entrusted with the pet’s care.

If caring for your pet after you are gone is important to you, then you should be in contact with an attorney or financial consultant about a pet trust. To make sure everything is set up the way you want, you should be extremely detailed about what you want for your pet.

Bankrate.com estimates that the price of setting up a pet trust can fall between five hundred and three thousand dollars; the price is based on the complexity of your trust. You can reduce the cost of the preparation by making the trust a part of your general estate planning package.

The collision insurance policy offered by Progressive will pay out up to one thousand dollars for veterinarian expenses which are incurred as a result of a pet injury caused by a vehicle accident or fire or theft of a vehicle. This insurance coverage will pay whether the dogs and cats are travelling in boats, commercial modes of transportation, or recreational vehicles.

In order to utilize the coverage benefits, a pet owner should note the injury of the pets when filing an accident payout request. Then once the pet has been treated, the policy owner should provide the insurance company with a copy of the vet bill and the payment for the services.

There are even some vehicle insurance providers who will go the extra mile with pet insurance. They offer specialty automobile insurance that will help defray the expense of pet care for those animals hurt in a motor vehicle accident.

Recently, the Chubb Insurance Group created a pet auto insurance policy that will pay up to two thousand dollars for pet injuries that occur during the pet’s time in an automobile. This policy is available in New Jersey, Maryland, Arizona, and Texas.

The new pet provision is a part of Chubb’s recent insurance additions to the company’s Masterpiece Auto Preference insurance plan. Even if the animals were in trailers, this new pet provision will stay pay for treatment, boarding, and the replacement of the deceased pet.

When you start to browse around for a car insurance pet policy, you should know that all policies are not alike; they vary with each insurance provider. Chubb’s insurance policies will cover any pet (including those animals who are pulled in trailers) while Progressive’s terms only relate to dogs and cats.

Most people don’t realize that a dog can easily get an ear infection. The condition could arise from something as a simple as a foreign body in the ear canal or from the accumulation of water in the ear during a bath (the latter rarely happens).

The majority of the cases of ear infection seen by veterinarians are secondary to an allergy such as a substance in the air like pollen or a food allergy. If your dog is diagnosed with an allergy of any type, this will be a reoccurring event that will flare up for the rest of his life. It is quite common for dogs that have allergies to have secondary ear and skin infections.

When dogs are young, if they have allergies, this is when they will usually display the first signs of having them. Allergy symptoms include itchy skin made worse by constant scratching or licking of the affected area. As a result, the animal’s skin may be red, appear irritated, or show evidence of a rash.

If you are a pet owner with an animal who is afflicted with one of these common conditions, you should be prepared to visit the veterinarian several times in order to receive treatments such as steroids, antibiotics, and ear ointments.

In order to alleviate your pet’s symptoms, you and your vet need to figure out what the causative agents are and treat them instead of treating the reactions. Many of the medicines used to treat body’s response to the allergen can have consistent side effects that can be quite serious.

Among all the medical issues veterinarians deal with in their professions, skin allergies, ear infections, and skin infections are the most commonly treated conditions. If your pet has allergies, then they will have them forever, and beginning from the earliest stages of their lives, they will require several medicinal aids that will be rather expensive. The cost is why you should consider obtaining pet insurance to help defray your out of pocket expenses.

The Average Veterinarian Costs Associated with these Medical Issues

In the year 2009 VPI received about 68,000 claims for the treatment of ear infections in dogs.  On average, this claim fee cost about $100 per vet visit. Then there were about 3,700 claims for feline urinary tract disease. This claim cost an average of $260 per vet visit.

As listed on the chart above, one of the most expensive illnesses for dogs is a non cancerous tumor, and on average this claim is $335 per visit. Once can also see that one of the most expensive cat issues revolves around periodontitis/dental disease which has an average per visit cost of $360.

Some of the most common, medical conditions of cats and dogs are caused by the animal’s natural aging process. Needless to say, the majority of these conditions can happen in any pet, and it doesn’t matter how old they are or what breed they are.

You need to watch your pet during the day to see if there is any sign of injury or illness. You can also take your pet to the vet for physical exams in a proactive manner. By doing so, you can avoid certain illnesses and catch them before they become too serious and costly.

If you have a cat, you should be prepared to deal with vomiting and diarrhea; it is an unfortunate aspect of pet ownership. Felines are extremely likely to get stomach illnesses; these conditions often cause cats to suffer from diarrhea and vomiting.

In felines, the upset stomach is a frequently occurring medical illness. It can arise from many things such as food allergens, the consumption of food too rapidly, eating spoiled and inappropriate foodstuffs, the presence of worms in the intestines, toxins, and hairballs.

Sometimes, cats will occasionally vomit as a normal reaction. In this case, there is no reason for worry. Nevertheless, pet owners can take several actions to make sure their cats have speedy recoveries after suffering from upset stomachs.

You should take your cat to the vet if it suffers from vomiting and diarrhea for more than a couple of days. The visit is necessary to eliminate more severe conditions such as organ problems like hyperthyroidism and kidney failure, parasites such as clostridium overgrowth and Giardia, and various diseases like feline panleukopenia.

When you are treating a cat with an upset stomach, these supplies can come in handy: chicken (boiled), rice, and clean water. As a general rule, the care steps below should be followed to treat a cat with an upset stomach.

Step #1 – If your pet is repeatedly experiencing diarrhea or has been vomiting for an extended period of time or has an abdomen that is swollen, then a trip to the vet is in order. Your vet may ask for a sample of your cat’s vomit so that it can be analyzed for treatment. If the vomiting and diarrhea occurs only once, then you should not go to the doctor but instead, follow the instructions below.

Step #2 – For twenty-four hours, only give your cat clean water to drink; no food. Going without food for this period of time will allow the stomach to rest and recover. This step is not suitable for kittens though because they should be fed six times a day, evenly spread throughout a twenty-four hour period.

Step #3 – After your cat has gone an entire day without food it can be fed a tiny amount of the boiled chicken with a bit of rice.

Step #4 – If after a few hours have passed, your cat has responded favorably to the rice and chicken, you can give it more of the same. Then over time, you can slowly begin to give your cat its regular food again.

Step #5 – Visit a vet if the cat does not seem to be better after one day.

If you were to speak to most pet owners, most them would tell you that they have never thought they would ever have to pay over a thousand dollars for any individual treatment method for a health crisis endured by their pets. According to VPI (the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company), the country’s biggest and oldest pet health insurer, veterinary claims which exceed one thousand dollars are not as infrequent as assumed.

Approximately fourteen thousand claims for payments were turned in by VPI subscribers in 2010. The median cost of treatment for each claim was over one thousand dollars. When the insurance provider reviewed the most costly requests for payment, the claims which were the most expensive could be placed into ten medical conditions.

Below are the ten conditions which required the highest payouts; listed according to the number of claims filed in 2010.

More claims were made for the treatment of damaged knee cartilage/ligament than any other condition; however, the highest claim amount was associated with the disease of the intervertebral disc. The latter’s claims were reimbursed, on average, in the amount of $3,281.00.

Results of the DVM News Magazine State of the Profession Survey (2009) reveals $1, 451.00 as the amount at which the majority of pet owners would choose to stop paying for a single treatment for a hurt animal.

Surgery of the ear canal or ablation is the only medical treatment that falls beneath the cutoff amount for most pet owners. With costs that can go as high as $3,282 for the ten most expensive treatments, the worth of health insurance for pets is basically priceless.

Insurance companies are just like any other companies. If they want to stay in business, they have to be profitable. Imagine how you would feel as a customer who paid your premiums for twelve years only to realize your insurance company was no longer solvent.

One unique aspect of the insurance business is that the company has no idea how much they will lose (in the form of claims for services) until their products have been sold. It is widely known that insurance providers regularly suffer losses due to specific insured individuals.

Just like their human counterparts, pet insurance companies lose funds as well. The only difference is that animals are involved. While no company wants to be on the losing end, it is a requirement if there is to be value in the plans offered to pet owners.

Some periods will see insurance companies losing money for a short time on a particular group or plan. Case in point, when New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, there was a huge increase in claims and the cost of those claims. As a result, that year, the insurers suffered a financial loss.

Years later, insurance plans for homes rose in prices, and the firms recovered from their losses. Insurance providers will always end up making a profit; if they do not, they cannot take care of the needs of their clients.

What attributes make a pet insurance provider a good one?
The ideal company will spread the cost of the risk uniformly among all the pets who are insured, with no differentiation in cost between those pets owners who make claims and those who do not. The best insurer is one which places an emphasis on enlarging claim payouts to meet customer needs.

If you want pet coverage, it can typically cost somewhere in the range of $2,000 to $6,000 over the life span of an average pet. The chances of you having to spend that much on treatments are slim.

But if you are one of those people who would do just about anything to save your pet, then you might want to take the precautionary measure of getting pet insurance to avoid going into debt.

Gigantic Bills for New Treatments

A lot has changed in veterinary science, and the economics of running a veterinary practice has changed as well. Today a vet will offer treatments that didn’t even exist a few years ago, and the prices of them could make you cry. Think about these facts:

• Your pet can now get treatments that used to be reserved for humans; treatments like radiation therapy and kidney transplants. These once fatal conditions can now be treated at an expense which typically goes into the thousands of dollars.
• Your vet now has access to complicated and expensive diagnostic tools like MRI’s. Not only does this raise the cost of the visit, but new exam tools can also detect problems that before would have gone unnoticed and untreated.
• Because of these expensive tools and procedures, the cost of health care is constantly increasing.

In 2009, the American Pet Products Association figured that Americans spent $45.4 billion on their pets, and 12.2 billion dollars of that figure was spent on veterinary services. That amount was a ten percent increase over the amount spent in 2008.

There are not a lot of pet owners who actually have pet insurance. It was estimated in 2007, by the American Veterinary Medical Association, that 72 million dogs and nearly 82 million cats in the United States were kept as pets, and yet there were only 850,000 pet insurance polices in effect.

Insurance companies have teamed up with the American Kennel Club and Petco Animal Supplies to offer insurance to pet owners. There are also more than 1,600 companies including Office Depot and Google who offer pet insurance coverage as an optional employee benefit.

Exclusions, Deductibles, and Extra Fees

Veterinary Pet Insurance or VPI is one of the oldest pet insurance providers. It has seen its revenue increase by an average of 26.8 percent since 1998. This company used to own approximately 71 percent of the U.S pet insurance market. In 2007, it had $149 million in gross sales.

Pet insurance will not fix everything. Take into consideration that:

• These plans generally have deductibles, copayments, and caps that will restrict how much they pay in annual claims.
• The majority of insurance providers exclude pre-existing problems and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers. There is only one company, Embrace Pet Insurance, which will cover conditions like these.
• As pets grow older, the insurance premiums to cover their health expenses increase in cost. Some insurance firms will not provide coverage for animals older than nine years of age, and the ones who do will have stiff surcharges.

The most expensive common pet medical conditions:

Dogs

1. Intervertebral disk disease $2,844
2. Lung cancer $2,032
3. Gastric torsion (bloat) $1,955
4. Foreign body ingestion (small intestine) $1,629
5. Cruciate rupture $1,517
6. Foreign body ingestion (stomach) $1,398
7. Cataract (senior) $1,244
8. Bone cancer $1,059
9. Pin in broken limb $1,000
10. Brain cancer $916

Cats

1. Foreign body ingestion (small intestine) $1,629
2. Urinary tract reconstruction $1,399
3. Foreign body ingestion (stomach) $1,391
4. Rectal cancer $1,011
5. Bladder stones $989
6. Intestinal cancer $942
7. Hyperthyroidism (radiation) $920
8. Fibrosarcoma (skin cancer) $780
9. Acute renal failure $565
10. Mast cell tumors $497