If you are the proud owner of a dog, you must have visited a vet at least once, for various reasons, not necessarily for medical emergencies. And as you walked out of the vet clinic, you most likely received a bill for all the services provided by the said vet.
Now if you are among the lucky ones and your pet friend did not necessarily have a medical issue that involves surgery, x-rays and other similar interventions, you might have gotten away with your pockets almost intact.
Yet there are cases, and most of the times unforeseen events when your dog might need medical treatment or interventions that are very costly, and this is where a dog vet insurance policy comes in handy.
You can get leaflets with this type of insurance even at the vet's place.
How does it work? Well, pretty much like a human medical health insurance. Meaning you can take your dog to the vet, you pay the medical expenses upfront and then the insurance will reimburse you. The amount you get back depends on the insurance company you have a policy with - some of them reimburse you even 80% of the vet costs.
There are also different types of coverage, some of the companies offering:
- the emergency coverage is the cheapest one typically and it covers expenses for hospitalization, medication, etc. after an accident;
- the emergency and illness coverage that covers even x-rays, vet visits, necessary treatment and accidents and unexpected conditions;
- the emergency, illness, routine coverage is one to cover - besides illnesses and accident injuries - routine interventions, even neutering, vaccinations, and also a yearly physical exam
- there is also the full coverage, one that covers all medical expenses for your dog.
Premium rates are also different from one insurance company to another, from one coverage type to another; they can range approximately between 10 dollars per month for the basic insurance to over 90 dollars a month for full coverage insurance.
The cap will also depend on the type of dog vet insurance you choose, but it usually amounts to a few thousand dollars worth of vet costs.
In choosing to purchase a dog vet insurance you should also know that there are companies that refuse to offer you insurance for certain dog breeds or request higher premium rates for them. Usually situations like this come up when you want dog vet insurance for categories of more aggressive breeds, like Pit Bull, Rottweiler, etc.
When considering purchasing dog vet insurance, you should also take into account your dog's age and your financial possibilities when choosing the insurance type. Research the company's specific requirements as well, so you do not run into any difficulties later on.
Many people do not really consider the medical expenses when having a dog, but fortunately a dog vet insurance policy will ensure that you keep your dog healthy and happy and, in the long term, it will save you a lot of money as well.
Have A Dog Emergency Kit Prepared for Extreme Situations
Your pet is like your family ? you want what is the best for him and should danger occur, you wish to keep them safe and sound. This is why it is recommended that you choose a dog emergency kit which will reassure you of your dog?s safety in case of extreme weather, unhappy accidents or other serious happenings.
A pet emergency kit should include essential items you would use during a first-aid situation to treat your dog, if needed. Many items can be included here, such as the must-have pet first aid book, bandages, muzzles, dog medicine against allergic reactions, diarrhea, fever, laxatives, disinfectant lotions, ear cleaner, eye wash, antibiotic ointments, activated charcoal or magnesia milk to absorb poison, sterile saline solution, and whatever particular medication your dog?s veterinarian may prescribe for your dog.
This first-aid kit should also contain a pair of scissors with blunt edges, tweezers, nail clippers, a leash, disposable gloves, a rectal thermometer, syringes, soap, a stethoscope, maybe some cold and hot pads, cotton balls and swabs, products which can prevent dog licking various surfaces, a magnifying glass, non-stick pads, bandage rolls and band-aids for people, even needle-nose pliers.
You can decide to add this kit to a larger emergency box, which includes other items as well, or you can adjust it to a smaller size, ready to take with you in your travels with your pet.
Many people choose to add blankets, clean towels, lots of water bottles, comfort toys for dogs, even a dog bed or a dog carrier, also including a great deal of canned food, which is perfect when yours and your dog?s situations will not allow for fresh supplies.
Pet stores also offer the possibility of buying compact dog emergency kits, with packaged food and water, water purification tablets, toilet bags, disposable dog bowls as well as thermal blankets, which usually preserve 90 percent of the animal?s body heat. You could buy a standard first-aid kit for your dog or you could choose the contents of the kit yourself.
No matter what you decide, keep in mind that you should also place inside the dog emergency kit a waterproof bag with important documents regarding your dog. Amongst them there should be a paper which proves the ownership of the dog as well as the dog?s recent vaccinations, a recent photo of the dog in case it goes missing.
You should also provide your personal information, including name, address, phone number as well as contact numbers in case of emergencies: the veterinarian clinic, the nearest emergency clinic and the poison control center, with directions, if possible.
A temporary identification tag could also be of use in case your dog gets lost or you could just rely on the dog?s microchip if they have one.
Although pet owners usually ignore it, a pet emergency kit can really save your dog?s life in case of unexpected occurrences so it is best you always carry one with you in order to be always prepared ? your dog will be indeed thankful for saving his or her life!
