Pet Insurance

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 12:59pm

Does anyone here have Pet Insurance for their dogs? I'm thinking of getting this for a new puppy I'm getting but there's a lot of different options so I was hoping someone could recommend one. Gracias!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:03pm

It depends...what kind of puppy are you getting?

I have two English bulldogs and one of them has had eye surgery 2 or 3 times.

People have talked to me about getting it but I haven't got any.
But it might be good for me depending on how much I had to pay and what the conditions were.

But if I know what breed of dog you are considering, I can tell if I think you might need it.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:06pm

Your best bet it to check with your vet to see what insurance they accept. Not all vets accept the same insurance. I am sure he/she will be able to tell you which coverage is better.

[wizard2joe]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:07pm

Why do you need pet insurance? There are vets where they do surgery (some vets don't do surgeries) and they're pretty cheap without insurance.
So it could be a waste of money.
But does it really change that much with or without surgery?

Just take care of your dog or puppy.
Updated On: 7/2/09 at 01:07 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:10pm

Miss Holly's eye surgery today cost $1200. At 13, she's too old for pet insurance now, but if I had arranged for it when she was younger, my costs now would be lower.

But it's a mixed bag. The full insurance you'll find your dog now is very expensive, and the lower levels that just cover accidents are probably not worth it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:11pm

Well I'm getting a french bulldog in the next few weeks and they're very prone to allergies and other problems. I've had dogs with bad allergies in the past and vet bills/medications have been thousands upon thousands of dollars and I really want to avoid that should it happen again, that's why I'm looking into pet insurance.

Also, I'm looking at plans now that average about $55 a month with a $200 deductible and 90% reimbursement and cover everything from teeth cleanings to cancer treatments.
Updated On: 7/2/09 at 01:11 PM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:12pm

I've considered it for my cats but haven't gotten it yet. I need to find out if they cover prescription food which I have to buy all the time.

It took four trips to the vet to find out my younger cat has a UTI. The first three trips they were only treating her for a skin condition. She was licking herself so much that her belly was hairless and raw. Turns out she was doing it because she had discomfort in that area not because something was wrong with her skin. Imagine how insurance could have helped pay for those four trips.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:14pm

I think "cheap" is probably relative. Every time I leave the vet (for non-surgical things) it's four or five hundred bucks. I've considered doing the pet insurance thing, but haven't looked into it enough.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:17pm

I don't think I would ever get it for a cat.

French Bulldogs are actually more "healthy" than English bulldogs...or so a breeder of both told me. She told me that in all her years with them, she has never had one with a Cherry Eye...Which is what one of the bulldogs I got from her got.


I'm going to try to post a picture of Bubby when she was little so you can see what Cherry Eyes are.






Updated On: 7/2/09 at 01:17 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:22pm

My 1/2 Frenchie is ALWAYS in need of vet care. I got a lemon!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:22pm

What, because cats are healthier than dogs?

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:25pm

I think they are. People always say that mix breeds/mutts are way more healthier than purebred dogs.

Most cats are mix breds, so I have just found they are much healthier. I have 5.

[tazber]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:25pm

My vet has always recommended that I NOT get insurance. When it comes to claims, there are a zillion reasons they find to refuse them.

For the record, my vet has been practicing for 36 years, so I really trust his opinion.

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:34pm

I asked about insurance for my parrot today while I was at the vet. There's only one company that insures birds. I got the brochure and it doesn't seem worth it. However, I've already spent $1100 on her since I have her, and that's only for 3 months.

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:39pm

"Just take care of your dog or puppy."

Is that all we have to do?

Seriously, taking care of our pets can not guarantee they won't get cancer, infections. arthritis. allergies, bruises from falls or accidents, or a plethora of other diseases out there!

I take impeccable care of Jezebel, yet she has a yeast infection.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:41pm

She's living up to her name then, huh?

[mauriposa]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:46pm

We have pet insurance for both of our dogs. Our vet actually recommended it because it covers their shots and examinations. After we had our annual checkups and boosters, the one-time bill was about the same cost as a year's worth of basic insurance, so we just went for it. Now, if an issue arises and they have to go to the vet, we're covered.

[wizard2joe]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:48pm

Your parrot has a yeast infection?
Or is Jezebel a cat or dog?

What do you put on her to treat it?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:49pm

I have two cats...one just turned 10 last month and the other turned 5 in April. Luna, my older cat, has a history of not only UTIs but anal absesses. Seven years ago Luna had surgery for bladder stones. Storm, the younger one, was just diagnosed with her first UTI and she had a staph infection a few months ago.

Is this because I don't take care of them? Of course not. They are both WELL taken care of.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:50pm

Also, don't forget, vets are cheap when they do surgery!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:50pm

Also, don't forget, vets are cheap when they do surgery!

[wizard2joe]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 1:53pm

I meant to say you can help prevent your dog from getting hurt.

I sure you can't control it if your dog has cancer and other sorts of diseases.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 2:09pm

Jordan,
If you are getting a girl and you do not plan to breed her getting her spayed before she begins her first cycle will prevent will reduce the chances of her getting any type of "female" cancer by 90%. So that will help.

And...with regards to spaying and neutering animals, if your vet is part of some program (sorry that I do not know the name)you can get a coupon from an organization (sorry that I do not remember the name of this!) and it will reduce the cost of the operation by over half.
Last year I got two puppies and two kitties spayed and neutered. I didn't know about it for the puppies, but I did find out about it by the time the kitties got neutered.

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 2:23pm

"She's living up to her name then, huh?"

Yeah, she must be a ho. lol!

[Jane2]

Posted: 7/2/09 at 2:26pm

wizard, Jezebel is a parrot. I have her on meds for the infection. Don't forget it costs just to walk into the door of the vet. ($91) then they charge for tests, examinations, and meds. It was $175 for that visit, and today another $48 for a follow up test of her poop. I still don't know if she's cured or not. I'm waiting for a call.