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Pet Health Insurance Review

It’s not hard to find a quality veterinarian in most cities. Rather, it’s the cost of veterinary care that is often prohibitive. Even a simple checkup can be pricey, and by the time you request vaccinations, heartworm treatments, and dental procedures, the bottom line can very quickly skyrocket.

This is where pet insurance steps in. A quality policy lessens the costs of routine care, minor injury, or major medical surgery.

Our Favorite Insurance Providers

  • Embrace Pet Insurance – Embrace uses Lloyd’s of London, which has been underwriting insurance policies for over 300 years…a solid company indeed. Policies are highly customizable and you’re sure to find a suitable premium. The website is very informative and customer care is top notch. Their “Embracers” help you understand all details and will provide honest suggestions for your coverage (even if that means not buying a policy from them).
  • QuickCare Pet Insurance – They claim to “pay a higher percentage of your claim” than competitors, although we haven’t been able to independently verify this claim yet. Nonetheless, QuickCare is a very popular health insurance provider with excellent customer service and attention to detail. I appreciate how QuickCare understands that–in a time of medical crisis–the pet owner’s attention will be focused squarely on the dog’s well-being. As such, QuickCare specializes in providing comprehensive, quality coverage to provide care & support in our times of need. Oh, and they also offer coverage for both Americans and Canadians!
  • Pet Assure – Naming itself “the pet insurance alternative”, think of Pet Assure more like the Costco of pet health care, in which you pay a fee to join a network which then offers you products and services at discounted prices. Through your Pet Assure membership, you will save 25% on vet visits, up to 50% off pet supplies, and get premiere access to a lost pet recovery service which may be useful if your pooch is prone to slipping off the leash. Also, since Pet Assure isn’t technically  insurance, there are no exclusions, co-pays, or deductibles to fool around with. And if your dog has any pre-existing conditions (which would typically disqualify her from traditional insurance plans), Pet Assure will cover your pup. So while Pet Assure isn’t ideal for large vet bills associated with surgery and other major procedures, this service does provide many other benefits which you should seriously consider.
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Check the Deductibles & Co-Pays

Shop Wisely

So, which company should you go with? And which specific policy? These questions ultimately depend upon your personality, temperament, and budget. And no matter which one you select, try not to sign up for the very first policy you see. Shop around, and never agree to a contract until you understand exactly what you’re getting.

  • Read the Fine Print. What exactly is (and isn’t) covered? What about your pup’s pre-existing health conditions? These are critical questions because the insurance company may not cover future illness that stems from past injuries or conditions. Similarly, some plans don’t cover dogs after a certain age, so find out if the policy has an age restriction.
  • Check the Deductibles and Co-pays. How much will you have to pay each month for the policy…what about when you bring your dog in for a checkup? If two plans offer a similar level of coverage, consider purchasing the policy with lower costs.
  • Understand What is (and Isn’t) Included. Will you get checkups, heartworm tests, or dental care? What about prescriptions, bone-density scans, and x-rays? These preventative measures are vital in ensuring the ongoing health of your pup. Do you want your insurance policy to cover them, or would you like to save on the premium costs by paying for preventative care out of pocket?
Did we miss anything? What have your experiences with pet insurance been like?

Dog Insurance: Should You Insure Your Pup’s Health?

Did you know that you can buy health insurance for your dog? Similar to your HMO at work, most pet insurance plans offer multiple options. Services covered can include surgery, routine checkups, prescriptions, and even dental care. If nothing else, make sure your plans covers costs associated with catastrophic events such as transplants and chemotherapy (yes, dogs can get cancer). As with humans, these major medical procedures are incredibly expensive for you to pay out of pocket, but a quality insurance policy will allow for the best possible doggy health care.

Dog Insurance Image

A Routine Vet Visit

General First-Aid Tips

When it comes to proper health care for your dog, the best solution is always prevention. By implementing some basic  measures into your daily routine, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re pup is getting the best health year-round.

So before shopping around for an insurance policy, brush up on your own first aid skills. Locate a reliable vet near you, and learn the physical symptoms of a sick dog. In fact, by simply investing time to focus on these two tips, you’ll save loads of time and money going forward.

Pet Insurance = Lower Costs

It’s not hard to find a quality veterinarian in most cities. Rather, it’s the costs of veterinary care that are prohibitive. Even a simple checkup can be pricey, and by the time you request vaccinations, heartworm treatments, and dental procedures, costs very quickly skyrocket. This is where dog health insurance steps in.

A quality policy lessens the costs of routine care, minor injury, or major medical surgery. Depending on the company, your pet insurance policy may also even help you cover the following costs:

  • Annual checkups
  • Dental care
  • Prescriptions
  • Chemo therapy
  • Organ transplants
Check out our Pet Insurance Review for the specific companies we recommend for your pooch.

Is My Dog Sick?

Dogs are naturally curious creatures. Fearless and ready for adventure, our pups experience the world with heightened senses of sound, smell, and taste. So it’s not unusual to catch your pooch counter-surfing for chicken wings or trying to leap out of the car window (to chase the traffic whizzing by). Back on the home front, our dogs are often lured to the citrus scents of toxic household chemicals and can easily follow their natural instincts into hazardous situations. So how can you tell when your dog actually does hurt herself? What are the symptoms? And is it serious enough for a visit to the veterinarian?

Is My Dog Sick Image

Take Your Dog to the Vet Annually

Symptoms of Sickness

You should get in the habit of checking your dog on a daily basis. Lift her ears and look for ticks, part her hair until you can see the skin and search for fleas. How’s her skin looking? Is it dry? Lift her lips and have a close look at the teeth and gums. Do you see any inflammation or bleeding?

These 5 physical symptoms, in particular, are red flags that require immediate medical attention:

  1. Continuous nasal discharge – Indicates the possible presence of a virus or bacteria. By the way, your dog can get a cold, the flu, and even pneumonia.
  2. Vomiting – Once or twice isn’t bad—in fact it may be desired if food is indigestible. But if it occurs more than that, talk to your vet immediately. This could be a symptom of a greater illness.
  3. Constant scratching – If your dog just sits on the floor and scratches herself nonstop, then begin with a close examination of her skin. Separate the hair and look at the skin. Do you notice dandruff, lice (looks like blotches of dirt), or fleas on skin? What about redness or swelling? Skin issues are prevalent in dogs and may be address with a {healthier diet}, topical treatment, or medication.
  4. Irregular stool – As with vomiting, one or two loose bowel movements is not a cause for major concern. But if your pup continues passing loose stool over a period of days, then she may have an infection or other bowel disorder. On the other end of the scale, constipation over a period of two to three days is also cause for concern. A good vet will help you get to the root of these digestive problems and to prescribe treatment.
  5. Limping – Observe your dog’s walk. Is she favoring certain legs over others? If she’s hobbling a bit, then first check her feet. Gently squeeze her paw in your hand and watch for any reaction. If she quickly jerks away, then perhaps she’s injured her paw. Many older dog are reluctant to walk around at all, so be sure to get your aged pooch plenty of exercise to ensure proper circulation and nerve activity.

The Role of Your Vet

First of all, make sure your dog receives an annual check-up with the veterinarian. Even though you can check her teeth, paws, and skin at home, a professional doctor can examine your beloved pup for many other problems that you’d likely overlook. On that same note, keep in mind that even a “minor” injury deserves a call to your veterinarian. Just check in, explain what happened, and ask if it’s necessary to have your dog professionally examined. The goal here is to ensure that you don’t miss a more serious problem…Better safe than sorry.

Dog in Garbage

Keep a Lid on the Garbage

Prevention is Key

The most common household dog injuries include: choking, electrical shock, chemical poisoning, puncture wounds, and fractures. However, with proper planning around the home, you can prevent many of these injuries before they ever happen.

Here are some simple tips:

  • Electrical Hazards – Many dogs are drawn to electrical cords and some love nothing more than to chew on the plastic insulation which protects the high-voltage wires. Of course, once punctured, the live wires can cause severe burns inside your dogs’ mouth. As a result, make sure all cords are out of reach, better yet, out of sight. And if they are within striking distance, then cover the cords with duct tape or CritterCord protector so your pooch can’t gnaw at it.
  • Food And Exercise – You knew this was coming…don’t give your dog table scraps! Leftovers are loaded with fat and sodium (which are not exactly healthy for humans either) and should not be given to the dog. The best diet for your pooch is either a homemade meal recommended by your vet or a premium commercial dog food. Also, make sure the water bowl is always freshly filled. Oh, and please take your dog out for exercise. Depending on the breed, this may be as simple as a 15 minute walk each day. And let’s face it, we owners need to get outside and walk around the neighbor more anyway…right? Talk to the vet if you’re unsure of how much exercise your pup needs.
  • Toxic Chemicals And Poisons – Keep your dog away from bleaches, detergents, cleaners, polishers, and all other household chemicals. Surprisingly, houseplants should also be out of reach. Most people don’t realize that many varieties of common plants are toxic and can make your dog severely ill, in some cases even leading to death. And here’s a no-brainer: Keep all medicines secured and out of reach.
  • Traveling In The Car – If your dog is a leaper—you know, the type that would soar out of an open car window at the sight of a postal worker—then invest in a high-quality travel carrier, kennel, or seat belt. Be careful when allowing your dog to stick her head out of the window, and never allow your dog to ride in the bed of a pickup truck.
  • Trash – Keep the garbage tightly closed both inside and outside your house. If possible, keep the kitchen trash behind a closed door  or secured in a cabinet under the sink.

The Banned-Foods List

While we’re discussing the kitchen, here’s a quick list of foods that you should never feed your dog:

  1. Caffeine, which is found in coffee, tea, and chocolate
  2. Dairy products such as milk and cheese
  3. Raisins and grapes
  4. Human vitamin s &supplements which contain iron or liver
  5. Mushrooms, onions, garlic, and potatoes