On 2 Sides – Stay informed
Much like human babies, puppies and kittens need to be monitored by a veterinarian during their first few weeks of life to ensure lifelong their health. There are vaccinations that are required to help them avoid diseases and thrive, but going to the vet every few weeks can be expensive. To reduce this expense, many companies now offer health insurance policies for pets.
Routine Care Coverage
Many pet insurance policies allow you to tailor their plans to fit your specific needs, so you can choose the type of coverage you will need to care for your dog and/or cat. Puppies and kittens require many routine care visits during their first year and a half of life. The antibodies they receive from their mother’s milk start to diminish after about six to eight weeks, so they need to be inoculated against certain diseases.
At about eight weeks of age, both kittens and puppies need to start vaccinations to prevent illnesses such as distemper, parvovirus, panleukopenia, and many other diseases that could be potentially fatal. They also need to start on heartworm prevention medicine in order to have long, healthy lives. Puppies and kittens do not receive the same type of vaccinations, but they start them at about the same stage of their lives.
When you buy an insurance policy for your pet, vaccinations, heartworm prevention and other types of routine care will be covered. Instead of paying full prices for your new pet’s care, many policies cover up to 100% of the costs for necessary vaccinations and preventive care. This includes other routine care that is necessary for older pets as well, including teeth cleaning, continued health checks, microchipping, and spaying and neutering.
Two of the important services for puppies and kittens include de-sexing and microchipping, both of which are included under routine care coverage. De-sexing can prolong the lives of pets because it makes them less susceptible to some cancers and it will keep them from roaming away from home. Microchipping is important for identifying your pet in case they do escape your care, so including these services under routine care encourages pet owners to be more responsible.
Additional Insurance Coverage
Along with routine care, there are optional coverage options you can choose for your pet’s insurance policy. Some of the coverage options include accidental injury, accidental illness, and major medical coverage. These options may also include medical coverage if you are travelling overseas with your pet, emergency boarding coverage, and tick paralysis coverage (especially important for dogs). Up to 80% of the vet bill could be covered under some of these options.
No matter the age of your pet, it is important to include your pet’s veterinarian in his care at every stage of his life. This will help ensure your dog’s or cat’s health throughout their lives if you make sure they get their vaccinations on time, starting when they are very young. Then, when they are older, you can continue to visit the vet to keep them healthy and happy.
