Pet insurance.

[LissG]

haha doggiedad that's our plan!! even if it's $5 a week, something is better then nothing!

[Heidigsd]

even if it's $5 a week, something is better then nothing!

Melissa, I have experience with two GSD's now that had chronic health issues and just want to tell you that putting up $50 or $100 a month would have done little to take care of their expenses. In Heidi's lifetime I spent around $40,000, she lived to be 14 years old and that doesn't include routine care or food.

Petplan pays out around $10,000 for Nikki each year so far to cover her Viokase (EPI), allergy vaccine, B12 injections, etc. Add to that what I spend for her food every month, around $400 and you get the picture Just trying to give you an idea how much chronic conditions can end up costing.

I see people on her all the time recommending just putting some money aside every month but reality is it wouldn't get you very far even in case in an emergency like bloat or the septic abdomen we had to deal with when Nikki was a puppy for a total of $4,100.

Michaela

[LissG]

that's ALOT of money!! he's 19months old and thank god so far so good no issues! but you never know what the future brings. whats the typical cost of a bloat surgery?

[Heidigsd]

I don't know how much surgery for bloat would cost but I am sure it would be more than $1,000 without complications. Here is a good thread: Bloat cost?

Now would be a good time to sign Wolf up for insurance since he hasn't had any issues

Michaela

[Liesje]

I don't do it. If we had a catastrophy I would just do Care Credit or another line of credit. So far my dogs have been healthy and only see a vet for heartworm tests and three year rabies and distemper vaccines, both of which are very affordable (about $35 each) so that comes to a little over $50 a year per dog. I know people that pay more than that per month just to have insurance. I do my own heartworm preventative and have a lot of other things on hand (treatments for ear infections, antibiotics, flagyl).

[LaneyB]

I have Petplan for Ruki. I haven't used it yet. I think I pay around $40/mth but not sure on exact cost. I also have a Care Credit account since I would need to pay up front then be reimbursed through the insurance. My vet recommended health insurance for Ruki since my last dog cost thousands and thousands in care. What I liked about Pet Plan is they cover hips and other breed specific conditions. Also, Trupanion had a clause that they won't cover some things if the dog isn't neutered, and Ruki won't be neutered until he is older.

[LissG]

i've seen that in a couple plans-where the dog won't be covered if they are intact. we don't plan on neutering wolf. that stinks.