October 14, 2008
- Roseburg, Oregon
Is pet insurace worth the cost?
 TAMPA, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- How much is that doggy in the window? It can be a lot once you add up all the bills from the vet’s office. But does paying for pet insurance save you money in the end? Mother and daughter -- Pat and Gina share a backyard and a love for animals. “I’ve had a dog or cat for my entire life,” said Pat.  The newest addition is ten-week-old Bella. The two know firsthand that dogs don’t always come cheap. Their family dog, Sheba, was diabetic and cost pat thousands of dollars. “They become like one of your children -- you just have to spend it,” Pat said. Cassy Allbritton-Metas is the practice administrator for four vet offices. She says these days caring for a pet is more costly. For example -- a teeth cleaning on average is $317. “If you have problems, extractions, broken teeth and so forth by the time you add in X-rays, pain medication and antibiotics you can double or triple that $300,” Allbritton-Metas said. Some owners consider pet insurance. There are two types -- catastrophic care for major illness or surgery and wellness plans for yearly care. Allbritton-Metas doesn’t recommend the latter. “You should try to budget for that. It’s generally not cost effective to have an insurance company pay for those things,” she said. But she does recommend catastrophic care, if you don’t have extra cash flow. Be sure to consider what is covered in the plan you chose. If you have an indoor pet look for one that covers illness; outdoor, you may want to have injuries covered. Also, ask if genetic and chronic conditions will be covered. “It’s just like our insurance in that it’s good to have when you are really sick and really need it,” Allbritton-Metas said.  The cost can range from $8 to $100 a month depending on age and breed of animal. Pat keeps her dog domino healthy with an organic diet and exercise. At thirteen years old -- it seems to be working. If you would like more information, please contact: Cassy Allbritton-Metas Practice Administrator North Bay Animal and Bird Hospitals (813) 885-4477 cametas@tampabay.rr.com |
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