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Ask Dr. Swingle

October 7, 2014 angels Uncategorized

Q. My veterinarian suggested I get pet insurance for my new puppy. Why should I do that?

A. Let me answer that question with 2 real life examples.

Beth brought Weiner into our clinic in a panic because he suddenly was unable to get up on his back legs. Weiner is a 6-year-old Dachshund that has been healthy his whole life. His physical exam showed paralysis of his back legs caused by a ruptured disc in his back. Because Weiner still had deep pain sensation in his back legs, surgery was an option.

When I told Beth that Weiner needed to be referred immediately to a specialist for an MRI and back surgery, she smiled and said “Thank goodness Weiner has insurance!” Weiner went immediately to the specialist, had an MRI to locate the ruptured disc and immediately had the necessary surgery.

I saw Weiner two weeks later for suture removal. He was able to support himself and made an uneventful recovery from there. Beth confided in me that the cost for Weiner’s surgery and post-operative care was in excess of $10,000 and she would not have been able to make the same decision without pet insurance.

Bart brought Gauge in to the clinic thinking he had eaten something that did not agree with him. Gauge had begun vomiting and was unable to walk. Gauge is a wonderfully playful 5-year-old yellow lab that is Bart’s constant companion.

A full work up with bloodwork and x-rays made me suspicious that Gauge was suffering from Addison’s Disease, a disease caused by a deficiency of the adrenal glands.

Gauge responded well to hospitalization with intravenous fluids and supportive medications – and was back to normal in a few days. Additional testing confirmed the diagnosis of Addison’s Disease. Unfortunately, Addison’s Disease is a life-long condition that cannot be cured – but can be managed with monthly injections that replace the deficient hormones and would allow Gauge to have a normal life. The necessary medication would cost Bart over $200 per month.

Again – as with Weiner – Bart told me with tears in his eyes, that without Gauge’s pet insurance he would not have been able to pay for Gauges medication.

Pet insurance is not designed to save the average pet owner money. It is designed to assist the pet owner with unexpected major health events in their pet’s lives that they would be unable to manage by themselves.

If your personal finances can handle a $5,000-$10,000 pet medical expense – you probably don’t need pet insurance. However – if your budget doesn’t allow for unexpected pet expenses – pet insurance could be a viable option for you to consider. Affordable monthly payments can ensure that your pet will be able to receive the necessary care in case of sickness or an emergency.

If you want more information on pet insurance – go to www.pet-insurance-university.com. This veterinarian has explained and compared all of the major pet insurance companies for your convenience.