The importance of Pet Insurance
As I was standing at my operating table amputating a gangrenous leg, I couldn't stop thinking about the difficult journey we had traveled to get to this point. A loving owner was now facing a serious financial burden for the treatment of her pet.
Her dog had been injured while attempting to jump a fence; the leg had become caught and tangled, an injury that quickly lead to severe damage and a necessary amputation. Saving the leg was possible, but would have cost the owner $6,000 to $7,000. Who has that kind of disposable money? It was a young and energetic dog with an owner who was scared for her pet's health and well-being - and who was financially unprepared for such an emergency.
Unfortunately, I see these types of situations all time. No pet owner expects their dog to spill a bottle of Advil off the counter and ingest half the pills causing severe internal bleeding or for their cat to eat a leaf off of an Easter Lillie and go into kidney failure. None of us expect massive injuries that require costly treatment, but as pet owners we need to be aware of the possibilities — and that there are ways we can help be better prepared, such as pet insurance.
I strongly recommend a simple policy to cover catastrophic events. A monthly premium of $15 to $20 can cover the thousands of dollars for severe injuries or illnesses. Below are a few links to some pet insurance companies:
