Pet Insurance For Dogs
With pets in over two thirds of Australian homes, it's clear to
see that we're a nation that loves our furry friends. When adopting
a dog, as 36% of households have already done, we think of the
companionship, playfulness and walks in the park, but it's easy to
forget that we also have a responsibility for their health and
wellbeing.
Why Does My Dog Need Pet Insurance?
Being a dog-owner means being mindful of the vaccines,
treatments and routine care that dogs require, not to mention the
possibility of unexpected illness or injury. At any time, your
canine companion could require medical treatment, and this comes at
a financial cost.
For example, dog fight lacerations could cost upwards of $1,000
while treatment for something as simple as swallowing a bone can
cost up to $6,000. If your dog is hit by a car, treatment can cost
around $5,000, and at worst, chemotherapy and surgery for cancer
can cost anywhere between $3,000-$20,000, depending on the size of
your dog and the type of cancer. And all this is on top of the $750
that the average dog owner spends per year on their care, the
greatest portion of which (apart from food) is on veterinary
services.
Would you be prepared for a bill of this size? Unfortunately in
many cases, the answer is no.
That's where pet insurance comes in. It can help
alleviate the financial burden of an unexpected vet bill when your
dog becomes ill or injured.
What Does Dog Insurance Cover?
You can apply for cover for your dog for accident and illness,
or for a lower premium, for accidents only. You can even choose to
include Routine Care as part of your pet insurance policy with some
products, to claim on things like vaccinations, de-sexing,
micro-chipping, heartworm prevention treatment and more. Plus, some
pet insurance for dogs comes with additional care, like Emergency
Boarding and Essential Euthanasia, at no extra cost.
Depending on the level of cover included in your pet insurance, you could
receive up to 80% of your eligible vet bills, up to $12,000
per year.
We love our dogs almost as unconditionally as they love us,
whether they're pedigree or a mutt of mixed proportions. And it's
hard to watch them suffer when they need medical attention, but a
large vet bill can cause a financial strain we simply can't afford.
Fortunately, pet insurance is something that is affordable.