The health insurance industry for pets is a complex, diverse and competitive one. As a pet owner, you will naturally want to provide the best for your pet when it comes to veterinary care.

The options are vast but fortunately health cover for pets can be tailored to suit a variety of budgets and circumstances.

The cost of healthcare for pets can be expensive and unpredictable, particularly when you have to juggle such expenses alongside the high cost of everyday living. If an emergency arises and you have to rush your pet to the veterinary surgeon, it can be very expensive. Taking out health insurance for your pets can alleviate the stress of coming up with a large sum of money on the spot. Regular contributions to a health insurance plan for your pet will provide you with peace of mind – both financially, and for the well-being of your pet.

There are many levels of insurance cover that you may choose from and the best way to start may be with a chat with your animal doctor. A vet will be well placed to advise you on the level of cover that will suit your pet and what potential illnesses you may require cover for. Insurance plans can be flexible and are designed to meet all budgets and circumstances. Cover may start from just a few dollars a week for basic benefits and naturally, the higher the premium paid, the more extensive the benefit.

Health insurance for pets may also conve costs arising from:

• Death from illness or injury
• Boarding kennel or cattery fees
• Loss by theft or straying
• Advertising and rewards for lost pets
• Holiday cancellation if your pet goes missing or needs urgent surgery
• Third party liability if your pet causes damage or injury and you are legally liable

A health cover plan tailored to suit your pets can include:

• Heartworm preventative medicine
• Alternative therapies
• Cremation or burial
• Obedience training
• Desexing
• Teeth cleaning
• Prescription diets
• Behavioural therapy
• Microchipping
• Council registration fees
• Claw removal
• Dental treatment
• Flea/tick/worm control
• Urinalysis
• Blood tests
• Hospitalisation
• After hours emergency
• Surgery
• Prescription medicines and drugs
• Laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Radiology

It is generally expected that, over the course of the life of your pet, you will need to visit a veterinary clinic for at least some, if not most of the above mentioned reasons. The cost, over the years, can add up to thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars per pet. These expenses can arrive at unpredictable intervals and to lessen the financial strain on your budget, insurance cover for your pet is great way to ensure that you are providing the best possible care for your pet, no matter what the vet bill comes to.

As medical science becomes more sophisticated, so too does the level of care that an animal clinic is able to provide your pets. New cures, treatments and procedures are being tested and adopted all the time. As such, the range of health insurance for pets is ever-changing. Over the life of your pet you will need to keep up to date with advancements in medical technology by talking to your vet and adjusting the level of your pet health insurance to reflect the services offered by the veterinary clinic. As the saying goes, a pet is for life, not just for Christmas, so it is up to you to ensure that you are aware of the needs of your pets and the options available to you as a pet owner.