If you're a new pet owner or are thinking about owning a dog for the first time, here are 5 things that you need to ensure the health and vitality of your beloved creature.

1) Bedding. It's good to train your animal to sleep in a certain place. By getting them their own bed, especially if it's a dog, you can curb habits like lying on furniture. It's often extremely frustrating to train an animal who is already in the habit of sleeping on the bed or couch, to lie in their own space. That's why it's best to start off on the right foot when you introduce them to your home and get them in the habit of lying on their own bed. Crate training may be a good option, if you're new puppy just isn't staying put at night.

2) A Sturdy Leash. Getting your dog a sturdy leash that allows you to control him or her easily, without putting either of you through any discomfort is crucial. Many people like retractable leashes because they allow the dog explore, without pulling you along for the ride. If you're looking to keep your animal on a short lease, a traditional nylon leash is a great choice. They are sturdy and can support even the largest, strongest dogs without breaking.

3) Toys. Dog toys are crucial to keeping your new dog from chewing on things they shouldn't. They not only occupy their time while in the house, they train them to only play with things that are rubbery and squeaky. Raw hide bones are another option. They are great for maintain proper dental hygiene and dogs love them. Even the most hyper dog will sit for hours on end, until they've eaten every bit of a rawhide.

4) Pet Health Insurance. Your dog is going to need to go the vet to get regular shots and check ups. This is where dog insurance comes in handy. Dog insurance allows you to get you pet the medical treatment they need without making you go broke. Many different breeds of dogs are prone to get certain illnesses that require extra veterinary attention and the only affordable way to get your pet this extra veterinary attention is to get pet health insurance. This may seem like a luxury item, but dog health insurance and cat health insurance are becoming increasingly more popular among pro-active animal owners.

5) Heartworm Pills and Flea Medication. These two items are extremely important in keeping your pet safe and healthy for a long time. Flea medication is crucial to not only your animal, but to your home. A flea infestation is extremely hard to get rid of, so why not just nip it in the bud and have your pet on a flea medication regimen. Heartworm pills are also essential in keeping your pet healthy and happy for a long time. They may be expensive without a pet insurance plan, so if you really want to get the best deal, opt for dog health insurance.

1. Dog or Cat? Many people are already dog people or cat people and although these two species are different in their own ways, both give tons of love. Cats aren't as reliant on people as dogs are, which can be good if you spend a lot of time away from home. You also have to work harder to win their affection than you do with pups, which explains the resentment many people feel towards these cuddly felines. Dogs are great if you hang out at home a lot, because they require walking and an alpha dog ??? to keep them in line.

2. Once you've decided what species, it's time to choose a breed. As far as dogs go, certain breeds live longer than others, and have different temperaments. If you have a breed in mind, make sure to do some preliminary research on its health and manner.

3. Next, it's time to decide whether you want to get your pet from a breeder or the animal shelter. Breeders are more expensive, but usually already have given the animal their shots, which can save you money if you don't have pet health insurance. Shelters house many poor animals that need homes, and choosing your pet from here will save lives. Plus, these animals are almost always spayed or neutered, unless they are too young.

4. Training your pet is crucial. As soon as you take it home, you want to establish how it will go to the bathroom. For dogs the best way to do this is by crate training. Since dogs don't defecate where they sleep, they will soon learn to go outside. Most cats already know about the litter box by the time they come home with you. For more complete training, enrolling your dog in a class may be a good idea if you want him to socialize with other doggies.

5. Your pet's diet will keep it healthy. For dogs, you want to buy a kibble that has meat in it as a primary ingredient, since canines are carnivores. You can even feed him raw meat, but do some research before you start this method.

6. Pet health can often be expensive. From basic spaying or neutering to medication or surgery, you almost always need to take your pet to the vet sometime or another. To cut down on costs, you may want to investigate pet health insurance. Dog insurance can wind up saving you money in the long term, and with pet insurance covering all of the bills you will never feel reluctant to take your pet to the vet because of high bills.
With dog insurance or cat insurance, the proper food, toys, and training, your pet will be well on its way to being happy and healthy. The only other requirement is love. Your animal will give you plenty, so give it back; that's the best way to keep your pet happy.

Trupanion offers perhaps one of the most complete dog insurance plans on the market. All illnesses and injuries, up to $20,000 are covered by Trupanion, and this included insurance protection for dogs with congenital and hereditary disorders. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Many purebred dog owners find themselves penalized because, although their dog is healthy, it might develop a health condition at some point in its life.

To keep policy costs down, Trupanion does not cover routine veterinary visits. Trupanion Dog Insurance provides protection for your dog and you when major illnesses or accidents occur. While the cost of Trupanion insurance can go up if the price of veterinary medicine where you live rises, it will never increase as your dog ages.

Trupanion Dog Insurance pays 90% of the cost of every claim that is approved. There are no incident caps with Trupanion or costly fee guides.

Many dog insurance companies take from 3 to 6 weeks to process your reimbursement claim, but Trupanion strives to get your money to you as quickly as possible. When an initial claim is made, requiring the medical history of your pet, Trupanion will take less than 7 days to process the information and get your check on its way. Most subsequent claims are paid in less than 1 day. If there is a delay because your dog's medical records have not been received, Trupanion Pet Insurance will notify you of your claim's status.

Trupanion Pet Insurance also has prepared a Dog Information page on their website that gives information on many dog health and care issues. Advice on how to give your dog medicine, the importance of vaccinations, how to trim nails, overheating, aging, and dental care are all covered here. This site gives straight forward advice on how to deal with these issues. Especially helpful to the new dog owner, even experienced dog owners will find useful information here.

For a healthy, young male dog, the Trupanion Dog Insurance policy, with a $50 deductible, would cost $38.32 per month. A $500 deductible would cost $28.40 on a monthly basis, and the $1,000 deductible would reduce the cost to $19.56 per month. An optional hip dysplasia rider can be added to the policy.

A relatively new company, Embrace Dog Insurance was founded in 2003. It has since generated a following of loyal customers. Embrace Dog Insurance will cover a multitude of health conditions and accidents. Depending on the policy you choose for your dog, Embrace Dog Insurance will provide coverage for illnesses, accidents, laboratory tests, surgery, hereditary conditions, and conditions specific to different breeds. However, the dog owner should be aware that, as with any dog insurance policy, there are certain conditions that Embrace Dog Insurance will not cover. Conditions that Embrace will not provide coverage for include: pregnancy, pre-existing conditions, prosthetic limbs and mobility device (wheeled devices for partially paralyzed dogs), organ transplants, tail docking, and ear cropping.

Under all the Embrace Dog Insurance plans you have the freedom to take your dog to whatever veterinarian you wish, including specialists. Embrace understands the need of the dog owner to feel comfortable and confident with their dog's health care provider.

Some dogs, especially those with pre-existing conditions, will not be able to be enrolled in the Full Coverage Plan. However, these dogs will still be eligible for the Embrace Accident Plan. Although older dogs are sometimes excluded from insurance coverage, Embrace will provide accident coverage for purebred dogs over 7 years old and mixed breed dogs aged 9 years or more. In addition to the expected accident coverage for your dog, such as being hit by a car or swallowing poison or a foreign object, Embrace will also cover Bloat or Stomach Torsion, a serious condition that can be very expensive to treat. The Embrace Accident Plan reimburses 90% of your dog's treatment after a yearly $100 deductible has been paid. You will be reimbursed for up to $5,000 per year for accidents.

The Embrace Wellness Rewards Plan can also be purchased to augment the Accident plan, or it can be purchased separately. This plan covers $200 yearly of office visits, dental treatment, vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchipping, and heartworm test and preventatives. This plan costs $14.95 per month, either by itself or as an add-on for other policies.

The Embrace Full Coverage Plan is an all encompassing plan that literally covers everything except for pre-existing conditions. Some of the treatments covered include cancer treatment, breed-specific conditions, surgery, hospitalization costs, and rehabilitation. The dogs eligible for enrollment in this program would include purebred dogs less than 6 years old and mixed breeds less than 8 years.

The Embrace Full Coverage Plan can be customized to fit the needs of you and your dog. The dog owner can choose how much of a deductible they want, what the maximum annual benefit will be, and what level of co-pay they are comfortable with. Also available is Prescription Drug and Dental Illness Coverage.

The Full Coverage Plan offers a Budget Policy ($17.87 per month), Everyday Policy ($30.31 per month), and Complete Plan for $72.40 per month. The customer can also custom design these policies based on their dog's needs. The above quotes are based on a healthy, young purebred dog. To submit a claim, the dog owner can print out a claim form or have the company mail one to them. Once the form is filled out and signed, it can be faxed or mailed. If desired, for faster reimbursement, Embrace will make a direct deposit to the policy holder's bank account, otherwise it will be mailed.

No dog owner wants to have to choose between their dog's health and their wallets. PetFirst Health for Dogs goes a long way to making sure this decision will never have to be made. In addition to details about the levels of coverage available, PetFirst has a list of suggestions on how to keep your pet healthy and avoid at least some veterinary expenses. Such matters as ear cleaning, home dental care, and watching your dog's weight are found here.

PetFirst Health Care for Dogs, while covering many conditions, does exclude certain things. As is usual, pre-existing conditions are not covered by PetFirst. Cosmetic and elective surgeries and procedures, such as tail docking, ear cropping, special diets, and nail clipping are not covered. However, PetFirst carries a number of policies, and one of them will probably be right for your dog.

PetFirst's Basic Plan offers coverage for dogs from age 8 weeks up to 9 years. (A separate Senior Plan is available for dogs older than 10 years). The deductible for the Basic Plan is $50 with a 90% reimbursement. This plan provides $7,500 of coverage for accidents and illness, with a per incident limit of $1,500. Also covered, at least in part, are physical exams, vaccinations, and preventive care. Reward and advertising costs for a lost pet will provide you with $250 coverage, as will boarding fees at a kennel. The Basic Plan, for one dog, costs about $29.95 per month.

The next level of care offered by PetFirst is the Preferred Plan. There is still a $50 deductible with 90% reimbursement, but now the illness and accident coverage has increased to $12,000. The per incident limit is now $2,500. Routine care coverage for physical exams, vaccinations, and preventive care have all increased as well, and routine maintenance and routine screens are now added. The single dog Preferred Plan policy now starts at $39.95 monthly.

The Preferred Plus Plan is a plan that is especially useful for owners of purebred dogs. The illness and accident coverage is now $15,000, with $3,500 as the per incident limit. The deductible is still $50 with the same reimbursement rate of 90%. The routine maintenance rider includes dental cleaning, spay/neuter, health screening, and behavioral training. More benefits under this program include trip cancellation coverage, and burial or cremation. The Preferred Plus Plan begins at $49.95 per month.

Coverage for the Accident Only Plan will provide accident coverage of $3,000, with a per accident limit of the same. This plan covers any age of dog and costs $16.95 per month.

To file a claim with PetFirst Health Care for Dogs, it is necessary to supply them with a claim form that must be signed by your veterinarian. Your dog's medical records for the treatment being claimed and for your dog's previous year's medical records must be included. This company will accept faxes only from your veterinarian. To submit a claim yourself, you must mail it.

So for many pet owners, the comfort, health and overall longevity of their pet's life is extremely important. Pets may not be human but they're a big part of the family, just as our other relatives are.

So for animal lovers, it's only natural that when their furry friends fall ill, they rush to get them medical treatment just as they would do with a child, or any other beloved family member.

But sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, our pets require extra medical attention and we could use some help in footing the bill would be extremely helpful.

As technology in the veterinary field has become more advanced and developed, the cost of treating animals has increased drastically. Injured or ill pets can require costly procedures that can cost thousands of dollars, something many people have a hard time finding room in their budgets for.

If you find yourself in this boat, you may want to consider pet healthcare. A pet health insurance plan is an economical solution for those with several pets, a chronically sick animal, or someone who just wants to ensure they're getting the most for their money when it comes to maintaining the health of their pets.

If you aren't familiar with the benefits of pet health insurance, here are a few reasons why it's a viable option for animal owners.

- Affordability.

Pet health insurance can be very affordable, which may come as a surprise to many people. Depending on what kind of coverage you're looking for, you can get insurance for around $10 per month. However, if you're looking for a policy that covers routine veterinary care, it could cost you more. For owners looking to cover more than one pet, many insurance companies offer a multi-pet policy discount.

- Versatility.

Unlike a human health plan, a pet health plan can be used at any vet. Instead of the insurance company billing the vet's office, you pay the bill upfront and send in a claim to the insurance company for a reimbursement for the portion that's covered by your insurance company. This can beneficial to people who want insurance, but are concerned about losing their trusted veterinarian. A bug downside to the insurance is that pets with pre-existing conditions may be disqualified from coverage and a pet savings program may be a better option.

Pet health insurance may not be a viable option for everyone. It's best to consider how much you spend on veterinary costs per year and decide if signing up for pet healthcare is worth the money. If pet health insurance isn't right for you, but you still would like to reduce your veterinary costs, there are a few pet savings programs available that offer discounts with a monthly membership fee. These are great because they include all services used in the vet's office, including routine check ups, shots, surgeries, x-rays and other procedures, and pre-existing conditions don't exclude your pet from qualifying.

A company established for over 30 years, Petplan Dog Insurance provides trusted coverage for dog owners. As owners of purebred dogs know, their dog has a very good chance of eventually developing a hereditary condition. Petplan will cover these conditions up to policy limit. There are no restraints on time limits for the hereditary conditions. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.

Petplan Dog Insurance covers your dog for its entire life. As long as the policy is renewed, Petplan will help you to take care of your dog, even if the dog develops chronic conditions as it ages. Petplan refers to this as "Petplan's Covered for Life Guarantee". This coverage is included in all Petplan policies.

Petplan Dog Insurance will provide coverage for hospitalization, testing, surgery, cancer treatment, non-routine dental work such as extractions, and prescription medicine. Besides these conventional medical procedures dog owners expect, Petplan realizes that some people may want alternative treatments such as chiropractic therapy or acupuncture. These are covered if treatment is given by a licenses veterinarian.

Petplan Dog Insurance offers three plans - the Bronze Plan, the Silver Plan, and the Gold Plan. All three Petplan policies offer a choice of monthly, quarterly, and yearly premiums. All of these plans can be customized by choosing a deductible of $50, $100, or $200. The level of reimbursement can likewise be customized to cover 80%, 90%, or 00% of covered veterinary charges. All quotes given in this article will be based on a healthy, young, purebred male dog.

The Bronze Plan covers veterinary fees up to a maximum of $8,000. The least expensive Bronze Plan, which comes with a $200 deductible and 80% reimbursement, costs $15.85 per month. With a $50 deductible and 100% reimbursement, this plan will cost $33.18 per month. The veterinary procedures listed above are all covered with the Bronze Plan.

The next level of protection is the Silver Plan, which covers $12,000 of expenses. This policy now adds boarding kennel charges, advertising reward costs, and loss of your dog because of straying or theft. These last benefits cover $250 of expenses. With a $200 deductible and an 80% reimbursement, this policy costs $17.52 per month. At the $50 and 100% reimbursement level, expect to pay $36.92 per month.

The highest level of Petplan Dog Insurance is the Gold Plan, which provides $20,000 of coverage. The kennel fee coverage, advertising, and loss due to theft or straying is now covered up to $500. In addition, the Gold Policy provides $1,000 to pay for death from illness or injury, and $1,000 if your vacation must be cancelled due to your dog's illness. A $200 deductible, 80% reimbursement costs $19.32 a month, while maximum coverage of 1005 reimbursement and $50 deductible will cost the dog owner $40.97 per month.

The dog owner will also be glad to learn that Petplan offers a 30 day money-back guarantee. All money paid for the plan will be refunded if the policy is cancelled within the first 30 days, as long as no claim has been filed.

Purina, long a trusted name in canine nutrition, also offers insurance to provide your dog with the protection it needs. PurinaCare Dog Insurance wants to make caring for your dog's health as easy as possible. PurinaCare offers no lifetime limits on claims, and there are also no per incident restrictions on illness or accident. The dog owner can go to any veterinarian in the state where service is given.

While PurinaCare does not provide dog insurance policies for pre-existing conditions, there is no limit on each medical incident and there is an annual limit of $20,000. Coverage is also available for behavioral therapy. There is no upper age limit for enrollment, although a dog must be 8 weeks old before any enrollment can begin.

PurinaCare Dog Insurance offers two basic policies for the dog owner to choose from: PurinaCare plus Preventive Care and PurinaCare without Preventive Care. Both of these policies offer treatment of illnesses, accidents and injuries, diagnostic procedures (x-rays, blood tests, etc.), hospitalization, surgical procedures, prescription medicines, and hereditary conditions. The owner of the purebred dog will be glad to discover that heredity conditions will be covered under both these plans.

PurinaCare plus Preventive Care adds a range of wellness categories to the above list. Under this plan, your dog will receive an annual physical exam, vaccinations, dental cleaning and polishing, spay/neuter, and heartworm and flea preventives.

PurinaCare without Preventive Care has its costs associated with the amount of deductible chosen by the dog owner. With a $100 deductible, this policy will cost $38.31 per month. The most popular deductible, $250, will bring the policy down to $31.43 per month. To lower the cost even more, the $500 deductible will bring the monthly policy premium down to $23.51. Finally, if the dog owner prefers to maintain a high deductible while still providing for catastrophic illness, the policy with a $1,000 deductible will cost $14.37 per month.

Anyone who wants to make sure that their dog will be able to receive proper care in case of illness or accident should remember that the cost of veterinary care continues to rise. As new technologies are made available, costs will generally rise. Sophistication of care means a higher cost to you. Your out of pocket payments or savings might not be enough to pay for a serious illness or accident.

PurinaCare plus Preventive Care and PurinaCare without Preventive Care both reimburse the dog owner 80% of allowable expenses. This is after the deductible has been met, of course. The deductible is applied for the whole year, not just per incident, another helpful factor.

To file a claim with PurinaCare, the policy holder should print out a claim form prior to going to the veterinarian. The form is then filled out by the health provider and you, then can be mailed or faxed along with the receipt for payment.

Pre-existing conditions are not covered. However, all dogs (subject to age limitations) can enroll in 24PetWatch Dog Insurance and so be protected to one degree or another. The p owner will find that there are many benefits from this insurance program - your dog's policy will never increase in price as your dog ages, there is lifetime coverage of $72,000, and flexible programs are available for your pet.

The least expensive policy offered by 24PetWatch Dog Insurance is called QuickCare for Dogs. This policy covers accidents only. Being hit by a car, ingesting poison, animal attacks, swallowing a foreign object, as well as an adverse reaction to a bee sting or insect bite are all covered with this policy. It also reimburses you for the purchase price of your dog (up to policy limits) if your pet dies as a result of an accident. There is a $50 deductible, but after that there is 100% coverage. This policy begins at $10.95.

QuickCare Optimum for Dogs offers the next level of protection and is for dogs ages 8 weeks to 6 years. It includes the accident benefits of QuickCare for Dogs, but adds a Wellness Plan (zero deductible) with annual physical, vaccinations, dental cleaning along with the cost of recovering your lost pet and euthanasia. This plan begins at $32.95.

QuickCare Complete for Dogs includes the previous policy benefits, but now adds Illness Benefits. This covers 12 different illness categories and will provide protection for you dog for nearly every imaginable disease. Also included in this plan are Boarding Fees. This plan costs $54.90 for a 'regular' dog and $66.90 for Select Breeds. Dogs from 8 weeks to 8 years (6 years for Select Breeds) are eligible for enrollment.

The highest level of protection available for your dog from 24PetWatch Dog Insurance is QuickCare Gold for Dogs. The pet owner will find that they can choose between 70% and 90% coverage, as well as the Double Illness Coverage Option. Everything covered in the QuickCare Complete Plan is also covered here, the main difference is the increased amount of coverage. Policies can range in price from $30.95 to $85.90 depending on several factors.

Claims may be submitted by fax or mail after downloading the form. You fill out the top of the form and your veterinarian completes the rest. Reimbursement will then be mailed to you.

Covered by Pet Assure are office visits, all vaccinations and other injections, surgery (including spay/neuter), elective procedures (dental cleaning), hospitalization, and much more. There is no limit on how much can be spent on any one procedure. Although most dog insurance providers have a waiting period before your dog is covered, once you and your dog have joined PetAssure, the discount can be received immediately.

The Pet Assure program allows the dog owner to pick their own veterinarian. It should be noted, however, that the veterinarian you choose has to already be a participant in the PetAssure program before the 25% discount on care can be given. When journeying with your dog, it would be a good idea to locate participating veterinarians where you will be going. If your current veterinarian is not a participant of the PetAssure program, it might be helpful to explain the program to them and give them the chance to sign up.

The Pet Assure discount is applied at the time of service, and you will pay only 75% of the bill, the 25% discount is given immediately. You will never have to deal with a claim form when you and your dog are members of PetAssure.

Not only is there no waiting period for Pet Assure members to deal with, as mentioned above, but there are absolutely no exclusions. There are also no deductibles or incident limits. Any medical condition is covered, regardless of the health or age of your dog.

A valuable part of Pet Assure is their Lost Pet Recovery Service. Upon joining Pet Assure, your dog will be issued with a Pet ID tag containing your individual identification number and the toll free 24/7 Lost Pet Recovery Service telephone number. Once your lost dog is located and the toll free number called, PetAssure operators will contact you using the contact information you have provided. They will keep trying until they have spoken to you, to make sure you know where to go to retrieve your dog. Better than a microchip, which has to be scanned, the PetAssure Recovery Service makes it as easy as possible for you to be reunited with your dog.

The PetAssure Single Dog Plan costs $9.95 per month, or $99 per year. The PetAssure Family Plan, which covers 4 dogs, costs $13.95 per month and $149 yearly. Another plan, Pet Assure Lite provides the pet tag and merchant discounts without any veterinary discount. This last might be valuable to the dog owner who has a dog insurance policy elsewhere.

The PetAssure program is probably best suited to dog owners whose dogs have a pre-existing condition and are ineligible for a regular insurance policy.

Every dog owner dreads the thought of their dog becoming ill or getting injured. While months or years can go by with no problem, cancer, tick-borne diseases, being hit by a car, or swallowing poison can occur suddenly and unexpectedly. With the price of veterinary care rising every year, many dog owners have opted to buy health insurance for their dog. A stay in a veterinary hospital can cost thousands of dollars, and no dog owner wants to be forced to make a decision between treatment and euthanasia.

Most dog insurance companies will not cover pre-existing conditions, and many have restrictions on age or genetic and hereditary diseases. This last usually weighs most heavily on purebred dogs, who sometimes are subject to various disorders specific to their breed.

VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) probably provides one of the most complete policies available. Several different plans are offered, providing various levels of care. An advantage VPI has is that the coverage for your dog is worldwide, so if you are traveling, help is always easily available.

Another company that compares favorably with VPI is PetsBest Dog Insurance. Worldwide protection is also available here. This company allows for alternative treatments. Like VPI, several different plans are offered.

A company that offers a very high lifetime benefit level is 24PetWatch Dog Insurance. 24PetWatch gives the dog owner 4 plans from which to choose. This company will cover hereditary diseases as long as they have not manifested themselves at time of policy purchase.

PurinaCare Dog Insurance is a company similar to the above and offers 2 levels of insurance protection. PurinaCare Dog Insurance also adds a wellness category to its more expensive policy.

PetPlan Dog Insurance offers the dog owner 3 levels of plan, at varying levels of protection and cost. This company also allows for alternative treatments such as acupuncture. This was the only company surveyed that offered a 30 day money back guarantee.

Embrace Dog Insurance will enroll dogs with pre-existing illnesses in their Accident Plan. Such dogs are not eligible for standard health insurance, however. Embrace offers the Full Coverage Plan, for healthy dogs, which will cover nearly every condition.

Trupanion Dog Insurance is also a trusted company that offers just one policy and, like Embrace, there are no divisions of coverage. This company covers all accidents and injuries (for a healthy dog) under one policy, there are no gradations.

PetFirst Dog Insurance offers various levels of protection in their plans, and is one of the only companies offering enrollment for dogs over 10 years of age.

Pet Assure is not an insurance company like those above. The benefit to Pet Assure is that they will accept any dog, regardless of age or health. All accidents and illnesses will receive a 25% discount at the time of service. Dogs with pre-existing conditions or old dogs will be able to get a certain measure of protection here.

Most of the dog insurance plans covered in these articles are quite similar and differ only in details of coverage, benefit limits, and policy cost. A dog owner wanting to buy a health insurance policy for their dog should first decide exactly what they feel their dog needs and what they can afford. Remember, it is often possible to reduce policy costs by having a high deductible. The policy will then offer you protection from catastrophic illnesses and accidents while keeping your monthly payment lower. Also, most dogs cannot be enrolled in any insurance plan (except Pet Assure) until they are 8 weeks old. There is usually a sign-up cut off of 8 years for mixed breed dogs and 6 years for purebreds.

The quotes given in the accompanying insurance company articles are based on a theoretical dog named Grumpy. Grumpy was generally a yellow Labrador Retriever. He was a young, healthy, intact male dog. To receive a more accurate quote, based on your dog's age, breed, and sex, please visit the company websites.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a 140 year history of protecting the lives of animals, especially dogs. The ASPCA has now expanded that protection to cover the health of family dogs. Illness or injury can strike unexpectedly, and having this protection for your dog will help ensure that proper treatment and your peace of mind.

The policies written by ASPCA Dog Insurance not only help to protect your dog, but are used by the society to help animals everywhere. The ASPCA maintains the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, to provide help and information if your dog swallows poison.

ASPCA Dog Insurance has 4 levels of protection for you to choose from. They also offer Continuing Care in levels 2 to 4 if your dog needs help with long-term or chronic conditions. All information here will be based on quotes for a young, healthy dog.

The most basic policy offered is the Level 1, which costs $11.00 per month. This policy covers accidents only. There is a per accident limit of $2,500 and a maximum benefit of $8,000 annually.

The next step up is Level 2, which covers not only accidents, but illnesses also. Covered at this level are prescriptions, lab tests, x-rays, illness treatment, diagnostics, surgery, and hospitalization. This policy also has a maximum yearly payout of $8,000. The Continuing Care Option is available at this level, and this policy will cost $27.22 per month.

Level 3 coverage adds wellness to the accident and illness benefits. This refers to some vaccinations (rabies, coronavirus, and distemper), spay or neuter, a physical exam, and heartworm testing. Continuing Care is available for your dog here, too. The benefits also rise, with a yearly maximum now of $11,000 and an incident benefit of $3,500. This policy will cost the dog owner $46.30 monthly.

The highest policy offered is Level 4, which covers accidents, illnesses, wellness, and also wellness plus. This level provides a dental cleaning, heartworm medicine, bordetella vaccine, and Lyme vaccine. Once again there are benefit increases as the annual benefit goes to $13,000 with an incident benefit of $5,000. The monthly cost of this policy is $77.36.

ASPCA Dog Insurance has a $100 deductible for all four levels of policy. The dog owner can choose their own veterinarian, so can deal with someone familiar and trusted. Payment is made to the veterinarian at the time of service, and then a claim is submitted to the ASPCA via email, fax, or mail. These policies will reimburse 80% of covered charges. ASPCA Dog Insurance will cover your dog anywhere in the United States or Canada.

The dog owner should be aware that there are conditions that are not covered with any of their policies, and these include (among other things) congenital disorders, hereditary diseases, pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, and experimental treatments. Before buying any dog insurance policy, check to see what is covered and what is not.

As with nearly all insurance plans, there are exclusions at Pets Best Dog Insurance. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Also, if the dog's policy is purchased after its second birthday, then hereditary conditions are not covered, whereas up to 2 years they are. Likewise, Pets Best will not cover congenital conditions. Parasites and diseases that could be prevented (ie distemper or rabies) with vaccines are not covered. Elective procedures such as tail docking and dental cleaning are not covered by this insurance company with any of the basic plans.

Pets Best Dog Insurance offers 3 insurance plans for your dog. Unlike many insurance dog companies, the covered conditions are the same for all three plans. The difference lies in the cost of the policy per month, the Lifetime Limit, and the Per Incident Limit. All of Pets Best three plans cover 80% of veterinary expenses. The deductible ranges from $100 to $500, depending on the decision of the dog owner.

The three plans offered by Pets Best Dog Insurance are: Pets Basic Plan, Pets First Plan, and Pets Premier Plan. By using this insurance company, you can choose your own veterinarian, you will never be assigned a medical provider for your dog. The plans cover all accidents and injuries including emergencies, surgery, treatment for illnesses, laboratory tests, and prescription medicine. The illnesses and medical conditions covered by Pets Best include outpatient care, hospitalization, cancer treatment and care, lab tests, diagnostics, x-rays, CAT scans and MRI.

Specialist care for your dog provides holistic care, acupuncture, emergency veterinarians, ophthalmologists, and dermatologists.

The Pets Basic Plan begins at $19.20 per month, Pets First Plan at $34.79 per month, and Pets Premier Plan at $45.61 monthly. A quote will be provided by the company depending on your dog's age, breed, and whether your dog has been spayed or neutered. The above figures were based on quotes for a healthy, young, intact male dog. Your costs may differ.

The Best Wellness Routine Care Option can also be added for an additional cost. This option provides more protection for your dog and covers wellness exams, dental cleaning, vaccinations, and spaying or neutering. The Best Wellness Care Option begins at $22.00 per month. It should be remembered that this is in addition to the basic policy you have purchased.

To file a claim, the claim form should be downloaded, filled out by you, and then signed by you and your veterinarian. The form can then be mailed or faxed to the company. The claim will be processed within ten business days. As is usually the case with dog insurance, you will be reimbursed by Pets Best Dog Insurance after paying your veterinarian.

Today's veterinary medicine is extremely sophisticated; many procedures and treatments are readily available to help your pet live a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, this advanced technology comes with a price that you may not be able to afford in the event of an emergency. Pet insurance can help alleviate any economic considerations that you would face when determining the best course of treatment for your loyal companion.

How Long Has Pet Insurance Been Around?

Pet insurance actually began in Sweden in 1924 when the first policy was written for a dog. It wasn't until 1982, however, that a pet insurance policy was written in the US for a very famous TV dog (pat yourself on the back if you guessed it was for Lassie). Since then, the number of pet policies in the US has grown at a rate of 18% between 2003 and 2008. Although pet insurance policies continue to gain popularity in the US, it is far more prevalent in Europe. Almost 20% of pet owners in the UK and 49% of pet owners in Sweden have some type of pet insurance.

How Much Does It Cost?

Just as there are different types of medical insurance for us, the same goes for our pets, so it's important to shop around when looking for policies. For cats, the average monthly cost of insurance ranges from $15-$18 per month depending on age, while dog insurance typically ranges from $22-$28 per month depending on age and breed. Most policies have deductibles starting at $50, and co-pays are also required for routine care. In most cases, pet insurance reimburses the owner after the pet has received care and the owner submits a claim to the insurance company.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

Although each pet insurance provider and policy is different, pets are generally covered for routine care (annual examinations, vaccinations, spay/neuter procedure, etc.), major medical expenses (serious injuries and illnesses, surgeries, hospital stays, etc), as well as cancer (chemotherapy, radiation, and post-treatment medications). It's important to know that insurance typically does not cover pre-existing conditions, hereditary/breed defects, elective procedures, dog food, and grooming costs.

How Do I Choose the Right Policy?

There are many considerations to make when choosing an insurance company that is right for your pet. First and foremost, read the fine print of each and every policy that you research very carefully. If your pet has a pre-existing condition or a hereditary issue, you need to make sure this isn't excluded in the policy (there are some companies out there that will cover these situations). Different types of breeds may be charged higher premiums with certain insurance companies, and there may be age limits on coverage. It's also very important to understand exactly what types of events and illnesses the policy will cover. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where your pet gets sick only to find out that your insurance company won't pay for it.

Last, but certainly not least, take a look at your budget. Along with the monthly or annual premium, you'll need to know what the deductibles and co-pays cost in order to select a policy that you can afford.

Where Can I Find Pet Insurance?

There are many companies in the US that offer pet insurance, so here are some of the major providers to get you started:

- Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI): This is the nation's oldest pet insurance company and largest, with 71% of the market share. VPI provides a wide range of policies.

- Embrace Pet Insurance: This is one of the few companies that offers coverage for pre-existing conditions and breed-specific genetic conditions.

- PetCare Pet Insurance: Since 1998, PetCare has been offering policies in both the US and Canada and offers a variety of pet insurance products such as QuickCare and ShelterCare.

- Pet Assure: This company is not insurance, but rather a program that offers medical discounts within a network of veterinarians and pet health providers. It is open to all pets of all ages with any medical condition.

Pet owners often don't anticipate the high costs associated with an unexpected illness or injury. Whether or not you're thinking about getting a pet, or you already have one, set aside some time to look at your budget and compare insurance plans. Planning for the future by insuring your cat or dog can save you the heart-wrenching pain of not being able to pay for treatment down the road.

Finding an insurance company to insure your pets is often as simple as logging onto the internet, using a search engine and comparing company reviews. Unless you have a truly unusual pet, you should not have a problem getting their health insured. Most domestic animals from lizards and snakes to guinea pigs and rabbits to cats and dogs can be covered for anything from routine veterinary visits to lab tests to major surgeries. Some insurance companies even offer breed specific cover for specialized or rare breeds of dogs and cats. Even exotic birds can be covered.

It is a good idea to cover your pet as soon as you possibly can. Most companies will insure pets from the age of six weeks. Insuring them from a young age before pre-existing or genetic ailments develop could save you a lot of money. Insurance companies will also renew your policy even if your pet has fallen ill or was involved in an accident. Most insurers will not cover pets that are older than ten due to the increased risk.

Basic policies will cover illness, accidents, surgery and any lab tests, medications and treatment of cancer. Some companies offer routine care cover as an optional extra which might not be a bad idea. Pet insurance is much cheaper than human health insurance so the additional cover will often be affordable. Make a note of your insurance company’s cover of breed-specific problems as some companies are quite specific on that point. If possible do not buy animals that are known to have genetic weaknesses

Pet insurance usually works as a reimbursement plan. Since veterinary care is much cheaper than human health care, you can usually find the cash to pay upfront and then claim from your insurance company afterwards. In extreme cases, you can sometimes make arrangements with your veterinarian to accept partial payment until your insurance has paid out. It is important to note on your insurance schedule whether there are payment limits per claim as this could prove to be a difficulty in the event of a major surgery or other expensive treatment.

Remember to shop around and view potential company’s reviews on independent reviewer websites. Make use of price comparison websites to find good deals. Also check with your current health insurance company to see if they do not have an add-on pet insurance option. Ensure that the prospective company has a sound financial history so they do not leave you stranded in the event of a claim.

Most people will tell you that a smaller dog such as pinscher will live longer than a German Shepard, and in fact, this assumption is correct - smaller dogs DO live longer lives than larger dogs. Usually a smaller dog begins to show "senior" symptoms at around 12 years of age whereas with a larger dog, they can start experiencing aches, pains and problems at age eight or nine. In order to keep your dog for as long as you can, and to keep him as healthy as you can it's important to keep up with certain pet healthcare guidelines.

For example, though visiting a vet can become expensive, it's absolutely essential that you get your dog looked at. I know it can be a little frightening at times, but in the end you will be thankful you did it. Frankly, in the same way I would rather know if I had a problem health wise, I would also rather know if my dog is having problems as well. Then, at least I can try to fix it or do whatever I can to make the dogs life easier for him to live. Since a lot of people these days believe in things such as herbal remedies and natural remedies, a lot of people have started to invest in these products.

Don't think they work? Would you rather go the more traditional route? No problem. It's your dog! One of the suggestions is that you DO get your dog monthly examinations once he reaches a specific peak - again this is different in all dogs large and small and within different breeds. One of the biggest complaints about doing it this way though, is the price. Thankfully for you, there is a newer option that is available that won't only help your pet possibly survive any attacks on his body, but it can also give you a veterinary discount. This option is the pet health plan option.

Now it doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are many pet healthcare options available and some will even let you pay minimum price and get some serious veterinary discounts, regardless of any exciting condition! So if your pet healthcare issues are important to you, we suggest that you act now!