Are you curious about how much people in the United States spend on their pets every year? Since these pets, such as cats and dogs, are usually considered to be a beloved member of the family, you may not be surprised to see the following amounts:
- Pet food: $20.46 billion
- Pet supplies and over-the-counter medicine: $12.56 billion
- Veterinary care: $13.59 billion
In addition to the above, pet owners also spend a considerable amount on grooming and other services, such as dog walkers and pet daycare centers. According to the American Pet Products Association, people spent $5.41 billion during 2015 on grooming and boarding, and they spent $5.73 billion on these and other services during 2016.
While all these expenses are worth it to ensure a beloved pet’s health and well-being, it’s also important to consider the benefits of pet health insurance plans. These plans can assist with covering veterinarian and other pet hospital costs when pets become ill or are in an accident.
There are pet insurance plans for dogs as well as cats. These don’t, however, cover the following services:
- Wellness visits
- Vaccinations
- Pre-existing conditions
You can obtain optional policy add-ons to cover wellness visits and vaccinations. These do not cover pre-existing conditions, however. Pet insurance is intended to cover future illnesses or accidents that may occur during a pet’s lifetime rather than supplement regular veterinarian visits for wellness check-ups.
When considering dog and cat insurance cost, for example, it’s important to remember that by obtaining this coverage, you are taking an important step to protect your animal’s future health issues. Depending on the breed and age of your cat or dog, you may have a variety of concerns about their health. This is why it’s so important for them to have regular veterinarian wellness visits and receive the appropriate vaccinations.
If you’ve just receive a dog or cat from a family member or acquaintance, it would be a good idea to ensure that they are in good health by taking them to the veterinarian. The same applies if you purchased a dog or cat from a breeder or adopted one from a rescue shelter.
Many families choose to spay or neuter their cat. Recent surveys show that 84% of the cats in the United States have undergone these procedures. If you have just adopted a cat that hasn’t been spayed or neutered, you may want to consider discussing the benefits of this procedure with your veterinarian.
Whether you have a dog or cat, they are an important part of your family. When considering dog and cat insurance cost, along with add-on policies for wellness visits and vaccinations, it will be considerably less than if you need to pay directly.
While the last thing you want to experience is your dog or cat becoming ill or injured, purchasing a pet insurance plan may make a difference to the level of care your pet receives if this should occur. Dog and cat insurance cost can vary depending on the plan you choose, so when you contact a pet insurance company, you can ask about the specific costs to ensure that your pet has coverage.