You’ve adopted a senior pet. Should you spring for pet health insurance? Here’s what to consider
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Andrews McMeel Syndication
When I bought Harper as a puppy 15 years ago, there were fewer pet health insurance options than there are today, and often coverage didn’t include common problems in cavalier King Charles spaniels, such as heart disease. I decided against purchasing it, reckoning that heart issues that cropped up wouldn’t be covered and that cancer wasn’t common in the breed.
That’s generally true, but cancer is common in older dogs of any breed, and Harper was diagnosed with it when she was about 13 years old. Veterinary treatment for cancer has improved significantly since the last time I had a dog with treatable cancer, in 1996, and costs have increased accordingly. Insurance would have saved me thousands of dollars for Harper’s care over the two years she lived following diagnosis.
I decided that my next dog would be covered, no matter what. Sparkles is 10 years old, however, so insurance for her was going to be expensive, even though she’s generally healthy. But it’s still a good idea. Here’s what to think about if you’re choosing insurance for a senior pet.
Which animals qualify as seniors? The American Animal Hospital Association has guidelines defining different life stages, from puppy or kitten to adult, senior and geriatric. Pet health insurance companies may use those guidelines to identify a pet’s life stage and the conditions that are common during each life stage.
Breed or size can play a role. For instance, giant breed dogs such as Great Danes or Irish wolfhounds may be considered seniors when they are 7 years old, while toy breed dogs such as Chihuahuas, which have a much longer lifespan, don’t reach that status until they are 10 to 12 years old. The American Association of Feline Practitioners considers cats seniors when they are 11 to 14 years old and geriatric at 15 to 25 years old.
Different companies have different age limits for coverage. For instance, Nationwide will insure pets any time before they turn 10 years old, while Embrace says that pets enrolled after their 15th birthday are eligible for the accident-only policy, which doesn’t cover illnesses.
Look at other benefits. Some companies offer veterinary helplines or tele-triage calls that may answer simple questions or help you determine whether your pet can wait for a regular veterinary appointment or needs to go to the emergency room.
Ask questions such as whether the deductible goes down each year that you don’t have an accident or illness claim reimbursement; whether curable preexisting conditions are covered if the pet is symptom- or treatment-free for one year or more; and whether the plan offers significant discounts for medications.
“Older pets are somewhat more prone to health conditions and having chronic diseases or cancer as they get older, so having access to affordable medications is one thing to keep in mind,” says Emily Tincher, DVM, senior director of veterinary relations for Nationwide.
Conditions you can expect to see in senior pets are hyperthyroidism and heart disease in cats and kidney disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis and cancer in dogs and cats. Several of these are chronic conditions that are manageable but can add up to be fairly costly over time, Tincher says.
Use pet health insurance review websites such as petinsurancereview.com and pawlicy.com to compare policies. Plug in your pet’s species, age, breed and other requested information, and they’ll recommend several plans to consider.
Then dig deeper by visiting company websites or calling to see exactly what’s covered. There may be discounts for covering multiple pets, for instance. Companies such as Nationwide, which also offer home and auto insurance, may offer discounts if you’re already a policyholder. Your company may provide pet health insurance as a benefit. Compare deductible levels and benefit schedules. Your veterinarian may be able to advise you based on their knowledge of your pet’s health and lifestyle.
Q&A
Keep cat ears
clean, healthy
Q: How often should I clean my cat’s ears?
A: Checking the ears for dirt, discharge or signs of parasites should be part of your cat’s weekly grooming routine. A small amount of wax is normal and doesn’t need to be removed. Give the ears a good sniff. They shouldn’t smell stinky.
Healthy ears generally don’t need to be cleaned, but if they’re dirty and you don’t have a cleanser recommended by your veterinarian, warm some mineral or olive oil. (To make sure it’s not too hot, test it on your wrist like you would do with the milk in a baby’s bottle.) Place a few drops on a cotton ball, and wipe out the ear. Remember not to stick a cotton swab down into the ear canal. That just pushes the gunk further into the ear.
Clues that your cat is having ear issues are an unpleasant odor, head shaking, tilting the head to one side, scratching at the ears or a red, inflamed appearance. In the case of ear mite infestation, you may notice a brown, waxy discharge or even -- if you have great eyesight -- tiny mites moving in the discharge.
If your cat has any of these signs, it’s time for a trip to the veterinarian to check for infection, parasites, allergies or even polyps or other ear masses. Tell the veterinarian if your cat has had upper respiratory disease. A history of sneezing or nasal discharge can lead to a middle-ear infection that turns into an external ear problem.
Surprisingly, lack of appetite may also be related to an ear problem. If your cat experiences ear pain when she opens her jaw, she’s going to be reluctant to eat. So don’t hold back any information; you never know what may help your veterinarian diagnose the problem. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
How to check
groomer training
-- Looking for a dog groomer? Check credentials first. Not all states require groomers to meet educational standards. Groomers may be self-taught through online courses or videos. To find one with hands-on training, ask if they have certification through a national organization such as the National Dog Groomers Association of America, which requires certification testing and continuing education. The NDGAA offers workshops on basic pet grooming and styling. Afterward, participants must demonstrate their skills to a panel of experts and pass a written exam to gain certification. States requiring licensing have regulations regarding cleanliness, equipment use, maintenance and sanitation, how animals are handled and restrained and much more. Choose a groomer certified in pet first aid, and always visit facilities before booking an appointment to make sure it’s a place you’re comfortable leaving your dog.
-- How many chickens should you have? According to “Birds for Dummies,” three to six is a good flock size, especially if you live in the ‘burbs. The more space, the more chickens you can have, but you don’t want so many that caring for them becomes a chore and prevents you from having a fun relationship with them. Fewer chickens mean less mess, too; chickens stir up a lot of dust and produce a lot of poop. If you enjoy the wide variety of chicken “looks,” each one can be a different breed.
-- Early Egyptians worshipped particular animals for services they provided or for admirable qualities. Feline hunting prowess and corresponding vermin control most certainly made cats worthy of worship by these criteria. As Egyptian culture evolved, worship associated with cats took a prominent role and included the goddess Mafdet, who was portrayed as either a cat or a panther; the goddess Bastet, who took the form of a cat; and the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.