Good Affordable Pet Insurance (how to choose it)
The pet insurance industry is an absolute minefield, with hundreds of companies offering complicated policies, some pets are excluded and others give shocks, when they don’t pay out for loved animal companions.
If you are on a low income, you may qualify for free or affordable vet care. Also if adopting or fostering pets from shelters, often they will pay for vet care, so check that first.
What’s The Best Pet Insurance to Buy?
If you can, go for an affordable lifetime cover plan. This means that if you pet developed an ongoing condition (like diabetes), costs would be covered. This plan will be more expensive, but a better safety net.
Note that there are always bad experiences with any pet insurance company, remember each one has millions of customers.
So don’t discount one company, if (understandably) an angry or grief-stricken pet parent gives a bad review. Go through all the reviews, for a balanced decision.
Note some pet insurance companies also allow claims on pet detectives, for lost pets.
- Waggel offers a simpler pet insurance, designed to update the very confusing pet insurance industry. Dental coverage included.
- Agria Pet Insurance is a Which? Best Buy. It’s been around since 1890, and even offers lifetime insurance for horses.
- Pet Plan offers simple lifetime plans, and is well-known from TV ads.
We could do with a company like the USA’s Healthy Paws which almost uniquely for a pet insurance company has good reviews and simple policies, and uses profits to help animal shelters.
What Happens if Your Pet Is Not Covered?
Some breeds (and older pets) are often not covered by pet insurance. So in that case, the best scenario is simply to put some money away for a rainy day account, so you’re covered in emergencies.
When the time comes, we all want home euthanasia as the best choice, but death is not always easy and pretty. RSPCA has good info on signs an animal is dying, and how to make the end for your best friend as peaceful as possible. Blue Cross has information on (including horse euthanasia).
Read more on how to cope when companion animals die.
Mental Health Support for Vets (and vet nurses)
It’s something that many of don’t even think about. But many vets and vet nurses have mental health issues. Remember they not only see cases of illness and even abuse, but they also have to put animals to sleep every week.
And sometimes they receive abuse, if pet guardians feel angry over a misdiagnosis. And with huge vet costs, others are angry if they can’t afford the bills.
Vetlife is a charity that offers free confidential help to anyone working within the veterinary industry. It offers help to for people who suffer from burnout due to long studies and hours, and families of those who work in the veterinary profession.
A report found that around 70% of vets have lost a colleague to suicide, with the rate now four times the national average.
Not One More Vet is a worldwide site, founded by one to honour another (Dr Sophia, who committed suicide due to stress in her profession). Today there a forum with a membership of around 40,000 people to help and support each other.
Dr Sophia was an expert and pioneer for humane dog training, and lectured worldwide on how to handle dogs and cats, for less stress to them.
One vet said that most cases she treats in an overnight emergency clinic are critical, with animals who are either seriously ill or have been in accidents. She says ‘It’s a very constant stream of trauma’
