At least 16 pets are dead nationwide and countless others
sickened according to the latest reports following a recall of
about 60 million packages of wet dog and cat foods manufactured by
Menu Foods.
At least 16 pets are dead nationwide and countless others sickened according to the latest reports following a recall of about 60 million packages of wet dog and cat foods manufactured by Menu Foods.
Along with the devastating impact of having a beloved family pet face kidney failure, these pet owners are also faced with the staggering veterinary bills that come with treating such a serious condition. It’s a double whammy of the worst sort.
“We’ve had a lot of calls and a lot of questions since the pet food recall started, and it really is a sad case of the unexpected happening to a pet,” said Brad Iannessa, spokesperson for Veterinary Pet Insurance. “Who would think their pet is in danger from pet food? It’s put a lot of people in the awful position of trying to choose between the best treatments possible and having to go with treatments they can actually afford.”
Though many people aren’t familiar with pet insurance, it’s been around for about 25 years and is growing in popularity. Most pet insurance companies work similarly. People pay a monthly or annual fee, often based on their pet’s age and species. Policies can cover anything from medical emergencies to regular checkups, vaccines, flea control plus emergencies. Pet owners pay the bill for whatever treatment their pets need then submit a claim form to the insurance company and they’ll receive a check to reimburse them for a percentage of their expenses. The percentage of the reimbursement depends on the procedures done and a deductible, but often half the costs or more are paid back to the pet owner. Like most human insurance policies, pet insurance generally doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. Policies are available for dogs, cats, reptiles, birds and other exotic pets.
“I do think pet insurance is a good idea – not many of our patients have it, but there are definitely certain people who would have benefited from it,” said Dr. Jerry Leroux, a vet at Hollister Veterinary Clinic. “Some people’s pets just have bad luck. They get into a lot of mischief and that can mean big bills. Most people can afford the routine stuff for their pets, but when accidents happen and a cat is hit by a car or the dog eats a poisonous plant; it’s very expensive.”
If a pet owner pays $360 a year to insure his or her animal – that’s $30 a month – the insurance can pay for itself several times over in an emergency, Leroux pointed out. A broken leg in a cat or dog can cost a couple thousand dollars to treat. Another common pet emergency is an animal that’s eaten a foreign object, such as a rock or toy, Leroux said, which can also cost into the thousands of dollars.
Not many patients of Orchard Veterinary Hospital in Gilroy have pet insurance, either, said Stephanie Hops, a vet assistant at the clinic.
“But, we have a few that do have their pets insured who have found it really beneficial,” she said. “Their pets had to have orthopedic surgery on their knees, which is very common. Of course, that kind of surgery can get pretty expensive, but the insurance can be a big help with the costs.”
Common reasons people don’t have pet insurance include not having heard of it, thinking it’s too expensive or not understanding how it works, Iannessa said. But most pet insurance companies have very helpful Web sites, complete with sample quotes, answers to frequently asked questions and phone numbers for representatives who can help people thoroughly understand how pet insurance works so they can make the best decision for their pets and their wallets.
“I’ve heard of pet insurance, and I think it can be a good idea, but I just don’t think it’s for me,” said Phil Campey, a Morgan Hill resident who was at the city’s dog park last week. “I guess I’m not too worried about my dog, Bailey – she’s healthy. Maybe if you get a dog and you’re not too sure about its history, it would be a good idea to have some insurance.”
Morgan Hill resident Jodi Crossman said she’d seen information on pet insurance in her vet’s office, but she felt it was too expensive for her beagle, Lucy.
“I was looking at it for some basic procedures, like microchipping and stuff, but it was more cost effective to just pay for those out-of-pocket,” she said.
For those pet owners who do look into insuring their pets, make sure beforehand that the coverage includes both medical and accidents, said employees at Princevalle Pet Hospital in Gilroy. For example, a pet diagnosed with cancer wouldn’t be covered by accident insurance because it’s a medical problem. But, a pet that’s hit by a car won’t be covered by medical insurance because it’s an accident.
And for dog and cat owners shaken up by the food recall, Iannessa said pets who had been insured before getting sick should be covered by most pet insurance companies. Phone calls to several South Valley vet offices seem to indicate the rat poison-tainted pet food has not affected local pets.
“Our pets are our best friends, and we want them taken care of,” Iannessa said. “We see things like this food recall and it reminds us that disasters do happen, and I think pet insurance gives us peace of mind that we’ll be OK if it happens to our pet.”
