Are you considering purchasing a wellness plan for your pet but want to know if it is worth it and what it covers? Our Carlsbad vets will discuss wellness plans and their benefits for pets.
What Is A Pet Wellness Plan?
Now that you have a pet, you want to take the best care of it you can. However, pet care can be very expensive, especially if your pet becomes sick or injured. A wellness plan can help with those costs.
A wellness plan costs a small amount of money each month, but it "groups" all the preventive services you need to keep your pet healthy throughout the year into a monthly payment plan.This helps you save money as they offer different bundles of services and help you manage your budget.
What Does the Plan Cover?
Vaccines
Core vaccines must be given to every pet to ensure they will not catch infections or diseases that could harm them, your other pets, and sometimes even humans.
For dogs, core vaccines are canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, and rabies. For cats, core vaccines are panleukopenia, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus type I, and rabies. These diseases are the leading causes of death in puppies and kittens, and some within days of catching them. So, vaccines are essential.
If you don’t have a pet wellness care plan, you’ll need to pay out of pocket for each vaccine.
Heartworm Tests & Prevention
A heartworm test is a diagnostic procedure used to determine if a pet, typically a dog or cat, is infected with heartworms. Heartworms are parasitic worms (Dirofilaria immitis) that live in the affected pets' heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels, causing severe lung disease, heart failure, and other organ damage. The test is crucial for early detection and effective treatment of heartworm disease.
Preventing heartworm disease is far easier and less costly than treating an established infection. The most common form of heartworm prevention is a monthly tablet or chewable given orally once a month.
Fecal Tests & Tick-Borne Disease Testing
A fecal test, also known as a fecal flotation test or fecal exam, is a diagnostic procedure used to detect the presence of intestinal parasites in pets. These parasites include worms (such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms) and protozoa (such as Giardia and coccidia). The test involves examining a fresh stool sample from the pet under a microscope to identify parasite eggs, larvae, or cysts.
Tick-borne disease testing involves screening pets for infections transmitted by ticks. These diseases include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Testing typically involves blood tests that detect antibodies or antigens associated with specific tick-borne pathogens.
Flea & Tick Prevention
Preventing fleas and ticks is much easier and less expensive than treating an established infestation. Here are the key methods of prevention:
- Monthly Tablets or Chewables: Given orally once a month, these are the most common form of prevention.
- Topical Treatments: Applied to the skin, these monthly treatments also protect against other parasites.
- Injectable Medications: These are administered by a veterinarian and are protected for six or twelve months.
What Is the difference between pet insurance & a wellness plan?
The main difference between pet wellness plans vs pet insurance is that the latter covers the cost of injury or illness treatments after they happen. On the other hand, pet wellness plans cover routine and preventive care procedures and screenings to avoid potential health issues.
What does a wellness plan cover?
Wellness plans typically cover routine veterinary care, including microchipping, vaccinations, and dental care. These plans are designed to help you manage the cost of enhancing and maintaining your pet's overall health.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance covers veterinary bills for emergency care. It helps with expenses for treating illnesses like cancer or diabetes and emergency treatments.
This can be very costly, so pet insurance provides financial assistance for accidents and conditions covered by the policy.
What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance typically covers treatment for illnesses and emergency care needed after accidents. Some policies may also include prescription medications, treatment for hereditary and congenital conditions, and coverage for orthopedic conditions.
How do I choose which option to buy?
Some pet owners subscribe to pet insurance and wellness plans to ensure their pets have complete protection, while others opt for just one of the options.
Understanding how each of these choices works can benefit you and your pet and can help you decide on the best option for your pet. Ask your vet for guidance if you need help deciding what is best for your pet based on their particular needs and concerns.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.