With An Older Pet Insurance Can Be Harder To Find

Older pets can present their own set of health situations. Not only are they susceptible to more age related problems, they’ve also been a valued member of your family for many long years. It can be very difficult when faced with the choice between high veterinarian costs or parting with your pet. If you have an older pet, insurance might be the answer. However, you have to look closely for exclusions that may affect the elderly pet.

The aging pet can be faced with a whole variety of age-related difficulties like cataracts, possible blindness, hearing problems, arthritis, strokes and seizures, bone fractures and life-threatening illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

Older Pet Insurance Choices

While many pet insurance plans exclude many of the problems related to older pets, some policies are designed especially for the senior pet.  You will likely have to pay more, since the elderly pet is much more likely to develop health problems.

Unfortunately, quite a few pet insurance policies will not offer coverage for pets over 10 years old. On the other hand, there are plans that have specific Senior pet plans. You probably won’t find coverage for pre-existing conditions and you’ll want to check to see if the policy covers cancer.

Some companies offer coverage specifically for Senior Cats and offer no upper age limit for enrolling your pet. The premiums will usually grow as your pet gets older.

Why You Might Want To Consider Insurance For Your Older Pet

As your pet gets older, it is more important than ever to see that they get routine veterinary care. With dogs, for example, vets suggest you start getting geriatric screenings anywhere from 4 to 9 years of age depending on the size of the dog.

These wellness screenings can be critically important in catching problems early and will usually include a physical exam, blood tests and might even include an electrocardiogram and other tests indicated by your pet’s health history.

Many vets even recommend semi-annual visits for older pets and all this can become quite costly. With the right pet insurance plan, you might be able to defray some of the costs related to prolonging your pet”s life.

There are many of things you can do to help your older pet live a long and healthy life – things like keeping their weight down, good dental hygiene, regular checkups and staying alert to any changes in your pets behavior. With an older pet, insurance could help you through the stress of having an seriously ill pet and being faced with the possibility of enormous vet bills.