Recently in pet insurance Category

It's true.

Apparently "a growing number" of U.S. businesses are giving their most valued employees the option of getting health care for their pets. Google, Disney, AOL, HSBC, Home Depot and eBay are among them.

"We know that pets can be an important and valued part of our employees' lives and we want them to have the option to enroll in this benefit," said Google spkesman Jordan Newman.

.....

Following the lead of the British market, the sale of veterinary insurance for animals has grown exponentially in the United States over the last decade, with more than a million U.S. policy holders in 2009, double the figure in 2002 ...

Check out the rest of the story.  

This recent MSN Money column by Donna Freedman has drawn a firestorm of comments.

From the piece:

How much is that doggy in the window?

At least $8,000 over his lifetime -- and that's just for basic expenses. Fido costs a lot more if he gets sick, chews up your work boots or ruins the rug. Cats are even pricier. It costs about $10,415 to be ignored until you run a can opener.

In short, if you can't find at least an extra $800 to $3,000 in your budget every year, don't get a pet. If you get laid off, start looking for foster care for your pets until times are better -- and if the job market is particularly bleak, you may have to give them away outright.

Check out the column at the link and tell us what you think.

And here's a link with the column on how to save "big" on pet care. Among the suggestions:

• Take care of some pet needs yourself -- brush your pet's teeth regularly, trim their claws, learn how to do basic grooming.
• Ask your vet whether annual vaccinations are necessary (my vet, I know, would still advise titers to check blood levels; cost is about the same).
• Shop around for medications
• Forgo pet "fashion." "Clothes and fancy bags are a completely unnecessary expense," says Jennifer Fearing, director of economic research at the Humane Society of the United States.
• Avoid emergency clinics when possible.
• Think twice before adding pets.
• But don't buy the cheapest food -- higher-quality food will keep your pet healthier.
• And, of course, spay or neuter your pet.

Previous South Bay Pets posts on pet costs. 

You've got to admire the innovative spirit out there among dog owners.

Now there's a little gadget called "Port-A-Poo."

Tired of carrying full bags of poop along with you when walking your dog(s)? This gizmo attaches to your leash and is designed to carry the, a-hem, used bags so you don't have to. And they come in red, pink, blue, black and purple, with more colors to come.

They'e available online and also at a retailer called Ginger Pup Lane, 4201 Long Beach Blvd., Suite 420, Long Beach (562) 595-8151.

I'm curious to know if any of our readers have taken out pet insurance.

I've avoided it so far, but am fast coming to the conclusion that most pet owners -- me included -- will have to jump on the bandwagon here, sooner or later. Veterinary costs (and the wide variety of sophisticated treatments available nowadays) can be prohibitive.

Often, a serious illness can strike suddenly, providing little time for owners to weigh the ramifications of embarking on a road that will, over time, cost them perhaps several thousands of dollars. 

If you have pet insurance, we'd love to hear from you -- Which company? What are the pros and cons? Have you found it to be a good nvestment? 

Criticism I heard early on said the industry covered very little in the way of vet bills that were turned in. But that was when just a few companies dominated the industry. Now, there are more and more pet insurance companies coming onlline -- which is a good thing. Competition means a better selection, and often lower prices, for the consumer.

Meanwhile, here's a pet insurance review Web site that purports to give a neutral analysis of the various companies and plans out there today.