Today we present part three of our four-part series about adopting senior pups. The series is called “Why NOT?” because we know some have concerns about adopting a seriously senior dog. The concerns often include:
- Emotional toll
- Time and effort
- Financial Costs
It’s true that Seriously Senior dogs can sometimes be costly to care for. If they live to an older age, they often have health issues such as dental disease, plus heart and eye challenges. Pretty much the illnesses we face as senior humans, our senior pups can face as well.
So, what’s in store for you and your senior pet, financially?
You might choose to offer only comfort care for your pet and that is certainly acceptable. A quiet, calm environment in a safe, loving home could mean the world to a senior pet. It’s important to stay in contact with your vet, and at the very least, have 6 month or annual checkups to monitor medications and to make sure your dog is comfortable and not in any pain.
You may choose to be more aggressive in the care you give your senior dog, having dental and cardiology check-ups, and annual eye exams in addition to an annual geriatric exam.
To help with the financial challenges any pet owner faces, you may want to consider pet insurance, especially to help with a major unexpected vet bill like cancer treatment or a broken bone. You’ll need to weigh the monthly cost of pet insurance against potential vet expenses to determine if pet insurance is worth it for you. Insurance costs will vary depending on factors such as a pet’s breed and age, as well as your location (since vet costs are higher in some major metro areas).
About one in three FORTUNE 500 companies offer pet insurance as an employee benefit so it’s worth checking with your employer. If they don’t offer it now, ask if it’s something they might consider in the future.
Before signing with a pet insurance provider, be sure to ask about any discounts you may be eligible for. Specifically, consider inquiring about the following: upfront discounts, multiple pet discounts and bundling discounts with your other insurance policies.
At House with a Heart, we know the rewards of adopting a senior dog will far outweigh the challenges!
Resources:
How does pet insurance work?
https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-does-pet-insurance-work/
Three Great Pet Insurance Discounts Every Owner Should Know:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/great-pet-insurance-discounts-every-owner-should-know/
Best Pet Insurance Companies:
https://www.usnews.com/insurance/pet-insurance
Here are the best pet insurance companies for older dogs to help make the costs more manageable:
https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-pet-insurance-for-senior-dogs/