Pet owners know how costly veterinary care can be, even routine procedures and visits are expensive. If your pet becomes ill suddenly, or is injured in an accident the resulting bills can make a big dent in your savings.

Although the US lags behind most of Europe in terms of how many domestic pets are covered by pet health insurance, it is beginning to catch up. More and more pet owners are realizing just how important good pet insurance can be!

Think about it for a minute – if Fido were to be seriously injured or fall ill tomorrow, would you be able to afford a veterinary bill for $1500, $2000 or $3000 plus? If not, you could find yourself faced with a heartbreaking, life-or-death decision. No pet lover ever want to find themselves in that situation.

If you have pet health insurance you (and your pet) can be spared the agony and heartbreak of being unable to afford critically important veterinary care in a time of crisis. Just as your own medical cover/health plan is there for you when you fall ill, Fido's health insurance will be there for him.

There are many different pet health insurance companies, all offering plans that are similar in the respect that they all require annual premiums, have deductibles and offer a range of different coverage options to suit individual needs.

However, there are also many differences between policies, and before deciding which pet insurance company to go with, it's a very good idea to pay attention to the small print and ask questions. The following list is an example of the kind of things to look for (it's not a comprehensive list though, it's up to you to do your homework!)

Some pet insurance policies have age limits, both minimum and maximum, and they can vary considerably between providers.

There can be different ‘waiting periods' (the time it takes for your coverage to come into effect) from one provider to the next

There are different attitudes and regulations concerning the cover (or lack of) for pre-existing conditions

Some pet health insurance providers may exclude certain breeds (often larger breeds) who are prone to particular hereditary or congenital illnesses or problems

In some cases a policy may cover routine procedures such as vaccinations, annual wellness checks and/or routine preventative care, neutering & spaying etc. Others may charge a ‘wellness rider' or have additional charges for this type of care

You may find you're limited to choosing a veterinarian or veterinary hospital from a list of ‘approved providers', or you may be free to pick whomever you want.

A pet health care policy may, or may not, cover dental care, eye care and prescriptions – always check this.

If you have several pets, ask the pet insurance provider if they offer a discount for multiple pets. Always check to see if the pet insurance provider you're considering, offers any 'extras' such as an informative newsletter, or even discounts on pet supplies/service.

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