At some point, your pet may require the assistance of a mobility device. It may be the result of illness or it may be the result of a painful accident, but one thing is for certain: it will cost money.
This guide is for anyone wondering about these devices and if the bill would be covered by pet insurance.
Why would a pet need a mobility device?
Your dog probably leads quite a rough-and-tumble life, gallivanting around, swimming, jumping, catching frisbees. Cats, too, aren’t averse to some serious acrobatics.
It can be tough on the body, as well as fun, and animals often experience problems with their limbs as a result; accidents happen, and hip dysplasia and arthritis are common in dogs over a certain age.
At their most extreme, your pet may have lost a limb – they may have suffered a tumor, or been injured in a collision or a fight – and might need significant help moving around.
Fortunately, this is where mobility aids come in.
What kinds of mobility devices are there?
These helpful contraptions come in all shapes and sizes. There are boots and socks, to help a pet recover from a minor injury; there are splints, which keep a pet’s leg in the normal walking position after they have suffered some kind of difficulty.
There are harnesses, which could support part or all of a pet’s body if they had some kind of injury, or weakness or were recovering from an operation; there are wheelchairs in a range of sizes, which can support or replace a pet’s legs, helping them lead a normal life.
There are even prosthetic limbs or implants that can step in to do the job of an amputated paw or leg.
Are mobility devices permanent?
In some cases no, in some cases yes. A prosthetic implant, if it’s successful, is going to be permanent, but some of the less serious aids – boots and socks, for example – are intended just to be temporary, rehabilitative additions to the dog’s life.
Are mobility devices expensive?
They tend not to be hugely expensive – even a wheelchair shouldn’t cost you more than $150 – but there are plenty of associated costs to consider as well: surgery; rehabilitation; pain medication.
If you need to get your dog a prosthetic limb, this will be the most expensive option and could easily cost thousands of dollars.
Does pet insurance cover mobility devices?
Yes. It’s very likely that a mobility device like the ones discussed above would be necessary as the result of an accident or illness, which would fall into an insurer’s accident and illness coverage.
Paw Protect can cover prosthetic devices and mobility aids and will do its utmost to support pets on their journey to full mobility.