Wondering whether or not a wellness plan would be right for your pet? Let us explain them in a bit more detail for you!
As they are optional, purchasing a wellness plan is entirely your decision, so having all the information at your fingertips is crucial.
Are wellness plans like accident and illness plans?
Both are part of the overall effort to make sure your pet is safe and happy but accident and illness plans are there to help you when something unexpected goes wrong with your pet’s health. Routine wellness plans cover things that are preventative in nature.
The moment your dog fractures a bone or gets a chest infection, for example, or any other covered condition, your accident and illness coverage will come to the rescue, drastically lowering the amount that you have to pay in vet bills at the time and beyond.
Paw Protect, for instance, covers complementary rehabilitation and treatments in its accident and illness plan, as well as X-rays and prescription drugs.
So if that’s accident and illness, what do wellness plans deal with?
Routine wellness plans deal with prevention; helping your pet avoid health trouble in the first place and reducing the number of vet bills you need to pay.
A wellness plan pays for your pet to be checked regularly by a vet, as well as things like spay/neuter, microchipping, vaccinations, grooming, training, and teeth cleaning.
Why are wellness plans so important?
The first reason is that prevention is better than cure.
Whether it’s getting them spayed or neutered, vaccinated, groomed, trained or having their teeth cleaned, you’re laying the foundations for a healthier, happier pet (and bank balance).
The second is that regular wellness checks are vital, and a wellness plan will cover these.
They may pester you when they’re hungry or thirsty, but animals are extremely good at hiding the symptoms of their ill health, even when in considerable pain. So they’re never going to tell you when their nails are too long – and they’ve never heard of vaccinations or flea treatment.
Because they can’t use language to communicate with you – unless you’ve got a truly remarkable pet – they need regular trips to a vet (someone who does speak their language) to make sure any issues are detected as early as possible.
Are pet wellness plans worth it?
We think getting a routine wellness plan is how preventative care should be done, and veterinary professionals agree. It stops conditions advancing, it lowers the administering of drugs, and it saves everyone money and stress.
Not only do you save money on the treatments themselves, but potentially also on future vet bills. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that wellness plans are likely to cost you less every year than paying for your pet’s health maintenance without one.