To help you manage and stay on top of your pet's routine care, some vets offer bundles of services that are referred to as wellness plans. Today, our Cumming vets talk about the advantages of pet wellness plans and the care you can expect your dog or cat to receive while on one of these plans.
What are the advantages of dog and cat wellness plans?
Although ideally, every pet owner would have insurance for their pets, there are several things to take into account. Factors such as cost, type of coverage, and your pet's health at the time of starting a policy can all greatly affect your monthly payments.
In addition, many pet insurance plans exclude preventive and wellness care such as vet checkups and routine vaccinations, which are especially important for maintaining your pet's health and avoiding costly procedures and treatments in the first place.
This is where pet wellness plans come into the mix. Pet wellness plans offer several different benefits that make routine pet care both easier to manage and less expensive. Here are some of the main advantages of dog and cat wellness plans:
Convenience & Budgeting
Since wellness plans are 'bundles' of veterinary services, that means less financial pressure when taking your pet in for their vet-recommended preventive care services. This payment option enables more pet parents to afford comprehensive vet care and avoid potentially expensive treatment costs from preventable conditions going undiagnosed.
- Can be paid monthly or annually
- Usually includes discounts on certain products and services
- Makes budgeting for pet care easier
Customization & Flexibility
Cat and dog wellness plans are designed to cover the needs of pets of all sizes, shapes, and ages. Such as dog wellness plans for small, medium, large, XL, and giant dogs, as well as cat wellness plans that cover the needs of both indoor and outdoor cats.
Wellness plans typically include a range of preventive annual and biannual wellness procedures (e.g. wellness exams, parasite testing, and parasite prevention). These plans also mean that your veterinary team gets an opportunity to get to know your beloved pet while regularly monitoring their overall health.
Since your vet has the best understanding of your pet's healthcare needs they will be able to let you know whether they think a pet wellness plan is a good investment for your pet that could potentially save you cash in the long run.
Animals with special needs such as senior cats and dogs, new puppies and kittens, and pets with chronic or recurring issues benefit from routine vet care including early detection screenings, important preventive vaccinations, and physical examinations.
Other Considerations With Pet Wellness Plans
As with just about any decision, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing whether a pet wellness plan will be right for your dog or cat such as:
How Often You Will Use the Plan
It may seem counter-intuitive to subscribe to a wellness plan if your pet is young, healthy, or otherwise seems fine. Although for most, it is better to have coverage and not need it than otherwise, we understand that healthcare decisions - whether for humans or their companion animals - are intensely personal and should be made with the patient's best care in mind, with the advice of a medical professional.
Additional Coverage For Care Not Covered by the Plan
Just as it is important to know what pet insurance does and does not cover, you should be aware of what your vet clinic's wellness plans cover. Wellness plans are for ongoing preventive and wellness care from your veterinary team and do not cover illness, surgeries, or other emergency or chronic healthcare needs. Ultimately, discussing your pet's needs and your budget openly and honestly with your veterinarian can be a good opportunity to find out more about what could suit you and your pet best.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet. The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes only and Crestview Animal Hospital & Emergency does not offer wellness plans for pets.