August 8th, 2010 by Jenny

Senior pets can present unique health situations. Not only are they likely to have more age related problems, they’ve also been a beloved member of your family for many long years. It can be very difficult when faced with the choice between high veterinarian costs or parting with your pet. If you have an older pet, insurance might be the answer. However, you have to look carefully for exclusions that may affect the elderly pet.

The aging pet can face a whole host of age-related difficulties like cataracts, possible blindness, hearing problems, arthritis, strokes and seizures, bone fractures and life-threatening illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

Older Pet Insurance Choices

While quite a few pet insurance plans will not cover many of the problems related to older pets, some policies are made especially for the senior pet.  You will likely have to pay higher premiums, since the elderly pet is much more apt to develop health problems.

Unfortunately, some pet insurance policies will not offer coverage for pets over 10 years old. On the other hand, there are plans that have plans specifically for senior pets. You may not find coverage for pre-existing conditions and you’ll want to check to see if the policy covers cancer.

Some companies offer coverage specifically for Senior Cats and offer no upper age limit for enrolling your pet. The premiums will usually increase as your pet ages.

Why You Might Want To Consider Insurance For Your Older Pet

As your pet gets older, it is necessary to see that they get routine veterinary care. With dogs, for instance, vets suggest you start getting geriatric screenings anywhere from 4 to 9 years of age depending on the size of the dog.

These preventative screenings can be extremely important in finding problems early and will usually include a physical exam, blood tests and might even include an electrocardiogram and other tests indicated by your pet’s health history.

A lot of vets even suggest semi-annual visits for aging pets and all this can become quite expensive. With the right pet insurance plan, you might be able to defray some of the costs related to maintaining your pet’s quality of life.

There are a lot of things you can do to see that your pet lives a long and healthy life – things like keeping their weight down, good dental hygiene, regular wellness visits and staying aware of any changes in your pets behavior. With an older pet, insurance might be able to help you through the stress of having an seriously ill pet and being faced with the possibility of enormous vet bills.