Health Care for Great Danes on a Budget

The most beautiful dog in the world has just become part of your family, you’ve acquired all the needed things, such as food and water bowls and dog toys, gotten him a checkup and shots and started obedience lessons. Now you’re done and can just enjoy your new pet, right? Wrong.

Almost all pet cats and dogs will need more than just preventative veterinary treatment at some point in their lifetime. It might be something fairly small, such as a bacterial infection or a rash, or it could be major, like a serious injury or bone disease. It could occur when your Lab is young and apparently strong, or it might come as he ages. Your dog might visit the doctor no more than a few times over the years, or he might be one of those that your vet knows by name.

The trouble with this, of course, is the uncertainty. If you could know in advance that your pet was going to experience the typical amount of medical problems, you could find out what the average lifetime vet bill is for a Great Dane, and put money aside every month to pay for the expense.

As most dog owners know, it rarely works out like that. When your pet needs pricey health care, it usually happens suddenly and unexpectedly. At the same time you’re wondering if your pet is going to pull through, you’re also wondering how much this is going to cost. Then you feel bad because how can you think about cost at a time like this?

If you make a plan to handle the veterinary expenses before your pet gets ill or hurt, you’ll greatly reduce the pressure about your wallet when this type of situation occurs. Compare pet insurance policies yourself and find the one that offers the best possible protection for the cost for your Great Dane while he’s still a puppy. Make certain you do it before he has the chance to get into trouble!

Purebred dogs like Great Danes are the most pricey to buy insurance for. There’s a reasonable explanation behind this. Dogs are more likely to require costly medical care than cats, partially because they seem to get into more mishaps. Cats have the uncanny ability to stay out all night, dodging cars and dogs without getting hurt. Dogs, especially young dogs, are more prone to run out into the street or have some other misfortune.

Because of inbreeding, purebreds are more likely than mixed breeds to develop certain diseases. Great Dane are vulnerable to hip and elbow dysplasia and a variety of other problems. Most reputable breeders make sure that they only breed dogs who are free from hereditary health problems. Still these kinds of issues keep cropping up for Great Danes, and they’re often costly.

When you look at pet insurance policies be sure to check whether they cover hereditary conditions. Those that do will naturally cost more, but it’s worth it. After all, the reason you need a pet insurance policy in the first place is to guard against large unexpected charges. If you shop for insurance based on price alone, you might find out at the worst possible time that you aren’t covered as well as you thought you were. That defeats the reason of buying pet health insurance in the first place.

Take your time and evaluate several policies. Don’t settle on one unless it meets your needs. It’s out there.