| By :
Mark Etinger
Often, when people think about getting a pet, they only think about how fun it will be. A cute, cuddly little critter of their very own -- what could be more fun? The problems start when they realize that, just like humans, pets should be insured as well. Often, this realization occurs when they're buying the pet and talking with the pet shop employee, but sometimes, it's not until after they've already gotten the pet that they even think about pet insurance; they have to take him or her to the vet and then are hit with a huge bill. Before you make any big decisions at the pet store, consider what kind of pet you want -- and more importantly, if you can care for it properly. Hopefully you're realistic about whether or not you're responsible enough to regularly feed and pay attention to a pet, but in case you're still uncertain about the long term responsibilities, listed below are different kinds of animals, broken down by how costly their pet insurance is. Least expensive: -Housecats Housecats that tend to stay inside are less likely to sustain injury, and other than optional surgeries like spaying/neutering and declawing, there won't be a lot of high-cost things to take care of. -Non-exotic birds Birds like parakeets are very inexpensive. The most costly thing you'll have to worry about is an egg-binding surgery, in the event that a female is unable to pass a formed egg. Other problems such as feather picking or self-mutilation will be covered by insurance. -Rodents Hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rats -- all these small mammals are pretty much fuss-free in terms of insurance. They rarely need medications or surgeries, so the total cost of their pet insurance likely won't exceed a couple hundred dollars over their lifespan. Most expensive: -Outdoor cats Cats that spend a lot of time outside are very susceptible to injury (like car accidents or bad falls) and illness. They're also in danger of exposure to violent or sick animals. -Large animals Animals like horses and cattle are some of the most expensive to insure, because they usually have to see a specialist. (When was the last time you sat next to a horse in the waiting room of your vet?) In the long run, the cost of how much money you'd have paid without insurance would greatly outweigh how much you pay for insurance. -Exotic pets Exotic pets like hedgehogs, potbellied pigs and alligators require specific care, and probably by a specialist. Because they're rare (as pets) most practicing veterinarians don't have experience with them. All of this, of course, depends on the pet insurance carrier. Don't let price cloud your judgment too much -- be wary of carriers that are almost suspiciously inexpensive. Make sure you read the fine print when researching companies, and try to have an idea of what kind of pet you plan on getting to see what kind of coverage you'll be able to get for him or her under certain plans.
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