Interestingly, the Dalmatian dog breed originated in Yugoslavia and was used as a carriage dog. Its main purpose was basically to protect the carriage horses from aggressive lurking dogs, but it served an aesthetic purpose as well. The sleek dogs with the unique markings would add a touch of style to the carriage and its riders. When the carriage became obsolete, the Dalmatian lost it's important role in society. But then it was brought on as a coach dog for fire engines, and that role is still held symbolically today.
But this dog is not just a fire dog in today's world. It is a loyal companion and family member to many families around the country. These dogs have many great traits that make them great pets. They are playful, eager to please, and energetic. They are a great fit for active families who like to spend time outdoors. A few things to be aware of in their personality is that they can be stubborn, reserved toward strangers, and aggressive toward other dogs. But with positive training, these traits can be improved.
The main pet health issues these dogs suffer from are deafness, urinary stones, and allergies. Deafness can occur in one or both ears and is diagnosed through a simple BAER test. Urinary stones occur when an excessive amount of crystals form in the urinary system. And an allergy is an immune issue and dogs can be allergic to several different items, just like humans.
All of the pet health issues above can be treated, but that treatment can be pricey. One way to help with this cost is with pet insurance. Pet insurance reimburses a high percentage of the vet bill back to the pet owner, allowing the pet owner to make decisions based on what is the best course of action for their pet, not which option of those presentedis the cheapest.
Because Dalmatians are active dogs, they need a long walk or jog daily to stay happy and healthy. Their coat also needs occasional brushing to remove dead hair.
Dalmatians live to be between 12 and 14 years old.
Should I Buy Pet Insurance?
A trip to the vet for Fido or Fluffy for an annual checkup can easily run into the hundreds of dollars for a standard physical workup that includes blood work and a fecal sample. Multiply that cost over the life of your pet, and you are looking at a significant expense. Now, what happens if your beloved pet is diagnosed with some horrible, but treatable medical condition? What happens if they are hit by a car or attacked by another animal? The vet bills for these situations can quickly climb into the thousands of dollars. Should you buy Pet Insurance?
There was a time when domestic animals were strictly working animals the great mouser that was kept in the barn, the faithful hunting companion or guard dog and those situations still remain. However, our relationships with animals has evolved and taken on a new complexity. Many people now feel that their pets are members of the family, extensions of themselves. Our pets provide us with the sort of unconditional love that we rarely, if ever, experience otherwise. We buy insurance for our other family members, so why not buy pet insurance too?
While real pet insurance (as opposed to livestock insurance) has been around in some countries for many decades, it is only in the last couple of decades that pet insurance has become more common in North America. As so often happens, interest in this sort of insurance has prompted more insurers to begin offering coverage, and even pet food manufacturers and SPCAs have gotten in on the act. Many big companies even offer pet insurance as an optional employee benefit for their staff members.
The growth in the pet insurance market seems to have come from our changing views of our pets as four-legged children, coupled with significant advances in veterinary treatments available and an associated rise in costs.
These days, radiation therapy and organ transplants are available for pets. In some markets, a pet can get an appointment for an MRI faster than a person can. Diagnostic tools like MRIs help vets uncover problems before they become symptomatic, meaning that we are treating our pets for problems that would have gone undiagnosed years ago. Of course, none of these procedures are cheap. Costs for cancer treatment for a pet can easily exceed $5,000. A broken leg resulting from an accident can cost as little as a few hundred dollars for a simple break that requires an x-ray and a cast, to many thousands if surgery is required to insert pins into the bone.
As the market has begun to mature, so has the range of offerings and policies. Consumers can now pick and choose from many different insurance options. Coverage can be purchased based on tiers or levels, with the lowest level providing reimbursement for a lower percentage of the cost of the veterinary services incurred, and the highest generally paying about 90% of the cost. Payments are often capped based on the type of illness being treated.
 |
| Pet Insurance for the Dalmatian |
There is coverage available for alternative treatments, and for prescription food to treat everything from obesity to cognitive disorders, sensitive skin to sensitive tummies. As with insurance policies generally, pre-existing conditions are not covered. Much like insurance for a person, you can even receive accidental death benefits under some plans.
Pet insurance costs vary widely, but the average cost runs about $10-15 per month for the most basic coverage that includes annual checkups and vaccinations. Total lifetime insurance costs will run anywhere from about $2000 to well over $6000 for a more comprehensive policy. If you were ever faced with having to pay for an expensive treatment for your beloved pet, pet insurance is probably a better alternative than taking on huge debt.
Do you want to pay a monthly or annual premium to an insurance company just in case something happens? Or, would you rather put that money aside, budgeting for pet care as you do with other household expenses? The decision to buy pet insurance ultimately comes down to personal choice and your perception of risk versus potential cost.
