2023 Pet Care and Wellness

Just as cold and flu season is ramping up, there’s another sickness pet owners should be aware of. 

A respiratory illness is making its way through dogs across the country, and researchers and veterinary experts remain in the dark about the specifics of the disease. The symptoms are similar to both kennel cough or canine influenza, though pathology reports have been unable to link it to any known respiratory illnesses in dogs. 

Reports from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are linking the origin of the sickness to Oregon, as the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has seen over 200 cases of this illness since August. 

“Based on the epidemiology of the cases reported at this point, the cases appear to share a viral etiology, but common respiratory diagnostic testing has been largely negative,” said Andrea Cantu-Schomus, ODA communications director. 

Dr. Jane Sykes, an infectious disease expert with The Vets, and a professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who focuses on infectious disease, told ConsumerAffairs that there is “no clear evidence yet whether there is more respiratory disease than in previous years or there is a new pathogen circulating.” 

>> Don't shoulder the load alone. Pet insurance can help cover the burden of expensive vet bills!

What are the symptoms?

According to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, there are several symptoms associated with this respiratory illness. Dog owners should look out for: 

• Coughing

• Sneezing 

• Labored breathing

• Nose or eye discharge

• Lethargy 

• Decreased appetite

According to Dr. Sykes, vets should be treating symptoms per the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Disease (ISCAID) guidelines for acute respiratory disease in dogs. 

This illness is highly contagious and has quickly spread to a dozen states across the country, including Colorado, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon Pennsylvania and Washington.

Currently, the infection is unique to dogs, though no breeds are more likely to become infected than others. This makes it all the more important for dog owners to take the necessary precautions to keep their pets safe and healthy.  

Skip doggie daycare…for now

To help stop the spread of this respiratory infection, and prevent as many dogs as possible from contracting it, pet owners are encouraged to minimize their pet’s interactions with other dogs. 

Sykes shared her best advice with ConsumerAffairs on how to keep pets safe amidst this outbreak: 

• Owners of dogs that are known to come into contact with other dogs, especially those that have contact with other dogs indoors, like in dog daycare or boarding environments, should make sure that their dogs are vaccinated annually for the organisms that we have vaccines for – adenovirus, distemper, Bordetella, parainfluenza, and H3N2 influenza, as well as other important pathogens that can cause outbreaks of disease, like leptospirosis.  

• Dogs need to be vaccinated at least a week in advance of any boarding.

• If boarding or daycare is necessary, owners should choose daycares or boarding facilities that have good hygiene practices, require vaccination at least one week ahead of boarding, and that minimize overcrowding.

• If you’re thinking about purchasing a new dog, such as for Christmas, you should purchase dogs from reputable breeders or from shelters. Any new dog is best kept away from other dogs for two weeks after purchase, should they break with respiratory disease. Potential owners should also choose to obtain new dogs from North America, rather than importing dogs.

• If dogs do develop signs of illness, they should be kept away from other dogs for as long as possible while showing symptoms, definitely no less than two weeks. 

• Pet owners should remember that there are lots of other reasons for cough, including serious conditions like fungal infections and cancer, so if their dog does not get better in a few days, or is lethargic and not eating, it should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

• If an owner suspects contagious respiratory disease because their dog came out of a shelter or boarding environment or had known contact with other dogs that had respiratory disease, they should inform their veterinarian when they call in advance to make the appointment. The veterinary team can then take precautions to prevent transmission.

For any consumer with a pet at home, taking care of their health is of the utmost importance. With so many different types of pet care and options in the pet health landscape, it can be hard to determine what’s best for your furry friend. 

To help clear things up, specifically around the differences – and similarities – between pet insurance plans and pet wellness plans, James Ross, director of Field Operations, with the national, mobile veterinary service, The Vets, shared his expertise with ConsumerAffairs. 

Pet insurance vs. pet wellness

Pet insurance plans are purchased in an effort to offset the costs of vet visits, and while coverage varies from plan to plan, providers will cover everything from vaccinations, emergency visits, routine checkups, and more. Pet insurance also gives owners freedom of choice when it comes to their vet, as most policies will cover care performed by any licensed vet, specialist, or emergency clinic. 

While pet wellness plans also focus on the pets’ overall health, these plans are geared more towards proactive health care – flea and tick treatments, dental cleanings, exercise routines, nutrition plans, and more.

Wellness plans are a bit stricter in terms of where pet owners can take their pets for their care, as many plans only allow benefits to be accessed by a specific network of vets. 

“Pet insurance and pet wellness are both crucial aspects of responsible pet ownership,” Ross said. “Pet insurance provides financial protection against unexpected medical costs, while pet wellness focuses on preventive care to maintain a pet's overall health. 

“Ultimately, many pet owners may find a combination of pet insurance and pet wellness to be the most comprehensive approach to pet care,” Ross added. “This way, you're prepared for unexpected medical expenses through insurance while also ensuring regular preventive care and wellness checks to keep your pet in good health. The choice between the two should align with your pet's specific needs, your budget, and your peace of mind as a pet owner.” 

Comparing cost

The cost of pet insurance is structured in much the same way as human health insurance plans. Pet owners pay a monthly premium – regardless of whether their pet receives any kind of care that month – and a deductible at each visit. 

According to Ross, on average, pet insurance premiums can range from $20/month to $50/month for dogs and $10/month to $30/month for cats. Similarly, deductibles range from $100 or $1,000 depending on the policy. 

Pet insurance plans also come with reimbursement for your pets’ medical care. After receiving care, pet owners can submit their vet bills to the insurance company and receive a percentage back of what they spent, which varies depending on the plan. 

However, pet owners should also know that each plan operates differently and may cap your reimbursement annually or throughout your pet’s lifetime. 

Unlike insurance, pet wellness plans don’t have deductibles or copays, and come at a fixed monthly or yearly cost. Different wellness plans may offer different tiers or packages that include more services, which can hike up your costs. Ross says that wellness plans can range from $40-$150/month depending on the type of plan you choose. 

What’s best for your pet? 

When it comes to taking care of your pet, how do you know which option is best? Ross shared some of his best advice for consumers who may feel overwhelmed by the healthcare options: 

• Assess Your Pet's Health Needs: Consider your pet's age, breed, existing health conditions, and any potential genetic predispositions. 

• Evaluate Your Budget: Determine how much you can comfortably afford to spend on your pet's health care. Compare the costs of pet insurance premiums and wellness programs, considering deductibles, coverage limits, and the services included.

• Consider Your Pet's Lifestyle: Does your pet have an active outdoor lifestyle or specific dietary needs? Factor in your pet's habits and requirements when evaluating the coverage options.

• Review Policy Details: If opting for pet insurance, carefully read the policy terms, including coverage, exclusions, waiting periods, and reimbursement procedures. For wellness programs, understand the services included, any restrictions on veterinarians, and how preventive care is handled.

• Think Long-Term: Consider the long-term benefits of preventive care. Wellness programs may prevent costly health issues down the line, making them a wise investment for some pet owners.

• Consult Your Veterinarian: Your veterinarian can provide valuable insights into your pet's health needs and may recommend specific services or coverage options tailored to your pet's requirements.

• Combine Both: Some pet owners opt for a combination of pet insurance and wellness programs to cover both unexpected medical expenses and routine preventive care. Assess if this hybrid approach suits your needs. 

Having a hard time getting an appointment to see the vet these days? You’re not alone.

But when the pandemic spurred an epidemic of welcome mats for pets, we didn’t do a very good job asking who was going to take care of those pets’ health. Nowadays, getting into a vet clinic takes luck.

The shortage of veterinarians is close to a mind-boggling deficit of 20,000 plus, but there may be an answer: “virtual” vet services.

Yes, the same “telehealth” services that humans are starting to warm up to are making it easier for pet parents to get quicker answers – and possibly less expensive vet bills. And there are lots of companies that are gearing up to serve the market. More than $250 million in equity investments have been made for companies like AirVet and TeleVet to prove their worth.

What do pet owners need to know to join the pet telehealth revolution? ConsumerAffairs is ready with those basics.

How do you know if your situation would benefit from virtual care? 

Pet telehealth isn’t a one-size-fits-all type thing. The ASPCA suggests that before you start searching for a vet who does telehealth, you ask yourself these questions: 

• Have you ever had a pet become ill in the middle of the night or during the weekend when most general veterinary clinics are closed?

• Is your pet afraid of the vet’s office? Is transportation to the vet clinic stressful for your pet? Does your pet become anxious or potentially aggressive at a clinic?

• Do you have a pet who is tricky to transport, such as a horse or a large dog?

• Do you face other barriers to accessing veterinary care for your pet, like mobility issues, scheduling challenges, or transportation difficulties?

• Do you live in an area where veterinary care is difficult to obtain?

• Has it been hard to get an appointment to see a vet?

• Do you struggle to afford the cost of veterinary care for your pet?

• Would it be helpful for you or your pet to have online access to your veterinarian to get prescriptions for your pet’s routine medications—like flea and tick prevention—without having to visit the clinic each time?

• If you have a senior or terminally ill pet, do you wish you could connect with a veterinarian online who specializes in end-of-life/hospice care—one who could help prevent or ease your pet’s suffering or help you determine when it’s time to say goodbye?

Answering yes to any of these questions is a sign that virtual vet visits could benefit both you and your pet. However, it’s also important to note that answering “yes” doesn’t mean you should always seek out virtual vet services for your pet.  

What does pet telehealth cost?

Pet owners know that any trip to the vet doesn’t come without a fairly large price tag. So, what does it cost to have your pet evaluated virtually? 

The short answer: it depends on what kind of service and provider you choose. 

Certain companies provide free telehealth services, like Chewy. Any pet owner can log onto Chewy and access the Chat feature for free; for Autoship Chewy customers, video calls are also free, and they run non-Autoship customers $20.

Similarly, Blue Buffalo Buddies has an app that pet owners can download and use for free. They don’t connect with virtual vets – only other pet owners who you can chat with and ask questions about your pets. 

Many virtual vet providers have monthly or yearly subscription programs. Some of these options include: 

• Pawp: $99/year + $19/month for the emergency fund

• Dutch: $132/year or $35/month with no commitment

• AskVet: $10/month 

• Fuzzy: $25/month 

• Whisker Docs: $130/year or $17/month; $40 for an instant call or $5 for email support 

How do you find a reputable telehealth vet?

Considering many of the legalities surrounding virtual vet care, pet owners may first want to consult the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). 

In order to receive any kind of formal diagnosis or even a prescription for your pet, the virtual provider you’re seeing must have a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with your pet.  In many states, this is only possible if that vet has seen and examined your pet in person prior to their virtual meeting.

The AVMA says that the one exception to this rule would be if a virtual vet provided guidance to a pet owner on bringing their pet in for emergency care. 

For pet owners who may be considering different telehealth options for their pet, this is an important point to keep in mind. Any virtual provider trying to bypass these requirements isn’t a reputable option for your pet. 

What kinds of things can a virtual vet examine for?

Dr. Amanda Flanagan, the owner and medical director of GoodVets clinic in the Chicago area,  told ConsumerAffairs what is – and what isn’t – possible by telehealth.

Possible via telehealth: “Veterinarians can conduct remote consultations for various issues, including behavioral concerns, discussing minor or externally visible symptoms, and reviewing previous medical history and treatment, or following up after recent surgery or treatment,” she said. “Telehealth is also a convenient way to discuss lab results and recommendations for further care without sacrificing face-to-face interaction.”

 Require in-person visit: Flanagan said that just like a human doctor, any consultation for a new pet patient, whether wellness or sick, requires an in-person examination with a doctor in order to utilize telehealth in the future. “Establishing the doctor-patient-client relationship in person is as important in veterinary medicine as it is in any field of human medicine. For established patients, procedures such as vaccines and routine labs, or cases where we know a diagnostic will need to be done to get the information necessary to identify and treat the condition, like ear infections or UTIs, are not appropriate for telehealth consultation,” she said.

“My personal preference is to recommend an in-person exam for any condition with more than one symptom, or if the symptoms could be due to a worsening previously diagnosed chronic disease, such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease,” Flanagan said.

People and pets have a close bond, a tie that was strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The depth of feeling is so great that 80% of pet owners consider their pets to be family members, according to a study by the American Veterinarian Medical Association.

So it may come as no surprise that when ConsumerAffairs asked pet owners around the country if they would take on debt to pay for needed pet medical treatment, 78% said they would. The survey, conducted by SurveyMonkey, also asked about pet spending habits, from food to grooming.

Here’s what we found:

• 50% of respondents would use a credit card to pay for a pet’s medical crisis.

• Millennials were the most likely to take on debt for their pet.

• 22% of respondents were willing to spend $5,000 or more for a pet emergency.

The numbers break down this way: Almost half (43%) of respondents said yes, they would go into debt for their pets. Another 35% said they would consider it.

While millennials are the most likely to take on “pet debt,” baby boomers and Gen Xers are also attached to their pets and indicated a willingness to finance pet health care.

It’s expensive

Without a good pet health insurance policy, emergency care for a pet can be very expensive. Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, a veterinary medical advisor for Rover, tells us that an ER visit for a simple eye infection would cost up to $200. Other seemingly “routine” treatments start even higher.

At a time when a majority of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and most emergency expenses cost more than $400, taking your dog or cat to a vet for an injury or illness makes going into debt much more likely.

The ConsumerAffairs survey also found pet owners spend 20% of their pet budgets on health care. The top expense – 69% of the budget – pays for food and treats.

‘Consistently underestimate the cost’

 “I find that pet owners consistently underestimate the cost of veterinary care, especially in unexpected emergency situations,” Greenstein told us.

She said pet owners should have an emergency fund to pay for emergency situations, noting that if bloodwork or X-rays are required, the bill can easily top $1,000.

Having a pet health insurance policy can also help, but policies can vary widely, depending on what they do and do not cover. The ConsumerAffairs Research Team has ranked some of the best policies and companies here.

If there’s any question about how important pet parents take responsibility for their pets, there there shouldn't be -- pet love is at an all-time high. A new survey of 2,000 dog owners confirms that, too, showing that four in five pet "parents" claim their dog’s wellness is every bit as important as their child’s. 

Many of those owners say they’re so in tune with their pet’s feelings that they know when they're happy, when they want to be petted, and is good to go energy-wise and mood-wise. 

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of pet food subscription company Ollie, the survey found that pet owners are used to their dog’s strange antics, like “trying to keep a neat environment,” “does a twirl when she’s begging for house food” and “sneezes for treats.”

Stressing out when things don’t seem right

Wholehearted pet love expands to concern, too – probably because unexpected pet illnesses can be very costly. Owners pay so much attention to their dog’s behavior, the average respondent said they get worried they’ll lose their dog four times every year.

Some of that starts the moment a pet parent detects something is wrong – 24% said they know their dog is sad when they stop eating, have low energy (23%) or cry or whine (22%).

The survey analysts said that, on average, pups exhibit even stranger “abnormal behavior” five times over a 12-month period. One pet owner said their dog was “constantly licking elbows,” while another said theirs “became lethargic and did not eat for a few days” and a third noticed their dog was “spinning around nonstop.”

“Your dog is uniquely yours; no one knows their quirks the way you do! This puts you, the pet parent, in an incomparable position to quickly identify changes in your pup’s normal behavior,” said Nicole Sumner, senior brand manager at Ollie. “These behavioral nuances could indicate something more serious.”

Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite

This prompts constant diligence for their pet’s wellness — even when it comes to sleeping. Many respondents said they try to ensure that their dog gets enough rest and do so by giving their dog a potty break before bed (39%), cuddle time before bed (37%) or a sleep supplement (34%). In fact, 35% are just as concerned about getting ready for their pet to go to bed as they are – implementing a bedtime/”lights out” time (69% said by 9pm for most dogs).

Nearly a fourth of the surveyed pet parents said their primary reason Fido gets a good night’s sleep is to make sure the pup has enough rest so they can be fully active the next day – a goal no matter how tired they personally are from their day.

Taking cues from the surveyed pet owners

What can dog owners take away from their fellow pet parents? ConsumerAffairs gleaned these three things from the survey that might come in handy:

Exercise: More than a third of owners also help their pup work up an appetite by exercising before meals (38%).

Meals: Caring for their canine carries over to mealtime where pet parents shared their tricks for getting their dog to eat, like giving them a variety of foods (43%) and having in-between snack times. 

Snacks: Owners see treat time as another way to care for their dog’s well-being by bonding and showing affection (50%), helping them manage stress or anxiety (46%) and boosting their nutrition (48%).

“Every dog is different, and every day contains slight deviations from the structure dogs crave,” Sumner said. “Dogs need a healthy mealtime and exercise routine to feel their best. We support pet parents and make it as easy as possible for them to give their dogs solid foundations for healthy lives.”

Inflation is making everyday expenses more costly and pet care is no exception. Not only are food and grooming costs rising but so are veterinarian bills.

Pet experts say the national average cost for a dog’s routine check-up at the vet can run between $50 to $250. On an annual basis, Americans spend as much as $1,500 on their dogs’ routine wellness check-ups, along with dental care, lab tests and vaccines. With inflation, those costs are likely to move higher.

Pet insurance can limit the financial risk for pet owners, as well as guarantee quality care for their furry family members. Sean Burgess, chief claims officer at Lemonade, a pet insurance provider, says pet treatment costs have risen sharply in the last decade. 

“Treatments for illnesses like cancer and chronic conditions like diabetes can end up costing pet owners tens of thousands of dollars without pet insurance,” Burgess told ConsumerAffairs. “Plus, emergency medical treatments and hospital stays can set pet owners back thousands of dollars in a flash.”

There are lots of options

When shopping for pet insurance, you should know that it’s a lot like health care coverage for people. Different plans cover different things.

For example, some policies cover unexpected vet bills, such as an injury to your pet. Others cover routine health services. Some cover both. Being able to customize the coverage you want usually helps make sure your pet gets expert care while saving you money.

“Lemonade allows you to customize policies by including optional preventative care packages and add-ons, plus, when you apply you can adjust your annual deductible, co-insurance, and annual limit to find the premium price and coverage that works for you,” Burgess said.

For example, Lemonade’s policy add-ons include:

• Vet visit fees

• Physical therapy

• Dental Illness

• End of life & remembrance

• Behavioral conditions

More pets are being insured each year

According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), around 3.45 million pets were insured across the United States and Canada by the end of 2020. Increasing vet bills is likely a significant driver of the growth. 

But Burgess says it’s also indicative of the strong bond between people and their pets, who are often considered a member of the family.

“Pet insurance gives you the peace of mind that you'll have coverage when big-ticket vet bills come up, so you aren't left making decisions based on cost when it comes to your pet's care,” he said. “As opposed to a dedicated pet savings account, pet insurance offsets the costs so you aren't left draining your savings on veterinary care, so you can save towards other things that matter.”

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team has done a deep dive into pet insurance to help you pick the right coverage. Check out our findings here.