Dogs

What’s Included in a Pet Wellness Plan?

A pet wellness plan is essential to being a responsible pet owner. It is created to give routine care for your pet, making sure that they stay healthy and happy throughout their life. Depending on the plan, it can cover numerous preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Read on to get more information.

What pet services are included in a pet wellness plan?

To aid you in understanding a vet wellness plan better, below are the basic services included:

1. Vaccinations

Vaccinations help protect pets from health conditions and infections. Most pet wellness plans cover core vaccines, such as rabies, parvo, and distemper. Some may even cover the cost of non-core vaccinations, like kennel cough or bordetella.

2. Routine Examinations

Most pet wellness plans also include regular exams for your pet, such as annual or semi-annual checkups. These examinations help make sure that your pet is in good shape and free from any underlying conditions. Many veterinary clinics even provide discount rates for their wellness plans and other services carried out during the examination.

3. Parasite Prevention and Control

Fleas, ticks, and other parasites can endanger a pet’s health. With most pet wellness plans, you will likely obtain products like flea collars or preventatives at a reduced rate. Some plans might even cover the fee of treatments for existing parasite infections.

4. Nutrition Counseling

Pet wellness plans often include dietary counseling to ensure your pet gets the ideal balance of nutrients. This can help you pick the suitable food for your pet’s lifestyle and age, as well as provide guidance on portion control and treats.

5. Behavioral Training

Many pet wellness plans cover some form of behavioral training to help correct any issues your pet might have. This may include classes or one-on-one consultations with a certified professional who can advise you on addressing specific issues.

6. Diagnostics/Laboratory Tests

Pets need regular diagnostics and laboratory tests to detect any underlying disease beforehand.

Pet wellness plans typically cover regular lab tests like:

  • Urinalysis
  • Fecal testing for parasites
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Thyroid testing
  • Diabetes screening
  • Heartworm/Lyme disease tests

7. Spay and Neuter Services

Most pet wellness plans include the cost of spaying and neutering services for both dogs and cats. These services help make sure that your pet does not contribute to the overpopulation of pets in shelters. 

Aside from avoiding unplanned pregnancy, if you want to prevent significant health issues in the future for your pet, spaying or neutering is a good option, and veterinary clinics like Powder Springs Animal Clinic can guide you through the process.

8. Prescription Medication Coverage

Several plans also cover prescription medicines, such as antibiotics or flea-prevention products. This could save you money on treatment costs if your pet gets sick or wounded.

9. Dental Care

Many vet wellness plans provide preventive dental care, such as routine teeth cleaning or polishing. Some may even offer price cuts on additional treatments like dental fillings or extractions when required.

10. Grooming Services

Grooming services are an important part of pet wellness plans. Regular dog grooming helps keep your pet’s layer and skin healthy and can help detect potential health issues before they turn severe.

Most plans provide reduced rates for their grooming services, such as brushing, bathing, nail clipping, ear cleaning, rectal sac expression, and de-matting. And also, these services help in reducing the amount of shedding around the house.

Pet Wellness Exam Vs. Pet Health Insurance

When choosing a pet wellness plan, you need to understand the difference between a pet wellness exam and pet health insurance. A pet wellness plan generally consists of preventive treatment services that help maintain your pet’s overall health.

On the other hand, pet health insurance covers medical expenses related to accidents, operations like surgery, non-preventive treatments, and chronic illnesses. But standard pet health insurance may not cover pre-existing conditions.

When deciding between the two, consider your pet’s needs and figure out which plan will provide them with the best coverage. Pet wellness plans are an excellent option for pets who require routine checkups, vaccinations, parasite prevention and control, nutritional counseling, and behavioral training. However, if you have a pet with any existing health problems or are concerned about unforeseen medical expenses in the future, pet health insurance might be a better choice.

Key Takeaways

Pet wellness plans are a great way to ensure that your pet gets the care they need to stay healthy and happy. These plans usually include preventive care services such as vaccinations, parasite prevention, nutritional counseling, behavioral training, and dental care. In addition, some plans may also offer discounts on spay/neuter services, prescription medications, and grooming.

While these can be a beneficial source for keeping your pet healthy and balanced, keep in mind that they do not cover medical expenses related to unfortunate incidents or chronic illnesses like pet health insurance does.