Recently, people wanting to buy dog insurance has seen a dramatic rise. The amount of money that Americans are willing to spend on the health and comfort of their parents has more than doubled over the past several years. At the same time, the cost of pet care has also increased, and the veterinary services have start to look more and more like human health services, with dogs and cats routinely undergoing ever more expensive and complicated procedures. And, as with humans, there's always the dread lurking in everyone's mind and heart that this will be the trip to the office where the vet will say "I'm sorry, but..."

Whether it's cancer, stomach diseases, liver problems, or any of a whole host of other new ailments that vets can now find--and often cure--the pet owner can be sure of one thing; it's almost a given that it's going to be expensive. This is where dog insurance comes in. Just as with health insurance for humans, you pay a premium each month; in return, should your pet come down with any of the ailments covered by your policy, the insurance company will pay all or part of the bill. The problem is in those two clauses; "covered by your policy" and "all or part of the bill".

It's essential that you do your homework when looking into purchasing any kind of insurance for your pet; again, much like insurance for humans, what the policy does and doesn't cover varies widely from one company to another, and even from one policy to another within the company, and the insurance company may or *may not* pay all of the bill, when it does cover the particular ailment.

Most insurance companies, for example, will not cover the cost of medication or regular checkups--which may include checkups after surgery to make sure the dog is doing well. And you may be required to pay a certain amount or a certain percentage of things that the insurance company does cover.

Again, do your homework and always read the fine print. Make sure that the company provides what you think they provide. Know in advance what you'll have to pay for, if anything (there's usually something) and what they'll pay for. Know what diseases and treatments they cover, and whether they will pay for all or part of preventative measures (for example, yearly rabies shots or regular checkups).

Even when the company doesn't actually pay for these things, they may be willing to lower your premium if you have them done; speak with a representative from the company and find out. Like insurance for humans, dog insurance can be a huge blessing, but it can also be a huge headache.

And, above all, be sure to keep your dog healthy. Encourage him to eat right, and give him lots of exercise by going on long walks together or playing in the back yard for a couple of hours a day. If you buy dog insurance, it can be a nice thing to have, but it's even nicer when you don't actually need to use it!