When getting a new puppy or kitten, additional costs may crop up. Some are expected, and some are not. In the unfortunate event that our animals become sick or injured, what do pet insurance plans cover, especially when diagnostic tests are involved?
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Pet insurance plans cover some of the more intense or expensive diagnostic tests. These tests allow veterinarians to see a disease internally before pursuing any invasive surgeries or prescribing certain medications. Typically, these tests are ordered after an accident, like swallowing keys or breaking a leg. They’ll also be ordered if your pet shows signs of a major illness that the veterinarian needs more details about.
Diagnostic Tests Covered by Pet Insurance Plans
Let’s look at four diagnostic tests pet health insurance plans provide coverage for.
1. X-rays / Radiographs
Most of us know what an X-ray is. It’s an image doctors and veterinarians take to examine fractures and broken bones. X-rays can detect periodontal diseases, foreign bodies, intestinal blockages, and bladder/kidney stones.
2. Ultrasounds
Veterinarians recommend ultrasounds to investigate whether there is fluid or soft tissue masses in your pet. Ultrasounds also help confirm and monitor pregnancies, as well as evaluate the different internal organs. They can assess heart functions, locate tumors, and keep a close eye on certain diseases.
3. CT Scans
A CT scan takes a cross-sectional image of a specific area within your animal’s body. It is a lot more detailed than an ultrasound. For example, CT scans assist vets in diagnosing nasal or oral cavity diseases . This diagnostic test also discovers any abnormalities in the abdomen and extremities. Without a pet insurance plan, a CT scan can cost pet owners over $1,000.
4. MRI
MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) is one of the most intense and detailed forms of imaging diagnostics available. MRIs can differentiate soft tissues in the body to identify lesions in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. If your pet has a back issue or seizure disorder, your vet might order an MRI to guide next steps and treatment.
Where Pet Insurance Plans Stop
A pet wellness plan is what we like to call pet preventative or routine care. Wellness plans cover things like grooming, vaccinations, and dental care. But they also cover testing like bloodwork, fecal exams, and urinalysis. These tests help ensure your animal is healthy, but also indicate when things might require more analysis and diagnostic testing.
1. Bloodwork Exams
Pet bloodwork is when a veterinarian takes a blood sample from our pets. They do these bloodwork exams to diagnose and treat certain health conditions. It can also be used by vets to better understand your pet’s overall health , especially if they have a current health condition that needs regular monitoring.
If your pet is getting ready for any type of surgery, the vets will usually take blood work to ensure the animal is healthy and strong enough to make it through surgery. Blood work can also help determine what type of anesthesia might be best.
2. Fecal Exams
Veterinarians take a sample of your cat or dog’s fecal matter and test it. They are testing it for certain infections, parasites, and other potentially worrying signs. Dog or cat fecal tests are the best way to avoid parasites or other health conditions that might be hidden on a regular blood test. Dog and cat fecal tests help discover different types of ailments that can be hard to discover with a simple routine checkup.
3. Urinalysis
A urinalysis is a simple test to assess your pet's overall urinary tract (kidneys and bladder) health and insight into your pet's glucose regulation and liver function. If your pet has increased water intake, increased urination frequency , experiences pain on urination, or has visible blood in the urine, a urinalysis is usually recommended. This is an easy way to test for more serious health conditions in our animals.
If you just have a pet health insurance plan and not a wellness plan, then you might be out of pocket for some of these tests. Once there is a diagnosis, then the costs following that might be covered by pet insurance plans. Having a combined pet wellness and pet insurance plan is the best way to get the most bang for your buck, and avoid any unnecessary costs.
Wagmo: Designing Your Perfect Pet Insurance Plans
Wagmo pet insurance and wellness plans mix and match for the perfect coverage for you and your animal. You can use your wellness plan for preventative care to help ensure nothing more serious develops. This includes a yearly feces test for cats and dogs, parasite care, urinalysis, and more.
But, of course, things pop up and accidents and illnesses happen. With pet insurance plans you know you’re covered in case something bad happens or your animal is diagnosed with something.If you’re unsure what type of coverage you and your pet might need, check out our Wagmo Coverage Quiz to help determine which plan best suits your needs and budget.