At least one in four of all households in America own a pet. However, only a small percentage of these pet owners have insurance for their pets. If you have a dog with no insurance, then you are asking for trouble. It just takes one one hospitalization of your dog to set you back hundreds of dollars.

There are a whole variety pet insurance plans offering different levels of coverage. A good comprehensive pet insurance policy will cover the following types of situations:

1) If you end up in hospital for a period of time, who will look after you dog if you live alone? Most pet insurances will pay for the boarding and lodging of your dog while you are at the hospital – one less worry for you.

2) If your dog ends up damaging some of your neighbor’s property, your home insurance will not cover you, but some pet insurances will.

3) Most of the vet bills will be paid by the insurance company. This depends on may factors. You have to be very careful when buying the policy because many pre-existing conditions are not covered.

4) If you plan a holiday, but have to cancel because your dog is ill. Most travel insurances will not cover you for this, but pet insurances will.

5) You will get compensated if your pet is lost or stolen. The burial or disposal fees are covered, and you may even get compensation for a replacement.

If you are contemplating on getting insurance for your dog ( which you should), make sure you shop around. Be sure to compare all the different policies available, and ask a lot of questions. Not every policy is the same, and in some cases, pet insurance companies allow you to tailor your policy to meet your specific needs.