Bet you thought your pet dental insurance would be covered under your pet’s medical plan? Well, sometimes, but all those other times, think again! So who does that pooch think he is having two separate insurance plans? Well don’t sweat it, I’m going to show you why dental insurance can be necessary for your pet and why you might want to consider getting an add-on to your existing plan if it already has it.

Admittedly not every dog will need dental insurance. It’s worth consulting with your vet to find out if your particular breed is more susceptible to any diseases. Other than that you should be aware that one of the easiest ways for an infection to spread in your pet’s body is through their mouth. This can result in a condition as serious as heart disease!

What Can Pet Dental Insurance Do For You?

The simple answer to this question is everything. The strongest method to avoid diseases is prevention. If you find yourself too busy to deal with brushing your pet’s teeth regularly then you can find a plan that contains coverage for routine dental care and dental work. These two things alone could stop your pet dog from being one of the 3.2 million dogs in the U.S. that have heart disease, or one of the 15% of dogs in the U.K.

What Sort of Plan Should You Look For?

The sort of plan you should look for depends largely on the advice of your vet. Is your animal of a certain breed or a certain age where it would benefit from a high deductible in case of some sort of emergency procedure? I would venture to say if your pet isn’t of a high risk and you start early enough a good plan would include good coverage for basic routine checkups. Either way make sure you get the coverage for basic checkups even if you opt to do most of your brushing and dental work yourself. It’s always a comfort to know that things are as they should be which brings me to another point.

As with all forms of pet insurance you will want to check the list of vet providers for your plan to see if you can stick with the one you have, or if it will cover you to switch if that is what you want.

So now you can see that especially if you have a dog, this is really something you should be thinking about. Pet dental insurance is absolutely necessary; some studies actually put the estimated cost of a pets teeth right alongside our own.

Check out some great recipes:

Breath Busters Biscuits

Breath Busters Biscuits 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 1/2 cups Bisquick ® baking mix 1/2 cup mint leaves — loosely packed 1/4 cup milk 4 tablespoons margarine1 egg 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup — or corn syrup Combine all ingredients in... [Read more]

Dog Biscuits #2

Dog Biscuits #2 1 envelope dry yeast 1 cup rye flour 1/4 cup warm water 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk 1 pinch sugar 4 teaspoons kelp powder 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 4 cups beef or chicken broth 2 cups whole wheat flour 2 cups cracked wheat or 1 c. cornmeal GLAZE:... [Read more]

Biscuits For Dogs

Biscuits For Dogs 1 cup oatmeal — uncooked 1/3 cup margarine 1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules 5 1/2 cups hot water 1 tablespoon garlic powder — optional 3/4 cup powdered milk 3/4 cup cornmeal 3 cups whole wheat flour 1 whole egg —... [Read more]

Bulldog Brownies

Bulldog Brownies 1/2 cup shortening 3 tablespoons honey 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/4 cup carob flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder Frosting 12 ounces nonfat cream cheese 2 teaspoons honey Cream shortening and honey together thoroughly.... [Read more]

Dog Cookies With Chicken Broth

Dog Cookies With Chicken Broth 2 cups whole wheat flour 2/3 cup yellow cornmeal 1/2 cup sunflower seeds — shelled 2 tablespoons corn oil 1/2 cup chicken broth 2 eggs 1/4 cup low-fat milk 1 egg — beaten Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large... [Read more]

Canine Cookies #2

Canine Cookies #2 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk 1 egg — well beaten 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 cups wheat flour 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion salt 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar 1/2 cup water 6 tablespoons gravy 2 jars baby food,... [Read more]

Flea Hater’s Dog Biscuits

Ingredients: 1 cup flour 1/4 cup wheat germ 1/4 cup brewer’s yeast (available at health-food stores) 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 clove garlic, chopped medium, or 1 teaspoon powdered garlic (optional**) 1/2 cup chicken... [Read more]

Doggie Bone Treats

Doggie Bone Treats 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 cup wheat germ 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/3 cup water Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a cookie... [Read more]

Divine Doggy Dinner

Divine Doggy Dinner 1/2 pound ground beef — or turkey, chicken, lamb 1/4 cup cooked rice1 small potato 1/4 cup green beans — about 5-8 beans 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Brown the meat in a pan. When completely cooked, drain the fat. Add the... [Read more]

Dog Biscuits For Your Favorite Dog

Dog Biscuits For Your Favorite Dog 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup cornmeal 2/3 cup Brewer’s yeast 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 egg yolks 3 beef bouillon — or chicken 1/2 cup boiling water Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix well.... [Read more]