Therapy dogs are essential helpers that are highly trained to provide comfort and calm to individuals in need. These dogs can be any breed, as long as they have the right temperament, and they are valuable when it comes to visiting schools, hospitals, and other areas where a therapy dog can brighten up the days of many.
However, if you own a therapy dog for yourself or one that you take to visit others, it’s vital that you ensure your dog is healthy and happy. Otherwise, they cannot do their job properly. In many cases, investing in therapy dog insurance can help you keep your dog in good health.
Our article tells you more about therapy dog insurance and when you might want to consider this investment.
What Is a Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs are highly trained dogs that provide therapeutic services. Examples of the work that therapy dogs perform include visiting stressful locations such as nursing homes and hospitals and providing the people there with love, companionship, and playfulness.
Therapy dogs are also trained to behave well in public, and they can provide helpful comfort such as deep pressure therapy and guidance to those in need of a safe, quiet space. In general, therapy dogs are friendly, gentle, and eager to spread love to the people they meet.
Do I Need Therapy Dog Insurance?
If you have a therapy dog for yourself, or if you are a handler for a therapy dog that visits other locations, you should strongly consider therapy dog insurance. You can purchase liability insurance for yourself, as this covers any incidents should your dog act in a way that harms others or causes destruction to someone else’s property. However, if your dog is well-trained, that should not be an issue.
Alternatively, you can purchase pet insurance to cover your therapy dog, and this type of insurance can help to subsidize the cost of veterinary visits and other necessary medical care. When you have therapy dog health insurance, you won’t need to worry about any unexpected costs or surgeries, as long as you have a plan that covers both basic and non-routine medical care.
The Pros and Cons of Therapy Dog Insurance
It can be hard to decide whether or not to invest in therapy dog insurance. We give you the pros and cons below so you can think about what is important when it comes to therapy dog insurance.
The pros of therapy dog insurance include:
- Medical and necessary veterinary expenses may not be as much of a cost burden
- You have peace of mind when visiting areas with your therapy dog
- Most therapy dog insurance plans have a minimal cost per month
The cons of therapy dog insurance include:
- Added expense, even though the expense may be minor
- Difficulties finding a plan that covers therapy dogs
Of course, all plans are different, and it will take researching the options in your area to get the best idea of how therapy dog insurance could potentially benefit you.
Where Can I Get Therapy Dog Insurance?
Therapy dog insurance is typically purchased online through your chosen insurance provider. You can research options online, and it’s important to check the coverage for each plan; some plans may not cover therapy dogs as they are constantly out and about, and some plans may only cover certain health conditions.
It’s important that you select a plan that is tailored to your therapy dog specifically and your therapy dog’s health needs. You can always speak with a representative from a therapy dog insurance company to verify the insurance will cover everything you need.
Keeping Your Therapy Dog Healthy and Happy
Keeping your therapy dog healthy and happy, and protecting yourself in the case of an incident, are essentials when it comes to owning a therapy dog. We recommend therapy dog insurance as a great way to ensure that your dog’s medical expenses aren’t too high in case of necessary medical care and that you have liability coverage for any kind of incident your therapy dog gets into when visiting others.
When you ensure you and your dog are protected, you will have greater peace of mind as your therapy dog works to comfort and relieve the stress of others.