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ANAHEIM, Calif., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogs and cats with cancer now have a better chance of living longer and feeling better with a life-saving combination of early detection, technology and Veterinary Pet Insurance (www.petinsurance.com). And that's good news for American pet owners, because a recent survey conducted by the Morris Animal Foundation reports cancer as the leading cause of disease related death in dogs and cats in the United States.
Less than 10 years ago, many pets with cancer may have died for two reasons: The limits of veterinary medicine, or the inability of pet owners to pay the high costs of available treatments. According to Alice Villalobos, DVM and medical director at Coast Animal Hospital and Cancer Center in Hermosa Beach, Calif., veterinarians can use the same life-saving procedures available in human medicine, such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, laser therapy, immunotherapy, and even bone transplants. More advanced treatments, such as genetic therapy and bone marrow transplants, are currently under investigation for use on pets.
Dr. Villalobos sees between 400 and 500 new cancer cases a year. "The demand to treat pets with cancer has really increased in the past decade," says Villalobos. "People know that cancer in humans can be beat, and they want that for their pets."
While advancements in technology give veterinarians the tools they need to save more pet lives, the costs can be overwhelming. Cancer care can cost up to thousands of dollars and many pet owners can't afford treatment for their companion animals without financial help. However, companies such as Veterinary Pet Insurance, the nation's oldest and largest pet health and accident insurer, are making costs manageable by providing the financial assistance pet owners need to allow the veterinarian to use available technology to treat and save their pet.
Financial assistance eased the burden for Veterinary Pet Insurance policyholder Karen Penney. "The day after Thanksgiving last year, our dog, Odin, started urinating blood. With x-rays and exploratory surgery, our veterinarian diagnosed Odin with a rare form of kidney cancer.
"The veterinarian referred us to a specialist who was able to remove the cancerous kidney," Penney said. "I couldn't believe how quickly Veterinary Pet Insurance sent a reimbursement check. I work in the human health field and was expecting slow turnaround."
Early detection, according to Villalobos and veterinarians throughout the country, is the best way to win the battle against cancer. "Taking your pet in for a yearly checkup can save his or her life," Villalobos explains. "During preventive checkups, veterinarians can spot clinical symptoms of cancer and do a biopsy right away. We recommend that all pet owners think of cancer as the enemy, and then declare war by forming an alliance with their veterinarian."
When cancer is diagnosed, Villalobos has noticed that her clients who have Veterinary Pet Insurance seem less burdened by the reality of what it takes to save their pet. "They listen to all the options, choose the most aggressive approach, and commit to fighting the cancer right away."
Pet owners are often surprised when they discover how much they can save with a pet health insurance policy. With Veterinary Pet Insurance, pet owners have the choice of two accident and illness plans -- a Gold Plan that starts at $89 a year or an Advantage Plus Plan starting at $159 annually for puppies and kittens. An additional cancer endorsement, that starts at $9 a year, can be added to a policy and will double the plan's cancer benefits. For example, a pet owner with an Advantage Plus Plan would be reimbursed up to $1,025 for surgery to treat thyroid cancer. If that pet owner also carried the cancer endorsement, Veterinary Pet Insurance would pay up to $2,150, a 100 percent increase in benefits.
Terry Vinocur, a policyholder since 1995, added the cancer endorsemen
ANAHEIM, Calif., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogs and cats with cancer now have a better chance of living longer and feeling better with a life-saving combination of early detection, technology and Veterinary Pet Insurance (www.petinsurance.com). And that's good news for American pet owners, because a recent survey conducted by the Morris Animal Foundation reports cancer as the leading cause of disease related death in dogs and cats in the United States.
Less than 10 years ago, many pets with cancer may have died for two reasons: The limits of veterinary medicine, or the inability of pet owners to pay the high costs of available treatments. According to Alice Villalobos, DVM and medical director at Coast Animal Hospital and Cancer Center in Hermosa Beach, Calif., veterinarians can use the same life-saving procedures available in human medicine, such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, laser therapy, immunotherapy, and even bone transplants. More advanced treatments, such as genetic therapy and bone marrow transplants, are currently under investigation for use on pets.
Dr. Villalobos sees between 400 and 500 new cancer cases a year. "The demand to treat pets with cancer has really increased in the past decade," says Villalobos. "People know that cancer in humans can be beat, and they want that for their pets."
While advancements in technology give veterinarians the tools they need to save more pet lives, the costs can be overwhelming. Cancer care can cost up to thousands of dollars and many pet owners can't afford treatment for their companion animals without financial help. However, companies such as Veterinary Pet Insurance, the nation's oldest and largest pet health and accident insurer, are making costs manageable by providing the financial assistance pet owners need to allow the veterinarian to use available technology to treat and save their pet.
Financial assistance eased the burden for Veterinary Pet Insurance policyholder Karen Penney. "The day after Thanksgiving last year, our dog, Odin, started urinating blood. With x-rays and exploratory surgery, our veterinarian diagnosed Odin with a rare form of kidney cancer.
"The veterinarian referred us to a specialist who was able to remove the cancerous kidney," Penney said. "I couldn't believe how quickly Veterinary Pet Insurance sent a reimbursement check. I work in the human health field and was expecting slow turnaround."
Early detection, according to Villalobos and veterinarians throughout the country, is the best way to win the battle against cancer. "Taking your pet in for a yearly checkup can save his or her life," Villalobos explains. "During preventive checkups, veterinarians can spot clinical symptoms of cancer and do a biopsy right away. We recommend that all pet owners think of cancer as the enemy, and then declare war by forming an alliance with their veterinarian."
When cancer is diagnosed, Villalobos has noticed that her clients who have Veterinary Pet Insurance seem less burdened by the reality of what it takes to save their pet. "They listen to all the options, choose the most aggressive approach, and commit to fighting the cancer right away."
Pet owners are often surprised when they discover how much they can save with a pet health insurance policy. With Veterinary Pet Insurance, pet owners have the choice of two accident and illness plans -- a Gold Plan that starts at $89 a year or an Advantage Plus Plan starting at $159 annually for puppies and kittens. An additional cancer endorsement, that starts at $9 a year, can be added to a policy and will double the plan's cancer benefits. For example, a pet owner with an Advantage Plus Plan would be reimbursed up to $1,025 for surgery to treat thyroid cancer. If that pet owner also carried the cancer endorsement, Veterinary Pet Insurance would pay up to $2,150, a 100 percent increase in benefits.
Terry Vinocur, a policyholder since 1995, added the cancer endorsemen
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