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Forethought and financial preparation will help you make the best decision regarding your pet's care.

I received a call from my son’s school nurse yesterday: my son had a tummy ache, and wanted to come home. While I figured it was just a virus (which it likely is), we paid a visit to the pediatrician anyway. “Paid” is often the key word with human healthcare providers, as I know it can be with their animal counterparts. We consider ourselves lucky to have health insurance for our family, but we haven’t extended that safeguard to our fish.

You’re likely shaking your head in one of two ways: either you think I’m playing roulette not insuring our pets, or—like me until earlier today—you’re wondering how, exactly, someone would go about insuring her fish.

I had heard of pet insurance from family and friends, usually in conversations regarding whether they should purchase it. And I understand their waffling—is pet insurance a nice to have, a need to have, or is it a bad idea altogether?

According to American Pet Products Association, the number of insured pets is on the rise. In the United States, an estimated 3 percent of 78 million dogs and 1 percent of 93 million cats are insured. Providers include companies like VPI, which issued its first policy in 1982, and more well-known brands such as Nestlé Purina and ASPCA.

So, how do you decide whether to purchase insurance for your pet(s)? Take my crash course:

Start by considering what you would do if your pet were to have an accident or become ill. Then, talk with your veterinarian about emergency and long-term care. Would finances impact your pet’s treatment? Would you have reservations about euthanizing your pet? If you have the financial means to cover expenses (based on your conversation with your vet), or if euthanasia would be your preference, pet insurance may not be for you.

Some pet owners open a savings account for unexpected pet expenses, but this plan only works if you are disciplined enough to continue to make regular deposits (direct deposits may be the way to go). There’s still no guarantee the amount you save will be the amount you need, when you need it. On the other hand, if you never need it, you could find yourself with unexpected savings.

Any insurance policy protects you from the unknown—it may benefit you, or you may be lucky enough not to use it. It may be worth the peace of mind alone!

Much like determining the coverage of your own insurance policies, the amount of coverage you choose for pet insurance is a personal decision. You might want your pet’s coverage to go beyond emergency care and include spaying/neutering or regular dental care, but you should expect to pay more.

Policies may include:
•    Accidents
•    Hospitalization
•    X-rays
•    Surgery
•    Illness
•    Spaying/Neutering
•    Standard Vaccines
•    Annual Physical Exam
•    Heartworm Prevention
•    Annual Dental Cleaning
•    Advanced Vaccines
•    Ongoing Conditions

Some policies may even cover:
•    Obedience Training
•    Flea/Tick Medications
•    Preexisting Conditions
•    Coverage for the Life of Your Pet
•    Accidental Death
•    Theft or Straying
•    Third Party Liability
•    Boarding Kennel Fees
•    Fees Incurred While Traveling

Prioritize. Seek recommendations from your vet and fellow pet owners. Check with the Better Business Bureau or your state insurance commissioner. Compare plans.

Before you sign on the bottom line, confirm when the policy you selected will become active; ask how premiums change depending on your pet’s age; review the network of vets covered (if applicable); and note any exclusions, claim limits or caps.

So far, I’m hoping to forgo pet insurance and personally provide any care our fish will need. We’re starting small, but as our family of pets grows, I reserve the right to change my mind.

“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.

An apple is a healthy option for a pet mouse.

My family and I had the pleasure of eating out today, but I admit I overdid it. I. Am. So. Full.

For what I fear was a few months, our fish were full too. Even though we were specifically told not to overfeed them, it was difficult to stop at so few flakes—especially when some fish would dominate feeding time, and others didn’t seem to get nearly enough. It took less-than-clear water to finally clue me in that too much food and waste was upsetting our aquatic ecosystem.

Fish are healthier when they’re underfed, and they’re not alone. Just as obesity is a dangerous epidemic for people in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported in February 2011 that it’s a dangerous epidemic for pets, as well: more than half of American cats and dogs are obese.

What may seem like opportunities to “treat” our animal friends actually contribute to diabetes, arthritis, kidney failure, high blood pressure, cancer and a shorter life span: a scary reality for any pet owner.

I know I didn’t intend to cause my fish any harm. On the contrary, I was trying my best to meet their needs. And if I had to guess, I’d say other pet owners feel the same way. Treats like table scraps can be expressions of affection for a furry member of the family. Food dishes are mindlessly overfilled the same way we overfill our own plates. When we celebrate, we eat! Why should our pets be left out?

Not all of our personal habits are healthy ones. As a nation, we do tend to eat too much and move too little. We know we should change, but change can be hard. Ideally, I’d love to see all of us improve the quality of life for our households. If we can’t make it all-inclusive, don’t we owe it to our pets to do everything we can to provide them happy, healthy lives?

With all of this in mind, I ask you to look closely at your pet: Would your veterinarian say he or she is close to optimal weight? Do you provide your pet an appropriate, balanced diet? Does your pet have the opportunity to exercise enough? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, please check with your vet.

As much as we love our scaled, feathered and furry friends, overfeeding them is not what will make them happy in the long run. Instead, try showing your affection through attention, play and caring enough to keep illness at bay.

“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.