I figure I can always beg, borrow or charge the deductible — and sometimes even just plain old pay it from the savings account.

And that’s what I have for McKenzie. The annual deductible is high by my choice ($500 … I would choose $1,000 or more if it were offered) but the payout after is 90 percent of actual costs. This was her first claim, so from $1,100, I got $427 back. Next time within the calendar year, I will get 90 percent of everything back, since the deductible is covered (up to plan limits, of course, $10K in the plan I chose). And yes, I’m hoping we don’t need to be putting in any other claims — I’d rather NOT have a sick pet.

It’s not a VPI plan — it’s Embrace. I like both companies, know the folks in each well, and have also known other people who like and recommend still others in the industry. But Embrace offered more of what I PERSONALLY wanted in a pet-health insurance plan. My thinking and preference: I can budget for routine care and save for the deductible and co-pays. What I CANNOT afford is care that runs into the thousands … and cancer treatment can well do that. I live in a region (California) where veterinary prices are higher than in many others, and I also choose to patronize a veterinary hospital with the very highest levels of care available — including access to a full range of in-house board-certified specialists. These PERSONAL choices do not make some plans a good complement to the care I prefer to provide my pets.

Your mileage will certainly vary. The service from both companies has been excellent. But the structure of the plans and the benefits are very different, and I chose what worked for ME. It’s important to look at them all, consider what you want in terms of your personal beliefs in this area and then decide.

I have five dogs and two cats, and I am reluctant to spend $318/month (I got a quick quote on all of them)on pet insurance that doesn’t cover my pets to the extent I need when I really need it. So far, I simply have a veterinary savings account because I’d rather pay the $318 to myself and let it collect interest than pay it to an insurance company that isn’t going to cover things at an acceptable level. I’d love to get your input on this. From where I sit, pet insurance doesn’t make a lot of sense.

He had last rights, even. Pretty damn scary stuff. He’s OK now, thank God.

My 2 goldens starting sneezing, were very snotty and were really really “tired”..and my niece had said her Aussie (who visits on fridays) was like that the prior week—and then my younger golden’s littermate, who is here two days a week got it too…My vet and I don’t know if it was the H3N8 or not but seeing how fast it went thru the 4 of them-wow…sure is scary if it had been a worse illness…

He is “due” for his other vaccines this month…still thinking about that one.

You can tell he’s an intense, thinking dog.

Instead, they chose some dorky puppies. Woody is so much more of a cover boy. Anyone can see that!

But … my brother almost died in 2001 from a regular seasonal flu vax. ICU for six weeks, and had to learn to walk again. His choice: No bloody way.

They’re both legitimate choices, in my book. And so is an EDUCATED choice to vax or not vax for Canine Influenza.