Four-legged members of family live longer thanks to hi-tech pet care

ZACHARY has endured chemotherapy, five hip and knee operations and gall bladder surgery.

He takes a daily diet of prescription drugs to combat nausea and other maladies and gets intravenous fluids at night because of kidney failure.

“He’s going strong. Last July, you would have never thought he’d make it a couple more weeks,” said Donna Raichle, 54, who spends about $400 a month on Zachary’s care.

Zachary, by the way, is a 12-pound Yorkshire terrier. His lengthy medical file may be one clue that the era of pet health insurance has arrived.

With advancements in veterinary care, more pets like Zachary can get hi-tech - and costly - treatments ranging from chemotherapy to behavioural therapy. And more owners like Ms Raichle are seeking it out of the insurance that pays for it. “Americans are in love with their pets, and ... they’re spending more on them,” said Jack Stephens, 55, a veterinarian who founded the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co in Brea, California, in 1980.

After losing $18m over 20 years, VPI turned its first profit last year, earning $1.3m on $47m in revenues. The company has 85% of the US market. “The economy helps, but what we find is it’s really the bond of the pet with the owner that’s driving our business,” Mr Stephens said.

He launched the company, with financial backing from 900 veterinarians, after watching people put their pets down for mostly financial reasons. Mr Stephens knew how to cure the animals, but the average person’s limit for pet care was about $250.

Some people will pay more than others.

Linda Marcus, who has also had several Yorkies, won’t be without pet health insurance. VPI paid about half of the $3,500 to $5,000 in veterinary bills for her beloved Bandit in the six months before he died at 15.

“This dog brought us so much pleasure that I would have done anything that money could have done to try to keep this dog alive,” said Ms Marcus, 59.

That philosophy troubles some, including Arthur Caplan, chairman of Penn University’s Department of Medical Ethics. He hears from people every day who don’t have health insurance for themselves.

“It’s sort of odd to think that a pet could get certain treatments in the United States that certain people could not afford,” Mr Caplan said.