ST. LOUIS — You insure your house. You insure your car. So what about your family pet?
Nestle Purina PetCare Co. said Tuesday it will begin offering PurinaCare, the first pet health insurance under the pet-food maker’s name. The company said two plans will be available for dogs and cats, at a time when veterinary care can include costly CT scans, MRIs or chemotherapy.
“We truly believe we can make pet insurance mainstream,” said David Goodnight, president and chief operating officer of PurinaCare Insurance Services.
Americans spend about $9.8 billion a year on veterinary services and billions more on health supplies and over-the-counter drugs for pets, Nestle Purina said, citing outside research. The company sees the potential for growth in pet insurance, saying only about 1 percent of pets in the U.S. are currently insured. The Associated Press; AP file photo
