NEW YORK – More than 71 million U.S. households have a cat or dog, and Americans spend $18 billion a year for veterinary care.

As more products and services are created to cater to our love of pets – everything from pet prescriptions to pricey boutiques peddling designer duds – pet health insurance is growing fast.

Pet policies are similar to your own health insurance – they have annual premiums, deductibles and different coverage plans. Depending on the company, you can get plans for different species of varying ages and lifestyles – i.e., animals kept indoors vs. outdoors. Some also allow for pre-existing conditions.

Policies can cover annual checkups, vaccinations, routine office visits, preventive medications (such as for heartworm), spay/neuter surgeries, treatments for accidents or illness, diagnostic tests, lab fees and flea control. Most policies cost $7 to $10 a month per animal. Some offer discounted rates if you insure multiple animals.

The American Veterinary Medical Association endorses the idea of pet health insurance. The organization recommends looking for a company that allows you to choose your veterinarian, can offer referrals and is supported by professional organizations, individual veterinarians and other groups and individuals concerned with animal welfare.

For more information, speak with your veterinarian. He or she should be able to tell you what options are available in your state, and offer information on discount programs. Veterinary Pet Insurance, a national company, provides price quotes for policies at www.PetInsurance.com.

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AP-NY-07-01-05 1909EDT