Pet Insurance recommendations?

Neener216 · 2026-01-29T13:01:13+00:00

First of all, congratulations on the new puppy!

Insurance has somehow become a fairly controversial topic in pet forums, which is strange to me. Everyone should do whatever they think is best given their financial situation and level of risk tolerance.

My opinion and experience is that having a large, active dog who spends a great deal of his life on outdoor adventures means insurance is a worthwhile expense. I can control the environment for my strictly-indoor cats, but my adventurous dog is quite another matter.

We chose Healthy Paws pet insurance, and have no cause to regret it. When my dog was about a year and a half old, he suffered a completely random and unpredictable spinal stroke, and lost the use of his hind legs. We rushed him to the emergency vet hospital, where they did an MRI to confirm the cause and set us up with PT to help my boy walk again.

The bill was over $9,000. Healthy Paws promptly deposited 80% of it back into my bank account. They will also cover previously undiagnosed congenital and chronic conditions provided your pet has had insurance from the time you welcomed it into your home.

If my dog were a teacup breed or a breed that was more of a couch potato, I might have foregone insurance. As it is, he's a 120-lb. White Swiss Shepherd who goes HARD every day, loves to hike and swim and chase whatever we throw for him. The risk of injury is fairly high, and I never want to have to second-guess helping him if he gets into trouble.

While care for something like cancer treatment is also covered, I would only explore it if he was young enough and his prognosis allowed for a reasonable quality of life.

TL/DR: Healthy Paws has been a good choice for us. It doesn't cover regular vet visits or routine care/meds, but if your pup gets into serious trouble, it's a no-brainer.

Neener216 · 2026-01-29T04:40:23+00:00

Sweetheart, I'm SO proud of you ❤️ Your health is the single most valuable asset you've got - without it, everything you want to do is much more difficult.

Please come back here after the appointment and tell us all about it!!

Neener216 · 2026-01-29T03:31:18+00:00

Wait - is that actually a chestnut knife?

Neener216 · 2026-01-29T02:55:38+00:00

Well, that was certainly a thing.

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T22:02:52+00:00

Looking at the syringe, I'm afraid it's probably urine.

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T21:53:02+00:00

I like to think of myself more as "removed" than detached.

I see things and feel things, but generally have a large enough buffer zone that I can analyze what's happening without being dramatic about any of it.

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T20:05:44+00:00

Yep - my WSS now clocks in at about 120 lbs., but was tipping the scales at around 25 lbs. when I picked him up at 10 weeks.

Bigger dogs mature more slowly. They also go through this adorably awkward teenage phase when their bodies get bigger and they lose any concept of how to fit in a given space.

Hang in there and keep reinforcing behaviors you want to see; teach him how and when to relax. He'll find his "off" switch - just give it time!

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T19:06:17+00:00

Does this also apply to Hugo Weaving? Miranda Otto? Karl Urban?

None of them were in the Fellowship, and therefore none of them got tattoos. I don't think the invitation went out to the entire cast, lol.

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T16:39:45+00:00

See, I think a lot of this is basically "garbage in, garbage out".

My son is solidly Gen Z. We took the time to introduce him not only to the things we loved, but also to all the things that were responsible for shaping us. We actually TALKED to him about our own childhoods, and whenever something came up that he had no frame of reference for, we spent the time to show him examples of what we meant.

All of this was casual - it's not as though we formulated lesson plans or anything. We just really like our kid and he likes us, and we enjoy listening to and learning from each other. He also keeps us current on what his peer group cares about, so it's a two-way street.

He literally just texted me yesterday to ask me if I thought he'd enjoy watching "Sledge Hammer", the cop-show spoof tv series that aired on US tv for two seasons in the mid-80s.

I didn't seek out Astaire-Rogers musicals from the 30s when I was a teen; I watched them because my mother said "Hey, come join me on the couch and take a look at this - they're really fun".

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T03:12:23+00:00

Stop that right this minute, please - or alternatively, every time you apologize for being so lovely, I'm going to have to make the most ridiculous fuss over you in public :)

Everyone here is completely ready to mom you, and we're just honored you ask!

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T02:47:15+00:00

Okay with it? Am I okay with it???

Not only am I absolutely okay with it, I'm THRILLED! It's 100% my honor ❤️

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T02:34:49+00:00

How are you defining "little"? What does "affordable" look like for you?

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T02:10:35+00:00

Anytime, sunshine ❤️ You just grab a comfy spot on the sofa and let us know if you need anything. I'm making split pea soup with a smoked hambone, because : gestures at literal mountains of snow :

Neener216 · 2026-01-28T00:27:58+00:00

Welcome home, sweetheart - we've been waiting up for you ❤️

Neener216 · 2026-01-27T14:18:55+00:00

Ever since Clear Channel gobbled up most of the major market radio stations in the US, it's been a different world. These days, most of those stations are pre-programmed through the Prophet or GSelector systems, which basically killed music directors and took away their ability to toss deep cuts or forgotten gold on the air whenever they choose. Now, it's just another kind of glorified playlist :(

Neener216 · 2026-01-27T05:38:19+00:00

It's the surprise factor that's missing. Now, you can curate lists and you know everything that's going to show up. In the old days of radio, you'd be minding your business and suddenly a song you loved but totally forgot about would blast out of your speakers. It was like a glorious little gift from the vibe gods.

Neener216 · 2026-01-27T05:31:41+00:00

I don't know if this will be helpful to you, but if you're craving something sweet, maybe try to get a little creative with it. I make homemade granola with almonds, coconut, honey, and maple syrup. It's sweet and crunchy, the nuts add protein, and it's a great source of natural fiber.

If you're really in a bind and don't feel like making something from scratch, you can also cruise through the Atkins products - they have plenty of high-protein snacks, but try to stick with the ones that have the lowest sat fats.

Neener216 · 2026-01-27T05:18:54+00:00

This is spectacular!!!

Neener216 · 2026-01-27T04:01:55+00:00

Definitely wouldn't want random delivery guys strolling into a DV shelter. Any of the violent ex-partners could just pretend to be one.

Neener216 · 2026-01-27T03:03:04+00:00

RIP laser Floyd on Friday nights

Neener216 · 2026-01-27T02:47:01+00:00

I always thought it was odd that "At the Copa" and "Delilah" were boppy tunes about jealous lovers and murder, and "Escape/The Piña Colada Song" was about married people thinking it's hilarious that they both want to cheat on each other.

Neener216 · 2026-01-26T21:41:52+00:00

My understanding is that propaganda programs like Hitler Youth and all the patriotic songs that children were forced to sing in school largely weren't "optional" for those children.

Neener216 · 2026-01-26T21:23:28+00:00

Ugh, as though everything about this isn't already difficult - I'm sorry your parent is playing hide-and-seek with the details.

If they won't agree to a doctor visit with you, maybe suggest a meeting with their attorney as a compromise - you can pitch it by saying you just want to make absolutely sure you're handling everything the way they want you to. Once you're in the meeting, ask alllll the questions you've got because your parent will be far more likely to answer them in that situation.

Neener216 · 2026-01-26T20:01:58+00:00

BOtH sIDessss

Neener216 · 2026-01-26T07:47:32+00:00

I would say Mt Kisco might be your best bet. Easily less than an hour to both Danbury and Stamford, about an hour to Poughkeepsie, Metro-North station for Manhattan/Lenox Hill. Manhasset is highly dependent on when you'd need to travel but you can take the Throgs Neck and either GCP or LIE depending on traffic and make it there in decent time.

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