Nope...not paranoid at all. I just wrote a post the other day about my little guy being a daredevil. I am so afraid he's going to hurt himself!!
I had no idea all of the health problems that run through the yorkie line, until I got a yorkie and started reading. When I was growing up, our dogs went to the vets for vaccinations etc, but I never really remember them getting sick or having problems.. Both my mom and I have spent lots of money on vet bills for our yorkies because of their illness/injuries.
With any breed, esp a purebred, there are risks but with yorkies, the risk of illness or injury seem to run higher than most. Sadly, I contribute a lot of the illnesses on their popularity and overbreeding by irresponsible breeder(BYBs, puppy mills etc). People breed dogs that are riddled with health problems and it gets passed to their puppies and right on down the line.
I have a small fry(4 lbs) and I am going to be getting him health insurance. I still am not sure if it's more economical than not having it...but for me personally, it's much easier for me to pay $35 a month and pay a $250-$500 deposit if my dog gets sick than it is to shell out thousands of dollars at once. Also...the peace of mind will be priceless.
I am fairly certain that I will get my use out of the insurance. Yorkies are so prone to problems...allergies and dermatological problems, LP's, Liver problems, teeth problems, stomach problems etc....that I am sure I will end up using the insurance. For me, in order to give him the kind of healthcare I want to give him, it's necessary. I know myself....and when it comes to my pets, there's no limit when it comes to taking care of them. I'd spend my last dollar trying to give them the best care possible...so health insurance is my best option.
I think you'll find that lots of us worry about our yorkies...maybe more than most....but it's just because we love them and want to give them the best quality of life we can. |