There are some pet owners who treat their pets as family members and are willing to pay whatever is necessary to keep them fit, healthy and safe. It's amazing how many people are now considering treatments which sound major even for humans - hip replacements, open heart surgery and even stress management. As you'd expect the charges for these types of treatments are eye-watering.

Hip replacements for your dog can cost up to four thousand pounds and who but a doting pet owner would consider paying ten thousand pounds for open heart surgery? It's not just the physical disorders that are getting this special treatment. Has your dog or cat got a psychological problem? There's help on hand. An animal version of Prozac is now available, should your pet become anxious or stressed about life.

It's not just your teenage daughter that you need to keep an eye on for anorexia-type symptoms. It can affect dogs and cats too. One of the popular pet insurance companies reports that over four hundred dogs and seven hundred cats have been treated for eating disorders. On the other hand, one third of dogs and cats are increasing their risk of life-threatening illnesses by being overweight and more and more pet owners are paying out to get Tibby and Rover into fat clubs. Lots, or indeed most, of vet's surgeries can now offer weight-loss clinics to get pets into better shape.

So, who is to pay for all this pampering? If you have pet insurance in place, then it depends on the level of the cover. Just how much over what is considered as basic pet health care is variable though and you'll need to read the small print and make comparisons, as in all insurance situations.

If you're the type of pet owner that wouldn't blink an eyelid at having some of the above treatments carried out on your animal, then there are insurers that will provide this. For around two hundred and thirty seven pounds a year your dog can be insured and you can expect vets fees of up to seven thousand pounds to be secured. For a cat, the same company offers the same level of cover for just ninety nine pounds. This particular cover also throws in up to seven hundred and fifty pounds for "complementary therapy" such as homeopathy or acupuncture. There is no upper age limit for pets when taking out the policy. Many cheaper policies have fairly strict acceptance procedures when it comes to a dog's age, so if you're going to get cover for your pet, it's as well to bear this in mind.

The costs of vets fees should be paid by the insurer up to the upper limit shown on the policy, no matter what the treatment, provide it is a recognised procedure in use by vets. If the cost is higher than this upper limit it is possible to pay the difference from your own funds.

As with humans, it's important to disclose any previous conditions when you take out the insurance. Something human insurance doesn't offer though - most policies will also cover the expense of buying another pet in the event of yours dying, usually up to a maximum of around a thousand pounds. They'll also help with advertising costs and reward money if your pet is stolen.

So, compare costs, type, limits and excess (the amount you contribute to each individual claim). Check carefully and decide just how far you'd want to go when it comes to your own pets needs.