Many Lexington County pet owners are considering something new.

As their pet care costs rise, they are looking at buying pet insurance.

Pet owners nationwide invested $1 billion to insure 1.83 million pets in 2017.

That averages to more than $500 a year or about $10 a week per pet.

But think what it might cost if your pet became seriously ill or was injured and needed life-saving surgery.

“We recommend insurance,” said Dr. Ginger Macaulay of Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital.

“The companies we recommend are Trupanion and Nationwide. Trupanion is more of an accident and illness plan. Nationwide will provide wellness plans though they may not be as good on the accident and illness coverage. It depends on what you are looking for in coverage.”

Trupanion allows you to pick your deductible up to $1,000, she said.

The Smoak agency is a Nationwide dealer in Lexington. Trupanion can be ordered online.

About 85 million US families own pets and spent $17 billion last year on veterinary care, according to the American Pet Product Association. That included $257 per dog and $182 per cat.

Compared with auto, home and health coverage, pet insurance is small. But 2017’s gross annual premiums were 23% higher than the $837 million in 2016, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.

The number of insured pets also increased to 1.83 million in 2017, up about 16% from 2016.

That’s only 1% of dogs and cats, but insurers expect that to continue.

Rob Jackson of pet insurer Healthy Paws told the Wall Street Journal 12 million puppies are born each year.

In 2017, US families owned 94.2 million cats and 89.7 million dogs.

About a dozen companies sell pet insurance. The largest are Nationwide, Trupanion and Healthy Paws. Trupanion insures 472,000 pets and bases its rates on pet breed and age.

“Golden retrievers are prone to cancers more than other dogs” said T.J. Hou of Trupanion. “Other breeds have their own issues.”

Pet insurance has become popular with increasingly expensive treatments.

“The cost of routine care is not going up,” Jackson said. “Where you find increases is in specialty care.

“That’s where you get sticker shock.”