Stress is something we all live with on a daily basis. Really, sometimes just getting out of bed in the dark of the 6 a.m. morning, bare feet hitting the cold floor, is stressful. If, in the process of slipping out of bed you accidentally step on your cat's or dog's tail...well, the stress increases exponentially, doesn't it?

Lately, with all the 'bad' news on TV and the net, stress has become a monster following us around, biting off bits of our self-esteem. Yes, "it's the economy, stupid." And yes, it's sure to hang around for awhile. But, here's a thought - how many of us recognize the amount of stress we pass along to our pets? How many of us stop to think about how our actions in the home impact our pets? The very same animals that offer us unconditional love, every day?

A study of stress related cats, according to this article at MSNBC, found that unfriendly relationships with other cats in the household caused more problems than other stresses. And for dogs, in shelters, it's the barking of other dogs.

What about in YOUR house, though? What about when you're tense and irritable and you take it out on Fido or Fluffy, without meaning to, of course? Seems that even in our pets "stress causes the body to release adrenaline and corisol hormones." This suppresses the immune system. Which might lead to a vet visit...

And, because of the present economy, that vet visit might get put off. In this blog post at Dolittler, the vet talks about her clients avoiding serious vet bills by avoiding a visit to a veterinary specialist. Is that a good idea? Who ends up stressed out when you can't afford to take your beloved to get the proper pet care? Hmmm...the answer is: both of you.

Yes, I'm in the same boat. I have had to cut back on a lot of things -- very little eating out these days. Very little movie-going. Very few visits to the mall - as I cannot walk past the bookstore, and if I go in...I will buy multiple books, for sure! And, it's time for Wabby to get her yearly...but hey, she seems fine, why should I borrow worry by an uncalled for visit to the vet? Because 'seeming fine' isn't good enough. I will gladly forgo books, lattes, movies, even heat, if it means having the $$ to care for my Wabby.

Here's my reason for writing this post: we don't always have to scrimp on the important health care our pets might need. If we have pet health insurance - we have a partner in the long-term care of our cats and dogs. That partner, our vet, wants to do his or her best.

Problem is - if we want our vets to be the best and give the best, they have to have the best: the best equipment, the best assistants, the best critical care supplies, etc. etc. Those things cost $$. Pet health insurance helps pay for them by giving pet owners a way to keep Fido and  Fluffy as healthy as they were the day they were born.

So, here's the lesson - stress is not going to go away. In time, as the economy gets better, it will lessen. In the meantime, let's not stress out our dogs and cats - whom we all love to the moon and back, right? Let's make sure their health doesn't suffer because our wallets are a bit thinner these days.

Talk to your vet. I bet he or she will recommend pet health insurance. Remember the studies that show owning pets actually helps reduce OUR stress. We should do the same for them...shouldn't we?