If you’re planning to own a pet dog, then it’s high time for you to research about pet dog insurance. Remember that although the best time to start pet dog insurance is when your dog is young and healthy, it’s never too late to buy a premium for your 6-year old Rottweiler. Having a pet dog is definitely fun, but it can be expensive too without proper insurance to hedge inevitable future costs.
Is Pet Dog Insurance Needed?
No matter how you secure a loving and safe environment for your four-legged best friend, it’s still only a matter of time before you start paying costs incurred on your dog. Like humans, diseases and medical maintenance will build as your dog age. Moreover, at least once or twice in your dog’s lifetime, it will need a recurring visit or a stay in its vet’s office for accidental medical issues like ingestion of foreign body or minor infections. And if you don’t prepare for these eventualities by buying pet dog insurance in advance, it will surely hurt your budget.
Best Dog Health Insurance
Did you know that you can get a pet dog insurance that covers routine and unusual costs that are usually exempted by other pet insurance? This dog insurance might come at a more expensive premium, but it’s a good investment in the long run. It may cover some or all necessary routine dog vaccinations needed, and it may even cover unusual costs like legal and medical fees in case your hot-tempered terrier decides to scar your neighbor for life. So if you can afford the premium, the extensive cover you get from this type of pet dog insurance should help you sleep better at night.
Pet Dog Insurance Exceptions
For average pet dog insurance, however, you have to contend with the common exceptions to keep the premium affordable. These exceptions include many if not all of the following:
1. Routine vaccination
2. Hereditary conditions
3. Elective procedures
4. Congenital conditions
5. Behavioral problems
6. Medical conditions prior policy effective day
7. Any other conditions stated by the policy
How Much Pet Dog Insurance Do You Need?
Determining the right amount of insurance you need to pay greatly depends on the breed of your dog as certain breeds are more susceptible to diseases than others. For instance, Beagles and Portuguese Water Dogs owners are in luck because these breeds are said to be the healthiest so far. So you could do away with lesser premium. Pugs and Bulldogs on the other hand are prone to eye, respiratory, and skin infections, dental conditions, and strokes. Small dogs like Terriers and Chihuahuas are prone to kneecap dislocation, and big dogs like Malamutes and German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia.
Average Pet Dog Insurance Cost
Although it’s generally cheaper to buy pet dog insurance premium while your dog is young, it’s still wise to get a dog health insurance for your adult pet. A lifetime dog health insurance would normally cost anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000. It’s equivalent to $20 to $40 monthly premium.
Two Common Pet Dog Insurance Cover
There are also two common dog health insurances to choose from: lifetime or time-limited cover. A lifetime dog health insurance covers your dog’s medical needs during its lifetime, and it’s more expensive than time-limited insurance. Time-limited insurance on the other hand are only limited to specific time period, usually during an injury or an illness recovery. An owner may purchase anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 premium to cover the incidental cost incurred to cure a dog’s illness or to recover from a freak pet accident.