Five reasons why you need dog insurance

The most important reason you need pet insurance for your dog is because anything can happen, literally. The concept of pet insurance is fairly straightforward—you pay a monthly premium in order to be covered for unexpected, costly veterinary expenses. Pet insurance is not be mistaken with liability or property insurance, as dogs aren’t normally covered under these types of insurance. Pet insurance is worth the investment to protect your loved one’s health and your wallet from the unexpected.

Below are five reasons why every dog owner needs insurance for their pet.

1. Dogs will eat anything. Dogs of all breeds and sizes can run into an array of unexpected injuries or illnesses at any time in their lives. Young puppies are especially susceptible as they’re curious about the world around them – taste testing everything from your shoes to your couch. This is when dog insurance really comes in handy. Foreign body ingestion (when you eat something they shouldn’t) is the second most common claim we receive. The average claim payout we pay on it is $870. However, complications can arise from foreign body ingestion, such as infections, and will send costs skyrocketing from $2,000 to $10,000, with an average of $4,210 for more serious cases.

You don’t have to take our word for it though, check out Liu Liu the Shih Tzu’s story, Delilah the Australian Shepherd’s story, or Ozzy the Jack Russell Terrier‘s story.

2. Dogs can pull their cruciate ligament, just like us humans. In dogs it’s called the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), also known as the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL in humans, and it’s one of several ligaments in the stifle (knee) that connect the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). Dogs like to play. They chase tennis balls, Frisbees, the mailman, anything that moves sometimes! Dog insurance can really help your bank account when the fun goes wrong and we pay out about $2,900 on average in claims for CCL ruptures.

Find out how we helped these poor dogs when they ruptured their CCL: Sebastien the Bulldog and Raven the Lab mix.

3. Dogs have access to advanced medicine too. Dogs now have access to such advanced veterinary medicine, there’s no reason not to give them the best medical care and treatments possible. From hyperbaric oxygen therapy to stem cell therapy to cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy, dogs can now get the medical care they need for serious health concerns and dog insurance helps soften the blow to your wallet.

See how dog insurance helped these pups when they needed more advanced care:  Wyatt the Saint Bernard, Sofia the Italian Greyhound and Kona the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier.

4. Dogs have chronic conditions that also need treatment. Dogs can get chronic conditions too like arthritis, diabetes, and allergies. Those conditions can require monthly prescriptions, frequent veterinary visits and treatments that soon add up. This is where dog insurance can help, by helping you pay for those regular costs.

5. The breed of your dog is a good indicator that dog insurance is right for you. Some breeds are more prone to conditions than others. For example, many dog breeds are prone to hip dysplasia, like Mastiffs and Retrievers. A luxating patella is common in Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and can expect to incur an average of over $1,200 on average in veterinary costs in a year. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), often affecting Dachshunds and French Bulldogs, can cost over $1,000 on average in a year. Pancreatitis, common in Miniature Pinschers and Dachshunds, can be an average of $1,000. Eye conditions, common in Cocker Spaniels and Pomeranians, and oral conditions, common in Pugs and Pomeranians, can be around $280 and $500, respectively.

Pet insurance gives you the ability to provide your dog with the best care without the financial concern. It gives you peace of mind that you can protect your dog and your wallet. Find out more about dog insurance here.