Health of Purebred Dogs
The main reason why purebred dogs tend to be more expensive to insure than mixed breeds is the apparent increased incidence of health conditions in purebred dogs. We’ve written a blog on this before, so check it out for more detail.
A number of conditions are more prevalent in purebred dogs. This is because purebred dogs are more likely to be inbred; resulting in uncommon diseases being more likely to be passed onto their puppies. Over time in relatively small populations, the practice results in genetic diseases being very common in certain breeds. Many are quite severe, resulting in high vet bills and thus high payouts for insurance. This is why insurance companies raise the premiums for purebred dogs. Some common diseases include heart and brain issues in Cavalier King Charles spaniels, hip dysplasia and arthritis in German shepherds, and breathing issues in pugs and Frenchies. Some conditions are so severe that they require intense management or surgery at a young age.
In that article, we discovered that some genetic diseases are actually less common in purebred dogs compared to mixed breeds, while others are equally common in pure or mixed breeds. Furthermore, careful breeding, genetic testing and breeding schemes are helping to reduce the incidence of certain diseases, such as the Kennel Club’s hip dysplasia scheme. However, insurance providers do not take this into account, and a blanket policy of purebred dogs being more expensive is standard. Their policies unfortunately do not always reflect the science.
Other Factors
There are a number of other factors that affect the cost of insurance for dogs, but they aren’t too applicable to purebred vs mixed breed dogs. In fact, one insurance comparison website found that size was the biggest factor that affected insurance.
And indeed, the larger the dog the more insurance costs. This is for various reasons. Larger dogs tend to require more medication at the vets, which costs an owner more. This means a larger payout is needed, so insurance providers have to raise prices to accommodate. Furthermore, larger breed dogs often have reduced health and life expectancies versus smaller dogs. This means they are more likely to need veterinary care in later life.
Age is important too. A young dog is unlikely to get seriously ill and need expensive cover, while an old Jack Russel may have multiple issues and is likely to get more – opening new insurance at this age will cost a lot. The older the dog, the more likely they will get ill so the higher premiums will cost. However, remember that life expectancy in dogs varies breed to breed. An 8 year old Chihuahua can be considered middle-aged and thus correspondingly cheaper to insure than an 8 year old Great Dane which is considered elderly.
Finally, there are non-dog related factors to consider, such as the type of cover needed (we’ve lots of articles on this too), your location, the company you insure with, and individual circumstances.
What is the most cheapest dog in the world?
An average purchase price of $525 and typical bathing cost of $33 make the Bichon one of the cheapest dogs to own. Bichon Frises have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years and a potential minimum healthcare cost of $4,300 to treat common breed-specific issues, such as cataracts and patellar luxation.
Why Pedigree Dogs Are So Expensive | So Expensive
Dog insurance can help reduce the costs associated with your pets accidents and illnesses, but its not all-encompassing. Preexisting conditions, preventive treatments and routine care are usually not covered. A typical plan costs $45 per month on average, and you may pay more for older dogs and larger breeds.
Dog insurance policies come with a monthly premium. When you need to use the insurance, youll foot the vet bill upfront and then request reimbursement from the insurance carrier later on. Depending on the policy, you may also pay a deductible and a percentage of the bill.
When choosing your deductible, reimbursement level and annual max, weigh the cost against your risk tolerance. Lower monthly premiums typically correspond with lower payouts when you make a claim, and youll be on the hook for any balance that your insurer doesnt cover. But if you carry a lot of coverage, your premium might be too expensive—especially if you have an older or larger dog. Below are sample quotes for a 4-year-old Labrador retriever.
Find the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in Your Area When choosing your deductible, reimbursement level and annual max, consider how much you can pay each month and how much of your savings can go toward an especially large claim. For example, say your dog needs a $7,000 operation and your insurance policy covers 80% of the cost and has a $500 deductible. Youd have to pay 20% of the vet bill, or $1,400, along with the $500 deductible for a total out-of-pocket expense of $1,900.
The cost of dog insurance usually ranges from $25 to $100, depending on the dogs breed and age. Without exception, all insurance companies charge higher premiums for larger breeds and older dogs. This is because large breeds tend to have more issues with their joints, ligaments and bones as a result of their weight. Older dogs also tend to have medical complications that arise with age.
To find out how much the most popular breeds cost to insure, we obtained quotes across 20 breeds from a leading insurer. The quotes are for a 4-year-old dog and for a plan with a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursement level and $5,000 annual maximum. Smaller dogs, such as a Yorkshire terrier or Shih Tzu, are the least expensive to insure. Plans typically cost $32.54 per month for these smaller breeds, while larger dogs such as the Rottweiler and great Dane are the most expensive.
Generally, older dogs are more expensive to insure because they are more likely to get sick or injured. The graph below shows monthly dog insurance premiums for a German shepherd with a plan with a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursement level and $5,000 annual maximum.
A pet insurance policy will cover many — but not all — medical issues. Policies typically exclude:
The preexisting conditions exclusion often comes as a surprise to pet owners, as some insurers have broad definitions of “preexisting.” For example, some plans count “bilateral conditions” as preexisting. So if your dog tears his left ACL before you buy coverage, then you wont be reimbursed if he tears his right ACL.
However, many common conditions are indeed eligible for coverage. Below are some of the most commonly treated and reimbursed ailments and illnesses, according to Pets Bests claims data.