Is pet insurance worth it for a golden retriever?

Many pet owners decide to forego getting any kind of insurance on their Golden Retriever. They assume the cost is not worth it and that they would never use the insurance in the first place. Considering how many hereditary health conditions a Golden Retriever can have, it may be worth your time to look into some pet insurance policies.

Is pet insurance worth it for a golden retriever?

Yes, pet insurance is worth it for Golden Retrievers. These dogs are some of the best to add to your family, but they do have quite a few different health conditions that will add up and get expensive when you have to visit the vet. Having good insurance on them can save you a lot of money out of pocket.

There are many factors that come into play when dealing with insurance for your pet. Being prepared ahead of time and understanding what the insurance provides and what is covered under each policy will make it easier to get the right one for you. Let’s take a look at the importance of pet insurance and why you should consider it for your Golden Retriever.

Health Issues Golden Retrievers are Prone Too

As a pet owner to a Golden Retriever, you may need to pay special attention to some of the common health issues for a Golden Retriever. They are often prone to more health issues and conditions than other dog breeds so having insurance may be a good option. Some of the common conditions they may have include:

• Cancer: This is a worry for a lot of pet owners and can be a scary thing to deal with. It is a high risk factor for Golden Retrievers, who have the highest rate of cancer out of any kind of dog. This makes it more likely that you will need to deal with it at some point.
• Luxating patella: This is pretty much a dislocated kneecap, where the kneecap of the dog will go out of position. This may cause them to limp and have trouble standing or sitting.
• Ear infections: Golden Retrievers, like other dogs, can get chronic ear infections. Keeping the ear clean is the best remedy for this one.
• Epilepsy: Epilepsy is also common in this breed of dog. It can lead to long-term effects if not properly treated.
• Chest and skin problems: Your Golden Retriever can have a number of chest problems as well. They are susceptible to some conditions, including aortic stenosis, which is a narrowing of the front of the aorta. This can cause them to have trouble breathing and getting the oxygen that they need.
• Hip and elbow dysplasia: This is basically a type of arthritis that means there is some abnormal development in the elbows and hips of the dog. The joint is often deformed and it will not smoothly rotate inside of the socket. Instead, it will brush together to make friction and abrasion, which is very painful to your dog.
• Von Willebrand disease: This is a genetic blood disorder that can cause internal bleeding and even bleeding through the nose and gums. They may not show any outward symptoms but it can be really hard on them.

Of course, each breed of dog will have their own potential health concerns and genetic makeup. But there are a decent number of concerns for the Golden Retriever so it is a good idea to have some backup in case something goes wrong or you have a big medical bill that comes up. And since that is not an exhaustive list of all the problems your dog may have, insurance can help save you a lot of money.

How Much Do These Health Conditions Cost?

There are a number of health conditions that your Golden Retriever can deal with depending on their health and how their parents do. It is important to know what to expect and prepare ahead of time. And since many of the conditions are more expensive to treat compared to other illnesses for other breeds, it makes sense to have pet insurance on them. Some examples of how much it can cost to diagnose and treat different conditions in your Golden Retriever includes:

As you can see, the costs for having different procedures on your Golden Retriever done can be expensive. And it adds up quickly since they are likely to have more than one at a time. Choosing the right insurance that can handle these issues and make sure you do not need to come up with the money out of pocket.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Pet insurance works a little bit differently than you are used to with some regular medical insurance. It is going to be based on the reimbursement-based model. This means that when you take your pet to the vet for any reason, you will need to pay the bill at that time. You can then take the information about the visit and submit a claim for reimbursement that you should get later on. Because of this method, you can use any licensed vet you would like.

Like other insurance plants including car insurance, most of the pet insurance plans that you will look at have a few similar features including:

• A deductible
• Reimbursement percentage or a copay of the amount
• Waiting periods before you get paid
• Annual or a per-incident maximum to follow.

There are a lot of different types of pet insurance that you can choose to purchase. Some companies will give you the option to personalize factors of the policy to better fit your budget and the needs of your pet. Always read through the policies ahead of time so you know exactly what you are getting and you can make sure your pet is covered when they go to visit the vet.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost for Golden Retrievers?

The amount of coverage that you put on your Golden Retriever and the additional add-ons and other parts that you decide to use here will make a big difference in how much you need to pay each month in order to take care of your Golden Retriever.

If you decide to go with a comprehensive illness and accident coverage for your dog, the amount you will pay is usually between $39 to $86 a month. The higher plans are often more flexible with what they will cover and which vet you are allowed to see. The cost can be higher or lower based on where you live, how old your dog is (older dogs usually have more expensive insurance because they need more work done), and what parameters you choose on the policy.

Often the policy for a Golden Retriever is higher than some other dogs, especially mixed breeds, because the Golden Retriever is more likely to have expensive hereditary conditions that you need to treat. The cost has to be offset somewhere so the insurance will pay it off to the dog owner. Keep this in mind when trying to compare costs of insurance and you see the coverage for your Golden Retriever is higher than for other breeds.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

The coverage provided through your pet insurance will depend on the type you get. There are different policies based on what you decide to get. Generally, most plans will cover the basic accidents and illnesses. This is a plan that will help cover some of those unexpected visits to the vet that you need help with.

Depending on the policy that you get, you may or may not get help with pre-existing conditions. Even some policies that offer this will have hefty restrictions on what they will cover. For example, some policies are only willing to cover the conditions the pet already has that are curable and others may be unwilling to cover them at all. You need to carefully read through the policy ahead of time if pre-existing condition coverage is important to you.

Chronic conditions including cancer, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis are covered in a lot of plans out there. But you should always read the fine print that comes with your policy to make sure you are not surprised after the fact.

Some of the other things to consider adding to your policy, or at least checking to see whether they are offered on the policy or not, include:

• The cost of rehabilitation. Some insurances will have restrictions on how much they will cover for this treatment. It is possible you will need to pay for a rider to get this.
• Wellness and routine care visits are often not covered because they do not cost as much. This would include options like checkups, spaying or neutering, and vaccinations. If you want this coverage, you may need to use an add-on to the policy.
• Alternative therapies: Some pet owners like to use different alternative therapies, like chiropractic care, to help their dog. Whether these are covered or you need an add-on will depend on the policy. If they do cover this, you will need to make sure the work is still done by a licensed vet or it will not be covered.
• Exams fees and office visits may not be covered by the insurance. These are often just extra charges from the vet and insurances may not pay.
• If your vet needs to do different diagnostic tests, like scans, blood tests, and x-rays, they are likely to be covered by your insurance. This is only when needed and not as part of routine checkups.
• When your pet is in need of medication, insurance can help with this. You will most likely need to pay for options like tick and flea treatments and anything else that is over the counter, but insurance can help with prescription needs.

What Won’t My Pet Insurance Cover?

Each policy is going to be a little bit different on what they will cover and what they are not willing to help out with. Every insurance is different, but there are generally some exclusions that all of them will follow in common. These include:

• Dental disease
• Problems with behavior
• Hip dysplasia
• Hereditary conditions
• Any grooming that you want to get done
• Bilateral conditions
• Any cosmetic or other procedure that is not medically necessary.

You should always read through your policy and figure out exactly what the insurance will cover and what you need to pay out of pocket. This will help you avoid issues later on if you do not understand the insurance and something is not covered that you had planned on.

Finding the Right Golden Retriever Pet Insurance

When you need to get pet insurance for your Golden Retriever, it is a good idea to shop around a little bit. There are many different options, from local companies to ones available nationwide, so you can choose from different features, rates, and more. Never take the first option you find without comparing to others.

When searching for your Golden Retriever pet insurance, take some time to look over the policy. There is bound to be a lot of differences in the price you pay, but this may be due to how many things are covered. Policies that cover more generally cost more too. Look through the policy though. Sometimes you can get a better deal on a policy with the same coverage, and sometimes better coverage, when you shop around.

It is important to have the right pet insurance for your golden retriever. This will help you cover all of those potential vet bills that will come up as they grow. Whether it is for a checkup for your favorite pet or you want to be prepared in case they break something or get sick, the right pet insurance will make all the difference.

Conclusion

As a golden retriever owner, we have decided to purchase insurance for our dog, with the amount of young golden retrievers that end up with cancer, which can be a pretty expensive vet bill. We decided it was best to get the insurance now while our golden is young. The cost is minimal monthly and really gives us the peace of mind knowing if something major and expensive came up, it would be covered.