Melanie Musson

Published Insurance Expert

Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific car insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person’s life, from budgets to coverage levels. She also specializes in automa...

Published Insurance Expert

Dr. Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Dr Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in companion animal practice. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Glasgow, with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She works at Blythwood Vets and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Pippa is an advocate of Fear-Free Practice, an animal addict, and a veterinary writer. She is also w...

Veterinarian

UPDATED: Dec 16, 2020

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Pet Insurance U receives compensation from the third parties included on this site. This includes payment for clicks from our site to insurance providers’ sites and quote requests generated. Our rankings and reviews are not affected by payments from the insurance companies. The compensation we receive allows the site to be free and regularly updated. Our goal is to review every pet insurance provider, but not all companies are listed on the site.

And many of the companies we review do not pay us anything. We simply rate, compare and review their plan because we feel it will be valuable to you. Our reviews are guaranteed to be unbiased, professional and advertising compensation does not influence rankings.

We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.

UPDATED: Dec 16, 2020Fact Checked

There is nothing worse than when your dog gets sick. It’s bad enough when they injure their paw or even if they don’t eat for a day.

It would be even worse if you didn’t have the money to cover the vet bill when your dog does get sick.

And with one serious illness, the vet bills can really add up.

If your dog has diabetes or cancer, not only can the vet bills cost upwards of $10,000 but the treatment will need to be continued throughout your dog’s life.

dog health issues

Pet insurance can save you anywhere from 70% to 90% of your vet bill which can be extremely helpful.

A good pet insurance policy will not only cover the treatment of the disease but also the testing and diagnosis that goes with it.

Make sure you enroll in policy while your dog is still a puppy and before any of these conditions become pre-existing.

Because no pet insurance provider will cover any pre-existing conditions.   In fact, here’s how pet insurance works.

We’ve compiled a list of the most common dog health conditions below, along with the average cost of treatment for each!

Need Pet Insurance?

FACT: Pet insurance pays up to 90% of vet bills when your pet is sick or injured!

Common Dog Health Problems And The Cost

  • Acetaminophen Toxicity – $200 to $1,500
  • Achondroplasia – $1,100 to $5,050
  • Acral Lick Granuloma – $35 to $50
  • Acute Liver Failure – $1,100 to $1,550
  • Addison’s Disease – $2,500 per year
  • Alopecia – $55 to $105
  • Anal Sac Disease – $150 to $2,550
  • Anemia – $450 to $2,025
  • Antifreeze Toxicity – $200 to $1,500
  • Aortic Stenosis – $3,100 to $6,050
  • Arthritis – $25 to $10,000
  • Atopic Dermatitis – $105 to $525
  • Autoimmune Diseases – $525 to $20,100
  • Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia – $975 to $5,050
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) – $25 to $55 per month
  • Bladder Stones – $50 to $505
  • Boxer Cardiomyopathy – $450 to $1,100
  • Boxer Colitis – $75 to $100
  • Brachycephalic Skull – $500 to $1,500
  • Broken Bones – $225 to $5,100
  • Brucellosis – $55 to $105
  • Cancer – $5,150 to $20,000
  • Cataracts – $2,025 to $3,100 per eye
  • Cerebellar Hypoplasia – $2,000 to $4,000

Real Cost Savings from PetFirst Clients

Luna

PetFirst saved his parents

$6,712

A happy energetic Luna one morning couldn’t hold her food down. After months of multiple costly vet visits to specialists and an endoscopy, the problem was discovered and fixed. Luna put 22 pounds back on in no time and her parents were grateful for having PetFirst by their side to pay the bills.

 

  • Cherry Eye – $490 to $1,050 per eye
  • Chronic Active Hepatitis – $1,110 to $7,300
  • Chylothorax – $5,900 to $10,000
  • Cleft Palate – $2,025 to $4,100
  • Collapsed Trachea – $3,400 to $6,555
  • Collie Eye Anomaly – $75 to $1,000
  • Coloboma – $1,400 to $1,800
  • Comedone Syndrome – $75 to $500
  • Congenital Heart Defect – $3,100 to $21,025
  • Constipation – $75 to $550
  • Copper Storage Disease – $100 to $1,000 per month
  • Corneal Dystrophy – $2,200 to $3,050 per eye
  • Corneal Ulcers – $1,500 to $2,000 per eye
  • Cruciate Ligament Tear – $3,050 to $10,525
  • Cryptorchidism – $220 to $510
  • Curvature of the Spine – $5,500 to $15,050
  • Cushing’s Disease – $475 to $1,900
  • Degenerative Myelopathy – $50 to $1,000
  • Degenerative Spinal Stenosis- $2,400 to $4,500
  • Degenerative Valve Disease- $8,025 to $14,550
  • Dementia
  • Demodicosis – $55 to $95
  • Dental Problems – $200 to $1,450
  • Dermatomyositis – $100 to $225 per month
  • Diabetes – $50 to $105 per month
  • Diarrhea – $25 to $200
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy – $10,500 to $20,025
  • Disc Disease – $2,950 to $9,200
  • Discoid Lupus Erythematous – $40 per month
  • Discospondylitis – $7,900 to $15,055
  • Distichiasis – $1,500 to $2,000
  • Dog Hernia – $775 to $1,900
  • Dry Eye Syndrome – $20 to $55 per month
  • Ductus Arteriosus – $2,550 to $5,025
  • Dwarfism – $75 to $5,000
  • Dystocia – $1,000 to $5,000
  • Ear Infection – $225 to $4,325
  • Eclampsia – $500 to $1,000
  • Ectropion – $325 to $1,475 per eye
  • Elbow Dysplasia – $1,550 to $6,025 per elbow
  • Entropion – $305 to $1,490 per eye
  • Epididymitis – $305 to $1,490 per eye
  • Epilepsy – $205 to $15,025
  • Eye Problems – $55 to $3,035 per eye
  • Fanconi Syndrome- $8,500 to $11,000
  • Fleas – $40 to $50 monthly
  • Folliculitis – $50 to $200

Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance

 

  • Gallbladder Obstruction in Dogs – $800 to $3,000
  • Gallstones in Dogs – $1,000 – $4,200
  • Gastric Volvulus And Dilatation – $1,000 – $3,000
  • Gastroenteritis – $500 – $1400
  • Giant Cell Tumors in Dogs – $4,200.00 to $11,700.00
  • Giardiasis – $150 – $300
  • Glaucoma in Dogs – $75 to $1,500
  • Glomerulonephritis – $560 $1100
  • Glucagonoma – $100 – $1,800
  • Glycosuria in Dogs – $100 to $2,000
  • Gum Disease in Dogs – $200 to $1,000
  • Hair Follicle Tumors- $1,000 – $3,500
  • Hair Loss – $50 to $2000
  • Hearing Loss – $115 to $2,507
  • Heart Murmurs
  • Heartworm Disease- $173.00 to $301.00
  • Hemangiosarcoma – $4,500.00 to $9,500
  • Hemivertebrae – $1,000 – $5,000
  • Hemorrhage Of The Lung – $600 to $2,000
  • Hernias – $700 to $2,500
  • High Blood Pressure In The Portal Vein To The Liver – $250 to $2,000
  • High Levels of Blood Nitrogen – $500 to $700
  • Hip Dysplasia – $4,025 to $6,050
  • Hookworm Infection – $40 – $150
  • Hot Spots – $120 – $380
  • Hydrocephalus – $5,000 to $10,000

 

  • Hyperparathyroidism – $500 to $6500
  • Hyperphosphatemia – $150 to $1500
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Hyperthermia – $200 – $2,500
  • Hypoglycemia – $100 to $2,500
  • Hypokalemia – $300 – $1,250
  • Hypothyroidism – $30-$60/month for life
  • Ichthyosis – $30 to $100 per month
  • Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease – $2,000 to $12,000
  • Leptospirosis – $500 to $1,500
  • Muscular Dystrophy – $300 to $1,500
  • Nasal Solar Dermatitis
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans – $50.00 to $2000.00
  • Panting
  • Patellar Luxation – $1,345 to $2,955
  • Perianal Fistula – $150 – $3,000
  • Portosystemic Shunts – $2,500 to $8,000
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy – $166.00 to $2000.00
  • Pyometra – $1200 to $2800
  • Renal Failure – $400 to $3,000
  • Retinal Dysplasia – $250 to $2015
  • Seizures – $500 to $6,000
  • Sub-Aortic Stenosis – $3,000 to $10,000
  • Trichiasis – $350 to $2,000
  • Wobbler Syndrome

As always, if you suspect your dog or puppy is suffering from any of these health issues, consult with your veterinarian for testing, diagnosis and the best treatment options for your pet.

And while puppies are usually very healthy, there are also many conditions that can affect them early in their life.  Another reason to get started with pet insurance while your dog is young!

The older your pet is, the more likely they are to have health problems. But it’s not as expensive to insure older pets as you may think. See our sample pet insurance rates for dogs ages 3, 4, and 5 years old.

If you haven’t enrolled in a pet insurance policy yet, it’s better to do so now before your dog gets sick or even in an accident.

Our list of the top 10 pet insurance companies can help you get started.

Other articles you may find helpful: 

 

Is Exotic Pet Insurance Necessary? 

The Best Pet Insurance By State 

What Is Pet Insurance?

Fun Facts, Dog FAQ, And Unsolicited Dog Advice

5 Training Commands to Save Your Dog’s Life

The Ultimate Guide to Safe Foods for Dogs

Dog Health Problems

Dog Breeds

CAT FAQ

Cat Health Problems

Cat Breeds

 

We get it, your dog is like your child and when your puppy or dog has health problems it is scary. Luckily there is pet insurance companies that will help you pay for any veterinarian care they made need. Checkout the best puppy and dog pet insurance companies and learn about common puppy health issues and ailments in older pets

 

Top Natural Remedies for Dog Diarrhea

How Much Exercise Does A Dog Need?

How to Give a Dog a Pill

Hereditary and Congenital Health Issues in Dogs

5 Ways to Ease Separation Anxiety in Your Dog

Top 10 Health Products for Dogs

Our Veterinary Experts

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Melanie Musson

Published Insurance Expert

Melanie Musson is the fourth generation in her family to work in the insurance industry. She grew up with insurance talk as part of her everyday conversation and has studied to gain an in-depth knowledge of state-specific car insurance laws and dynamics as well as a broad understanding of how insurance fits into every person’s life, from budgets to coverage levels. She also specializes in automa...

Published Insurance Expert

Dr. Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Dr Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in companion animal practice. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Glasgow, with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She works at Blythwood Vets and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Pippa is an advocate of Fear-Free Practice, an animal addict, and a veterinary writer. She is also w...

Veterinarian

We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.