If you have a Belgian Sheepdog, they’ve already become a loved family member. Keep them healthy and safe by considering quality pet insurance for expensive veterinarian bills. To help you with this process, we’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality.
Pumpkin offers high-quality pet insurance plans for cats and dogs as well as an optional non-insurance preventive care plan for vaccinations, key tests and wellness exams, which will help to keep your pet happy and healthy through their life. You can travel with your pet in Canada or the US and can get access from any licensed vet in these countries. The platform is entirely digitized and serves as a one-stop-shop for all your pet's healthcare needs.
Pumpkin will cover up to $20,000 for dogs and $15,000 for cats annually.
What we like
Extensive coverage on multiple health issues
Optional preventive care plan that reimburses in full for annual wellness exams and vaccines
Pumpkin Advertiser Disclosure: Pumpkin Pet Insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/insurancepolicy. Products, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (“Pumpkin”) (NPN #19084749) is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurer. Insurance is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a Crum & Forster Company (NAIC #21113, Morristown, NJ) and produced by Pumpkin. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not an insurance policy. It is offered as an optional add-on non-insurance benefit. Pumpkin is responsible for the product and administration. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not available in all states. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/customeragreement. Paid Endorsement.
Lemonade has earned a stellar reputation in the pet insurance industry with its affordable monthly premiums and fast reimbursement of claims with its AI technology. This technology has attracted thousands with its customizable policies and provides comprehensive coverage on illness and accidents to dogs and cats.
What we like
Customizable plans so you only pay for coverage that your pet needs
Claims are reimbursed in minutes
Affordable monthly premiums starting at $10/month
Comprehensive wellness plans to keep your pet in good health
Pawp offers pet owners an emergency fund up to but not exceeding $3,000 annually. The platform is different from other traditional pet insurance agencies as it does not require you to provide a medical examination report before enrolling your pet. Whether your pet is healthy or has been diagnosed with a pre-existing condition, you can still enroll it and access the emergency fund when the need arises.
With no deductibles and low monthly premiums as low as $24, the digital platform will protect your furry friend during an incident and save money from large vet expenses. Although the agency does not provide any limitations on age, it is best to insure your pet while still young and be prepared in advance when an emergency occurs.
What we like
Monthly premiums as low as $24
Allows coverage on 6 pets for $24 a month
Allows enrollment of pets with pre-existing conditions
24/7 unlimited access to Pawp’s virtual vet doctors
What we don't
Coverage is restricted to healthcare emergencies only
Does not offer wellness coverage
Emergency funds can be accessed only once per year
Prudent pet has excellent coverage for your pet regardless of their age. The insurer can customize your plan from illnesses, medications, accidents to preventive care that will fit your pet's needs and financial situation. This plan will give you peace of mind that you won't break the bank with unlimited coverage if an emergency occurs since treatments tend to be more expensive for older pets.
What we like
Older cats and dogs are covered
Customize your plan to fit your pet's needs and financial situation
Customers from US can get covered in Canada as well
Unlimited live vet chat if an issue occurs with your pet
Although a Belgian Sheepdog is generally a healthy dog, it can still require treatments throughout its life.
Medical treatment for your Belgian Sheepdog can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Belgian Sheepdog can quickly add up, costing up to a few thousand dollars. In these situations, you don’t want to be in the middle of a crisis and have to choose between your beloved dog and the affordability of their medical treatment.
To prepare for these unexpected circumstances, consider investing in pet insurance. It can help you afford your dog’s medical treatments and procedures while focusing on your dog’s recovery.
Pet insurance can also provide peace of mind that your dog can be covered for the necessary treatments when it has an accident, injury, or illness. This includes (but is not limited to) broken bones, cancer treatment, harm caused by another animal, and prescriptions for chronic conditions. Therefore, pet insurance can be essential and beneficial for your pet.
Common health conditions for a Belgian Sheepdog
Typically, a Belgian Sheepdog has a longer lifespan than the average dog. You can expect your dog to live somewhere between 10 to 14 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): This is an inherited disease that causes blindness. Luckily, PRA can be detected early by an eye specialist with a special tool called an electroretinogram (ERG), and there’s also now a DNA test for this condition that your vet can do.
Cataracts: This is another inherited condition where the lens of the eye becomes opaque, leading to vision problems and blindness. Ask your vet about having your dog’s eyes tested each year with an ERG to see if cataracts are developing.
Cancer: The Belgian Sheepdog is prone to cancer more than other breeds, especially hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and mast cell tumors, so it’s essential to watch out for symptoms such as weight loss, unusual swellings, and difficulty breathing.
Hip dysplasia: This is a condition in which the ball and socket joint at the hip doesn’t correctly align. This causes the bones to rub together rather than slide over each other as they should. Over time, this can cause arthritis and lameness.
Allergies: These dogs can have allergic reactions to food, pollen, chemicals, and other environmental factors. Common symptoms include itchy skin, hair loss, and ear infections. In some cases, antihistamines are effective in treating allergies.
Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. These seizures result from abnormal electrical activity in the brain and can cause violent muscle contractions and loss of consciousness.
What does pet insurance cover for a Belgian Sheepdog?
Pet insurance covers a range of diagnostics, treatments, and procedures for your dog. Depending on the pet insurance plan, you may be covered for injury-only, illness-only, or combination. Based on your plan, you are eligible for the following coverage:
Diagnostic and blood tests: Many illnesses require various diagnostic tests to determine precisely what’s wrong with your dog. Those tests can be pretty expensive, depending on the disease. Pet insurance will cover many diagnostic tests, although you may need to read your policy carefully to see if there are any exceptions.
Hereditary and genetic conditions: A Belgian Sheepdog is predisposed to certain congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia and epilepsy. These conditions are usually treated with medication or surgery, and these treatments can be very costly. Insurance can cover some or all of these costs.
X-rays and surgeries: These medical treatments may be needed because of an accident or illness. Sometimes they are required after a minor injury to ensure there has been no damage to bones or internal organs. Regardless of the situation, having x-rays and surgery covered by insurance means less stress for you when it comes time to pay the bill.
Medication and hospital stay: Treatments like chemotherapy, emergency treatments, or long-term medications can be covered with pet insurance. More extended hospital stays can also be reimbursed if they fall under your purchase policy.
Pet insurance covers a range of treatments, but it does not cover preventative or wellness care. Regular check-ups with the veterinarian will not be covered under most pet insurance plans. You will need to take advantage of a different wellness plan for this type of coverage or see if the provider has any add-ons for wellness visits. Most providers usually do have it as an add-on.
Moreover, most insurance providers will not cover pre-existing conditions before you registered your pet for coverage. Review everything your potential pet insurance plan covers and what types of pre-existing conditions they exclude to ensure your pet will be eligible for coverage.
How much does pet insurance cost for a Belgian Sheepdog?
The cost of pet insurance for a Belgian Sheepdog, on average, is $58.13 per month. That’s about $697 a year. But depending on your pet’s age, location, and the coverage you buy, that number can vary widely.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Belgian Sheepdog?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your Belgian Sheepdog (included but not limited to):
Age: Dogs become older every year, and their risk of developing health problems increases as they age. As a result, many pet insurance companies will increase the cost of premiums for dogs as they get older.
Location: If you live in an area where veterinary care costs are higher than average, your premiums may also be higher to compensate for these costs.
Gender: In general, female dogs are less expensive to insure than male dogs because male dogs are prone to prostate problems, injuries, and accidents since they are more aggressive.
Medical history: If your dog has a pre-existing condition, it will increase your premium or may make getting coverage a lot more difficult.
Deductible: The amount you choose to pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in affects your premium price. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums but higher initial expenses when your dog needs care.
Reimbursement rate: The portion of each covered bill that the insurer pays affects premiums. Lower reimbursement rates mean lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs when your dog needs care. These rates typically go from 70% to 90%
Coverage amount: This is the amount of coverage you’d like to get on your pet. It’s the dollar amount which can range from $5,000 to unlimited.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Belgian Sheepdog
There are many pet insurance options available for a Belgian Sheepdog, so how do you choose the best one? Here are some key factors to keep in mind as you are deciding on the right plan:
Budget: How much can you afford to spend on pet insurance each month? Some plans range from $40 – $80/month, so it’s essential to figure out how much you can spend on your dog’s health care.
Customer feedback: Before signing up for any plan, consider references from friends and check the reviews and ratings of existing customers. A company might claim to offer the best coverage and customer service, but do their customers agree?
Conditions covered: Does the plan cover everything it should? Some plans will cover hereditary conditions (such as hip dysplasia). You’ll need to check what the policy covers and what it doesn’t cover, such as pre-existing conditons.Â
Reimbursement rate: When choosing a policy, check how much it reimburses each service. Some plans only reimburse 80% of the vet bills, while others may reimburse 90% or more. Look at how much the plan costs and how much it reimburses to determine its worth.
Coverage amount: Next, look at how much the plan covers per-incident and year. Plans typically have annual coverage caps and per-incident caps as well. You’ll want to consider a plan that offers higher amounts, so if something serious happens, your entire policy isn’t used up in one incident.
Deductible: Look at the deductible amount. The higher the deductible is, the less expensive the policy will be, but you’ll have to pay more out of pocket when you take your dog to the vet.
