Is pet insurance worth it for a Bouvier Des Flandres?
Bouvier Des Flandres are hard-working dogs that have a long history of herding. Their characteristics include being loyal, intelligent, and affectionate. However, they can be prone to injuries if not properly looked after because of their large size.
Medical treatment for your Bouvier Des Flandres can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Bouvier Des Flandres 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 Bouvier Des Flandres
Typically, a Bouvier Des Flandres has a longer lifespan than the average dog. You can expect your dog to live somewhere between 10 to 12 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
- Hypothyroidism: The thyroid gland controls metabolism. When it doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, the body’s systems start to slow down. Common symptoms include weight gain, lethargy, hair loss, and skin infections. While hypothyroidism can occur in any dog, the Bouvier is predisposed to the condition.
- Elbow Dysplasia: The elbow joint consists of 3 bones: the humerus (upper arm bone), the radius (forearm bone on the thumb side), and the ulna (forearm bone on the little finger side). The ends of these bones are covered by cartilage which allows the bones to move smoothly against each other during the movement of the joint. Elbow dysplasia is an inherited condition that causes abnormal development of these cartilages at some point during growth and development, which can result in painful arthritis later in life.
- Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD): This condition affects the hip joints. Canine hip dysplasia is genetic and causes the ball at the end of the femur (thigh bone) to not correctly fit into the socket in the pelvis. It causes pain and lameness and may result in arthritis. CHD can be corrected with surgery but isn’t necessarily a cure; some dogs continue to have discomfort after surgery, especially as they age.
- Sub-aortic stenosis (SAS): This condition affects the dog’s heart muscle, causing reduced blood flow from the heart due to increased pressure in the heart’s left ventricle. It can cause sudden death and is diagnosed through auscultation (listening to sounds within the body) or an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart).
- Glaucoma: This condition is caused by excess fluid in the eye that leads to increased pressure inside the eye and optic nerve damage. This can cause everything from redness and swelling to blindness when untreated. While there’s no cure, medication can control glaucoma and prevent blindness. Regular vet visits are essential, so your pet’s eyesight doesn’t suffer too much damage before treatment begins.
What does pet insurance cover for a Bouvier Des Flandres?
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: If your dog does not have health insurance, some diagnostic tests could cost you hundreds of dollars. Pet insurance will help cover that expense by reimbursing you for what you spent on the tests.
- Hereditary and genetic conditions: Any hereditary or genetic diseases will also be covered in all or most available plans. This means that if your Bouvier des Flandres develops degenerative myelopathy (DM), a progressive neuromuscular disease that affects the spinal cord of dogs and can lead to paralysis, you will be able to get treatment without breaking the bank.
- X-rays and surgeries: If your dog needs surgery or an X-ray (or both) at some point in their life, you’ll feel better knowing that their insurance can help cover the cost.
- Medication and hospital stay: When you look into what pet insurance covers for a Bouvier Des Flandres, medication and hospital stays are likely on the list—and they can be costly if you’re not prepared!
Pet insurance covers a range of treatments, but not 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 an individual wellness plan or see if the provider has any add-ons for wellness visits. Most providers do have it as an add-on.
Moreover, most insurance providers will not cover pre-existing conditions before registering 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 Bouvier Des Flandres?
A good pet insurance policy for a Bouvier Des Flandres costs about $35 to $50 per month. However, this number can vary based on your policy, location, and dog’s age.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Bouvier Des Flandres?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your Bouvier Des Flandres (included but not limited to):
- Age: The younger your dog is, the less likely it will develop medical problems, lowering your monthly premium.
- Your location: The area you live in has a significant impact on how much you pay for pet insurance. This is because insurers consider the medical costs for each dog, which vary with location. For example, if you live in an area where veterinary care is more expensive than in other parts of the country, you will have higher premiums.
- Gender: Males are more likely to fight with other dogs or cause accidents due to their aggressive nature so an insurance company might charge more for a male dog than a female.
- Medical history: If your dog has previously been diagnosed with any illnesses or injuries, it can affect your pet insurance premiums. This is because insurers consider these preexisting conditions to determine how much risk they take by insuring your dog. If your dog develops a new condition that was not present at the time of enrollment, it should not affect your premiums as long as it was not caused by or related to the preexisting condition.
- Deductible: The amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company starts paying for any medical expenses. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums.
- Reimbursement rate: This is the percentage that the insurance company pays after you have paid your deductible and is usually between 70-90%.
- Coverage amount: Your monthly premiums will affect your policy’s coverage. If you want to keep your premiums low, choose a lower coverage amount. If your pet has an accident or gets sick, you’ll still be covered, but you may have to spend more.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Bouvier Des Flandres
Many pet insurance options are available for Bouvier Des Flandres, 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: Your plan should include at least basic wellness coverage; otherwise, you’ll pay out of pocket for vaccinations and preventative medicines.
- Customer feedback: If you’re new to having a Bouvier des Flandres, it might be helpful to tap into the wisdom of others who have owned one for a while. A friend or family member could give you valuable advice about what kinds of conditions your dog might run into in his lifetime—for example, hip dysplasia is common in Bouviers, so it’s essential to find an insurance plan that covers that condition.
- Conditions covered: Some plans cover only accidents, while others cover both accidents and illnesses. Unfortunately, most plans won’t cover pre-existing conditions like diabetes or allergies. Check kindly before you buy a cover.
- Reimbursement rate: This is the percentage of costs that the insurance company will reimburse after you pay the deductible. For example, if you have a reimbursement rate of 80% and a $1,000 vet bill for an illness (after paying your deductible), your insurer would pay $800.
- Coverage amount: This is how much the insurer will pay out each year on average—some policies have specific amounts for each illness or injury, so it’s essential to know the maximums for different types of care.
- Deductible: This is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance starts to cover the remaining costs. Remember to check if your deductible is per year or incident, as they may vary between plans