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Best Carolina Dog Pet Insurance of 2024

Lisa Scott

A Carolina Dog provides companionship and can even lower your stress levels. But dogs are expensive and might get sick and injured. Pet insurance can help you get covered for unexpected vet bills. We’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality.

Super-extensive accident & illness coverage

$20,000

Coverage Up To

90%

Reimbursement

Overview

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
  • No exclusion on breeds or older pets
  • Offers a Fur Family Discount on multiple pets
  • Healthcare coverage in Canada and the US

What we don't

  • Pre-existing health conditions not covered
  • Pumpkin only covers dogs and cats

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.

Multiple options for wellness plans

$100,000

Coverage Up To

90% - 100%

Reimbursement Rates

Overview

Wagmo began by providing stand-alone pet wellness coverages. Today, it has expanded its portfolio to include customizable pet insurance coverage.

What we like

  • Customizable policies
  • Variety of wellness plans
  • Fast reimbursements
  • High incident limits
  • Visit a vet of your choice

What we don't

  • 15 day waiting period on accident policy

Affordable prices with a fast reimbursement process

$100,000

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement

Overview

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
  • Pay deductible once per year and not per incident

What we don't

  • Lemonade is only available in 33 states
  • Certain hybrid breeds may be denied

Short waiting periods on accidental coverage

$25,000

Coverage Up To

50% - 100%

Reimbursement

Overview

MetLife Insurance offers pet insurance for cats and dogs and is known for the shortest waiting periods in the industry.

What we like

  • No restriction on breeds and pet age
  • Customizable annual benefit limits
  • Short waiting periods accidental coverage
  • Flexible deductibles from $50 to $2,000
  • No incident limits

What we don't

  • Wellness treatment not included (optional add-on)
  • Pay first out of pocket and reimbursed later

Quick claims process

$10,000

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement

Overview

Spot will insure older animals and provides a multi-pet discount when you insure two or more pets

What we like

  • Multi-pet discount
  • No upper age limit
  • Quick claims process
  • Fast and simple filing of claims
  • Optional no lifetime limits or caps on payouts

What we don't

  • Customer service limited to weekdays
  • 14 day waiting period

Pre-existing conditions and 6 pets covered for $24/m

$3,000

Coverage Up To

100%

Reimbursement

Overview

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

Provides holistic therapy coverage

$15,000

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement

Overview

Fetch covers various conditions and offers holistic therapy coverage.

What we like

  • Covers examination fee during vet visits
  • Holistic therapy coverage
  • Comprehensive dental coverage
  • No penalty for multiple claims
  • No upper age limit for the pets

What we don't

  • Offers a single plan
  • No preventive care plans
  • No multi-pet discount

No age limit on pets - older dogs and cats are covered

Unlimited

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement Rates

Overview

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
  • 10% multiple pets discount

What we don't

  • Pre-existing health conditions not covered
  • Wellness add-ons can get expensive

Is pet insurance worth it for a Carolina Dog?

Carolina Dogs, also known as a yellow dog, yaller dog, American Dingo, or Dixie Dingo, are healthy dogs overall, but they still need to go to the veterinarian. Puppies must receive a series of vaccinations to protect them from dangerous and contagious diseases like parvovirus, rabies, distemper, and a host of others.

The cost of these vaccinations can add up quickly during the puppy stage, so pet insurance coverage at this stage can play a big role.

Adult Carolina Dogs still need regular wellness visits to the vet. These visits should include an annual physical exam so that your dog’s health can be monitored. The vet will also want to perform bloodwork and urinalysis as part of the yearly exam to catch any health problems early on.

This is where pet insurance comes in handy to pay for unexpected vet bills which otherwise would require you to pay out of pocket.

Common health conditions for a Carolina Dog

The Carolina Dog breed is pretty healthy overall. Having lived in the wild for so long, they do not have the genetic disorders that many over-bred dog breeds have today. A concern may include hip and elbow dysplasia.

There are no specific health conditions typical to the Carolina Dog breed. They are highly robust and hardy dogs and live longer than many purebred dogs. Though they have a short coat, they are relatively resistant to fleas, ticks, and other parasites, the same as their wolf ancestors. Therefore, always keeping your dog’s vaccinations up-to-date is essential, especially if you take them on frequent hikes or walks through wooded areas where ticks and fleas could be present.

What does pet insurance cover for a Carolina Dog?

Here’s what pet insurance covers for your Carolina Dog:

  • Accidents: Accident coverage will reimburse you if your dog injures itself or ingests something that becomes lodged in its throat or digestive tract. Some plans will reimburse you up to 90% of the costs associated with emergency care and surgery.
  • Illness: Illness coverage includes chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis and more common ear infections or skin allergies.
  • Routine care: Vet visits and procedures unrelated to illness or accidents, like vaccinations and teeth cleaning.

How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Carolina Dog?

Some of the factors that play a role in determining premiums for pet insurance for Carolina Dogs include: 

  • Location: Like people, animals can get sicker or injured depending on where they live. If you live in a city, your pet might have a higher chance of getting hit by a car or contracting a disease than if you live in a country town with less traffic and fewer stray animals. You’ll likely see these differences reflected in the premium you pay. Also, certain areas have higher vetenarian costs which will be reflected in the premium.
  • Age: Younger dogs cost less than older dogs to insure since they’re typically healthier. Older pets, especially those over eight years old, may have a greater chance of developing a severe illness or injury that would require extensive treatment. 
  • Deductible:  With pet insurance, you choose how much out-of-pocket expenses you will cover before your policy pays the rest of the bill. The higher your deductible is, the lower your monthly payments will be. You can often choose between $50, $100, $250, or $500 annual deductibles.
  • Gender: In general, male dogs tend to be more expensive to insure than females because they are more likely to injure themselves and others through aggressive behavior. This means that males are more likely to cost the insurance company money due to injury claims.

How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Carolina Dog

Here are a few tips that can help you choose a pet insurance plan:

  • Check out the company’s reputation: You can check out the Better Business Bureau and look for complaints from current and past policyholders on consumer review sites like Yelp. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also has a directory of state insurance regulators that you can contact for information about the company’s history of complaints.
  • Consider your budget: Pet insurance plans will vary in price and deductible amounts. If you are on a tight budget, look for plans that have reasonable deductibles and monthly rates. Also, consider whether there are age limits on when pets can be added to a plan. Most providers will not cover pets over eight years of age, with many dropping coverage for pets older than six or seven years old.
  • Consider pre-existing conditions: Any condition diagnosed or treated before your pet’s policy starts is considered a pre-existing condition, and most policies will not provide coverage for it. Make sure you look into the definition of a pre-existing condition for each insurer and ensure your pet isn’t excluded from coverage for something that happened before you had insurance.
  • Define your needs: Think about what you want from a policy and whether any extras suit your lifestyle or budget. For example, if you have a dog that could hurt itself playing a sport, you might need to consider injury cover.

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