Is Cavapoo pet insurance worth it?
Naturally charming and upbeat, keeping your Cavapoo in good health can require visits to the vet in cases of illness and accidents.
As a cross-breed, a Cavapoo is likely to develop health conditions similar to that of Poodles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Some of these health risks can be serious and it’s not always feasible to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.
Pet insurance can help alleviate the stress and ensure that you can provide adequate medical care for your dog, should an emergency, illness, or accident arise.
Common health conditions for a Cavapoo
A healthy Cavapoo can live a long and happy life of around 12 – 15 years. But, like other dogs, they can inherit and develop health conditions that can result in illness and need medical care. Some common health conditions a Cavapoo can experience are:
- Mitral Valve Disease (MVD): MVD is a common heart defect and occurs due to a backflow of blood through the heart. Symptoms can include heart murmur and intolerance to doing exercise. Treatments are available through medication however occasionally it can result in sudden death due to heart failure.
- Hip Dysplasia: This condition is typically inherited from the Poodle parent. As joints in the hip grind together, it can cause serious problems where your dog has issues standing, walking, and doing exercise.
- Luxating Patellas: Dislocation of the kneecap, common amongst Cavapoos, your dog is unable to move their knee properly and can result in them limping.
- Entropion: This is believed to be a genetic condition that affects the eyelids where the lower or upper eyelids roll inwards. Treatment will depend on the severity of the case.
What does pet insurance cover for a Cavapoo?
Pet insurance covers a range of treatments and procedures for your Cavapoo. Based on your plan, you can receive coverage for the following:
- Surgery and hospitalization: If your dog gets severely injured, surgery may be required to treat the health issue. Your dog may be required to stay overnight to recover.
- Emergency care: Accidents can happen and emergency visits to the vet can quickly run into thousands of dollars. With pet insurance, you’ll be covered for treatments needed to bring your dog back to good health.
- Illness and accidents: If your Cavapoo has an accident or suddenly falls ill, coverage will take care of costs related to exam fees, diagnostics, and treatment.
- Alternative treatments: Many insurance plans include alternative therapies. Some of these can include physical therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, and chiropractic treatments. Each insurer will have its definition of alternative treatments, so it’s important to read the terms and conditions to understand exactly which treatments are covered.
Pet insurance providers can offer two types of policies. Accident-only policies can be cheaper and will cover you for certain emergencies. Accident and illness policies provide more coverage for when your dog falls ill or has an accident.
In addition, certain policies will have add-ons for dental care and routine check-ups which can help save costs in the long run.
How are insurance premiums determined for a Cavapoo?
Many different factors determine the cost of your pet insurance coverage. Some of these factors include:
- Breed: Certain breeds can be more susceptible to illness and have different inherited conditions that can result in more health problems over time. This can result in a higher premium.
- Age: For older dogs, you’ll pay a higher premium.
- Insurance company: It’s important to shop around as prices will vary from one insurance provider to another.
- Annual coverage: Higher annual coverage will result in higher premiums. If your dog is more susceptible to illnesses and diseases, it may be a good idea to increase your coverage to give yourself peace of mind in the event of a health issue.
- Policy deductibles: Deductibles can be adjusted so the insurance premium better fits your budget. In general, a low deductible will be reflected in higher premiums.
- Zip code: Depending on the cost of veterinary care in your local area, premiums can increase if the costs of services are high.
It’s important to note that policies do have limits. Exclusions typically include breeding costs, grooming, cosmetic surgery, and pre-existing conditions.
How to choose the best Cavapoo pet insurance?
There are many options for pet insurance for Cavapoo owners and it can be tricky to find the best one suitable for your budget and your dog’s health needs. Here are some key factors to keep in mind as you are deciding on the best pet insurance plan:
- Choose a policy for the long term: As your dog gets older, switching insurers can become more costly, and pre-existing medical conditions are unlikely to be covered. It’s a good idea to find a pet insurance policy that you’ll be willing to keep for the duration of the dog’s life.
- Waiting periods: Pet insurance normally comes with waiting periods and sometimes it depends on the type of claim that is made. For instance, for the same policy, coverage for illness may start after 15 days whereas coverage for knee conditions may have a 6-month waiting period.
- Make a fair comparison: It’s a good idea to shop around and make comparisons across policies. Unlike other insurance policies, it can be tricky to change your pet insurance plan as your dog gets older, as this is likely to result in higher premiums. Take your time and find the best plan for your budget and your Cavapoo’s needs that you’re happy to stick with over the coming years.