If you have an Estrela Mountain Dog, 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
Is pet insurance worth it for an Estrela Mountain Dog?
The Estrela Mountain Dog is large, powerful, and energetic. This breed is native to Portugal and is named after the region where it originated, Estrela. The breed was developed to herd livestock, guard property, and hunt wild boars. They are large dogs with long hair and floppy ears. They are known for their devotion to their owners, but they can be shy with strangers.
Medical treatment for your Estrela Mountain Dog can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Estrela Mountain Dog 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 an Estrela Mountain Dog
Typically, an Estrela Mountain Dog has a longer lifespan than the average dog. You can expect your dog to live somewhere between 10 – 12 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease caused by a genetic defect that affects the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood. The signs of DCM in Estrela Mountain Dog include increased respiratory effort, exercise intolerance, fainting, coughing, etc.
Elbow dysplasia: Elbow dysplasia occurs when one or both elbows are malformed. This condition can cause lameness, pain, arthritis, and degenerative joint disease. A veterinarian can diagnose this condition by X-raying the elbows and evaluating the radiographs for abnormalities such as bone spurs, loose bodies, or osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures in dogs. The seizures may be mild or severe, but they are often unpredictable and occur without warning. Seizures may be related to specific triggers like stress, excitement, or illness, but they can also occur without any identifiable causes.
Hip dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is when the hip joint is malformed or damaged. The hip joint comprises the upper thigh bone (femur), the lower leg bone (tibia), and a group of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage that connect them. The hip joint allows for movement in many directions, including forward and backward, to the side, and rotation.
Patellar luxation: Patellar luxation is another common health condition seen in dogs, especially those with longer legs like this breed does have. Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap slips out of place and no longer fits correctly into its groove on either side of the knee joint. This causes significant pain for the dog and often leads to lameness if left untreated.
What does pet insurance cover for an Estrela Mountain Dog?
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: These determine if your dog has an illness or injury. Blood tests can identify infectious diseases like parvovirus, distemper, and rabies. Diagnostic tests may include X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood work.
Hereditary and genetic conditions: It’s possible that your Estrela Mountain Dog could inherit a health condition from its parents or siblings, such as hip dysplasia or epilepsy. Pet insurance covers hereditary conditions diagnosed at birth or within two weeks after birth (or before one year old).
X-rays and surgeries: Pet insurance may cover surgical procedures such as spaying your female dog or neutering your male dog. It might also cover other surgeries like removing foreign objects from their stomachs or fixing broken bones caused by accidents.
Medication and hospital stay: If your dog needs to stay in the hospital for an extended period due to an emergency, pet insurance may cover some of the costs of keeping them there until they’re healthy enough.
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-on for wellness visits, and 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 an Estrela Mountain Dog?
The average cost of pet insurance for an Estrela Mountain Dog is $43.00 per month. This is based on the average price of a policy that covers accidents and illnesses, excluding pre-existing conditions—the average annual cost for a pet insurance policy that covers accidents, illnesses, and wellness visits are between $50-$80.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for an Estrela Mountain Dog?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your Estrela Mountain Dog (included but not limited to):
Age: As the dog ages, the risk of illness and injury increases. Older dogs are more likely to get injured or sick, leading to higher premiums.
Location: The cost of living varies from place to place — and so do the prices of veterinary care. If you live in an area known for being expensive, like New York City or San Francisco, expect your premiums to reflect this reality.
Gender: Male dogs are more likely than females to get injured or sick, so they tend to cost more to insure. However, female dogs tend to live longer than males, so the overall cost may still be lower if your female dog lives longer than your male dog would have lived (and therefore didn’t need expensive treatments).
Medical history: If your pet has been treated for an injury or illness in the past 12 months, an insurer may consider “high risk” and could be charged an additional premium or denied coverage altogether.
Deductible: The deductible is the amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company covers a claim. You can choose a higher deductible if you want to pay less in premiums and a lower deductible if you’re going to be able to make larger claims without paying out of pocket first.
Reimbursement rate: The percentage an insurance company will pay for a claim. A higher reimbursement rate means lower premiums. If your pet’s vet bill is $1,000 and your policy has $500 coverage, the insurance company will reimburse $70 (70% of $500).
Coverage amount: The coverage amount refers to the maximum amount an insurer will pay out over your pet’s policy lifetime. This can be expressed in dollars or as a percentage of the annual premium over time. The higher this amount is, the lower your premiums are likely to be.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for an Estrela Mountain Dog
Many pet insurance options are available for an Estrela Mountain Dog, 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: If you plan to buy a pet insurance plan, then make sure that you have enough money to cover the premiums and deductibles. While looking for an affordable pet insurance plan, you must check for the monthly premium and annual deductible.
Customer feedback: Ask for references from friends and other pet owners. You should also check customer feedback about the company before choosing them as your pet insurance provider. You can read reviews and ask friends and family members who have purchased pet insurance plans from that company. They have positive comments about their experience with the company so that you feel confident when purchasing a plan from them.
Conditions covered: Make sure that the coverage offered by your chosen pet insurance provider covers all of your pet’s needs, including pre-existing conditions like fleas and ticks, when buying an insurance policy for your dog. This will help you save yourself from any financial loss if anything happens to your dog during its lifetime.
Reimbursement rate: Your reimbursement rate is the percentage of your veterinarian bill that you’ll receive back from your insurance company after a covered injury or illness. Some plans offer one reimbursement rate, while others provide multiple reimbursement rates depending on the level of care required.
Coverage amount: The coverage amount is how much money you can expect to receive from your insurance company in a single year if you make a claim related to an injury or illness. A higher coverage amount means more money in your pocket if you need expensive treatment for your dog.
Deductible: A deductible is how much you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company starts paying out benefits for injuries or illnesses covered by its policy. The lower your deductible, the higher your premiums will be, but the less money you’ll have to pay out of pocket if something happens. If you’re on a budget or don’t want to pay more than $1,000 every year for pet insurance, then a higher deductible would be better for you.
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