Is pet insurance worth it for a Finnish Spitz?
The Finnish Spitz is a beautiful, robust dog that has been bred in Finland for hundreds of years. The breed was once used to herd reindeer and hunt small game, but today this intelligent and playful little dog is more likely to run around in your backyard than chase down animals in the wild. They are medium-sized dogs with a thick coat in several different colors. They have large ears, which give them their distinctive look, but they also have beautiful brown eyes that make them very expressive. Their coat is short and dense, so you don’t need to worry about brushing it daily.
Medical treatment for your Finnish Spitz can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz
Typically, a Finnish Spitz has a longer lifespan than the average dog, and you can expect your dog to live somewhere between 12 to 14 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS): BOASrefers to breathing problems caused by brachycephalic head shapes, such as flat faces like Pugs or Bulldogs or short muzzles like Boxers or Boxers Pekingese. In some cases, airways can become obstructed by soft tissue growths inside the throat called laryngeal folds or submucosal folds.
- Canine hip dysplasia (CHD): CHD affects certain breeds of dogs, including the Finnish Spitz, where the hip joint does not develop appropriately during development before birth. This can lead to arthritis and pain in the hip joints later in life and other complications such as osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease (DJD).
- Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder that affects the thyroid gland, controlling many bodily functions, including metabolism and growth. Hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, lethargy, and loss of hair coat.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease: VWD or factor VIII deficiency is a bleeding disorder caused by a lack of blood clotting proteins. It can lead to excessive bruising and nosebleeds.
- Congenital Deafness: This is a condition where puppies are born deaf or have impaired hearing due to an inherited genetic defect in their inner ear development. Treatment includes surgery and medication to help with hearing loss if present, but unfortunately, there are no cure for congenital deafness, so affected dogs will need extra care throughout their lives.
What does pet insurance cover for a Finnish Spitz?
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: A diagnostic test is any procedure that helps determine the cause of disease or injury. Blood tests are standard diagnostic tests that look for abnormalities in the blood (such as high cholesterol or anemia). Some plans include coverage for diagnostic testing like X-rays and ultrasounds, while others do not.
- Hereditary and genetic conditions: Some common congenital conditions in Finnish Spitzes can cause serious health problems later. Pet insurance might cover the cost of tests to identify these conditions early on to be treated before they cause too much damage to your dog’s body.
- X-rays and surgeries: If your dog needs surgery to remove an embedded foreign object or amputate a limb due to injury, pet insurance can help pay for these procedures and post-operative care such as physical therapy and medication.
- Medication and hospital stays: Many pet insurers provide discounts on medication costs at their approved pharmacies and can reimburse you for up to 90 percent of eligible veterinary care expenses after meeting the deductible amount in your plan. Some policies also include coverage for overnight hospital stays or emergency vet visits if your dog needs immediate attention after an accident or injury.
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 Finnish Spitz?
Finnish Spitzes are small dogs that can be trained to do anything you want. The average pet insurance price for a Finnish Spitz is $40 a month. Finnish Spitzes are energetic, lively, and alert dogs that love attention from their owners. The breed comes in both longhair and shorthair varieties.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Finnish Spitz?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your Finnish Spitz (included but not limited to):
- Age: The older your pet is, the more likely it is to develop health issues in the future. Having an older dog will usually result in higher premiums than having a younger one. However, this isn’t always the case — some companies offer discounts on premiums for seniors (as well as puppies) under a certain age threshold.
- Location: Where you live plays a significant role in determining how much you’ll pay for pet insurance. This is because some areas have higher living costs and more expensive veterinary care than others.
- Gender: Male pets tend to be more active than female pets and get into more trouble outdoors, making them more likely to get injured or sick than female pets. Their premiums will be higher than those of female pets, who typically stay most of the time indoors.
- Medical history: The more medical conditions your pet has had, the higher the premium will be. When determining premiums, pet insurance companies look at both current and past medical conditions.
- Deductible: A deductible is an amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your pet insurance policy kicks in to cover the rest of the costs associated with treatment. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium will be — but it also means more money out of pocket if something goes wrong.
- Reimbursement rate: The reimbursement rate is the percentage of the cost of a treatment paid by your insurance company. In general, pet insurance companies pay anywhere from 50% to 90% of the price. The more expensive the procedure, the higher your reimbursement rate will be.
- Coverage amount: The coverage amount refers to how much money will be paid out by the insurance company for each condition covered by your plan. In general, the higher your coverage amount, the higher your premium will be
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Finnish Spitz
Many pet insurance options are available for a Finnish Spitz, 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: It’s essential to consider your budget when choosing a pet insurance plan. Some companies offer more coverage than others, so you may want to look at several policies before deciding which one is right for you. Ask the agent about their coverage limits and how much they cost. Do your research and check with other pet owners who have used their services in the past.
- Customer feedback: If your friends or family members have bought pet insurance plans in the past, ask them if they would recommend their provider and why they chose them over others on the market. If they have had any issues or problems with their policy, you should be aware of this before deciding which company to go with.
- Conditions covered: It’s important to know what type of conditions are covered under your plan to make an informed decision about whether or not it’s worth it for your furry friend. For example, some plans cover accidents but not illnesses, whereas others cover accidents and illnesses but not pre-existing conditions.
- Reimbursement rate: The reimbursement rate is the percentage of your bill that you will receive as a refund. A high reimbursement rate means receiving more of your bill reimbursed if your pet needs treatment.
- Coverage amount: This is an essential factor to consider before buying a policy. If your pet needs expensive treatment and has pre-existing conditions, it would be better to choose a policy with higher coverage amount. If not, you can opt for lower coverage amounts.
- Deductible: The higher the deductible, the lower your premium will be. However, with a higher deductible, you may pay large amounts towards medical bills for minor conditions like skin allergies or ear infections. So choose a balance that suits both your pocket and your dog’s needs.