Is pet insurance worth it for a Great Pyrenees?
It’s estimated that approximately 1 in 3 pets will have a medical emergency every year that requires a visit to the vet. Emergency vet visits can easily stretch into thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket expenses.
As purebred dogs, Great Pyrenees are susceptible to genetic health conditions throughout their life. Health problems can require ongoing treatment and sometimes surgery to help fix them.
Pet insurance can help cover the expenses for medical bills when your dog falls sick or gets injured. It can be a reassuring safety net to have in place so that you can focus on your dog’s recovery.
Common health conditions for a Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees has an average lifespan of 10 – 12 years and weighs between 85 to 160 pounds and lives overall healthy, but has some common health conditions it can experience:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia: Due to abnormal growth of the hip and elbow joints, it can become very painful for the dog to walk or stand. Surgery may be required in severe cases.
- Entropion: This is where the upper and lower eyelids roll inwards. Surgical correction may be required by the vet.
- Tricuspid valve dysplasia: Due to misshapen or poorly formed heart valves, some of the blood moves backward while the heart is pumping blood around the body. Large breed and male dogs are the most affected.
- Panosteitis: A common orthopedic condition for large breed dogs, a layer of the bone can become painfully inflamed. Symptoms can sometimes resolve themselves, and treatment can be largely supportive to help reduce pain.
What does pet insurance cover for a Great Pyrenees?
Pet insurance can cover a range of treatments to help keep your dog happy and healthy. Based on your plan, you could receive the following coverage:
- Breed-specific conditions: These are genetic conditions passed down due to the specific breed. As Great Pyrenees are purebred dogs and likely to inherit health conditions, pet insurance can help cover treatment costs.
- Tests and diagnostics: Your dog may require a range of tests to determine the best course of treatment. These can include x-rays, ultrasounds, MRI scans, blood tests, CT scans, and urinalysis.
- Vet labor: Pet insurance will help cover the cost of exam fees, consultations, and vet labor.
- Accidents and illness: It’s difficult to predict when our dogs will fall sick and have an accident. Pet insurance can help cover the treatment costs needed to help your dog make full recovery.
- Surgery and hospitalization: If surgery and overnight stays are required, your policy can help reimburse you for these costs.
In addition, many pet insurance policies cover alternative therapies such as physical therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, and chiropractic treatment. It’s a good idea to double-check with your insurer the exact coverage and limits, as this will differ depending on the insurer and the type of policy.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Great Pyrenees?
Many different factors determine the cost of your pet insurance coverage. Some of these factors include:
- Breed and gender: Certain breeds and genders are predisposed to medical conditions that can be costly to treat. This can increase the cost of your policy premium.
- Age: With age, dogs are more likely to develop health conditions and potentially need a longer recovery period and treatment. This will be reflected in your insurance premium for an older pet.
- Pre-existing conditions: Depending on the medical condition, many pet insurers will exclude pre-existing conditions or refuse to insure your dog. If your dog has been cured, your insurer may still provide coverage, but this can be at the expense of a higher premium.
- Add-ons: Many pet insurance plans have policy add-ons. These can include dental care, behavioral therapy, and wellness checkups. While these can increase your policy premium, wellness check-ups can cover for preventative care, which could save you healthcare costs in the long run.
- Policy payment: Many insurers provide a policy discount if you choose to pay annually instead of monthly.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Great Pyrenees
Choosing a pet insurance plan can take time and you’ll likely need to compare multiple plans to ensure you are receiving adequate coverage at the most affordable price. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when choosing your plan:
- Coverage type: There are three main coverage types when taking out pet insurance. These are accident-only, accident and illness, and wellness coverage. Accident-only policies tend to provide more limited coverage than accident and illness policies. When choosing your insurance policy, it’s a good idea to assess your dog’s needs first so that you can choose the most affordable coverage level that’s best for your dog’s needs.
- Exclusions: Common exclusions in pet insurance policies include cosmetic treatment, pre-existing medical conditions, teeth cleaning, microchipping, pregnancy or birth, preventable diseases, grooming services, and death. There can also be restrictions on certain breeds, that may not be covered in specific instances.
- Calculate your lifetime premiums: As your dog gets older, many pet insurers increase premiums as your dog is more likely to develop health conditions with age. It’s important to calculate the lifetime cost from the start as this will help you manage your household budget and plan for future expenses that are likely to come up.