How to Get Pet Dog Insurance

Dogs are one of the easiest types of pets to get insured. There are a wide variety of pet insurance policies available that cover dogs for everything from injury and illness to wellness and dental care.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Find the Right Pet Insurance for Your Dog

1. Research the genetic conditions that are most likely to affect your dog by visiting the Canine Health Foundation website (see Resources below). Some conditions may not be covered by most insurance policies, but others can be covered if your dog was insured before the condition was diagnosed.

2. Compare insurance quotes for your dog's age and breed. You can get quotes online from most pet insurance companies.

3. Buy your preferred insurance. Most providers allow you to buy online, although you are also able to buy via telephone.

4. Double-check the price and coverage of your dog's new policy. Your actual policy may differ from the one you chose.

5. Wait until after your dog has been insured to schedule a physical. If your vet finds that your pet has an illness when it is still uninsured, it will be much harder to get coverage. But if an illness is diagnosed after coverage begins, it isn't considered a preexisting condition.

Tips & Warnings

• Puppies and young dogs are more prone to injuries and accidents. If you have a younger dog, you may want to look at policies with higher levels of accident coverage.
• If you do not know your dog's age, your vet can give you an estimate of age during a physical.
• If you have more than one dog, you can usually get a discount if you enroll all of your pets with the same insurer.
• Purebred dogs are more likely to suffer from hereditary conditions, making them more expensive to insure.
• Many insurers will not cover dogs over a certain age--typically around 11-years old. Some insurance companies will not insure dogs over 9 years of age.
• Not all plans cover spaying or neutering. If your dog will need either procedure, you may be required to pay out of pocket.
• Insurance plans that cover checkups and dental cleanings are more expensive. In some cases, you may wish to cover wellness visits out of pocket, rather than through an insurer.

Resources

• Canine Health Foundation for information on genetic conditions.