Is Greyhound pet insurance worth it?
While routine care and vaccinations can be affordable, when unexpected events happen and your dog falls sick or gets injured, you can expect veterinary costs to substantially increase.
Greyhounds can be subject to many health conditions, and being a physically active dog may require extra routine checkups. Not only can these increase your yearly costs of owning a dog, but some medical conditions may also require long-term treatment and medication that can affect your long-term budget.
Pet insurance can help provide a valuable safety net to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses throughout your dog’s life, alleviating the financial strain and pressure of taking care of your pet’s health.
Common health conditions for a Greyhound
An active racing dog, the Greyhound can live on average 12 – 15 years. Here are some common health conditions your Greyhound can experience throughout its life:
- Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (Bloat): Greyhounds have a high probability of bloat, where the stomach twists on itself and can require emergency surgery to save the dog’s life.
- Bone cancer: There is a high chance of bone cancer within Greyhounds, which can be due to inherited traits being passed down from the parents.
- Deafness: With age, your dog can be diagnosed with deafness. Although treatment may be limited, specialized training can help support your dog.
- Heart murmurs: This can be due to heart disease or other causes which can require vet visits for an accurate diagnosis.
What does pet insurance cover for a Greyhound?
Pet insurance can help cover a range of illnesses and injuries for your dog. Based on your plan, you could be eligible for the following coverage:
- Breed-specific conditions: Different breeds are likely to develop certain hereditary health conditions such as hip dysplasia, diabetes, and heart disease. Pet insurance can help cover veterinary expenses.
- Surgery, procedures, and hospitalization: Minor and major procedures can be covered by pet insurance and if your dog needs to stay overnight at the hospital, you can be reimbursed for the costs.
- Testing and diagnostics: The cost for x-rays, ultrasounds, MRI scans, blood tests, CT scans, and urinalysis can be reimbursed by pet insurance.
- Accidents and illness: If you choose to take out accident and illness policy, pet insurance will cover you for the cost of treatment for unexpected sickness and illnesses.
- Alternative therapies: Many insurance policies can include alternative therapies as part of their pet insurance plan. It’s best to read the small print to confirm what is covered before you take out your policy, but some treatments can include physical therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropractic, homeopathy, and naturopathy.
As with any insurance policy, there are likely to be some exclusions. Common exclusions include cosmetic treatment, pre-existing medical conditions, teeth cleaning, microchipping, pregnancy or birth, and preventable diseases.
How are insurance premiums determined for a Greyhound?
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 genetic health conditions. If the cost to treat these health issues is high, the cost of your pet insurance premium is likely to increase.
- Age: As your Greyhound gets older, pet insurance premiums can increase as health conditions are more common in older dogs. It’s best to double-check with your insurer the expected lifetime cost of your policy, as this can have an impact on your household budget down the road.
- Deductibles: You can typically adjust your deductibles to increase or lower your premium. If you choose to pay a higher deductible, this will lower your premium.
- Coverage type: Accident and illness policies provide more extensive coverage than accident-only policies, but also come with a higher premium cost.
- Add-ons: If you choose to add policy add-ons such as dental care, wellness check-ups, and behavioral therapy, this will also increase your policy premium.
It’s a good idea to carefully read your policy’s terms and conditions before you purchase so that you can avoid any surprises if you go to make a claim.
How to choose the best Greyhound pet insurance?
There are many pet insurance options for your Greyhound and comparing multiple providers can be time-consuming. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when choosing your pet insurance plan:
- Waiting periods: Almost all pet insurance policies come with a waiting period where the effective date of the policy is a certain number of days after the start date. It’s a good idea to be aware of this before you take out your policy, as any claims submitted during the waiting period are unlikely to be covered.
- Start your policy when your dog is young: Many insurers increase premiums for older dogs or refuse to insure dogs with pre-existing medical conditions, therefore changing your policy down the road can be costly. Starting your Greyhound with the best pet insurance plan while their young can ensure they have adequate health coverage that meets their needs throughout their life.
- Consider wellness coverage: Routine checkups can ensure that your dog is in good health and any illnesses or diseases can be caught in their early stages. In addition, the costs of preventative care are likely to be included in coverage, which can ensure that your dog gets the vaccinations and treatments needed to stay happy and healthy.