10 Reasons All Animal Owners Should Get Pet Insurance

Pets are not mere animals, when you take them into your home, they become family members. Pet insurance is a must-have if you care for your pet as if it were a member of your family. Pet insurance works just like health insurance for people. It allows you to get reimbursed for eligible medical expenses when you visit the veterinary. Learn more about this type of insurance and why pet owners should get one.

1. Insurance Covers Your Pet in Case of Accidents and Illnesses
If you take out pet insurance, you are covered in case of accidents and illness. The insurer will reimburse you for the eligible costs you pay at the veterinary if your cat or dog falls ill or is injured. Pet insurance is useful at any age because unfortunate events such as car accidents can affect any pets, especially those that also spend time outdoors. If your pet gets hit by a car or suffers injuries due to other types of accidents, the consequences can be severe and they might require surgery and long-term treatment. CT scans and X-rays alone can cost hundreds of dollars, while surgery can easily reach thousands of dollars.

Treatment for chronic diseases such as heart or thyroid conditions can also prove expensive. These require continuous medication that can cost hundreds of dollars per year. Pet insurance can help you reduce the amount you need to pay based on your coverage limit.

2. It Helps Extend Your Pet's Lifespan
Regular veterinary visits are recommended for dogs, cats, and other common pets. The minimum frequency is a visit per year. During these regular checkups, the vet will examine your pet and let you know whether they need any special diet or treatment.

These checkups are essential to catch early signs of disease and start applying preventive care treatment. On these occasions, the vet can also administer the necessary annual vaccinations and deworming treatment. Essentially, these vet visits can extend your pet’s life and ensure they stay healthy and happy for as long as possible.

Pet insurance can help you cover some of the costs associated with routine health care, especially if you choose a wellness plan. This type of insurance covers grooming, annual checkups, and several other costs. Some of the services included in pet wellness plans are:

- Deworming treatment 
- Heartworm tests 
- Vaccines 
- Annual vet visits 
- Spaying and neutering 
- Blood work 
- Fecal exams 
- Behavioral therapy 
- Grooming 
- Acupuncture 
- Massage therapy 
- Dental care 
- Microchipping 

Pet wellness plans can be added to a basic insurance plan. One aspect to keep in mind is the reimbursement limits. Some plans have per-item limitations meaning that they cover specific expenses up to a certain limit. For example, you might get a cap on dental cleaning services or vaccination. Compare different plans and choose the one you think will benefit your pet and your finances the most. 

3. Pet Insurance Helps You Be Prepared for the Unexpected 
You never know when your beloved pet falls ill, even if you’re diligent about their care and always on the lookout for symptoms. Moreover, you cannot prevent or predict accidents that might cause your pet injuries that require immediate medical attention. The cost of treatment and rehabilitation can be overwhelming. Just like getting health insurance for yourself and your family, pet insurance helps you be prepared for unexpected medical bills that can take a great share of your savings if you don't have any coverage. 

4. Pet Health Care Costs Are Rising 
Prices are constantly increasing in all industries and pet health care is no exception. The average American pet owner spends around $500 on their pet per year. This is another reason to get pet insurance sooner rather than later so you avoid spending more money further down the line if your pet gets sick or suffers an accident.

Only routine vet visits cost more than $240 per year for dogs and almost $180 for cats according to the 2021-2022 American Pet Products Association National Pet Owners Survey. If you want to add other services as part of your pet's routine care, you can pay thousands of dollars per year. For example, dental cleaning for dogs costs between $500-$1000. Dog grooming costs up to $75 depending on the dog's size. All these costs easily add up at the end of the year and pet insurance can ease this financial burden. 

5. Pet Insurance Is Flexible
Another advantage of pet insurance is that you can customize your plan depending on your pet's age, health, and of course, your finances. If you have a dog with long hair, for example, you might want to get a wellness plan that can cover the grooming costs. These pet insurance plans also include other routine care expenses and can even cover diet foods or supplements. So, if your cat has kidney problems or a skin allergy and needs a special type of food, you can get a wellness plan that covers this expense.

You can add different riders to a basic insurance policy to get coverage for different veterinary costs. Moreover, you can customize your coverage limit and take out insurance for several pets, which can also give you some discounts. 

6. Pet Insurance Is Easy to Use 
Pet insurance is not hard to use. After comparing different plans and choosing the one you find most suitable for your pet, you have to pay for the insurance coverage monthly. The insurance company will calculate the value of your monthly premiums based on your pet's age, breed, and your zip code. When you go to the vet, you'll pay for their services regularly and then submit a claim to the insurance company with the proof of payment and wait for the reimbursement. 

7. You Can Choose Any Veterinary
Pet insurance is also flexible in terms of vet choices. No matter what plan you opt for, you are not forced to choose a certain veterinarian. You can go to any vet’s office, pay for their service, and then submit your reimbursement claim to the insurance company.

Being able to choose any vet allows you to offer your pet the best care. You can take your dog for grooming to a certain vet and for regular checkups, deworming and vaccination to another one, it’s entirely up to you. 

Some insurers have a network of veterinarians. If you choose one of their vets, you can walk out of their office without paying a dime as the company will pay the vet directly for the eligible services up to your coverage amount. 

8. You Don’t Have to Tap Into Your Savings Account
If your pet suffers injuries in an accident or develops a severe condition, you might have to pay thousands of dollars to get them diagnosed and treated. Without an insurance plan, you have to pay these costly expenses all by yourself. This might mean tapping into your savings account, which is something you might not want to do if you are saving money for a house down payment, college, or another goal. Pet insurance eliminates the unpleasant situation when you have to choose between your pet and your wallet. 

9. Insurance Is Important for Older Pets
Pets have a different life expectancy depending on their overall health, genetic factors, and their breed. However, the older they get, the more likely they are to start developing different conditions.

For example, dogs, especially large breeds, are more at risk of ligament problems as they get older. 
Cats are not devoid of age-related health problems either. Many of these pets start having kidney issues and urinary tract infections as they age and the kidneys stop functioning properly. Heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer are just some of the serious conditions both dogs and cats can get diagnosed with as they get older.

Treating these conditions or at least keeping them under control can require thousands of dollars in medical bills. Pet insurance helps you be prepared for any pet health problems and related medical care costs. 

10. You Gain Peace of Mind
Having a cat or a dog is great, but it comes at a cost. When pets become family members, you have the responsibility to take care of them. This implies a lot of different aspects from training them to giving them healthy food and taking them to the vet for routine checkups. Pet insurance can help you with all these expenses by providing you coverage for a wide range of services from behavioral therapy to diet food and supplements and other vet expenses.

Besides helping you minimize the toll pet health care can take on your finances, an insurance plan also provides peace of mind. Knowing your pet is insured in case of any medical emergency can be a comforting thought, especially if it’s old or its breed makes it more prone to developing certain conditions.

Conclusion 

Pet insurance has got your furry friend covered in case of illness or accidents. Moreover, there are also wellness pet insurance plans that cover a wide range of vet expenses including behavioral therapy, grooming, vaccinations, blood work, and plenty more. Pet insurance is flexible and can offer you peace of mind. With this insurance, your pet is well taken care of in case of emergency while your finances remain intact.

Everything You Need to Know About Golden Retriever Pet Insurance

Golden retrievers are more likely to experience medical emergencies than some other breeds. Much like humans, it’s always better to prevent health issues than to wait for them to appear. So how can you protect your goldie from some of life’s unexpected events?

Aside from leading a healthy lifestyle, golden retrievers need to be monitored regularly to keep an eye on any issues that may arise. And when your goldie does come down with something, you have to make sure that you’re providing appropriate treatment to help your pup get better.

So is it worth taking out pet insurance for golden retrievers? And what level of coverage is enough?

Read on to learn everything you need to know to safeguard your loyal companion.

Summary

Personality

Loyal, Playful, Eager to please, Gentle, Energetic, Inquisitive

Tips for keeping goldies happy and healthy

Exercise 2 hours a day (Walks, running, playing, training)

2 Meals a day

High-quality meal mixing meat, grains, fruit and vegetables

Common golden retriever health issues

●        Joint dysplasia

●        Skin conditions

●        Allergies

●        Ear Infection

●        Cancer

●        Heart Disease

●        Cataracts

●        Hypothyroidism

Is pet insurance worth it for golden retrievers?

Considering all the check-ups that are recommended, it would be smart to make sure your retriever is covered.

Pet insurance price for golden retrievers

What level of coverage is good for golden retrievers?

It’s best to get broad coverage for vet visits and unexpected events.

Golden Retriever’s Temperament and Personality

Golden retrievers are among the most popular dogs in the US. Their intelligent and loyal nature makes them one of the first on the list when it comes to guiding the blind and finding survivors during search and rescue missions.

But aside from their “official” role in society, these dogs brighten up our homes with their outgoing and playful personalities, which remain joyful throughout their adult years. But don’t mistake their playfulness for disobedience, retrievers are eager to please and therefore easy to train, and they make great nannies thanks to their gentle nature.

As gentle as they may be, they are bursting with energy and enjoy going for walks, running, playing, and generally staying active. On the other hand, unsurprisingly, our happy Goldies can get quite irritable when unwell.

So how do we keep golden retrievers happy? Are there tips for keeping these dogs healthy?

Tips for keeping your Golden Retriever happy and healthy

Golden retrievers are generally a healthy breed, but they have to stay active to keep it that way.

Having large reserves of energy means they need at least 2 hours of exercise a day in adulthood. Exercise includes taking them for walks and going jogging, but can also mean lengthy playing and training sessions.

And of course, to keep a golden retriever’s energy levels high, they need to be fed two meals a day making sure to mix high-quality meat, grains, fruit and vegetables. Don’t overdo it though, as larger dog breeds are at greater risk of obesity, which can lead to several additional health issues.

In short:

●        Exercise 2 hours a day (Walks, running, playing, training)

●        2 Meals a day

●        High-quality meal mixing meat, grains, fruit and vegetables

What are common Golden Retriever health issues?

Golden retrievers leading a relatively healthy lifestyle can live for 10-12 years without too many concerns. That being said, pure-breed dogs tend to pass on their genetic predispositions, meaning that retrievers are sensitive to certain conditions.

●        Elbow dysplasia

Dysplasia happens when the ball and socket of the joint are misaligned because they are formed abnormally. It’s a genetic disease that mainly affects larger dogs, including our golden retrievers.

When retrievers start suffering from joint dysplasia, they appear less active and have visible difficulty when running or jumping. There isn’t a treatment for this condition, but you can definitely ask a professional to help with the pain and discomfort.

Similarly, retrievers are more frequently susceptible to inflammation of the legs, also called Pan osteitis.

●        Skin Conditions

Golden retrievers can also be afflicted by skin conditions such as seborrhea or sebaceous cysts. These can be taken care of with less fuss, so if you spot your goldie scratching, biting, or licking at flaky skin, make sure you take a trip to the vet to sort it out.

●        Allergies

Linked to the skin conditions mentioned above, allergies are also common among golden retrievers. But allergies don’t just cause scratching.

Retrievers suffering from allergies can have runny eyes, sneezing, vomiting, and even diarrhea. But what are dogs allergic to? Much like humans, dogs are allergic to dust and mold, but many of their allergic reactions are caused by man-made products such as cigarette smoke, home cleaning products, and even some shampoos or soaps that we buy for them.

A quick visit to the vet is all you need to find out if your retriever has an allergy. The vet will carry out a blood or skin test, though these can turn out to be quite expensive to pay out of pocket. However, it’s great for giving you some peace of mind.

●        Ear Infection

It may seem the most docile on this list, but infections can be more than a nuisance. A golden retriever’s long ears are a safe haven for bacteria, which makes them susceptible to ear infections. They’re already very painful and, if left untreated for too long, can lead to a ruptured eardrum and even permanent hearing loss.

Luckily ear infections are easy to treat if caught quickly. Again in this case, a visit to the vet will suffice.

●        Cancer

Unfortunately, our golden friends are nearly twice as likely to get cancer than all other dog breeds. In fact, around 60% of all retrievers will die from cancer, with the most common ones being lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma.

It’s important to screen for cancer regularly, make smart dietary decisions, and mitigate other environmental risk factors such as excessive sunlight and cigarette smoke.

●        Eye problems (Cataracts)

Goldies have a genetic predisposition to develop cataracts, which is a coloration in the lenses of the eye that can greatly impair vision. Dogs with this problem will have a visible cloud in their eye and sometimes bump into furniture or walls due to the decreased visibility.

The recommended solution for cataracts is monitoring to detect the issue at the earliest possible stage. Cataracts can also be surgically removed and vision can be restored, but not all dogs are ideal candidates for this kind of surgery.

●        Artic Stenosis (Heart Disease)

A rare one, but retrievers are one of the most likely dog breeds to have aortic stenosis. It occurs when the heart’s aortic valve narrows, this forces the body to work harder to be able to pump blood through the valve. This condition can potentially lead to excessive stress on the heart and heart failure.

Regular monitoring can help identify it early on and help you reduce the workload on the heart. It can also be treated if it comes to it, but preventing it will save you and your goldie some stress.

●        Hypothyroidism

Goldies are also vulnerable to hypothyroidism, which is estimated to affect around 25% of all retrievers. Hypothyroidism causes an insufficient amount of thyroid hormones, which leads to fatigue and weight gain as well as coat and skin problems.

Is pet insurance worth it for a Golden Retriever?

We’ve seen that Golden retrievers have their fair share of health issues compared to other breeds and mix-breed dogs. These conditions go from basic and cheap to rather complex and expensive. Considering all the check-ups that are recommended, it would be smart to make sure your retriever is covered.

Even if you live in an area where veterinarian fees are quite low, frequent preventative visits will start accumulating and your best friend won’t be covered in an unexpected situation.

Taking out pet insurance for a golden retriever will make sure you’re safeguarding them as well as your wallet.

Golden Retriever pet insurance prices

How much will pet insurance cost for a golden retriever? That depends.

Here are a few things that will affect the price of pet insurance:

●        pet’s age and gender,

●        vet rates where you live,

●        coverage choice,

●        reimbursement option,

●        benefit limit.

Younger golden retrievers will be easier to insure at reasonable prices, much like insurance for human beings. But it will also depend on your location and how much veterinarians are charging in that region.

You may also want to pay an extra fee for the packages the provider offers. For example, Lemonade Pet insurance mostly covers diagnostics, medical procedures, and medications, but can also cover visits to the vet caused by accidents for an extra fee.

The below table assumes that you take out Lemonade insurance for your 1-year-old Golden Retriever who hasn’t had previous health conditions.

As you can see, someone in New York is going to find themselves paying much more than someone in Columbus.

The best way to determine how much you would pay is to visit a pet insurance website and use their calculator, which is often user-friendly and free of charge.

What’s the best level of coverage for Golden Retrievers?

Golden retrievers are more sensitive to certain genetic joint problems, various cancers and allergies, meaning they need you to monitor them regularly. A more inclusive plan will give you the power to safeguard your pupper’s health and not break the bank with sky-high vet bills when the unexpected occurs.