Is Puppy Insurance Worth It?

Cute, cuddly and expensive?

Vet visits, vaccinations, emergencies...with a pup at home, you need to be ready for a lot of unexpected expenses. This doesn’t mean that getting a pup home is a bad idea. It can be one of the most beautiful things you and your family can experience. The bills, however, can be overwhelming at times, and some can put a massive dent in your savings. Insurance can help you avoid that.

Let’s put some numbers to it to add a little more perspective to this claim so you know what we are talking about and figure out by yourself if getting insurance for your pup is worth it or not.

Puppies – An Introduction

The term puppy can be subjective as it can be difficult to know when exactly a pup becomes an adult. Some breeds look like baby pups even at the age of 12, and some look like wolves at the age of 1. Generally, they say a dog can be called a puppy till the age of 1. Between the ages of 1 and 2 is when most of the breeds start maturing.

With over 300 recognized dog breeds, from the pint-sized Chihuahua to the towering Great Dane, puppies come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. The early months are very crucial for their development and can determine their overall health for the rest of their lives. During this time, they grow at an astonishing rate, sometimes doubling their birth weight in just a week!

Puppies and Their Health

As enthusiastic and energetic puppies are, they can be prone to multiple medical conditions. Some of them can be really scary and even fatal.

Here are some of the most common medical conditions that can affect puppies – ⁽³⁾

Parvovirus

Parvovirus is a nasty stomach virus that is easily transmissible and potentially fatal. The survival rate is 90% with hospitalization, but it remains one of the scariest illnesses for pups.

Distemper

It is a fatal virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of puppies. Supportive care can be provided for it, but there is no complete treatment available for it.

Kennel Cough

This one is a common upper respiratory tract illness that can be caused by bacteria and viruses. The affected pup may need antibiotics, steroids, and cough suppressants to recover.

Leptospirosis

It is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through urine. It targets the kidneys and liver. It is common in dogs that are more exposed to livestock and wildlife.

There are many more that can be added to the list, including adenovirus, internal parasites, etc. Apart from these, vomiting and diarrhea can be frequent occurrences if your pup eats something it’s not supposed to, like garbage. They can also get affected by parasites like roundworms, hookworms, etc.

The treatment for these medical conditions often includes a couple of vet visits, diagnostic tests, medications, prescription diets, and even surgery in some cases. The total cost can easily reach 4 digits.

Don’t believe us? Keep reading.

Average Treatment Costs for Puppies

Here are some average treatment costs for the common medical illnesses found in puppies – ⁽¹⁾

This is not all. Above this, there will be costs of diagnostics and follow-up vet visits. For a severe illness, a vet visit for the initial assessment, stabilization, and treatment would cost an average of $1500 - $6000 ⁽¹⁾ or more, including examinations, medications, surgery, therapy, and hospitalization.

Concerning statistics reveals the financial stress faced by many pet parents – ⁽²⁾

How Does Puppy Insurance Help?

Here’s what most accident and illness puppy insurance plans help cover –

You can get reimbursed up to 90% of the costs related to treatments for puppies. Routine vet visits and other preventive care may not be covered by basic plans. But some insurers do have a wellness add-on that can help cover them as well.

More About Spot Pet Insurance

Spot Pet insurance can help provide financial assistance for eligible veterinary care in case of unexpected accidents, illnesses, or injuries. Our plans can help pet parents manage the eligible costs of covered veterinary care and help ensure that their pets can receive the best treatment possible. Here are some ways that Spot pet insurance plans can help:

Spot's also offers preventive care add-ons, which can help cover the eligible costs of spaying and neutering, dental cleaning, vaccinations, and other routine care services.

Get a quote today!

Is Puppy Insurance Worth It?

In the end, we recommend puppy insurance to all pet parents. Yes, you may feel that we will say this because we sell it, and we wouldn’t be making money if every pet parent would claim hundreds of dollars every year. But the thing is, you don’t know if your pup will need surgery in their lifetime or not. We wouldn’t want that to happen, but unfortunately, if it does, Spot will be there to cover you so that you can take care of your pup with less worry about the financial burden.