If you’re looking for the best pet insurance for your large dog breed in 2022, you’re in luck. So we’ve compiled a list of top providers in the industry and what they have to offer.
By understanding the prevalence of health issues and diseases, in relation to age and breed, pet parents could get appropriate guidance for future health care strategies and provide helpful information for the early diagnosis of diseases. That’s why pet health insurance is so essential even during puppyhood.
Research demonstrates that larger dogs have better short-term memory and self-control than smaller breeds. Larger dog breeds are more susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears.
Larger dog breeds also have a shorter lifespan than small dog breeds, whereas research indicates that mixed breed dogs yield a higher average lifespan than purebred dog breeds, except for Poodles and Border Collies.
One study shows that large male dogs are more prone to trauma deaths, whereas large female breeds showed higher rates of neoplasms. Some breeds, like the Golden Retriever and Boxers, die of cancer more frequently than other breeds. Past research shows that breed and age are major risk factors for mortality in dogs.
Common Health Issues In Large Dog Breeds
Larger dog breeds also age faster, causing arthritis to come on sooner. Unfortunately, the primary health problems commonly found in large breed dogs differ from those found in small breeds. That’s why it’s important to have pet insurance for your large dog breed.
A 2021 study from the University of Bristol discusses how a dog’s body size and shape could indicate a greater bone tumor risk. Larger breeds, like the Rottweiler, Great Dane, and Rhodesian Ridgeback have a greater chance of osteosarcoma than smaller breeds.
Although osteosarcoma can affect any dog breed, pet parents of large dog breeds should be aware of the symptoms to reach out to their vet.
The study adds that signs include lameness and painful bony swelling, and dog owners should contact their vet if concerned. Finally, the study highlights the health risks associated with large breed body size and adds that to “reduce the risks of picking a dog that may develop bone cancer, owners may need to consider choosing puppies from smaller-sized parents of these giant breeds or opting for different smaller breeds instead.”
The best pet insurance for large dog breeds will cover hereditary and congenital conditions, cancer, prescription medications, surgeries, and hospital stays. Below are 8 top pet insurance providers for large dogs in 2022.
In a rush? Here are the top picks!
Best Overall Pet Insurance For Large Dogs
- Pros
- Plenty of positive reviews
- Features discounts compared to other pet insurance carriers
- Customizable plans
- Easy to understand plans
- Special package for pups & kittens
- All life stages included.
- Cons
- Not available in all states
Lemonade is designed to make life easier for pet parents by providing affordable coverage that they can customize in consultation with their vet. With 24/7 access and assistance from experienced staff, the company knows how important it is to protect your animal and give peace of mind when you need support!
Features
- Crafted with the lowest premiums around starting at $10.00 monthly
- Expanded illness benefits to include vet visit fees and physical therapy
- Available in 36 states
- Lemonade will pay up to 70%, 80%, or 90% of all covered expenses.
- Easy sign-up
- Optional add-ons like vet visit fees and physical therapy.
- Preventive packages that cover routine Wellness like your pet’s annual exam, blood tests, vaccinations
Best Overall For Multi-Pet Large Breed Households
- Pros
- Save 10 % with two or more pets.
- Crafted with a diminishing Healthy Pet deductible of $50 each year without a claim
- Covers breed-specific conditions
- Prepared with an optional Wellness Rewards Plan that pays you back for services like grooming, exams, Wellness, training, vaccines & more.
- Option to visit any licensed vet, emergency room, or emergency specialist.
- Fast claims process
- $1000 yearly coverage for dental benefits
- Cons
- Annual limits
- Only dogs of 14 years and under can get news coverage.
Embrace pet insurance is a popular option to provide your furry friend with health care. Embracing offers 90% reimbursement, no lifetime limit, and a decreasing deductible (you can even get discounts if you have multiple pets)! One of their more unique features is the Wellness rewards plan – we like this because it provides excellent coverage.
Features
- Good discount options
- Mobile app for fast claims processing
- Good range of coverage options
- Features up to 90% of costs covered.
- Allows for a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Terrific 24/7 customer service helpline
- Plans can be customized according to your pet’s health requirements.
- Crafted to allow for diminishing deductible
- Offers a Wellness Reward Plan
Best Large Dog Pet Insurance for Direct Vet Pay
- Pros
- Crafted with coverage for breed-specific conditions
- Option of complementary care for rehab treatments
- Features vet direct pay
- Choice of Pet Owner assistance that covers pet damage
- You can choose the percentage of the covered costs.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No paperwork needed
- Pay only a portion of the vet bill, and the rest is paid directly to vet
- Features no payout limits
- No annual deductible but a per-incident deductible
- 90% reimbursement for services
- Cons
- Features no routine care Wellness coverage
- No multiple pet discounts
Trupanion knows that pets are more than just an accessory; they’re family. Trupanion coverage includes direct vet pay to put your worries behind the risks of illness and injury away when it comes time to care for those furry friends!
Trupanion features numerous pet insurance plans to help cover your furry friend’s medical expenses. The waiting period before getting coverage is five days for injuries or 30 days if it’s an illness- but these wait times may be waived with proper documentation like vet certificates! Trupanion provides excellent benefits such as reimbursement of up 90% after submitting claims.
Features
- Lots of price options
- Direct payments
- Decades of experience
- 90% coverage
- No payout limits
- 98% of Trupanion members stay enrolled
- Broad coverage
- VET DIRECT PAY
- Pros
- Suitable for advanced treatment coverage
- It covers stem cell therapy, acupuncture, and behavioral therapy
- Features a preventative care plan for pups and kittens
- Crafted with a 14-day waiting period for things like illnesses and accidents
- Features coverage for severe health conditions like cancer
- Multipet discounts
- Cons
- No mobile appt for fast vet access
- No reimbursement options
This pet insurance is perfect for pups! With Pumpkin, you’ll get a complete refund on eligible wellness visits and treatments. Thanks to Pumpkin’s new preventative essentials program – which covers all types of animals with no upper age limit–you can get coverage that equals what many health insurance providers offer but without those pesky restrictions or limitations.
Coverage includes acupuncture, stem cell therapy, and even behavioral therapy as long as the treatments are prescribed and performed by a veterinarian.
The takeaway with Pumpkin is that the maximum benefit for dogs is $20,000, and with some serious illnesses like cancer, vet bills can exceed that. There’s also no mobile app.
Features
- No multiple reimbursement options
- Affordable
- Preventative care reimburses 100%
- Covers microchipping pet
- No upper age limit
- Pros
- Fast claims are usually processed within two days
- Easily customizable
- Covers loss due to death or stray: $1,000 annually
- Covers pets of any age (over six weeks old) – no upper age enrollment limit
- Short waiting period for accidents (5 days after enrollment)
- Veterinary exam fees included
- Cancer treatment included
- Surgery & rehab included
- Cons
- No multi-pet discount
- It does not cover pre-existing conditions.
Fetch is a new way to think about pet insurance. With 150 million data points from 15 years of clinical health findings, FETCH uses its vast experience in veterinarian medicine and personalized care for your furry friend’s longevity with the goal that you can enjoy long-lasting relationships together!
Fetch offers one comprehensive plan with accident and illness coverage included for pets that allows you to choose your reimbursement rate, deductible or annual limit. Their medical services include injuries from accidents as well homeopathy; acupuncture hydrotherapy surgeries.
Features
- Affordable ($35 for dogs)
- Crafted with a Healthy Pet Credit
- Covers the exam fees for sick visits ($50-$250 on average)
- No lifetime or per-condition payout limit
- Works with any licensed vet in the U.S. or Canada.
Best for Large Dog Breeds with Mobility Issues
- Pros
- Crafted with two wellness add-ons for routine care coverage
- No age limits for enrollments so that a 14-year-old dog can enroll
- Two wellness add-ons for routine care coverage
- Pays out claims fast
- Founded by a vet
- Multiple discounts offered
- Time-saving online features
- Low premiums
- Wide range of plans and coverage options
- One annual deductible
- Works with all licensed veterinarians in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico
- Cons
- Coverage doesn't extend to end-of-life costs for cremation & burial
- Rehabilitation coverage only available with a top-tier Elite plan
Pets Best has your pet’s best interest at heart. They offer elective wellness plans that cover prescriptions and rehabilitative services for the whole pet family! Pets Best will take good care of your furbabies at affordable prices, from laser therapy to chiropractic care. Pets Best can also pay your vet directly, so you don’t have to wait for the reimbursement saving you time and money.
Pets Best is always one of our top picks because it provides coverage for wheelchairs and prosthetics for pets with mobility issues. Pets Best is an excellent option if your large dog breed is prone to limb or ligament issues, such as hip dysplasia or degenerative joint disorders.
Features
- The Essential Wellness option features $305 of annual coverage
- The sample monthly cost for Best Pets insurance for dogs is $18.18
- Brad range of deductible options to choose from
- Mobile app
- 24/7 veterinary support is available
- Pups from 7 weeks up accepted for
- Features a cancellation period
- Cancel any time
- Routine care add-ons
- No upper age limits for enrollment
- Pros
- All health conditions and ages are covered & treated by a participating vet.
- Plans crafted with no wait periods, deductibles, or annual limits
- Good multi-pet and yearly payment discounts
- It covers all pre-existing conditions
- Allows for a 45-day money-back guarantee
- Coverage for dental care
- Business Bureau A+ rating
- Cons
- Need to use in-house by a registered Pet Assure veterinarian.
- No prescription coverage
- There is no coverage on lab tests by outside labs.
Pet Assure is a company that offers veterinary discounts to help cut down on expensive costs for your pets. This plan provides pet parents an affordable 25% discount off all in-office vet bills with no deductibles, so you don’t have to worry about dealing directly through insurance companies or paying additional out-of-pocket expenses when it comes time to visit the vet’s office!
Features
- Crafted with a discount membership plan
- All pet health treatments covered
- All types of an animal eligible
- Fast online enrollment process with no forms to fill out
- Pricing is determined by location and number of pets
- Features same day sign up with veterinary care
- Features Wellness program
- 5,600 locations
- Affordable
- Pros
- Functions a lot like a typical line of credit
- Maximum lending amount $25000
- Minimum lending amount $200
- Easy to apply
- Chronic illnesses, dental work, prescriptions & emergency procedures covered.
- Can be used to purchase pet meds and medical supplies
- Cons
- It may be costly.
- Interest accrued from the date of purchase at 26.99% plus late fees if you miss a payment.
Private veterinary financing is another popular type of lending offered by specific veterinary clinics and pet hospitals to aid their customers in dealing with costly veterinary bills. It works much like a credit card in that the loan is extended to the pet owner, and then the pet owner has a set amount of time to pay off the loan. Care Credit is one of the most popular private veterinary financing options available.
Care Credit is a credit card company that offers financing specifically for veterinary care. Credit Care Veterinary Financing covers routine appointments to emergencies or surgeries. This can be a great option if you face a large vet bill and need help spreading the cost over time.
Care Credit offers several different financing options, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. They also have a very helpful customer service team that can answer any questions you have about their products. The takeaway from this card is that it gives you the flexibility to use your card again and again for your pet’s procedures. Here’s what it covers:
Routine veterinary
- Annual check-ups
- Teeth cleaning
- Parasites
- Dermatology
- Rehab
- Medication
- Diagnostics
- Care of chronic pet diseases and conditions
- Dog chemotherapy
- Vaccinations
Veterinary surgery & emergencies
- Spay and neutering
- Emergency services
- Surgical procedures
- Hip dysplasia surgery
Features
- Covers routine veterinary care & veterinary surgery & care
- Subject to credit approval
- Minimum monthly payments required
- Can lower a credit score by 30 points or more
- Veterinary credit card
- Minimum credit score to apply 623
- Option of 3, 6, 12, or 18-month interest-free period
Common medical disorders and differences in prevalence of diseases, according to age and breeds
A 2018 study from the Republic of Korea published in NCBI looked at 15,531 medical records of canine patients analyzed from 11 veterinary clinics that shared data from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. The study explains that age, breed, gender, neuter status, clinical information, and diagnosis were all considered. Here’s the takeaway:
Preventive medicine (16.7% confidence intervals) was the most common cause for clinic visits for the <1 year and 1–3 year groups.
- Neutering surgery (6.6%)
- Patella luxation (1.4%)
- Dermatitis or eczema (8.5%)
In dogs older than ten, the most common medical problems were the following:
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Cushing’s disease
- Mammary tumors
- Dental (gingivitis/periodontal)
- Parasitic
- Trauma involving an accident, injuries with lacerations, bite wounds, poisoning, and fractures.
The study explains that “for all breeds, otitis externa, dermatitis or eczema, vomiting, and diarrhea were common medical problems.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pet insurance for large breeds?
Pet insurance for large breeds is a policy that covers the medical expenses of a large dog, usually over 50 lbs. This type of policy can help pet owners pay for treatments and procedures related to injuries or illnesses in their pets.
How does pet insurance work?
Pet insurance typically works by reimbursing the pet owner for a percentage of the costs associated with treating their pet. This can include expenses for procedures, medications, and hospital stays. In addition, policies may also have a deductible that the pet owner must pay out of pocket before the policy begins to reimburse them.
How much does pet insurance cost?
The cost of pet insurance varies depending on the policy. Some policies have a flat fee, while others charge a percentage of the total cost of care. Many policies also have a deductible that the pet owner must pay before coverage begins.
What breeds are considered large?
The size of a dog can vary depending on the breed. However, most insurance companies consider breeds that weigh over 50 pounds to be large breeds.
What are some of the benefits of pet insurance for large breeds?
Some of the benefits of pet insurance for large breeds include coverage for treatments and procedures related to injuries or illnesses and routine care. This policy can also help pet owners save money on their veterinary bills.
Does it cost more to insure a large dog breed?
Large dog breeds may cost more to insure than smaller breeds. This is because there is a greater chance that they will require expensive medical treatments. However, the cost of pet insurance varies depending on the policy, so it is essential to compare rates.
What should I look for when choosing a pet insurance policy?
When choosing a pet insurance policy, it is essential to consider the offered coverage. Some policies only cover certain medical expenses, while others may have a deductible that must be met before coverage begins.
It is also essential to compare rates from different companies before choosing a policy. For example, try to get a policy covering some of the following, like what is most important to your large dog breed regarding health issues.
Dental disease
- Pre-existing or hereditary conditions (mostly excluded) Always check bilateral conditions and whether they count as pre-existing.
- Behavioral issues
- Routine checkups and preventive care
- Hip dysplasia
- Grooming
Are older large breed dogs more expensive to insure?
Yes, older large breed dogs are often more expensive to insure than younger dogs. This is because there is a greater chance that they will require costly medical treatments.
Conclusion For The Best Pet Insurance For Large Dogs
Pet insurance for large dog breeds is vital to ensure you can afford the care they need if they become sick or injured. However, not all pet insurance policies are created equal.
It’s essential to research and choose a policy that meets your needs and budget. In addition, consider using private veterinary financing options like Care Credit to help cover the cost of large vet bills. This can be a great way to spread the cost over time and avoid costly interest payments.
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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