Dogs are a part of the family. As such, you want to keep them healthy and happy, so it’s no surprise that more and more pet owners are turning to pet insurance.
It helps cover the cost of injuries, illness, and emergency care, but does it cover everything?
Does it cover conditions such as hip dysplasia? Let’s take a look, or click here for our recommended pet care plan.
What is Hip Dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a very uncomfortable and severe orthopedic condition.
It occurs when the hip socket and the ball of the femur do not align properly.
Dogs with hip dysplasia are unable to make smooth movements, which makes them partially or fully crippled.
It can occur in one or both hips.
Unfortunately, even if it is in only one hip, it can still wreak havoc on the rest of the dog’s body as it tries to overcompensate.
Hip dysplasia is typically passed down from someone in the dog’s bloodline.
While any breed can suffer from the disease, it is most common in large dogs.
This includes those such as
- St. Bernards
- Retrievers
- Collies
- Rottweilers,
- German Shepherds
A dog may be diagnosed with hip dysplasia at just a few months old, but there is also the chance that it’s not found until much later in life.
Routine checkups and watching out for anything unusual are the best ways to make sure the condition is identified.
Treatment for Hip Dysplasia
If your dog is suffering from hip dysplasia, there are both surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
Your vet might recommend certain lifestyle changes, such as watching the dog’s weight or providing supplements.
This may help prevent further discomfort.
More often than not, though, the recommended treatment will come in the form of a hip replacement.
Such surgery usually provides the best chance for living a more healthy life.
How Much Does Treatment Cost?
You love your dog, so you want to do what’s best.
The trouble is that surgery costs a lot – up to $12,000 in many cases.
Sometimes, that cost goes up even higher.
Most pet owners don’t have that much lying around, so they hope to rely on pet insurance to cover the costs.
Does Insurance Cover Hip Dysplasia?
It depends. Pet insurance is similar to any other form of insurance.
Some policies cover certain things while others do not. Click here for our recommended pet care plan.
And each insurance provider has its own rules and regulations about how much of something they cover.
Not all insurers cover hip dysplasia, but some do.
Pet insurers that often cover it include the following:
- Pets Plus US
- Figo
- Pets Best
- Petplan
- Trupanion
- Healthy Paws
You’ll have to speak with these insurers to get specifics on how much they cover, their rates, and how much of the costs you will be responsible for.
Below are a couple of other things that are taken into account.
Pre-Existing Condition
One very important thing to know is that if hip dysplasia is a pre-existing condition, you won’t get insurance coverage for it.
In short, if your dog was diagnosed with hip dysplasia before you bought the insurance, it will most likely not be covered.
Let’s say, though, that you purchase pet insurance when your dog is young.
At that time, there is no sign of a hip issue.
A year after you purchase the insurance, your vet diagnoses your pup with hip dysplasia.
In this case, it would not be a pre-existing condition.
If your dog is given a clean bill of health when you purchase the insurance, that means that there are no known conditions that pre-exist the policy.
Specifications
Some insurers that cover hip dysplasia do not cover breeds that are prone to the condition.
It is similar to insurance for humans that do not cover lung cancer for those who smoke.
As it is a risk factor, they refuse coverage.
Additionally, some insurers may not cover one hip if there is trouble in the other.
All of this information will be in the fine print of your policy.
If you currently have pet insurance, check your policy for specifics regarding hip dysplasia.
If you are shopping for it, be sure to ask any insurance agents you speak with so you can make an educated choice on the best insurance for your dog.