Part 2: Why Pet Insurance Sucks
Hello and welcome back to my blog. If you have been reading along so far you know where we are at. If you have not been I’ll quickly recap. First of all we in the first part of this series we talked about how pre-existing conditions can really hurt you when it comes to pet insurance. Well now in part two we get into what is known as breed specific conditions.Pet insurance companies like to make a nice healthy profit, and there is nothing wrong with that, that is what we all want. The problem comes when they are not forthcoming at the beginning of the policy about what is covered and what is not covered.
One of those areas that really frustrates pet owners who own insurance policies is breed specific conditions. Almost every breed of dog is prone to certain genetic conditions or diseases that show up at a higher frequency than other breeds.
The problem is that pet insurance companies could label almost anything as a breed specific condition and there fore not be responsible for covering the bill.
Some examples of breed specific conditions include hip dysplasia, certain types of cancer, back problems, and certain hormone imbalances.
When you buy or policy or if you have one right now, I would contact your insurer and find out what they consider breed specific conditions for your breed of dog or cat. It is best to find out now, instead of finding out later when you really need it.
Here is a brief list of some diseases that show up at a higher frequency than other breeds:
Labrador Retriever: Hip dysplasia
Golden Retriever: Hip dysplasia
German Shepherd: Hip dysplasia, perianal fistula
American Cocker Spaniel: Cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye, ingrown eyelashes
Poodle: Cataracts, collapsed trachea, endocarditis, Cushing’s disease, displaced knee cap
Rottweiler: Ruptured ACL, hip dysplasia
Dachshund: Herniated disc, degenerative disc, endocarditis, Cushing’s disease
Schnauzer: Bladder stones, Diabetes mellitus, endocarditis, pancreatitis, Cushing’s disease, cataracts, hip dyspalsia.
Shetland Sheepdog: Skin problems, kidney failure
Doberman Pinscher: Dilated cardiomyopathy, hypothryroidism, Wobbler’s syndrome, von Willebrand’s disease
This is only a short list, and there are over 200 hundred dog breeds. Make yourself a more educated consumer and understand your pet insurance policy today.
