German Shepherds are one of the most popular breeds in America, and for good reason. German Shepherds are loyal and protective, yet gentle family dogs that make excellent companions. But like any purebred dog, they can be prone to health problems.
Pet insurance is a great way to protect yourself from unexpected pet health expenses, but the options can be overwhelming. In the Guides Home team we investigate the best pet insurance companies for German Shepherds and plans to make your choice easier.
The 7 Best Pet Insurance Companies for German Shepherds
Here are our top seven picks for the best German Shepherd pet insurance companies:
Learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
Learn more: Cash Pet Insurance Review
Learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
Learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
Learn more: ASPCA Pet Insurance Review
Learn more: Get Pet Insurance Review
How Much Does German Shepherd Pet Insurance Cost?
German Shepherd insurance costs vary depending on where you live, veterinary care costs in your area, and the age of your pet. Your policy will likely increase in cost as your pet ages and is more likely to need care, and you’ll also pay more for a new policy for an older German Shepherd.
He average cost of pet insurance because a german shepherd walks around $45 to $55 per month for a young adult, which is in line with other popular large breeds such as Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and poodles. Compared to higher-maintenance breeds like bulldogs and Rottweilers, German Shepherds are less expensive to insure.
Why do German Shepherds need pet insurance?
Pet insurance is a good idea for all breeds of dogs, including the German Shepherd. Accidents, illnesses and chronic conditions can be expensive to treat, and pet insurance ensures that you have the means to give your pet the care it needs. German Shepherds are prone to breed-related genetic conditions like all purebred dogs and may suffer from more health problems than a mixed breed dog.
Common German Shepherd Health Problems
German Shepherd Dogs suffer from various health problems related to their breeding and genetics. A good breeder works to eliminate these conditions in their lines, but they are still likely to occur more often in German Shepherds than other dogs. Common German Shepherd Health Issues may include:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia: These conditions affect conformation and joint function from birth, leading to arthritis and disability early in life.
- Inflate: Gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV)Bloat, also known as “bloat,” is a health condition that affects large-breed, deep-chested dogs, such as the German Shepherd. In GDV, the stomach fills with air and rotates on itself, requiring emergency surgery.
- Pannus: This eye condition it causes immune-mediated inflammation and discoloration of the cornea and requires lifelong treatment to prevent scarring and vision deterioration.
- Degenerative myelopathy: degenerative myelopathy (DM) It is a progressive neurological condition that affects middle-aged and older dogs and causes weakness or paralysis in the hind legs.
- Cancer: osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma are common cancers that affect German Shepherds.
Types of plans for German Shepherd pet insurance
There are multiple options available for German Shepherd pet insurance to meet individual pet and family needs. Plan types include:
- Accident and illness: These plans reimburse a percentage of the cost up to an annual coverage limit for expenses related to accidental injuries and illnesses, including tests, surgeries, hospitalization, and long-term care. Some plans are all-inclusive, while others offer multiple add-ons to customize coverage.
- Accident only: Accident-only plans offer care for urgent or emergency situations, but do not cover acute or chronic health conditions.
- Welfare: Wellness plans are provided as add-ons to supplement general pet care and cover a portion of the costs associated with vaccinations, deworming, parasite prevention, routine wellness screenings, and dental cleanings.
The bottom line: What is the best pet insurance company for German Shepherds?
Purchasing pet insurance often pays off for German Shepherds because the breed is prone to several costly health conditions. The best pet insurance company for German Shepherds will vary based on your preferences and needs, but each company on our list is a solid choice.
Lemonade it is a good choice for cost-conscious consumers. Place, ASPCA and Look for are excellent options for comprehensive coverage, and figure and Encompass They offer flexibility and savings. We recommend that pet owners get quotes from multiple vendors, as costs will vary depending on your local market.
Methodology: Our system for ranking the best pet insurance companies
Our review of pet insurance companies is based on extensive industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, reaching quotes, and secret shopping buying processes, speaking with representatives over the phone to rate the customer service experience client and survey 1,000 dogs and cats. owners across the country to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage.
We rate each vendor on a 100-point scale based on those items. We then divide this final score by 20 to calculate an overall star rating of 5.0 stars.
Here are more details about each factor and how it is weighted:
- Monthly prices (25 points): The best pet insurance companies combine comprehensive coverage and plan options with affordable rates.
- Plans (15 points): Major pet insurance companies offer accident and sickness plans, accident-only plans, and wellness or preventative care supplements to give customers the option of choosing the best plan for their pet.
- Treatments covered (15 points): We rate companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Companies with a variety of included treatments and unique coverages received more points than providers with more standard or general policies.
- Personalization Options (10 points): Providers with more annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate options had the highest scores.
- Customer service (10 points): We rate companies based on overall website accessibility and usability, customer service availability, mobile apps (if applicable), money-back guarantees, and veterinary telehealth options, awarding points to insurers with the most customer experience offerings.
- Reputation in the industry (10 points): We review up-to-date ratings and accreditation information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and rate companies based on their years of industry experience and state availability.
- Waiting periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident, sickness and orthopedic waiting periods between enrollment date and coverage start date scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.
- Eligible age (5 points): Some companies do not offer policies for pets over a certain age. We deduct points from providers who have age limits for covered pets.
We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company on key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. For more information, read our complete pet insurance methodology to review and rate vendors.
sabrina lopez is a publisher with over six years of experience writing and editing digital content with a particular focus on home services, home products, and personal finance. When she’s not working on articles to help consumers make informed decisions, Sabrina enjoys creative writing and spending time with her family and her two parrots.