Pet Insurance for Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers are a well-loved breed. They’ve earned the spot as one of the most popular dog breeds year after year. These sweet dogs are good with kids, other pets, and strangers. They’re a favorite dog breed for many people. But goldens are also known to be curious, which often gets them into trouble costing their dog parents a bundle. Not to mention, golden retrievers have a propensity towards certain health problems. As fun as it is to be a golden retriever parent, it’s important to consider getting pet insurance. Explore the benefits of the breed, understand common health issues for golden retrievers, and compare pet insurance plans. Having this information can give you peace of mind today!
Benefits of Having Pet Insurance for Golden Retriever Owners
Financial Protection
Pet insurance protects your pet financially because it covers a portion of the veterinary expenses associated with treating common health issues. When you have pet insurance, it can alleviate the financial burden of costly treatments and procedures your dog may incur. Pet insurance also allows you to give your golden retriever the best possible care.
Peace of Mind
Pet insurance will give you peace of mind. You’ll know you have a safety net if your dog requires extensive medical care. Pet insurance allows you to make informed decisions based on your pet’s health needs rather than solely on financial constraints.
Comprehensive Coverage
Odie pet insurance typically offers coverage for a range of conditions that golden retrievers often experience. These include
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Cancer
- Heart conditions
- Skin allergies
- Eye problems
- And other health conditions
Preventive Care Coverage
Odie pet insurance plans also include coverage for things like
- Routine checkups
- Vaccinations
- Routine care
This type of insurance coverage helps you stay on top of your dog’s routine healthcare. Regular checkups and preventative care will prevent or catch potential health issues early on so your dog gets the needed treatment.
Lifetime Coverage
The advantage of pet insurance is that it provides coverage throughout your dog’s lifetime. When you purchase insurance for your dog at an early age before health issues arise, it will ensure that any future health issues, whether chronic or acute, will be covered. On average, a golden retriever’s life span is ten to twelve years. Having pet insurance allows you to provide good care for your sweet pet throughout their life.
Common Health Issues to Consider for Golden Retrievers
Hip Dysplasia
Golden retrievers are prone to hip problems, specifically hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a condition where the dog’s hip joint doesn’t develop correctly. This leads to discomfort and mobility problems down the road. Hip dysplasia treatment is costly. It’s estimated that surgery ranges from $ 3,500 to $7,000 per hip, depending on your dog’s health, age, and size. After surgery, your dog may need physical therapy or long-term medications.
Elbow Dysplasia
Another common orthopedic ailment for golden retrievers is elbow dysplasia. This condition affects a dog’s elbow joint causing lameness and pain. Elbow dysplasia treatment is expensive. Treating your dog’s elbow dysplasia may range from $ 1,500 to $ 4,000; this includes
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- X-rays
- Medication
- Surgery
Even with surgery, your dog’s elbow will never be 100% normal, and osteoporosis may eventually occur and need physical therapy or medication long-term.
Cancer
Compared to other breeds, golden retrievers have a higher risk of cancer. Lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma are the two most common cancers contracted by golden retrievers.
Hemangiosarcoma – This is an aggressive cancer that occurs in a dog’s heart, spleen, skin, or liver. Symptoms depend on what part of the body is affected. Hemangiosarcoma is most common in middle-aged or older golden retrievers, but it sometimes appears in puppies just months old.
Lymphoma is cancer of the lymph nodes or lymphatic system. It usually localizes in one area or spreads throughout a dog’s body. The lymphatic system includes
- Lymphatic organs
- Lymph nodes
- Spleen
- Tonsils
- Lymphatic vessels
Cancer treatment options for these two cancers or other cancers can be expensive. Depending on the type of cancer your dog has, treatment options include
- Surgery
- Surgery and chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Just chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
There could also be some long-term treatment your dog needs. The Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) suggests consultations cost $125 to $250. Chemotherapy can range from $150 to $600 a dose. If your dog needs more than one dose of chemo plus other treatments or surgery, it could cost you as much as $10,000 or more.
Heart Conditions
Golden Retrievers can be prone to certain heart conditions, including subvalvular aortic stenosis and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Aortic stenosis is described as a narrowing of the aortic valve of a dog’s heart. The blood leaves the heart through this valve and travels to the rest of the dog’s body. When this valve is too narrow, a dog’s heart has to work harder to force the blood through the valve leading to muscle failure and potential other complications.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a degeneration of a dog’s heart muscle, causing the heart muscle to become thinner. The blood pressure within the heart causes the thin walls of the heart to stretch, enlarging the heart. This condition is called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Skin Allergies
Golden Retrievers are susceptible to skin allergies. Symptoms your dog may have skin allergies include
- Itchiness
- Rashes
- Skin infections
- Upraised bumps
- Scabbing
- Dry skin
- Excessive shedding
- Excessive licking or gnawing on their paws
Diagnosing involves allergy tests and medications such as antihistamines or corticosteroids. You may need to put your dog on a special wet food diet to manage and treat allergies.
Eye Issues
Goldens are also at risk for various eye conditions, including
- Cataracts
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Eyelid abnormalities
A vet’s ophthalmology department will, on average, charge $300 to $350 for your dog’s first ophthalmic exam. If your golden needs cataract surgery or other eye surgeries, it can cost $2,000 to $ 3,000.
Other Health Concerns
Golden retrievers have a propensity toward other health conditions, including
- Hypothyroidism-Underactive thyroid function
- Epilepsy-A common neurological condition that causes unprovoked, recurring seizures
- Autoimmune muscle disease-extra ocular myositis, polymyositis, and myasthenia gravis
Extraocular myositis – An inflammatory condition that affects the six muscles that control the movement of a dog’s eye.
Polymyositis – A non-infectious inflammatory muscle disorder
Myasthenia gravis –This autoimmune disease causes a breakdown of signals between a dog’s muscles and nerves. If your dog has this condition, they’ll experience extreme weakness and fatigue.
Managing these conditions requires veterinarian care and possibly medication.
What Sets Odie Apart from Other Pet Insurance Companies? Oh, Paw-lease, That’s Easy!
Choosing the right pet insurance for your fur-iend can take time and effort. Most companies that offer pet insurance generally work the same. Still, there are often major differences between coverage details and overall benefits, ultimately affecting the cost of your monthly premium and claim reimbursements.
Odie’s pet insurance policies and wellness plans were created with the sole purpose of offering greater coverage flexibility as well as stable and predictable premiums. Our mission has always been to significantly increase the number of insured pets in the United States by lowering the entry point for pet parents and removing the financial burden.
At Odie, all dogs and cats should have access to the essential pet care services they need. We’ve made pet insurance more affordable by streamlining costs and passing those savings on to our members—without compromising coverage. So, you’ll receive the quality coverage you want and expect at accessible prices.
- Various insurance and wellness plans, so all cats and dogs have coverage options with no breed or age limits.
- Up to 90% reimbursement on all covered treatments.
- Short waiting periods ensure all pets receive quick, quality coverage.
- Deductibles are based on an annual policy, not per condition.
- Flexible coverage options so pet parents can choose the benefits that work for them.
- Pet owners can choose the veterinarian they want to see and are reimbursed based on the actual cost of treatment (no maximums).
- Rates will not increase based on claim history.
- All members can chat with licensed elevates – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Our dedicated support team is available via phone, email, or chat so members and their pets will always get the help they need.
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Illness & Injury Plan
Odie’s Illness and Injury offers affordable pet insurance coverage for accidents and illnesses for all dog breeds, starting at seven weeks. For as little as $25 a month, you can get protection for your pet due to unexpected injuries or illness. This insurance plan includes
- Quick claims processing
- Comprehensive coverage
- Unlimited 24/7 vet chats to answer your questions
- Member support team access
Accident-Only Plan
This plan offers your golden retriever emergency care. This plan is good for
- Budget-conscious pet parents
- First-time dog parents
- Dogs with pre-existing conditions
Wellness Plan
This add-on to your insurance policy offers routine coverage for
- Vaccinations
- Flea and tick meds
- Microchips