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Being financially prepared for unexpected accidents and illnesses by knowing the potential costs of dog health problems can help ease stressful situations.
Let’s take a look at some of the most expensive health issues dogs face, which breeds may have the least or most health problems, and some information about how a MetLife Pet Insurance plan can help you manage the cost of care.
From tennis balls to tube socks, dogs will sometimes eat objects that aren’t designed for digestion. When foreign objects get stuck in a dog’s digestive tract, the blockage can lead to health issues ranging from dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea to serious conditions like bowel obstruction.
If surgery is the only way to remove a foreign object, the procedure can get pricey. Intestinal blockage surgery in dogs can range from $800 – $7,000.1
Several things can impact the cost of intestinal blockage surgery, such as the location of the object and how severe the blockage is.
Bloat in dogs occurs when their stomach becomes swollen with food and/or gas and twists. Also known as gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), bloat is usually considered a medical emergency that requires surgery.
GDV surgery involves releasing gas and untwisting the stomach. Typically, vets also suture the stomach to the abdominal wall — a procedure known as a gastropexy — so it won’t twist again. The cost to treat bloat could be $8,000 or more.1
Sometimes, vets may perform preventative gastropexies on at-risk dogs when they spay or neuter them, which can cost less than an emergency GDV surgery.2
Curiosity leads dogs to many places — and sometimes, it’s toward things that can be poisonous or toxic to them. From human medication and poisonous plants to toxic foods and harmful substances, the effects of poisoning can range from an upset stomach to fatality.
An emergency trip to the vet for diagnostics and treatment could cost up to $5,000 or more if further complications arise.1 Quick action is important when it comes to treating a possible case of toxicity. You can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 at any hour for help.
With the way puppies love to get into new and exciting things, puppy insurance could be worth it to help you keep their adventures going after eating the wrong thing.
Accidents, health conditions, and age can all play a role when a dog breaks a bone. For minor fractures or breaks, taking X-rays, setting the bone, and putting a cast on it can sometimes be enough to help pups recover. When the break is more severe, surgery might be necessary.3
Depending on the type of treatment your dog needs, repairing a broken bone could cost up to $2,400 or more.4 If there are multiple breaks due to trauma and emergency surgery is needed, the cost could range from $5,000 – $8,000 or more.1
Your veterinarian may recommend one of three surgeries if your dog suffers from severe hip dysplasia: a pelvic osteotomy, femoral head osteotomy, or total hip replacement. The cost for hip dysplasia surgery varies depending on the procedure and could range from $1,200 – $6,000 or more.5
These surgeries can be expensive due to the complexity of the procedures. They also require specialized equipment, an experienced veterinary surgeon, many X-rays before and after surgery, and follow-up vet visits to check healing progress. Hip dysplasia coverage through MetLife Pet insurance could help you lower some of these expenses.
If a dog’s cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears due to excessive strain or wears down over time, your dog may need surgery to repair it. Veterinarians might recommend replacing the torn CCL with an artificial ligament or performing a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), which enables the knee to work properly without the CCL.
There’s a wide range of costs associated with a CCL surgery, which can run up to $5,000 or more per knee.4 The final price tag can depend on the type of surgery your veterinarian recommends, the size of your dog, and the severity of the injury.
Some surgeries could require extensive follow-up visits and physical therapy, which will add to the bill.
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a dog health condition that results from ruptured, herniated, bulging, or slipped discs in your dog’s spine.
Surgical procedures for severe IVDD cases remove the diseased disc material, alleviating the pressure and pain of this condition. Depending on the surgery, average costs range between $2,000 and $4,000.6
However, this may not include the cost of pre- or post-surgery testing and imaging, anesthesia, and medications. Plus, some dogs could need extended hospital stays or rehabilitation after surgery, increasing the cost to upwards of $12,000.6
Depending on the type of cancer, where it’s located, and your pet’s health condition, there are a handful of treatment options for cancer in dogs. Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, prescriptions, and immunotherapy are all options your vet may consider.
The costs for these treatments vary, and the diagnostic testing beforehand — which helps your vet decide on a course of treatment — gets added on top. You might find that treatment costs $8,000 or more and, depending on the treatment method, may occur over weeks or months.4 If there’s a relapse, costs can further increase.
But if you have dog insurance before a cancer diagnosis, it can help you relieve some of the financial burden of vet bills so you can focus your energy on being there for your pup.
Proper management can help dogs with diabetes live happy, healthy lives. This requires routine insulin injections, which could cost $150 per month for a large dog.7 But prices can increase depending on the brand and dosage required for your pup’s size. Your vet may also recommend a prescription diet, which is often more expensive than regular food.
The cost of treating diabetes may seem small at first glance, but it won’t be a one-time expense. Managing diabetes is a lifelong endeavor that could cost around $2,900 or more overall — something pet insurance coverage could help you with.4
Heart disease in dogs may be present at birth, or it could develop over time. Since there’s no cure, managing symptoms and slowing the progression typically happens over the course of a dog’s life.
Treatment can involve medication, diet and lifestyle changes, regular vet exams and diagnostics to monitor the condition, surgery, and even hospitalization. The cost of treating heart disease depends on what your vet recommends and the type of heart disease your dog has — it could range from $1,100 – $2,500 or more.4
Like humans, dogs can have allergies that affect their skin and overall health. Symptoms may pop up seasonally or present year round. In either case, anti-itch prescriptions, topical medications, and sometimes antibiotics — to prevent or treat skin infections caused alongside allergies — are typical treatments. Testing and medication costs could reach up to $2,500.4
If your dog needs routine management of allergy symptoms, these costs can multiply over their lifetime. Getting puppy insurance before your dog develops allergies (or other chronic conditions) could help raise the chance that related expenses can be covered by your policy.
While there are no guarantees a dog will (or won’t) develop certain health issues, here are some breeds known to have the most health problems:8
Getting your dog’s DNA tested can help you see which health conditions they might be more at risk of developing.
If you’re looking for a potentially healthier dog, there are a handful of breeds you may consider. Some of the pups that tend to have the least health problems include:10
However, just because these breeds generally have longer life expectancies and aren’t prone to as many injuries or illnesses doesn’t mean they’re home free. It’s just as important to prioritize diet, exercise, and vet care for these dogs as any other breeds.
Regular wellness exams, parasite prevention, and vaccines can provide protection from many dog health issues — and help you avoid expensive vet bills. Stay alert for warning signs that your dog isn’t feeling well and seek veterinary care when needed.
Even the most protected pups can still get hurt or sick, so it can be a good idea to have a financial plan in place if pricey vet bills become a reality. Dog insurance from MetLife Pet can reimburse you up to 90% of covered expenses.11 This could make costly treatments — like those for IVDD, hip dysplasia, or intestinal obstructions — more financially accessible.
To see if MetLife Pet dog insurance fits in your financial plan, get a free, personalized quote today.
