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It can be emotional to watch a beloved pet suffer from an orthopedic condition — like elbow or hip dysplasia, luxating patella, fractures, tendon or ligament injuries, or osteoarthritis. Such conditions can also be expensive to treat.
However, having a pet insurance policy like MetLife Pet’s can help make navigating orthopedic problems in dogs and cats less stressful by reimbursing you for related treatment and recovery costs covered under your policy.1
Depending on the details of your policy, if your pet is diagnosed with an orthopedic condition, you may be able to get reimbursed for covered exams, surgeries, lab work, and medications once your waiting period ends.1 Those costs can add up quickly, especially if a surgical procedure is required.
It’s important to note that pre-existing conditions typically aren't covered by pet insurance. But MetLife Pet may cover a pre-existing orthopedic condition if it’s already covered by another provider and you switch to one of our policies through your employer.2
Plus, MetLife Pet offers coverage for vet-prescribed vitamins and supplements. These might benefit your pet’s joint health and help them have a lesser chance of struggling with orthopedic issues later.
The costs you may face when dealing with orthopedic problems in dogs and cats depend on several factors. These include which specific issue your pet is dealing with, how severe it is, and the animal’s size and genetics.
For example, hip dysplasia surgery for dogs can cost between $2,000 and $6,000.3 When a dog injures their cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) — also known as their ACL — the surgery may cost between $2,000 and $5,000.4 When a cat breaks their leg, surgery alone can cost up to $3,000.5 With a pet insurance policy, the cost of these surgeries could be mostly covered.
Other treatments for orthopedic problems in pets may include therapy and medications, which can also be partially covered by pet insurance.
When an Irish setter named Rico needed surgery for his hip dysplasia, the cost of surgery was about $2,700. Rico’s owners had a MetLife Pet Insurance policy, which covered around $2,400 of the surgery costs.6
No pet parent wants to choose between their furry friend’s well-being and worrying about coming up with thousands of dollars. Having a MetLife Pet policy meant Rico’s people could focus more on his recovery than the financial implications.
You might still have some questions about orthopedic conditions in dogs and cats and how a pet insurance policy works in these scenarios. We’ve got you covered.
The answer to this may vary depending on which veterinary expert you talk to, but a torn cruciate ligament is a very common orthopedic injury in dogs.
These injuries can be chronic, following a slow degeneration of the ligament over time, or acute if a dog quickly changes direction during playtime or running.
As mentioned above, a cruciate ligament injury is fairly common in dogs. When that happens, one of the surgical options is a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO).
This common surgical procedure stabilizes the dog’s knee joint and can help restore mobility. And with many pet insurance policies, it’s usually covered.
There are a few different orthopedic issues that can affect cats. Arthritis is a common joint issue that afflicts older felines in particular. Also, larger cat breeds are more prone to hip dysplasia, a hip joint condition that can be hereditary.7
Another prevalent orthopedic injury in cats of all ages and sizes is fractures. Cats can get fractures in several places, such as their knees, elbows, shoulders, wrists, and ankle joints.7
The specifics will vary depending on your policy and insurer. But any orthopedic condition or injury that isn’t a pre-existing condition can typically be covered in part.
Take MetLife Pet’s plan, for example. If your pet is diagnosed with an orthopedic condition — like a ligament injury — during your coverage term, then diagnostics, procedures, and medications may be covered according to your reimbursement rate. Other alternative and holistic therapies might also qualify for reimbursement.1
We all wish our dogs and cats could stay healthy and injury-free forever. But for those moments when they need orthopedic care, a pet insurance policy can help you make things a little easier.
Get a free quote today for your custom policy price, and help ensure your furry friend is protected for the future.
