Does Pet Insurance Cover Parvo?

Dogs can be infected with canine parvovirus (CPV) while cats can be infected with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) — also known as feline parvo or feline distemper.^1,2

A MetLife Pet Insurance policy can help you cover costs related to parvo, both the canine and feline versions of the virus. Since puppies and kittens can be at a higher risk for infection, it’s a good idea to insure them as early as you can.^1,2 Let’s explore how MetLife Pet’s coverage works for parvovirus.

MetLife Pet Offers Coverage for Parvo Costs

With MetLife Pet’s standard accident and illness pet insurance policy, you can get coverage for parvo treatment and diagnostic costs. Customize your policy to get reimbursements up to 90% on covered expenses.³

CPV and FPV are highly contagious infections that mainly affect white blood cells and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Even if proper treatment is given in time, CPV and FPV could be deadly. Puppies, kittens, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated dogs and cats, as well as certain groups of cats and dogs, may be more at risk of infection.^1,2

Dog and cat parvo treatment usually includes supportive care to combat vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, chills, secondary infections, nausea, and pain. Severe cases may require more intense care, hospitalization, and round-the-clock monitoring.^1,2 Pet insurance could help you cover the expensive medical care that’s needed when your pet’s health is of the utmost importance.

Does MetLife Pet cover other contagious pet illnesses?

Yes, a MetLife Pet Insurance policy could help you cover costs related to other infectious diseases and illnesses your pet could be at risk for, such as:

• Distemper
• Feline calicivirus
• Kennel cough
• Canine influenza
• Giardia

Vaccines can help protect pets against many of these illnesses. MetLife Pet’s optional Preventive Care can be added to your insurance policy for vaccination coverage — like the DAPP (distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus) vaccine for canine parvo and the FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia) vaccine for feline parvo.

What Types of Parvo Expenses Can Be Covered?

MetLife Pet’s dog and cat insurance policies can typically provide coverage for parvo-related expenses like:

• Vet visit exam fees
• Diagnostics (including blood tests and fecal tests)
• Hospitalization and emergency care
• Prescription medications
• Follow-up vet visits

If you have multiple pets at home and one has parvo, your other pets may be at a higher risk of also becoming infected.² MetLife Pet’s unique Family Plan allows you to cover up to three pets on a single policy with a shared deductible, which could make it easier to manage all of their vet expenses.⁴

Exclusions to Parvo Coverage

Pre-existing conditions aren’t typically covered by pet insurance — including MetLife Pet’s. This means vet bills for parvo usually won’t be covered if your pet displayed symptoms or was diagnosed or treated for parvo before enrollment or during an illness waiting period.

There may be times when parvo costs aren’t covered, even when it’s not pre-existing. This is because parvo is considered a preventable disease, since both the DAPP and the FVRCP vaccines are “core” vaccinations typically recommended for all pets.^1,2

Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated pets may not be eligible for parvo coverage since vet-recommended measures (i.e., vaccinations) weren’t taken to help prevent the infection.⁵ Check your policy for details.

In addition to this specific exclusion, note that accident-only plans won’t cover expenses for illnesses like parvo.

MetLife Pet Members Who Saved on Parvo Costs

Diagnostics, treatment, and hospitalization for parvo can be expensive. Depending on how much care your pet needs and how long their hospital stay is, the high-end range for parvo costs could be $5,000 or more.⁶

Let’s look at some MetLife Pet policyholders who got money back when their pets needed parvo treatment:⁷

• A very sick puppy named Ziggy was brought to the vet and diagnosed with CPV. He needed intensive care and stayed in the hospital for many days. The entire vet bill was close to $10,400. Ziggy’s owners got more than $9,100 back and a healthy puppy.
• Burt, who was just a puppy at the time, was diagnosed with parvo. The vet visit, diagnostics, and a couple of days at the hospital for supportive care cost more than $2,700. His family was reimbursed over $2,200.
• A young pup, Reisa, was brought to the vet for vomiting and diarrhea. A vet examined her, ran a fecal test, and diagnosed her with parvo. The vet visit, diagnostics, and take-home medications cost around $400. Reisa’s family was reimbursed more than $350.

Early vet care is crucial to increasing their chance of survival when it comes to treating parvovirus for both dogs and cats.^1,2 To help give your pet a fighting chance and worry less about the cost of treatment, a MetLife Pet policy could be worth it.

Get MetLife Pet for Parvo Coverage

Vaccinating your pet is one of the best things you can do to help protect them against a CPV and FPV infection — especially if your pet spends time with other pets in public or may be exposed to wild animals outside.^1,2

MetLife Pet can help you manage expensive vet bills by reimbursing you up to 90% of covered parvo costs like fecal or blood tests, hospital stays, medications, and emergency care.¹ Enroll your pet as soon as you can to help avoid pre-existing condition exclusions. Start by getting a free quote now.