Adopting a new puppy means bringing so much joy into your life and accepting the huge responsibility of maintaining their health. Often, dog owners are advised to neuter and spay their dogs, but these procedures are a bit expensive. Is there any pet insurance out there that covers the cost?
So, does pet insurance cover neutering and spaying procedures for dogs? There are three different types of pet insurances. Out of the three, only two may or may not include neutering and spaying. Some companies offer additional plans or standalone wellness coverage plans that cover the neutering and spaying procedures.
I am going to dive a bit deeper about pet insurances that cover neutering and spaying procedures and talk about why people neuter and spay their dogs in the first place and so much more, so continue reading if you want to learn more about the neutering and spaying procedures.
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Does pet insurance cover neutering and Spaying?
Pet insurance can be divided into three different forms. Out of all three pet insurances types, only two may or may not cover your dog’s neutering or spaying procedures. The three insurance types are:
- The accident only insurance
- The basic Injury and illness insurance (Accident and illness)
The fullscale injury, illness, wellness, and emergency insurance. (Accident, illness and routine treatment)
The accident only insurance plan only covers the treatment costs of injuries resulting from accidents. It won’t cover your dog getting sick or any pre-existing illness that your dog might be suffering from.
However, it can be used to fix your dog’s broken leg, for example. It is the cheapest pet insurance you can get for your dog.
The basic Injury and illness insurance (Accident and illness) should cover the injuries your dog gets from accidents as well as the diseases they get like tick paralysis.
This insurance plan may or may not cover your dog’s spaying or neutering procedure, so make sure you ask before purchase the insurance plan.
Thefullscale injury, illness, wellness, and emergency insurance. (Accident, illness and routine treatment)should cover the injuries your dog gets from accidents, the illness they get like tick paralysis, as well as cover their vaccinations, etc.
This insurance plan may or may not cover your dog’s spaying or neutering procedure, so make sure you ask before purchase the insurance plan.
If you are having trouble finding insurance that cover’s your dog’s neutering or spaying procedure, then you should look into getting your dog a wellness plan. Wellness plans tend to cover a dog’s neutering and spaying procedures.
These wellness plans are considered to be standalone, so they can’t replace your dog’s medical insurance. Some companies offer it as either an additional plan or as an independent wellness coverage plan.
Ask if the insurance is going to cover anesthesia, hospitalization fees, antibiotics as a preventative, and painkillers. It is also essential to ask these questions if you decide to pay for your dog’s procedure without insurance.
In case you end up paying for your dog’s procedure, you might pay between seventy-five and three hundred dollars ($75-$100) on average.
What does dog neutering mean?
Dog neutering is a surgical procedure that is done to dogs by a veterinarian to prevent them from reproducing. It is a gender-neutral term, meaning it can be applied to both male and female dogs.
If we want to be more specific in terms of using the correct word for each gender correctly, then we can use the word castration when referring to the operation done to male dogs and the word spaying when referring to the procedure done to female dogs.
During a castration procedure, both of the dog’s testicles are removed. This means that a dog’s primary source of testosterone, which is a male hormone, is removed.
What is dog spaying?
Spaying is a procedure that is done by the veterinarian to remove your female dog’s uterus and ovaries surgically. It is often recommended to spay dogs when they are about six months old.
However, if your dog belongs to the large breed, then you should spay them when they are between eighteen and twenty-two (18-22) months old.
Why are pet owners often recommended to spay their dogs?
Pet owners are often recommended to spay their dogs because large breeds it aids in reducing a dog’s risk of developing issues like joint problems and certain types of cancer.
The spaying procedure usually lasts a couple of hours. Post-Procedure rest is essential, as your dog is going to need several days for them to recover fully.
Should you neuter and spay your dog?
Many veterinarians recommend neutering or spaying dogs while they are still young. Of course, their recommendations are based on specific benefits that are associated with neutering or spaying your dog. But what exactly are these benefits?
Well, the benefits fall under three main areas. These are health benefits, behavioral benefits, and social benefits. However, Neutering isn’t always the best choice for some dogs, so make sure you talk to your dog’s veterinarian and ask for their opinion.
For male dogs
Neutering is considered to have a significant effect on your dog’s behavior. However, your dog’s problematic behavior and aggressiveness should be the sole reason why you take them to get spayed.
I suggest you speak to the veterinarian about it and consider consulting with a qualified behaviorist to help you improve your dog’s behavior.
Another reason why castration is recommended for male dogs is that it reduces their chances of getting prostate cancer; as well as, lowers their risk of getting other types of cancer.
For female dogs:
1) Spaying your female dog tends to eliminate the risk of getting a specific womb infection known as Pyometra. This fetal infection affects about twenty-five percent (25%) of dogs who aren’t neutered.
2) Just like inhuman, the pregnancy and birth processes can put the mum’s health and life at risk.
3) Spaying your female dog tends to significantly reduce their chances of developing breast cancer ( mammary cancer). Neutering a female dog before she becomes two and a half years old could reduce her risks of developing berets cancer by ten folds.
On the other hand, some veterinarians advice dog owners to not neuter their dogs due to the risks associated with it like hypothyroidism, hip dysphasia, and dementia.
I highly recommend you do your research and then consult with your dog’s veterinarian before you neuter your dog.
Other questions related to “Does pet insurance cover neutering and Spaying? “
What the difference between neutering and spaying a dog?
Neutering is an umbrella term that represents the procedure done to dogs by a veterinarian to prevent them from reproducing. So the term neutering is reserved as a gender-neutral term, spaying is used to refer to the neutering procedure done to female dogs, and castration is used to refer to the neutering procedure done to male dogs.
Does Nationwide pet insurance cover neutering or spaying procedures?
Nationwide’s Whole Pet with wellness insurance plan is very extensive and comprehensive. It does cover a dog’s neutering or spaying procedures. It costs about fifty-six dollar ($56) per month.
How much does dog pet insurance cost on average?
On average, you can expect your dog’s insurance to cost you somewhere between twenty-five dollars and seventy-five dollars ($25- $75) per month. However, if you live in a city where everything is a bit more expensive than other cities, then expect to pay fifty dollars ($50) per month.
How much does cat pet insurance cost on average?
On average, you can expect your cat’s insurance to cost you somewhere between ten dollars and forty-five dollars ($10- $45) per month. However, if you live in a city where everything is a bit more expensive than other cities and your cat is prone to injury, then expect to pay thirty to thirty-five dollars ($30- $35) per month.
Here is a list of the Best Cat Insurance for 2021
That’s it for today’s post. You should now know that some dog insurances can cover your dog’s neutering or spaying procedure. If you have any questions regarding neutering and spaying your dog, then feel free to leave them in the comments section down below.
If you have recently spayed your four-legged best friend and you feel comfortable about sharing with us your experience, then feel free to do so in the comments section down below.
Our Sources
- Spaying and Neutering Dogs 101: Everything You Need to Know
- Average Cost of Pet Insurance: 2019 Facts and Figures
- Nationwide Pet Insurance Review
- Pet insurance
- Does Pet Insurance Cover Neutering or Spaying?
- Neutering your dog
- Should You Neuter Or Spay Your Dog Or Puppy? The TRUTH Vets Don’t Tell You!
- Dr. Becker: The Truth About Spaying and Neutering