Dog and Pet Insurance; Worth It?

Is dog and pet insurance worth it? I think this is one of the first questions any new pet parent asks themselves.

My first BS piece just has to be on this little guy. He’s our very own Tyrion, Game of Bones! My Partner Matt and I adopted him almost 2.5 years ago when he was eight weeks from the SFSPCA (there are SPCA’s and Humane shelters everywhere). I was scouring all the adoption agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area and East Bay (including Berkeley Humane and East Bay SPCA) and this little guy’s picture went up online with his brother, and I was at the door when the SFSPCA opened the next day. 

Matt will tell everyone that I wanted his brother, and that may have been the truth initially… but don’t believe him! Tyrion and I are soul mates. There was another couple adopting his brother when I was there and they almost switched the dogs, and I insisted that we have the one I picked out in person. 

I always had dogs growing up, but this was my first animal adoption in my adult life. Typical to my generation, I waited until “I was ready” to adopt...and I was oh, so, nervous! I was 33 by the way.

He’s your standard mutt. We’ve done both dog DNA tests (Wisdom Panel & Embark) and I’ll run another BS piece on that later, but he has verifiably 6+ breeds, and around one third of his DNA is unidentifiable. I grew up with Labs on my Dad’s side, and a Jack Russel Terrier / Fox Terrier mix on my Mom’s side. The mixed-bag of characteristics and discovery that Tyrion had was adventurous. 

For example, he seemed to have normal little puppy legs, and after a couple months, his legs just shot up! We learned that he’s a runner, and Matt takes him on runs with him 3-4 times a week. It’s so super cute and sweet. 

He also has the cutest little pink nose with one brown freckle, and a tail that looks cropped and gets highly active. The only things that were ever cropped off were his, well, you know. 

Tyrion growls a little as a communication tool, but it’s always like a little purr. He’s so snuggly that he will purposefully reposition himself so he’s leaning along the side of your leg or body. All of these characteristics were discoveries, and all dogs are unique and can have different personalities. There’s just something different about an adopted little mixed-breed though. 

During this time when we all have to stay home, I recommend looking into a furry companion. I’ve struggled with depression, and having Tyrion has kept me getting up, walking, and he makes me laugh every single day. There’s just nothing like the innocent and unconditional love of a dog. 

Future postings will include my review of Embark and Wisdom Panel with pictures, and a dog adoption shopping list. We went overboard on some things and missed other things. Would have been vice to have a list. 

One thing you may want to consider initially is if you think pet insurance is a worthwhile option for you. The last two offices I’ve worked in have been dog friendly, and I’ve discussed this in length with a lot of past coworkers. Most opted out until their first 1k-5k bill. Vet appointments are more expensive in the San Francisco Bay Area or other major cities than where my family lives in Eugene, Oregon or Syracuse, NY. We’ve opted out so far, but we’ve been talking about purchasing some as we feel we’ve been lucky after hearing friend’s stories.

If you don’t get pet insurance, please make sure you can afford to care for your pet if something goes wrong. I’ve included a cost estimator below. Please note that there can always be extreme cases. A prior coworker of mine had a puppy that was 9 months old have a 10k surgery to remove half her intestines, and she now can’t have meat products. Pet Assure is a good pet insurance or discount program (it’s actually a discount program). It’s much cheaper than other providers and the coverage is good, but the network is limited. Think of it like Kieser for pets. BUT if you’re new to pet ownership, you can pick your vet by the network vs changing to their network.

Is dog and pet insurance worth it?

If you’re more interested in a traditional pet-insurance, here’s my quote for Tyrion with PetPlan at 2 years old and for his size: I was quoted $23 a month for a $500 deductible plan (max payout 5k) and $35 a month for a $300 deductible plan (max payout 15k). The high end pet insurance plan is $47 a month with a $250 deductible, but there’s no cap on the payout. PetPlan includes a completely customizable option for choosing your best option, which I haven’t seen with the major providers. If you have a vet you like, you may want to call them to ask if they take PetPlan pet insurance, but it looks like PetPlan will submit claims directly to your Vet’s office as long as your Vet participates. Another nice perk that not all plans offer.

My dog’s sliding scale options for pet insurance through PetPlan - Customizable!

So, is dog adoption worth it? Uh, yes…. totes! Hands down, yes, dog adoption is worth it if you can afford to take care of a fur baby. Is dog and pet insurance worth it? Pet insurance needs to be a calculated decision. If you don’t want to do the math or take any chances, pet insurance is always the best way to go.

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