Best Pet Insurance For German Shepherds: How Much It Costs, Quotes & FAQs

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This is the most comprehensive guide to finding the best pet insurance for German Shepherds.

You know how expensive routine vet visits and everyday preventive care can be if you have a German Shepherd. But what if your GSD stumbles and breaks his ACL while playing? The veterinary cost can go through the roof and hurt your wallet! To offset the costs of keeping your GSD in excellent health, pet insurance can ease the financial burden of paying for your next vet bill.

Meet our top picks for the best pet insurance providers that offer adult and puppy German Shepherds coverage and learn why you need to consider German Shepherd pet insurance.

Best Pet Insurance For German Shepherds

Here are Canine Bible’s top picks for the best pet insurance for German Shepherds.

You can click this link to go to the reviews, but we encourage you to keep reading to make a more educated decision about getting pet insurance for your German Shepherd.

What Is German Shepherd Pet Insurance?

Getting pet insurance for your German Shepherd dog is equivalent to getting health insurance for yourself. Pet Insurance is designed to reimburse dog owners for unexpected veterinary expenses and related fees, giving them peace of mind and protecting their savings.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost For German Shepherds?

German Shepherd’s dog insurance prices will be based on your pet’s pre-existing health conditions, gender, age, location, and other factors.

Keep in mind rising vet costs due to technological advances and an increasing number of claims in your location, which can increase your monthly payment. For instance, if your German Shepherd is quoted at $45 per month today, that price is subject to change.

We compared quotes for plans for German Shepherds with three popular pet insurance providers to help you find the best fit for you in terms of monthly premiums and coverage. We chose three German Shepherds at different stages in their life.

  • An adult German Shepherd (5 years old)
  • A young German Shepherd (1 year old)
  • A puppy German Shepherd (3 months old).

Check out our Pet Insurance Comparison table for German Shepherds below.

Pet Insurance Quotes For German Shepherds


CompanyDeductibleReimbursementAnnual Reimbursement LimitMonthly PriceLocationGenderBreedAge
Healthy Paws$50070%Unlimited$70.30California
(zip code: 94203)
MaleGerman Shepherd5 years
Lemonade$50070%$100,000$40.58California
(zip code: 94203)
MaleGerman Shepherd5 years
Spot Pet Insurance$50070%Unlimited$67.22California
(zip code: 94203)
MaleGerman Shepherd5 years
Healthy Paws$50080%Unlimited$36.52Kansas
(zip code: 64030)
FemaleGerman Shepherd1 Year Old
Lemonade$50080%$100,000$20.92Kansas
(zip code: 64030)
FemaleGerman Shepherd1 Year Old
Spot Pet Insurance$50080%Unlimited$45.21Kansas
(zip code: 64030)
FemaleGerman Shepherd1 Year Old
Healthy Paws$50070%Unlimited$37.64North Carolina
(zip code: 28105)
FemaleGerman Shepherd3 Month Old
Lemonade$50070%$100,000$29.39North Carolina
(zip code: 28105)
FemaleGerman Shepherd3 Month Old
Spot Pet Insurance$50070%Unlimited$68.94North Carolina
(zip code: 28105)
FemaleGerman Shepherd3 Month Old

How Much Is German Shepherd Canine Insurance?

If you get Pet Insurance for your German Shepherd, you can expect to pay between $20 to $70 per month. Depending on where you live, what deductible, and the reimbursement percentage you choose, you may spend more or less.

NOTE: The quotes we ran were for dogs with no pre-existing conditions. All quotes are from November 2022

Is Pet insurance For German Shepherds Worth it?

Here are 3 main reasons why you should consider getting pet insurance for your German Shepherd.

1. Avoid Deciding Between Your Wallet & Your GSD

Too many dog owners have been forced to make the heartbreaking decision to elect for “economic euthanasia” because they didn’t have the resources to help their dogs.[1] With pet insurance, you can seek medical care for your ailing or injured GSD without having to worry about hurting your finances.

On average, the most common dog treatments cost $252.75. While a more severe condition like Hip dysplasia, the number one problem explicitly related to German Shepherds, alone can cost $1,500 – $6,000 to diagnose and treat.

2. Accidents

According to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, nearly 70% of households in the U.S. own a pet, and it’s estimated that 1 in 3 will need emergency veterinary treatment every year.[2] So, how does that translate to German Shepherd’s numbers?

Well, in the U.S. alone, about 4.6% of all AKC-registered dogs are German Shepherds. This gives over 3.5 million German Shepherd dogs in the U.S. alone. So, unfortunately, 33% (1 in 3) of those GSDs will conventionally end up needing emergency care. This could lead to massive vet bills. In fact, the average cost of unexpected veterinary care for dogs is between $800 and $1,500.

A good pet insurance plan will cover most of the vet costs as most pet insurance policies reimburse up to 90% of total vet expenses after deductibles.

3. Common Health Issues for German Shepherds

Don’t think you need Pet Insurance for your German Shepherd? Not so fast!

In a study on German Shepherd disorders, The UK Kennel Club Breed Watch system categorizes the GSD as a “Category Three Breed,” or dog breed where dogs have visible conditions or exaggerations that can cause pain or discomfort.[3] 

The research also revealed that GSDs have the highest predisposition to inherited diseases among the 50 most commonly registered Kennel Club breeds. Individual disorders with a reported predisposition in the GSD include hip dysplasia, haemangiosarcoma, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, degenerative myelopathy, anal furunculosis, and lumbosacral disease.

These are some of the most common health problems German Shepherds dogs are prone to develop. We also include the level of risk (susceptibility to each health condition) and how much you are expected to pay.


Condition Risk Cost to Diagnose & Treat
Hip DysplasiaHigh$1500 - to $7,000 per hip
Perianal FistulaHigh$2000 - to $5,000
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (Bloat)Medium-High$1,500 - $7,500
Elbow DysplasiaHigh$1,500- $4,000
CardiomyopathyHigh$500 - $1,500
Degenerative MyelopathyHigh$2,000 - $4,000
Osteochondrosis of the ShoulderMedium$2,000 - $4,000
MegaesophagusMedium$400 - $500
Osteochondrosis of the Knee/SpineHigh$2,000 - $4,000
HyperparathyroidismHigh$2,000-$8,000
HemivertebraeMedium$2,500 - 6,000
Compulsive BehaviorsHigh$500 - $3,000
Corneal DystrophyHigh$300 - $3,000
CataractsHigh$1,500-$4,000
Degenerative Disc Disease
Medium$1,000 - $3,000
Hypertrophic OsteodystrophyMedium$200 - $1,500
Epilepsy
Low$200 - $5,000 (varies by amount of doses needed)
Aortic StenosisMedium$500 - $1,500
Allergies
Medium$600 - $1,100

Data Source: AKC, Embrace Pet Insurance, Figo Pet Insurance

Other Reasons To Get Dog Insurance For Your German Shepherd

  • Delivers peace of mind
  • Can cover your pet’s hereditary condition
  • Avoid veterinary rising cost
  • Can help you find your missing/stolen pet
  • Can cover third-party liabilities
  • Helps you save money

Pro Tip: If you know your dog breed is prone to develop certain health issues, we highly recommend getting a pet insurance policy when your dog is still healthy. If your dog does develop chronic conditions down the road, you’re guaranteed reimbursement for these issues throughout your dog’s life.

Pet Insurance for your German Shepherd can spare you financial trouble. Chronic health conditions, emergencies, and vet visits can rack up costs throughout your German Shepherd’s life.


Best Pet Insurance For German Shepherds

Here are Canine Bible’s top picks for the best pet insurance for German Shepherds.

We’ve reviewed each company based on specific breed needs, customer reviews, affordability, and other factors to help you choose the right company and coverage for your German Shepherd.

Best Overall — Healthy Paws

Our rating: 4.8

We named Healthy Paws our best overall pet insurance for your German Shepherd for its comprehensive coverage, pricing, availability, and customer service. There are no caps on payouts when you file a claim under a Healthy Paws insurance plan. A Healthy Paws insurance plan may cover accidents, illnesses, cancer, emergency care, genetic conditions, and alternative care.

They have competitive premium prices. We ran a quote for a healthy German Shepherd at a $500 deductible, with 70% coverage. Depending on your location, pet’s age, and other factors, you can expect to pay between $36 and $70.

With Healthy Paws, you can start protecting your German Shepherd at 8 weeks old. You can protect them from anything like a pesky bee sting to parvo. Once you pay your deductible, there is no limit on the amount your policy can reimburse you. It also has fewer coverage exclusions compared to many competitors. Healthy Paws states that they pay 99% of claims in two days.

Pros

  • You can submit your claim online or via their app
  • Pet are eligible for coverage when they travel with you in the U.S. or Canada (up to 3 months)
  • BBB Rating: A+
  • Great email response time
  • Direct deposit or check reimbursement
  • No limit to how many claims you can make

Cons

  • 15-day waiting period for accident and illness
  • Doesn’t cover veterinary exam fees and behavioral therapies
  • No wellness plan
  • There is a one-time enrollment fee of $25
  • Can’t enroll pets over 4 years old in NY

Best Value — Lemonade Pet Insurance

Our rating: 4.7

Lemonade offers excellent pet insurance coverage for your German Shepherd at the most affordable price. While your monthly premium cost will vary by location, pet’s age, gender, and other factors, Lemonade premiums usually start at just $10 a month, the lowest in the industry.

To estimate your monthly premium, we ran a few quotes for a healthy German Shepherd at a $500 deductible and 70%, 80%, and 90% coverage. Based on our research, you can expect to pay between $20 and $40.

We love that Lemonade is tech-forward, making it easy to manage your policy and file claims through an app. Their plans cover accidents and illnesses, including injuries, poisonings, broken bones, sprains, infections, general sicknesses, cancer, heart disease, hip dysplasia, hernias, skin conditions and more.

They also offer several add-ons to help pet owners pay for exam fees, physical therapy, and preventive care costs.

Pros

  • Coverage starts at $5 per month
  • Provides a mobile app and website chat function
  • Giveback program donates unused policy money to charities
  • Waiting period of 2 days for accidents, which is shorter than many competitors
  • Preventive care treatments for puppies and kittens under 2 years old
  • 10% discount for bundling your policy with Lemonade home insurance or renters insurance

Cons

  • Doesn’t offer coverage for pets over 14 years old

Most Customizable Plans — Spot Insurance

Our rating: 4.7

Spot Pet Insurance is ideal for German Shepherd dog owners who want a variety of ways to customize their policy. Spot offers seven annual limit options, three reimbursement levels, and five annual deductibles. They offer the lowest deductible in the industry ($100), meaning that when your German Shepherd gets sick, you pay less upfront before your plan starts paying. With so many customization options, this company it’s our top pick for finding a plan for meeting your specific financial needs and those of your pet.

Spot’s policies also cover some items, such as exam fees and microchipping, that many other pet insurance providers don’t offer. They also have one of the cheapest plans for accident-only coverage, making it perfect for pet owners who only need minimal coverage.

If you sign up with Spot Pet Insurance, based on our research, you can expect to pay between $45 and $68, but prices may vary depending on your location, your German Shepherd’s age, and other factors.

Spot covers you when your German Shepherd gets hurt unexpectedly, from tooth extractions to torn ligaments. They can also cover Perianal Fistula treatment, which German Shepherds are prone to, as long as they were diagnosed after coverage.

Pros

  • Low $100 deductible is available
  • Has seven options for coverage limits
  • Multipet discount of 10%
  • Two optional wellness plans are available
  • Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line

Cons

  • The waiting period for accident coverage is 14 days
  • Does not cover prescription pet food
  • Limited knee and ligament coverage (bilateral condition policies)

Great For Pre-Existing Conditions

If your German Shepherd suffers from a curable pre-existing condition Embrace Pet Insurance is your best choice! Most pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, but Embrace distinguishes between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions. They can cover curable conditions after 12 months of symptoms and are treatment-free.


German Shepherd Average Vet Bill Cost (Healthy Vet Visits vs Emergencies)

Aside from treatment costs for specific health conditions, here is a glance at the average price for common regular vet visits versus emergency visits. Without pet insurance, you should expect to pay similar amounts for either visit.

Healthy Vet Visits

  • Puppy vaccinations: $75-100
  • Flea & tick prevention: $40-200
  • Heartworm prevention: $24-120
  • Spay or neuter surgery: $200-800
  • Annual exam: $240-600
  • Teeth cleaning: $200-500
  • Microchip: $40

Emergency Vet Visits

  • General consultation/exam: $100-$150
  • General bloodwork: $80-200
  • X-rays: $150-$250
  • Ultrasound: $300-$600
  • 1-2 day hospitalization: $600-$1,700
  • 3-5 day hospitalization: $1,500-$3,500
  • Wound treatment & repair: $800-$1,500
  • Emergency surgery: $800-$2,500
  • Oxygen therapy: $500

Sources: Emergency Vets USA & Rover

Pet Insurance For German Shepherd Puppy

Should you get pet insurance for your German Shepherd puppy? Here are the top reasons you should consider German Shepherd puppy insurance.

  • Lower Premiums. Younger pets are cheaper to insure than their older counterparts. Because pet insurance rates are based on age, breed and location, your premium is lower with puppies.
  • Covering Future Conditions. If you know your dog breed is predisposed to certain health issues, it’s best to insure your puppy before he shows any symptoms or is diagnosed with an illness or issue. Most pet insurance providers won’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, if your puppy develops one (i.e., cancer, allergies, diabetes) when insured, your pet insurance company will cover the cost and any future expenses.
  • Puppies Get In Trouble. German Shepherd puppies eat, chew, and lick almost anything. They are more prone to suffer from accidents and bacteria and virus infections.
  • Puppy Vet Bills. When you get a puppy for the first time, there are a lot of expenses associated with raising a puppy — from toys and food to vet-related costs. In fact, 81% of pet parents spend up to $500 on vet visits in the first year of having a puppy. While the upfront costs for first-year pet ownership typically cost over $1,000, says the ASPCA.

Types of Pet Insurance Coverage

What does pet insurance cover? It depends on your plan. There are two main types of pet insurance plans.

  • Accident Plans: Covers accident-related medical care such as ingestion of foreign objects, poisoning, or if your German Shepherd was hit by a car.
  • Illness Plans: Coves unexpected sickness, disease, and any changes to your dog’s normal healthy state (i.e., allergies and cancer)

You can sign up for 1 or 2 (or both), but this will mostly depend on your German Shepherd’s needs and finances. Most pet insurance companies nowadays offer a single plan that includes accidents and illness.

In addition to that, pet insurance providers also offer wellness plans, also known as “routine” or “preventative.” care plans. It covers most routine vet visits, such as vaccinations. A wellness plan is not pet insurance.

The Most Common Items Covered Per Type of Pet Insurance


Accident CoverageIllness CoverageWellness Coverage
Broken bonesObesityFlea, tick and worm treatments
Torn ligamentsUTIsRabies
Bite woundsCancerMicrochip
PoisoningHypothyroidism
De-worming
InjuriesDigestive Issues
teeth cleaning
EmergenciesIVDD
Routine testing
Eye InjuriesVomiting and diarrheaAnnual exams
Snake BiteArthritisSpay and neuter
Toxin food ingestionParasitesUrinalysis (ERD)

*i. Not all pet insurance companies offer wellness plans. ii. Coverage items will depend and vary depending on the company and plan you choose.

What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?

Pet insurance doesn’t cover it all!

When buying Pet Insurance for your German Shepherd, you’ll need to carefully review the different plans to see what isn’t covered.

Most pet insurance policies exclude the following:

  • Grooming
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Unrelated veterinary services
  • Behavioral training, therapy, or treatment 
  • Breeding and pregnancy
  • Dog food or dietary or nutritional supplements
  • Boarding and transportation

This exclusion will vary depending on your pet insurance company and plan.

Tip: Please always read your policy! Request the complete list of exclusions before getting pet insurance. This will ensure your German Shepherd is fully covered by the plan you pick and help you avoid surprises down the road.

How Do I Pick The Right Dog Insurance For My German Shepherd?

Here are eight tips to help you choose the best pet insurance policy for your German Shepherd.

  • Compare the coverage under each plan with your German Shepherd’s specific health concerns.
  • Research what illnesses are prevalent in your dog’s breed and pick your plan accordingly (Use our table above for the most common German Shepherd health issues).
  • Speak with your veterinarian about your dog’s aging health concerns.
  • Pick a plan based on the right cost and coverage benefits, not price alone.
  • Obtain at least three quotes based on the information you provide about your German Shepherd’s age, health, gender, and needs.
  • The earlier you sign your German Shepherd for pet insurance, typically means lower the monthly premiums.
  •  Evaluate and pick the monthly premium, deductibles, and reimbursement amount that best fits your needs.
  • Narrow down your choices with our recommended top 3 providers.

Should I Get German Shepherd Pet Insurance?

If money is not an issue for you and you can pay for unforeseen pet health emergencies, you probably don’t need pet insurance.

But if you don’t have a couple of thousand dollars on hand for surgery, you should consider getting pet insurance for your GSD!

Having coverage will give you the freedom to make medical decisions for your beloved German Shepherd based on the quality of life, not finances. If you decide to get pet insurance, read the policy carefully, and understand the terms and conditions before buying.


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Canine Bible uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

[1] USA Today, [2] CNBC, [3] NCBI

Editorial Team at Canine Bible | + posts

Canine Bible authorship represents the unified voice of our entire editorial team and our in-house veterinarians rather than a single author. Each article, blog post, and review published under the Canine Bible name undergoes a rigorous review process, involving all team members to guarantee accuracy and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. This collaborative effort is an integral part of our editorial process and aligns with our four pillars of content creation. This approach ensures our content is backed by expert knowledge and factual information, offering our readers reliable, actionable, and trustworthy content.


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