Best Pet Insurance For Miniature American Shepherds: Cost, Quotes & FAQs

miniature american shepherd pet insurance

Canine Bible is reader-supported. We receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. This doesn’t affect rankings. Learn more.


I know firsthand the joy and responsibility that comes with pet ownership as the proud owner of a Miniature American Shepherd. My furry companion brings me so much love and companionship that I would do anything to ensure their health and well-being. That is why I am a firm believer in the value of pet insurance.

Unfortunately, unexpected medical bills, especially when it comes to our beloved pets, can quickly add up. A trip to the veterinarian can quickly turn into thousands of dollars in bills, and without insurance, it can be a difficult financial burden to bear. This is where pet insurance comes into play.

In this article, we’ll go over the best pet insurance options for Miniature American Shepherds and everything you need to know before signing up for pet insurance. Let’s dive right in!

The Best Pet Insurance For Miniature American Shepherds

Here are Canine Bible’s top picks for the best pet insurance for Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherd.

What Is Pet Miniature American Shepherd Insurance?

Getting pet insurance for your Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherds?

Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherd is quoted at $45 per month today, that price is subject to change.

We compared quotes for plans for Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherds at different stages in their life.

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

Check out our Pet Insurance Comparison table for Miniature American Shepherds below.

Pet Insurance Quotes For Miniature American Shepherds

CompanyDeductibleReimbursementAnnual Reimbursement LimitMonthly PriceLocationGenderBreedAge
Healthy Paws$50070%Unlimited$45.84Colorado
(zip code: 80023)
MaleMiniature American Shepherd5 years
Lemonade$50070%$100,000$42.55Colorado
(zip code: 80023)
MaleMiniature American Shepherd5 years
Spot Pet Insurance$50070%Unlimited$62.81Colorado
(zip code: 80023)
MaleMiniature American Shepherd5 years
Healthy Paws$50080%Unlimited$30.11Utah
(zipcode: 84041)
FemaleMiniature American Shepherd1 year
Lemonade$50080%$100,000$30.87Utah
(zip code: 84041)
FemaleMiniature American Shepherd1 year
Spot Pet Insurance$50080%Unlimited$55.02Utah
(zip code: 84041)
FemaleMiniature American Shepherd1 year
Healthy Paws$50070%Unlimited$32.24Virginia
(zip code: 22310)
FemaleMiniature American Shepherd3 months
Lemonade$50070%$100,000$31.67Virginia
(zipcode: 22310)
FemaleMiniature American Shepherd3 months
Spot Pet Insurance$50070%Unlimited$46.50Virginia
(zipcode: 22310)
FemaleMiniature American Shepherd3 months

How Much Can You Expect to Pay For Miniature American Shepherds Canine Insurance?

If you get Pet Insurance for your Miniature American Shepherd, you can expect to pay between $30 to $62 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 December 2022

Is Pet insurance For Miniature American Shepherds Worth it?

Here are three main reasons why you should consider getting pet insurance for your Miniature American Shepherd..

1. Avoid DecidinU.S.tween Your Wallet And Your Miniature American Shepherd

USA Today reports that many dog owners have made the terrible decision to euthanize their pups because they didn’t have the money to pay for surgery or treatment.[1]

With pet insurance, you can seek medical care for your sick or injured Miniature American Shepherds without worrying about hurting your finances.

On average, the most common dog treatments cost $252.75, while a more severe and common condition in Miniature American Shepherds, like Cushing’s Disease, can cost between $3,000 – $10,000 to diagnose and treat.[2]

2. Pet Insurance For Miniature American Shepherd 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. So, how does that translate to Miniature American Shepherd numbers?

A recent survey found that roughly 90 million dogs live in the United States.[3] So, unfortunately, 33% (1 in 3) of Miniature American Shepherds may need emergency care this year. This could lead to massive vet bills. In fact, the average cost of unexpected veterinary care for dogs is between $250 to $8,000, says Healthy Paws in a recent report.[4] Sadly, only 61 percent of Americans cannot cover a $1,000 emergency.[5]

A good pet insurance plan will cover most of the vet costs as most pet insurance policies reimburse up to 80% (some go up to 90%) of total vet expenses after deductibles.

3. Common Health Issues ForMiniature American Shepherds

The following table shows the most common health conditions Miniature American Shepherds are likely to develop.

We also include the level of risk (susceptibility to each health condition) and how much you are expected to pay.

ConditionRiskCost to Diagnose & Treat
Hip DysplasiaMedium$1,500 - $6,000
Elbow DysplasiaMedium$1,500 - $4,000
Cushing's DiseaseMedium$3,000 - $10,000
Optic Nerve ColobomasHigh$100 - $300
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)MediumVarious
CataractsMedium$1,500 - $5,000
EpilepsyMedium$200 - $5,000
LymphosarcomaMedium$5,000 - $10,000
HemangiosarcomaMedium$4,000 - $9,000

Other Reasons To Get Dog Insurance For Your Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherd can spare you financial trouble. Chronic health conditions, emergencies, and vet visits can rack up costs throughout your Miniature American Shepherd’s life.


Best Pet Insurance For Miniature American Shepherds

Here are Canine Bible’s top picks for the best pet insurance for Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherd.

Best Overall — Healthy Paws

Our rating: 4.8

We named Healthy Paws our best overall pet insurance for your Miniature American 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 compU.S.ive premium prices. We ran a quote for a healthy Miniature American Shepherd at a $500 deductible, with 70% coverage. Depending on your location, pet’s age, and other factors, you can expect to pay between $30 and $45.

With Healthy Paws, you can start protecting your Miniature American Shepherd at eight weeks old. You can protect them from anything like aN.Y.esky 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 Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherd at a $500 deductible and 70%, 80%, and 90% coverage. Based on our research, you can expect to pay between $30 and $42.

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 Miniature American 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 Miniature American 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 $46 and $62, but prices may vary depending on your location, your Miniature American Shepherd’s age, and other factors.

Spot covers you when your Miniature American Shepherd gets hurt unexpectedly from tooth extractions to torn ligaments. They can also cover Cushing’s Disease treatment, which Miniature American 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 Miniature American 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.


Miniature American Shepherd Average Vet Bill Cost (Healthy Vet Visits vs Emergencies)

Are you wondering how much you would have to pay out of pocket for regular vet visits and emergencies? Here is a breakdown of the average price for both.

If you don’t have insurance, you will likely 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

Pet Insurance For Miniature American Shepherd Puppy

Should you get pet insurance for your Miniature American Shepherd puppy?

Here are the top reasons you should consider Miniature American 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. Miniature American 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 Miniature American 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 Miniature American 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)

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 Miniature American 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 Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherd?

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

  • Compare the coverage under each plan with your Miniature American 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 Miniature American 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 Miniature American Shepherd’s age, health, gender, and needs.
  • The earlier you sign your Miniature American 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.

Pet Insurance For Miniature American Shepherd — Conclusion

Whether or not to get pet insurance for your Miniature American Shepherd is a personal choice based on your unique circumstances and priorities. However, there are a number of reasons why pet insurance is a good idea.

Pet insurance, first and foremost, can provide financial protection against unexpected veterinary bills. Miniature American Shepherds, like all breeds, are prone to a variety of health problems, and treatment for these problems can be costly. Pet insurance can help cover the costs of treatments, surgeries, and other veterinary services, saving you money in the long run.

Pet insurance can also give you peace of mind, knowing that you have a safety net in place in case your pet needs medical attention. This can be especially important if you have a limited budget or are worried about unexpected expenses.

Finally, you should consider your financial situation, potential risks and costs associated with your pet’s breed and health history, and the level of coverage that you are comfortable with. It’s a good idea to look into different pet insurance options and compare prices and coverage to find the plan that’s right for you.


Like It? Subscribe & Share!

* indicates required

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] Value Penguin, [3] Washington Post [4] Healthy Paws Report [5] CNBC

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.


Similar Posts