Best Pet Insurance For Shetland Sheepdogs 2022: Quote, Cost & More
Canine Bible is reader-supported. We receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. This doesn’t affect rankings. Learn more.
This is the most comprehensive guide to finding the best pet insurance for Shetland Sheepdogs.
You know just how fun and loving Shelties can be, but they’re also prone to many health problems. For that reason, It’s essential to keep your Sheltie healthy and happy, and one way to do that is by feeding them premium dog food and keeping them active by exercising. But even with that, your Sheltie could still get sick or injured. That’s where pet insurance comes in.
Having pet insurance gives you peace of mind knowing that if something happens to your furry friend, you’re protected financially, covering the cost of unexpected vet bills, so your Sheltie can get the care they need.
Luckily, many top Shetland Sheepdog pet insurance plans are available. We’ll look at some of the best options for covering your furry friend in this post.
So whether your Sheltie is young or old, healthy, or has a few health issues, there’s sure to be a plan out there that’s perfect for them. Let’s get started!
- Top Picks Insurance
- What Is Pet Insurance?
- How Much Will I Pay?
- Is Shetland Sheepdog Pet Insurance Worth It?
- Best Shetland Sheepdogs Pet Insurance Reviews
- Average Cost of Healthy Vet Visits & Emergencies
- Pet Insurance For Shetland Sheepdog Puppy
- Pet Insurance Types
- What Is Not Covered?
- How to Pick Pet Insurance
- Should I Get Shetland Sheepdog Pet Insurance?
The Best Pet Insurance Companies For Shetland Sheepdogs
Here are Canine Bible’s top 3 picks for the best pet insurance for Shetland Sheepdogs.
You can click this link to go straight to the reviews, but we encourage you to keep reading to make a more informed decision about getting pet insurance for your Shetland Sheepdog.
- Healthy Paws: Best overall pet insurance for your Shetland Sheepdog
- Embrace Pet Insurance: Great for curable pre-existing conditions.
- Pets Best: Best value for your wallet.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Getting pet insurance for your Sheltie 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 peace of mind and protecting your savings.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost For Shetland Sheepdogs?
Shetland Sheepdog’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 advances in technology and an increasing number of claims in the location where you live can make your monthly payment increase. For instance, if your Shetland Sheepdog is quoted at $45 per month today, that price is subject to change.
We compared quotes for plans for Shetland Sheepdogs 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 Shetland Sheepdogs at different stages in their life. An adult Sheltie (5 years old), a young Sheltie (1-year-old), and a puppy Sheltie (3 months old).
Check out this Pet Insurance cost comparison table for Shetland Sheepdogs.
Pet Insurance Quotes For Shetland Sheepdogs
| Company | Deductible | Reimbursement | Annual Reimbursement Limit | Monthly Price | Location | Gender | Breed | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Paws | $500 | 80% | Unlimited | $38.72 | Kansas City (zip code: 64119) | Male | Shetland Sheepdog | 5 years |
| Embrace | $500 | 80% | $30,000 | $48.67 | Kansas City (zip code: 64119) | Male | Shetland Sheepdog | 5 years |
| Pets Best | $500 | 80% | Unlimited | $23.48 | Kansas City (zip code: 64119) | Male | Shetland Sheepdog | 5 years |
| Healthy Paws | $500 | 70% | Unlimited | $48.44 | San Francisco, CA (zip code: 94116) | Female | Shetland Sheepdog | 1 year |
| Embrace | $500 | 70% | $30,000 | $51.48 | San Francisco, CA (zip code: 94116) | Female | Shetland Sheepdog | 1 year |
| Pets Best | $500 | 70% | Unlimited | $38.03 | San Francisco, CA (zip code: 94116) | Female | Shetland Sheepdog | 1 year |
| Healthy Paws | $500 | 80% | Unlimited | $22.76 | Portsmouth, VA (zip code: 23702) | Female | Shetland Sheepdog | 3 months |
| Embrace | $500 | 80% | $30,000 | $61.04 | Portsmouth, VA (zip code: 23702) | Female | Shetland Sheepdog | 3 months |
| Pets Best | $500 | 80% | Unlimited | $20.72 | Portsmouth, VA (zip code: 23702) | Female | Shetland Sheepdog | 3 months |
So, how much are you expected to pay for canine insurance for your Sheltie?
If you get Pet Insurance for your Shetland Sheepdog, you can expect to pay between $21 to $61 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 April 2022.
Is Pet insurance For Shetland Sheepdogs Worth it?
It is recommended that you purchase pet insurance to protect your dog and your finances in case of an accident. Depending on your plan, you may receive a reimbursement of 70% to 90% of the vet bill.
Are you still not convinced that insuring your pet is worth the investment?
Here are three main reasons you should consider getting pet insurance for your Sheltie.
1. Avoid Deciding Between Your Wallet & Your Shetland Sheepdog
USA Today reports that many dog owners have had to make 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 will be able to seek out medical care for your sick or injured Shetland Sheepdog without worrying about hurting your finances.
On average, the most common dog treatments cost $252.75, while a more severe and common condition in Sheltie, like Hip Dysplasia, can cost between $1,500- $6,000 to diagnose and treat.2
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.
So, how does that translate to Shetland Sheepdogs’ numbers?
A recent survey found that roughly 90 million dogs live in the United States.3 So, unfortunately, 33% (1 in 3) of Shetland Sheepdogs 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
Having a good pet insurance plan will cover the majority 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 Shetland Sheepdogs Health Issues
The following table shows the most common health conditions Shetland Sheepdogs are likely 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Patent Ductus Arteriosus | High | $2,500 - $5,000 |
| Hip Dysplasia | Medium | $1,500 - $6,000 |
| Cryptorchidism | High | $200 - $500 |
| Deafness | High | $100 - $300 |
| Dermatomyositis | High | $1,000 - $5,000 |
| Lupus Erythematosus | High | $1,000 - $10,000 |
| Patellar Luxation | High | $1,500 - $3,000 |
| Hypothyroidism | High | $300 - $800 first year, $700 each additional year |
| Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease | Medium | $1,000 - $3,000 |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | Medium | Various |
| Cataracts | High | $2,700 - $4,000 |
| Epilepsy | Medium | $200 - $5,000 |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | High | $800 - $1,500 |
| Obesity | Medium | $850 |
| Cancer | Low | $8,000 - $15,000 |
Other Reasons To Get Dog Insurance For Your Shetland Sheepdog
- 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
- It 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 Sheltie can spare you a lot of financial trouble. Chronic health conditions, emergencies, and vet visits can rack up costs throughout your Shetland Sheepdog’s life.
Best Pet Insurance For Shetland Sheepdogs
Here are Canine Bible’s top picks for the best pet insurance for Shetland Sheepdogs.
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 Sheltie.
Best Overall (Healthy Paws)
Why is Healthy Paws a good choice for your Shetland Sheepdog?
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 Shetland Sheepdog at a $500 deductible, with 70% coverage. Depending on your location,pet’ss age, and other factors, you can expect to pay between $23 and $48.
With Healthy Paws, you can start protecting your Shetland Sheepdog at just 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.
Great For Curable Pre-Existing Conditions (Embrace Pet Insurance)
If your Shetland SheepdogSheepdog’srom 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.
If you sign up with Embrace, based on our research, you can expect to pay between $48 and $61, but prices may vary depending on ySheepdog’son, Shetland Sheepdog‘s age, and other factors.
From tooth extractions to torn ligaments, Embrace has you covered when your Sheltie gets hurt unexpectedly. They can also cover Patent Ductus Arteriosus treatment, which Shetland Sheepdogs are prone to, as long as they were diagnosed after coverage.
Claims are handled fairly quickly (averages 10 to 15 business days), and centers for after-hour treatment are included in ethat’scy care coverage.
Also, your Shetland Sheepdog‘s annual deductible goes down $50 each year you don’t receive an accident or illness claim reimbursement.
Best Value (Pets Best Review)
Pets Best offers excellent pet insurance coverage for your Sheltie, but that’s also affordable.
To estimate your monthly premium, we ran a few quotes for a healthy Shetland Sheepdog at a $xxx deductible and a 70%, 80%, and 9you’llerage. Based on our research, you can expect to pay between $21 and $38, depending on your location, pet’s age, gender, and other factors.
This company has no upper age limit so that you can enroll your aging Shetland Sheepdog in a plan no matter their age. Keep in mind that rates go up depending on your pet’s age.
Their plans cover emergencies, cancer, illnesses, and other situations your senior dog may encounter. It even includes access to a 24/7 Pet Helpline so you can speak with a veterinarian at any time.
It typically has a reasonable claim repayment time of 2 days if you have a direct deposit. If you don’t, it will take between 5-7 days.
Average Cost of Shwon’td Sheepdogs Vet Bills (Healthy Vet Visit vs Emergencies)
When a dog owner thinks about vet bills, two things come to mind: regular vet visit costs and emergency vet visits.
If you do not have pet insurance or a wellness plan for your Sheltie, this table will give you a good idea of how much you’ll pay.
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 Shetland Sheepdogs Puppy
Should you get pet insurance for your Sheltie puppy? Here are the top reasons you should consider Shetland Sheepdog puppy insurance.
- Lower Premiums. Younger pets are cheaper to dog’se 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. ”ost “et insurance ”rovides 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. Shelties puppies will eat, chew and lick pretty much anything. They are more prone to suffer from accidents and bacteria, virus infection.
- Puppy Vet Bills. When you get a puppy for the first time, there are a lot of expenses associated with rasing a puppy. From toys, food to vet-related expenses. 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 Sheltie 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 Sheltie needs and finances. Most pet insurance companies nowadays offer a single plan that includes accidents and illness.
In addition to that, pet insuranceSheepdog’s also offer wellness plans, also known as “routine” or “preventative.” caredog’ss. It covers most routine vet visits, such as vaccinations. A wellness plan is not pet insurance.
Take a look at the table below to see the most common itemdog’sered by each type of pet insurance plan.
| Accident Coverage | Illness Coverage | Wellness Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Broken bones | Obesity | Flea, tick and worm treatments |
| Torn ligaments | UTIs | Rabies |
| Bite wounds | Cancer | Microchip |
| Poisoning | Hypothyroidism | De-worming |
| Injuries | Digestive Issues | teeth cleaning |
| Emergencies | IVDD | Routine testing |
| Eye Injuries | Vomiting and diarrhea | Annual exams |
| Snake Bite | Arthritis | Spay and neuter |
| Toxin food ingestion | Parasites | Urinalysis (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 DSheepdog’ssurance Not Cover?
Pet insurance doesn’t cover it all!
When buying Pet Insurance for your Shetland Sheepdog, 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 which pet insurance company and plan you choose.
Pro Tip: Please always READ your policy! Request the full list of exclusions before getting pet insurance. This will ensure your Shetland Sheepdog is fully covered by the plan you pick and help you avoid running into surprises down the road.
How Do I Pick The Right Dog Insurance For My Shetland Sheepdog?
Here are eight tips to help you choose the best pet insurance policy for your Sheltie.
- Compare the coverage under each plan with your Shetland Sheepdog‘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 Shetland Sheepdogs’ 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 Shetland Sheepdog’s age, health, gender, and needs.
- The earlier you sign your Shetland Sheepdog 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 Shetland Sheepdog Pet Insurance?
You may still be on the fence about whether to purchase pet insurance for your Shetland Sheepdog. Nevertheless, accidents happen and illnesses can strike at any time.
The best way to protect your furry friend from expensive vet bills is with Sheltie pet insurance, but you should research and find the best policy. We recommend getting your dog covered as early as possible.
We hope this article has helped you understand the basics of pet insurance and given you some ideas about what to look for when shopping around for coverage.
