Pet Insurance for Multiple Dogs

If I Have More Than One Dog, Which Ones Should Get Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance can be expensive, especially if you have a multi-pet home. Many animal lovers want to be able to insure all of their pets but simply can’t afford to do so. If you are stuck in this situation, how do you decide which pets to insure?

That is a difficult question. The fact is, every animal carries some risk of illness or injury. No pet is ever totally safe from experiencing harm. Some breeds or lifestyles have higher risks, however.

Take Boxers, for example. They have a higher risk of cancer than some other breeds. In regards to lifestyle, older dogs generally have more health issues than younger dogs, and dogs who live outdoors or go out without a leash have a higher risk of being poisoned, hit by cars, or attacked by other animals. Dogs that are allowed to “roam” also have a higher risk of vomiting and or diarrhea because they are more likely to eat garbage or dangerous plants that can make them sick.

Risk potential is based on age, breed, sex, and general health. If your dog is on heartworm prevention and flea control and is up-to-date on their vaccines, their risk is generally lower. Dogs who are not spayed or neutered, have allergies, or suffer other health problems such as blindness are at higher risk.

In my opinion, if you can’t insure all your dogs then insure the ones who are at higher risk. This means that a healthy, indoor-only adult dog may not need insurance as much as an outdoor-only senior dog. Carefully consider each dog’s health needs and which plan will be most beneficial for each of them and overall.

Learn more on keeping your dog safe at 5 Habits to Keep Your Dog Healthy.

These suggestions can help you minimize your dog’s risk factors.

I hope this gives you some key points on how to decide which dogs should get pet insurance.