Does Pet Insurance Cover Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia can be a debilitating condition for dogs, causing pain and mobility issues. Unfortunately, some breeds are more prone to hip dysplasia than others. Specifically, large breeds are more likely to be diagnosed with hip dysplasia due to a combination of rapid growth and physical stress on joints from having a larger body weight.

Hip dysplasia is more common in breeds like German Shepherds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Siberian Huskies. But many large-breed dogs can have this condition.

You may be wondering: does pet insurance cover hip dysplasia? The answer is yes; pet insurance policies often pay to treat hip dysplasia in dogs. But whether you're eligible for coverage depends on the type of pet insurance you have and whether hip dysplasia was a pre-existing condition for your dog or not.

Here, we'll review how hip dysplasia coverage usually works so you have an idea of what to expect.

What Is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is a condition where the hip joints do not form properly. As the condition progresses, hip cartilage can wear down, causing a host of painful symptoms.

There are different factors that contribute to hip dysplasia. These include:

• Rapid growth
• Genetics
• Extra weight

In some cases, too much exercise in growing puppies can exacerbate hip dysplasia. The condition is often diagnosed at the puppy stage, but it can also develop later.

Signs and Symptoms of Hip Dysplasia

If you have a dog whose breed is prone to hip dysplasia, it's important to know what symptoms to look out for. Some common signs of hip dysplasia include:

• Limping
• Trouble walking or standing
• Stiffness
• Abnormal sitting positions
• Trouble jumping, getting on and off furniture, or climbing stairs

The sooner hip dysplasia is diagnosed, the sooner your dog can begin treatment for it, which could help prevent their symptoms from getting worse.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Hip Dysplasia

To arrive at a hip dysplasia diagnosis, your vet will generally start with a physical exam. They may do certain tests to check your dog's range of motion and bend your dog's legs in certain ways to check for stiffness or pain.

It's also common for vets to do an X-ray to check for joint malformation. In extreme cases, or if initial exams are inconclusive and your dog's pain persists, you may be referred for a CT scan or MRI.

Your dog may need to be sedated for accurate imaging. If so, your vet will give you instructions on how to prepare and what to expect.

Hip Dysplasia Surgery Costs and Treatment Options

Because hip dysplasia is a chronic condition, it can be expensive to manage.

Surgical options for hip dysplasia include:

• Double or triple pelvic osteotomy (DPO/TPO)
• Femoral head ostectomy (FHO)
• Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS)
• Total hip replacement (THR)

Here's how the cost of these procedures breaks down:

Source: CareCredit

Surgery is not always needed to treat hip dysplasia. In some cases, the condition may be managed by medication, joint supplements, physical therapy, and weight loss or management plans.

The cost of medication can range from $50 to $200 per month, depending on what your dog takes specifically. Supplements to promote joint health, meanwhile, might cost about $25 per month.

If your dog needs physical therapy, you may be looking at around $180 for an initial consultation and $58 to $98 per session on average. Weight management programs can vary in cost, depending on your dog's breed, age, and specific size.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Hip Dysplasia?

Pet insurance usually covers hip dysplasia treatment provided it's not a pre-existing condition. Unlike human health insurance, pet insurers can exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage. For your insurer to pay for hip dysplasia treatment, your dog must be enrolled before symptoms appear, and the policy generally needs to include hereditary condition coverage.

Also, if you have an accident-only plan, your insurance company generally won't cover hip dysplasia treatment, since it's considered an illness.

Pet Insurance for Pre‑Existing Conditions and Waiting Periods

Pet insurance policies usually have strict rules for hip dysplasia coverage. If your pet is diagnosed with hip dysplasia prior to enrollment or shows documented signs of it, you may not be covered for treatment.

Similarly, it's common for pet insurance policies to impose a waiting period from when you enroll to when your coverage begins. If signs of hip dysplasia appear during that waiting period, you may not be eligible for coverage for that condition.

Furthermore, some insurers specifically impose a longer waiting period for orthopedic issues, including hip dysplasia. These waiting periods can be as short as a few weeks or as long as six months, though the longer waiting periods can sometimes be waived with a vet exam.

What to Look for in a Pet Insurance Policy

If you're adopting a dog who's prone to conditions like hip dysplasia, it's important to choose the right pet insurance policy. You may want to specifically focus on policies that:

• Do not exclude certain breeds
• Do not exclude hereditary conditions
• Have a shorter waiting period (orthopedic and otherwise)
• Do not have an annual coverage limit, or have a higher limit
• Offer a more generous reimbursement percentage (80% to 90%)
• Offer coverage for surgery and physical therapy

It's a good idea to compare different policies and insurers to decide what's best for you. Don't just choose the plan with the lowest premiums. Instead, look at your total coverage. A plan with lower premiums might come with a smaller reimbursement percentage (for example, 70% instead of 80% or 90%).

Why Early Enrollment Matters

Dogs who are prone to hip dysplasia can start to display symptoms early on. That's why it's crucial to sign up for pet insurance coverage as soon as you can. If you enroll your pet before they start to show signs of hip dysplasia, it generally won't be considered a pre-existing condition, making it eligible for coverage.

Enrolling your dog at a younger age could also help you lock in lower premiums. This is especially important for large-breed dogs that may be more prone to certain health issues.

Hip Dysplasia & Pet Insurance: Enroll Sooner, Rather Than Later

Hip dysplasia can be an expensive condition to manage, and treatment is often lifelong once it's diagnosed. Pet insurance can cover hip dysplasia, but only if your dog is enrolled before symptoms begin and your policy does not exclude hereditary conditions.

Given the cost of hip dysplasia treatment, it's in your best interest to enroll your dog as soon as you can. This doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to shop around with different insurers. But you should make getting coverage a priority, especially if you're adopting a dog whose breed is more susceptible.