Best Pet Insurance For Dogs

Our pet insurance team puts in the work others don’t, building guides around specialized research, transparent methods and independent editorial review. We focus on the factors that affect pet owners, including pet profile (species, age, breed), health risks, coverage needs, veterinary costs and differences between pet insurance providers.

• Research is grounded in authoritative sources: We use insurer policy documents, veterinary organizations, government data, actual pet insurance quotes and trusted consumer reviews to evaluate pricing, coverage, claims, customer experience and policy terms as accurately as possible.
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Compare my recommended dog insurers by their average costs, customer service features and coverage strengths in the table below.

Pets Best is my pick for the best pet insurance for small-breed dogs, with an average monthly rate of $29, 40% below the national benchmark. Its standard accident and illness plan covers hereditary and congenital conditions, which is an important benefit because small-breed dogs like Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas and Pomeranians are more likely to develop patellar luxation due to their anatomy and genetics. Pets Best also offers a waiver for its orthopedic waiting period, which otherwise ranges from 30 days to six months depending on the state. If your dog qualifies for the waiver, orthopedic care may become covered sooner.

If you want more control over your policy and out-of-pocket costs, Lemonade may be a better fit. It offers four deductibles, four reimbursement rates, five annual limits and six coverage add-ons, allowing you to adjust your premium, the amount you may pay for eligible veterinary expenses and the covered benefits based on your small dog’s needs. Lemonade also has no accident waiting period, which may benefit active or social small dogs that have higher risks for accidental injuries during outdoor activities or interactions with other animals.

Read more about the top insurers: Best Pet Insurance for Small Dogs

As the best pet insurer for medium-breed dogs, Pumpkin excels in customer experience. Its buying, policy management and claims processes are consistently smooth, helping you spend less time resolving insurance issues and more time caring for your dog. Pumpkin also offers Pumpkin Now, an urgent payment service that expedites reviews of eligible claims over $500 submitted at the vet during service hours. Once a claim is approved, you may receive reimbursement within 20 minutes if your bank account supports real-time payments, which you can use to pay your vet at checkout.

Pumpkin’s base policy has a 14-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses, including hereditary and orthopedic conditions. This matters for medium-breed dogs because smaller dogs within this weight range can be prone to patellar luxation, while heavier dogs may have a greater risk of hip or elbow dysplasia. These conditions can require costly veterinary treatment, so coverage helps reduce your out-of-pocket expenses if they develop after the applicable waiting period.

If you want to reduce the amount you pay upfront at the vet, Pets Best may be an alternative to Pumpkin. Its Vet Direct Pay feature can send claim payments directly to your vet’s office after you file a completed claim and signed veterinarian reimbursement release form, reducing your out of pocket expenses to your deductible, co-insurance and other costs the policy doesn’t cover.

I recommend Pumpkin for large-breed dogs because it combines affordable premiums with comprehensive coverage and efficient service. Its digital tools let you buy coverage, manage your policy and file claims online, reducing administrative work and freeing up more time to care for your dog. Its Pumpkin Now service can also deposit reimbursements on the same day you file an eligible claim, provided you submit it during service hours and your bank account supports real-time payments, giving you faster access to funds for your dog’s veterinary expenses.

At an average of $45 per month, 35% below the national average, Pumpkin offers a base accident and illness plan that covers hereditary conditions and orthopedic issues after a 14-day waiting period. This coverage matters because large-breed dogs such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers are more prone to health problems like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears, which can require costly veterinary treatment.

However, Pumpkin offers fewer options for adjusting policy limits. ASPCA may be a better choice since it offers four deductibles, three reimbursement rates and six annual limits. This flexibility allows you to tailor your policy to your budget and decide how much financial protection you want for your large dog’s eligible veterinary expenses.

Read more about the top insurers: Best Pet Insurance for Large Dogs

Talk to your veterinarian about your dog's current health, review its medical records together and ask which accidents and illnesses your dog is most likely to have. Consider your dog's breed, size, age and lifestyle, as these factors can influence its risk of hereditary conditions, orthopedic problems, infectious diseases and accidental injuries.

For example, large-breed dogs are more prone to hip dysplasia, while small-breed dogs may be at greater risk for luxating patella. Dogs that spend time outdoors may also have higher risk for parasites and infectious diseases, while younger, active dogs may be more likely to experience accidental injuries. Ask your vet which treatments your dog might need for these conditions and how much they typically cost, including diagnostic tests, medications, surgery and follow-up care.

Use your veterinarian's assessment of your dog's health risks and potential treatment costs to choose among accident-only, accident and illness, or accident and illness with wellness coverage. Each type covers different veterinary expenses, so consider which risks you want to insure and which costs you can afford to pay out of pocket.

• Accident-only insurance: This covers injuries from unexpected events, such as broken bones, cuts or swallowing foreign objects. It may suit a healthy dog whose owner primarily wants financial protection against emergency injuries that can be expensive to treat.
• Accident and illness insurance: This provides coverage for accidents and illnesses, which may include infections, cancer, allergies and hereditary conditions, depending on the policy. It may be a good fit if your veterinarian identifies health risks that could lead to expensive treatment as your dog ages.
• Accident and illness insurance with wellness coverage: This extends accident and illness coverage to routine preventive care, such as vaccinations, wellness exams and parasite prevention. It may suit owners who want help budgeting for both unexpected veterinary bills and predictable preventive expenses, provided the wellness benefits justify the additional cost.

Decide on how much coverage you need based on your dog's potential veterinary care and your budget. By choosing the right deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit, you can control how much you pay for insurance, how much the insurer may reimburse and how much you must cover yourself when your dog needs treatment.

• Deductible: The amount you pay for eligible veterinary expenses before your insurance starts reimbursing you. A higher deductible lowers your monthly premium but leaves you paying more upfront when your dog needs care.
• Annual limit: The maximum amount your insurer will reimburse for covered veterinary expenses in one policy year. A lower limit may cost less but could leave you paying more if your dog needs expensive surgery or ongoing treatment. If your veterinarian identifies risks such as hip dysplasia or IVDD, consider whether the limit would cover a substantial portion of those potential treatment costs.
• Reimbursement rate: The percentage of eligible veterinary expenses your insurer pays after you meet your deductible. A higher reimbursement rate costs more in premiums but reduces your share of covered bills.

Create a shortlist of pet insurance companies that offer coverage in your state, then review each provider's sample policy to understand what it covers, what it excludes and whether its terms match your dog's health risks. Pay particular attention to the following:

• Pre-existing condition rules: Find out how the insurer defines a pre-existing condition, which can include an illness, injury, symptom or abnormality that appeared before coverage began or during the waiting period. Also check whether the insurer considers previous symptoms when determining exclusions, whether an exclusion applies only to the affected condition or related conditions, and whether medical records or a veterinary exam are required to assess your dog's health history.
• Curable pre-existing conditions: Some insurers may reconsider coverage for certain pre-existing conditions after your dog has been symptom-free and treatment-free for a specified period. Examples may include a resolved ear infection, a urinary tract infection or a gastrointestinal illness, depending on the insurer's rules. Look for providers that allow eligible curable conditions to become covered again after a symptom- and treatment-free period of less than 12 months.
• Waiting periods: Check how long you must wait after enrollment before coverage begins. Look for providers with accident waiting periods of zero to three days, illness waiting periods of 14 days or less, and orthopedic waiting periods of less than six months or options to waive them.
• Cancer treatment: Confirm whether the policy covers cancer diagnostics, such as imaging and biopsies, as well as eligible treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Look for broad coverage in the base policy rather than benefits that require an optional add-on or unusually restrictive condition-specific limits.
• Hereditary conditions: Verify that the base accident and illness policy covers eligible hereditary conditions, which are health problems passed down through a dog's genes. Examples include hip dysplasia in large-breed dogs and certain heart conditions in predisposed breeds. Check for breed-specific exclusions, condition-specific limits and add-on requirements.
• Dental illnesses: See if the insurer covers dental illnesses and medically necessary treatment, such as treatment for periodontal disease, rather than only dental injuries. Check whether dental illness coverage is included in the base policy or require an optional add-on.
• Alternative therapy: Look for insurers that cover alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation, when a veterinarian recommends them. Confirm whether these treatments are included in the base policy or require an add-on, and review any limits on reimbursement or the number of covered sessions.
• Enrollment restrictions: Check whether the insurer has a minimum or maximum enrollment age, since some providers restrict new policies for older dogs. Also confirm whether the insurer accepts your dog's breed and whether breed-specific restrictions, exclusions or coverage limits apply.

Collect quotes from your shortlisted pet insurance providers using the same deductible, annual limit and reimbursement rate to compare prices on an equal basis. Make sure to compare the benefits included in each provider's base policy. Some insurers require add-ons for exam fees, prescription medications or alternative therapies, while others include these benefits in their standard accident and illness plan. Account for the cost of any add-ons you need when comparing the total premium, rather than choosing a policy based on its base price alone.