If you’re the owner of a precious four-legged friend then it’s likely you’ll want to be able to provide the best care for them. You might treat them to lots of cuddles, take them on weekend adventures or build them an impressive toy collection. Finding them comprehensive pet insurance might also be part of your plan, but are you unsure of what exactly pet insurance covers? Or has your vet found a problem in your new puppy that you weren’t expecting? This can be tricky to navigate as unexpected health issues can be costly, especially if not covered by insurance. The reality is that plenty of insurance companies will actually cover congenital conditions as long as they’re not pre-existing to the policy being taken out. But what if they are? And what exactly is a congenital problem? Let’s find out.
Should I get insurance for my pet?
Pet insurance can help pet owners all over the world afford the best treatment for their animal by covering the cost of veterinary care. Customers pay a monthly or yearly fee and if their pet becomes unwell, insurance is designed to cover the cost of care that could end up being much more expensive than they would otherwise be able to afford. If you have pet insurance, it’s crucial to be aware of what your policy will and won’t cover if your pet becomes ill. Nobody wants a nasty surprise at what is already likely to be a stressful time if you have a sick animal.
The cost of everything has been increasing in recent years
And the price of vets fees has increased too, meaning it’s more important than ever to think seriously about how you would be able to afford it if your pet became unwell. Some people have a pot of money set aside specifically for their pet, or start putting money into one as soon as they buy them. These can be effective strategies for some. The potential drawbacks of these methods are that the cost of vet bills might end up being more than what is saved or the pet becomes ill earlier on in life (for example due to an accident or a congenital condition) before sufficient funds are saved.
Like any other, insurance companies are businesses that need to make a profit in order to function. There will be a proportion of people that pay for insurance that never have to use it, whereas others may need to claim multiple times during their pet’s life. Some insurance companies don’t cover ‘pre-existing conditions’ that are already present before the insurance policy is bought as they see them as being high risk for needing to pay out for. Congenital conditions can be classed as ‘pre-existing’ if they are found before the insurance policy is taken out. So starting your pet’s insurance policy as soon as possible can mean the difference between having to pay for treatment for the rest of their life or the insurance company covering the cost.
What are congenital and inherited conditions?
A congenital condition is a health problem that is present at birth. Congenital problems can be caused by an animal’s genetics or factors in their environment and they may not always be visible to you or even your vet. Inherited conditions are those that are passed on from the parents. they may or not be obvious at birth, but the cellular and genetic defects are already present.
There are too many hereditary and congenital conditions to mention them all, but they include:
- Bone disorders (such as Dyschondroplasia and osteochondrosis)
- Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
- Cleft palate
- Cryptorchidism (where one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum)
- Elbow dysplasia
- Entropion (where the eyelid rolls inward)
- Heart defects or murmurs
- Hip dysplasia
- Muscle disorders (myopathies)
- Umbilical hernias
More visible or ‘obvious’ problems like cleft palates and umbilical hernias are commonly picked up at vet checks early on in a dog’s life, but conditions affecting inside the body such as bone or heart problems need imaging techniques like ultrasound or x-ray to be diagnosed.
Both congenital and inherited conditions can cause complications later down the line, even if they don’t seem to be an issue at first. For example, hip dysplasia can cause arthritis, cleft palates can result in difficulty eating and heart defects can lead to exercise intolerance. For this reason, insurance companies are less likely to cover them as there is a much higher chance of them having to pay out to cover procedures or medications related to these conditions.
Why can it be difficult to find insurance that covers certain dog breeds?
One of the most frequently seen congenital conditions seen by vets in practice today is actually a combination of conditions that fall under ‘brachycephalic syndrome’ or brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). BOAS is the name given to the set of anatomical variations of flat-faced or short-nosed dogs such as pugs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers, English bulldogs and shih tzus. Although people may find these breeds cute, the way they look means they are built very differently to other longer-nosed dogs and that very fact means they are at much higher risk of a host of health issues. These types of dogs tend to have narrowed nostrils, elongated soft palates, everted laryngeal saccules and hypoplastic (underdeveloped) tracheas, all of which contribute to breathing difficulties as well as other issues.
You may find it more difficult to find pet insurance for your dog if they are a brachycephalic breed, as the likelihood of them encountering health issues associated with these features is so much more than other dogs.
Health complications associated with brachycephalic breeds include:
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Breathing difficulties
- Collapse
- Gastrointestinal disorders (such as hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux)
- Heat stroke
- Laryngeal or bronchial collapse
Are there any insurance companies that cover congenital conditions?
The good news is that yes, there are plenty of insurance companies out there that will cover for congenital conditions. However, many of these companies will only cover them as long as they are not present or apparent before the policy is started, otherwise they would be a pre-existing condition. Some pet insurance companies won’t cover pre-existing conditions at all, whereas others will (usually for an increased fee), and it’s never been easier to compare insurance policies. You can use price comparison websites to compare insurance policies, or visit the company website to find out exactly what’s included.
Insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions include:
- Agria
- ManyPets
- Petplan
- Petsure
Don’t forget that if you change insurer, though, pre-existing illnesses will likely be excluded from cover in the new policy. You can learn more about pet insurance here.
My vet has found a congenital condition in my dog, what should I do?
It’s understandably concerning if your vet finds a congenital problem in your pet, but try not to worry as so many conditions are treatable. It’s important to have an honest discussion with your vet about possible treatment or management options and how much these are likely to cost. They’ll be able to give you options and talk you through what this means for your pet. It may be something you can go away and spend some time thinking about before you make any decisions regarding treatment.
If your dog is still a puppy and you bought them from a breeder, you should inform them of the hereditary problem. It’s useful for them to know in case of future breeding and they may offer to re-home the puppy if it’s in their contract and you feel unable to care for it, though all breeders will be different.
If your dog isn’t insured at the time the problem is found and you’d like to take out insurance afterwards, you can look for a policy that covers pre-existing conditions. It can still be worth getting insurance even if that particular condition is covered, as it could still save you money in the long term. Paying for one condition is better than paying for two, right?
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