Do Huskies Need Pet Insurance? Important Things To Consider

Siberian Huskies are quite a healthy breed compared to many other popular dogs, so do huskies need pet insurance, or is it not worth the price?

It’s impossible to say whether a husky needs pet insurance, as nobody can say with certainty what health problems your husky will have and how much they will cost to treat.

There are some advantages to having pet insurance for your husky, though, and this guide will break down those advantages, as well as how to decide whether pet insurance is the right option for you.

Let’s get into it.

Factors To Consider When Thinking About Pet Insurance For Huskies

Choosing whether to get pet insurance for your husky is no easy task, and you need to consider many different factors.

Price

The first thing to consider with pet insurance is obviously the cost.

Pet insurance for huskies costs anywhere from $25 to $50 per month on average but can quickly go above this, depending on the customization involved with your specific plan. This includes where you live, the health of your husky, and many other factors.

For some people, this cost is not something to worry about, but I fully understand that it is a significant cost for a lot of people.

The other side to this argument is that if you can’t afford insurance, should you have a husky in the first place when certain procedures or healthcare plans can cost thousands of dollars?

Structure Of The Insurance & Coverage

There are three main types of pet insurance:

  • Accident Only – This one is self-explanatory and one of the most basic types of coverage.
  • Accident And Illness – Accident and illness coverage costs more and covers both one-off accidents or injuries as well as conditions and illnesses.
  • Wellness Coverage – This type of coverage only provides preventative procedures only and not emergencies.

As well as insurance types, there are different structures to each and coverage. For example, each plan will have its own maximum payout, which can be the max per year, per emergency, or the max payout per lifetime.

As well as the premium, which is the price you pay each month, there are deductibles and possibly copayments to think about as well.

Deductibles are certain payment thresholds you need to meet before your insurer pays out, and you can choose these when taking out your policy. Higher deductibles = lower premiums.

Copayments are a portion of the covered expense you may be responsible for after the deductible.

The Value Of Peace Of Mind

If you can budget for pet insurance, the peace of mind that it provides is invaluable.

If your husky does, unfortunately, suffer from expensive health problems, it will be worthwhile in terms of saving you money further down the road as well.

Husky Health

Huskies are a pretty healthy breed compared to many other dogs, but they can suffer from genetic issues due to being purebred.

They still have respectable lifespans, though, with an average of 12 to 14 years, and most problems they face are not life-limiting.

Many of these problems can be screened for, and respectable breeders do several health tests and selective breeding to make these problems less likely to occur.

Common Problems Huskies Can Face & What They Cost

If you’re thinking about getting pet insurance for your husky, it makes sense to get an idea of the common health problems that affect huskies and how much they cost to treat.

The table below summarizes the most common husky health issues and what they cost on average to treat.

Most Common Husky Health IssuesAverage Cost To Treat
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)No Effective Treatment
Hip Dysplasia$1,000 to $6,000+ (surgery costs can be this much per hip)
Hypothyroidism $50 to $150 for testing, $20 to $50 per month for medication
Zinc Deficiency$50 to $150 for testing, $20 to $50 per month for medication
Follicular Dysplasia$25 to $50 (per month)
Cataracts$2,000 to $4,000 per eye for surgery

Don’t forget that problems like hip dysplasia and specific eye issues can be screened for very early, and reputable, registered breeders will be doing these tests on all of their litters.

This doesn’t lower the risk to zero, but it makes it much less likely, and it’s worth paying a premium upfront for a healthier pup. Of course, in the case of rescues or adoptions, you don’t have any say in the matter.

Age Considerations

It’s also important to consider your husky’s age when considering pet insurance.

Husky Puppies

Husky puppies are much less prone to health problems, and insurance starts off much cheaper at this age.

Many pet insurance companies offer loyalty schemes where you get a bonus for signing up early, which can pay off in the long term.

Senior Huskies

Pet insurance for senior huskies can quickly become expensive, and note that there aren’t any providers who cover pre-existing conditions.

This means that if you anticipate large vet bills in the future due to a condition that your senior husky has, it’s already too late to purchase pet insurance to cover the cost.

My Opinion

I think the decision to take out pet insurance for a husky is entirely personal.

It can be beneficial if you can meet the monthly payments without worrying and if your plan provides the right coverage you are happy with. Many people take out pet insurance without reading the fine print and quickly realize their plan isn’t what they hoped for when encountering a vet bill.

Some huskies can suffer from costly problems, especially certain hip issues, and if you can’t afford them, it can be devastating to everyone involved, including your pup.

On the other hand, if you’re comfortable paying unexpected, large pet bills without worrying, there are some cases where this can work out cheaper, especially if your husky is fortunate enough to avoid these types of health problems.

The truth of the matter is that most pet insurance policies are only beneficial for the insurance company, but this, of course, assumes that many people take out the coverage. Pet insurance only works out for the holder if your husky encounters serious health problems, which can happen.

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About The Author

Caitlin is the owner and lead writer for The Malamute Mom. She has over 10 years of experience with Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies. She is currently working on getting her PhD in materials science but continues to write for The Malamute Mom in her spare time.

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