What dog insurance costs
About 5.23 million US dogs were insured at the end of 2025, roughly 6% of all dogs, per NAPHIA. Average annual premiums:
| Coverage | Average per year (2025) | About per month |
|---|---|---|
| Accident and illness | $836 (up 11.5%) | $70 |
| Accident-only | $190 (down 1.6%) | $16 |
| Insurance with embedded wellness | $1,414 | $118 |
Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry 2026 report highlights. Monthly figures are our rounding.
Insurify's quote medians for accident-and-illness coverage were $40 a month for puppies, $46 for adult dogs and $116 for seniors. Our pet insurance cost guide breaks down every pricing factor.
Breed risk: why some dogs cost more
Insurers price breeds by their claims history. Here's what published data shows for popular breeds:
| Breed | Known risks | Sourced data point |
|---|---|---|
| French bulldog | Breathing problems from a flat face (brachycephalic airway syndrome), allergies, heatstroke | Average Embrace claim about $490, among its highest; one Q2 2025 airway claim was $30,327 |
| Labrador retriever | Arthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament injuries | Most arthritis claims at Embrace in Q2 2025 |
| Golden retriever | Cancer, skin masses | Breed club estimates about 60% of goldens die of cancer; most skin-mass claims at Embrace |
| German shepherd | Cruciate ligament injuries, hip dysplasia | Priced like a Lab in NerdWallet's Healthy Paws quotes |
| Rottweiler | Hip and elbow dysplasia, cruciate injuries | – |
Source: Embrace claims data via Carrier Management (August 2025); Golden Retriever Club of America; Money (breed conditions); NerdWallet (May 2026).
Embrace also listed the Samoyed, Belgian Malinois, bull terrier and papillon among the breeds with the most expensive average claims. Mixed breeds aren't immune: Embrace's largest Q2 2025 claim, $35,755, was for a mixed-breed dog with a spinal infection.
The effect on premiums is large. NerdWallet's Katy, Texas quotes for a 2-year-old dog:
| Breed | ASPCA | Healthy Paws | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium mixed-breed | $39 | $57 | $43 |
| German shepherd | $48 | $84 | $51 |
| Labrador retriever | $55 | $84 | $53 |
| Golden retriever | $57 | $84 | $50 |
| French bulldog | $78 | $101 | $82 |
Source: NerdWallet reviews, May 1, 2026. Monthly premiums. ASPCA and Nationwide: $250 deductible, $5,000 limit, 80%. Healthy Paws: unlimited limit, mostly $250 and 80% (French bulldog $500 and 70%).
Common dog claims and what they cost
Nationwide's March 2025 analysis of more than 1 million insured pets ranked the top dog diagnoses. Costs are the 80th percentile reported within 30 days, plus a full-year figure for chronic conditions:
| Rank | Condition | 30-day cost | Full-year cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skin allergies | $265 | $841 |
| 2 | Gastroenteritis | $702 | – |
| 3 | Ear infection (otitis externa) | $304 | – |
| 4 | Osteoarthritis | $414 | $1,093 |
| 5 | Trauma | $708 | – |
| 6 | Dental disease | $1,284 | – |
| 7 | Urinary tract infection | $533 | – |
| 8 | Valvular heart disease | $553 | $1,203 |
| 9 | Liver disease | $499 | $770 |
| 10 | Kidney failure | $575 | $992 |
Source: Nationwide, "Chronic vs. acute: the most frequent diagnoses and their costs," March 19, 2025.
Five of the ten are chronic, which means recurring costs every year. Big surgeries are where insurance really earns its keep. Money cites cruciate ligament surgery at up to $6,000 and hip or elbow dysplasia surgery at $1,500 to over $4,500. On a $6,000 knee surgery with a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement (deductible-first), a policy would pay $4,400 and you'd pay $1,600. Healthy Paws' own example of a dog spinal surgery showed about $4,061 in covered charges and roughly $3,249 reimbursed.
Seasonal risk is rising too: Embrace reported tick-bite claims up 210% and fractures up 142% from the first to the second quarter of 2025.
Puppy vs. senior enrollment
Puppies
Many insurers accept puppies from 8 weeks (Embrace from 6 weeks). Enrolling early has three advantages:
- Lower price. Insurify's puppy median is $40 a month, about $480 a year.
- Nothing is pre-existing yet. Hip dysplasia, allergies and knee problems usually appear later. Once they're in the vet record before you enroll, they're excluded.
- Some hereditary coverage requires it. Healthy Paws only covers hip dysplasia for dogs enrolled before age 6.
Senior dogs
Insurify's senior dog median is $116 a month, about $1,392 a year. Premiums climb quickly with age: at Healthy Paws, NerdWallet's French bulldog quote rose from $101 at age 2 to $320 at age 8. Enrollment rules also tighten:
- ASPCA and Spot list no upper enrollment age.
- Healthy Paws generally requires enrollment before age 14.
- Embrace doesn't offer accident-and-illness coverage to new enrollees 15 and older.
- Nationwide may cap enrollment at 8 or 9 and offered only accident coverage for 8-year-old dogs in NerdWallet's quotes.
For an older dog with existing conditions, compare the premium with a dedicated savings fund; our emergency fund guide explains how to build one.
Hereditary and orthopedic coverage: read this section of the policy
Large-breed owners should compare how each insurer handles hips and knees, because the rules differ a lot:
| Insurer | Hereditary/congenital | Knee/orthopedic rules |
|---|---|---|
| ASPCA | Included in Complete Coverage | 14-day wait; pre-existing knee/ligament issues never eligible |
| Healthy Paws | Covered if no signs before enrollment | Hip dysplasia: enroll before 6, 12-month wait; bilateral cruciate exclusion |
| Embrace | – | 6-month orthopedic wait, cut to 14 days with an exam and waiver |
| Nationwide | New York Major Medical plan excludes congenital and some hereditary conditions | 12-month cruciate wait in most states |
| Trupanion | – | Per-condition deductible; no payout caps |
Source: NerdWallet (May 2026), Healthy Paws FAQ, Pawlicy Advisor, Insurify.
A "bilateral" exclusion means that if one knee was injured before coverage, the matching knee is excluded too, even if it was healthy when you enrolled. Ask every insurer whether it uses one.
Accident-only, full coverage or wellness?
Accident-only plans are cheap, averaging $190 a year for dogs versus $836 for accident and illness. But they usually exclude illnesses, hereditary conditions, dental illness and preventive care, which covers most of Nationwide's top-ten list. For a young dog the gap can be small: Insurify's ASPCA quote for a 2-year-old mixed breed in Connecticut was $47.72 a month for Complete Coverage versus $36.98 for accident-only, a difference of about $10.74.
Wellness add-ons are prepaid routine care, not protection against big bills. ASPCA's Prime add-on costs $24.95 a month (about $299 a year) for up to $450 of listed services; Nationwide lists allowances of $450 or $800; Healthy Paws offers no wellness option. A wellness add-on pays off only if you'd use nearly every covered item each year. Under the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' model law, a standalone wellness program is not insurance and can't be required to buy a policy.
Plan picks by need
These are options with published features that match common needs, not a ranking:
- Large breed prone to joint problems: ASPCA's 14-day orthopedic wait is shorter than Nationwide's 12 months or Embrace's six months. See our ASPCA review.
- High-cost breed or cancer risk: look for unlimited annual limits, offered by Healthy Paws, Trupanion and others. Trupanion's per-condition deductible can help with lifelong conditions.
- Older dog: ASPCA and Spot list no maximum enrollment age.
- Multiple pets or existing Nationwide customer: Nationwide offers 5%–10% multi-pet and 5% multi-policy discounts; see our Nationwide review.
- Fast reimbursement: Healthy Paws says most claims are processed in about two days; Trupanion can pay participating vets directly at checkout.
For side-by-side plan terms across all major insurers, see our best pet insurance comparison.
Before you buy: a quick checklist
- Get your dog's records and note anything an insurer could call pre-existing, such as past limping, ear infections or allergies.
- Quote three insurers at identical settings (same deductible, reimbursement and limit).
- Read the orthopedic, hereditary and bilateral sections of each sample policy, especially for large breeds.
- Ask how premiums change with age and look at the senior prices above before committing.
- Use the free look. Where your state follows the NAIC model law, you have 15 days to cancel for a full refund if you haven't claimed.
Frequently asked questions
How much is dog insurance per month?
NAPHIA's 2025 average for dog accident-and-illness coverage was $836 a year, about $70 a month. Insurify's quote medians were $40 for puppies, $46 for adult dogs and $116 for seniors. Accident-only plans averaged $190 a year.
Which dog breeds are most expensive to insure?
Breeds with known health problems cost more. French bulldogs had among the highest average claims at Embrace, and NerdWallet's quotes priced a 2-year-old French bulldog at $78 to $101 a month versus $39 to $57 for a mixed breed.
When should I get pet insurance for my puppy?
As early as you can, typically from 8 weeks. Premiums are lowest and nothing is pre-existing yet. Some coverage, such as Healthy Paws' hip dysplasia benefit, is only available if your dog enrolls before age 6.
Does pet insurance cover hip dysplasia?
Often, if it isn't pre-existing, but rules vary. Healthy Paws requires enrollment before age 6 and has a 12-month wait. ASPCA includes hereditary conditions in its Complete Coverage plan. Insurify notes some Nationwide plans limit hip dysplasia coverage.
Can I insure an older dog?
Yes, but choices shrink and prices rise. ASPCA and Spot list no upper age limit, Healthy Paws generally requires enrollment before 14, and Nationwide may only offer accident coverage to older dogs.
What are the most common dog insurance claims?
Nationwide's March 2025 analysis ranks skin allergies, gastroenteritis, ear infections, osteoarthritis and trauma as the top five dog diagnoses.
Sources
- NAPHIA – State of the Industry 2026 report highlights
- Nationwide – Chronic vs. acute: the most frequent diagnoses and their costs
- Carrier Management – Parasites led to rise in pet claims in Q2 2025 (Embrace data)
- Golden Retriever Club of America – Golden Retriever Lifetime Study
- Money – Dog insurance for popular breeds
- Insurify – Pet insurance cost
- Insurify – Cheapest pet insurance
- NerdWallet – ASPCA Pet Insurance Review 2026
- NerdWallet – Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
- NerdWallet – Nationwide Pet Insurance Review 2026
- Healthy Paws – Frequently asked questions
- Pawlicy Advisor – Embrace pet insurance
- Insurify – Trupanion review
- Insurify – ASPCA Pet Insurance Reviews (2026)
- NAIC – Pet Insurance Model Act (#633)
Rates, fees and terms change often. Figures were checked in October 2026; confirm current details with the provider before you apply.