Best Pet Insurance for Mini Goldendoodle

Even the healthiest dog can have an accident that requires an emergency visit to the vet, and Mini Goldendoodles are no different.

Although these dogs do not have a lot of hereditary health conditions, accidents do happen, and emergency vet care can be very expensive.

For that reason, Mini Goldendoodle owners should consider purchasing insurance for their pups. It will give them any financial support they require in the case of an emergency, purchasing medicine, or even just covering annual checkups.

This guide to pet insurance looks specifically at insurance for Mini Goldendoodles – the offspring of Golden Retrievers and Poodles. These wonderful, resilient family pets still need vet care and accident cover.

Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

The short answer is: yes.

Veterinary care is very expensive, especially for emergency operations. A pet insurance policy offers pet parents the opportunity to get the best medical care for their Goldendoodle, and also get financial support for medical expenses.

It is imperative that you get insurance when your dog is still young (or as soon as you bring your pup home from the shelter). This way, you’ll be covered before an accident occurs.

If you are adopting an older Goldendoodle, check whether the policy you are interested in covers pre-existing conditions.

The Four Best Pet Insurance Companies For Mini Goldendoodles

Here are our top pet insurance companies specifically for Mini Goldendoodles.

1. Lemonade Pet Insurance

Lemonade is our top pet insurance for Goldendoodles. This pet insurance company offers comprehensive and customizable policies at budget-friendly prices.

The most basic policies available are accident and illness policies. These include cover for medications, medical procedures due to accidents and illnesses, prescription medications, and diagnostic procedures.

Lemonade is top of the list because of its affordable insurance policies for Mini Goldendoodles. You will also receive your claim almost instantly, so you do not have to first pay out of pocket at the vet.

This insurance provider offers its clients a smartphone application, through which claims can be filed. Once the claim is made through the app, Lemonade will pay out the money (minus deductibles) almost instantly.

2. Odie Pet Insurance

Odie is the perfect pet insurance provider for first-time dog owners. This is because their policies are easy to understand and completely transparent. Goldendoodle owners can customize the policy to meet the needs of their individual dogs because no two Doodles are alike!

Odie is like the new, hip kid on the block. It targets specifically Millennials and Gen Z, as these generations are increasingly becoming pet owners in the US.

Odie offers customizable, flexible policies, fixed premiums, and a lot of online resources.

Odie can offer benefits often not covered by traditional (or old-school) insurance policies. These added benefits include prescription medications, acupuncture, rehab therapy, and even chiropractic procedures.

Since Odie targets younger pet parents, their plans are also 15% – 30% more affordable than a lot of other pet insurance providers.

3. Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace Pet Insurance is a no-frills insurance provider. However, their pet insurance for Goldendoodles is very comprehensive.

This pet health insurance company has been around for more than 15 years, so they definitely know what they are doing. Their premiums are relatively affordable, and straightforward insurance plans mean you know exactly what is covered and what is not.

What makes Embrace one of the top pet insurance providers is the fact that they include dental care in their plans. Anyone that has ever owned an aging dog knows how expensive dental surgery can be. That makes this provider great for owners of adult Mini Goldendoodles.

Embrace also offers multi-pet discounts, discounts for those that pay annually, and discounts for those in the military.

The cost of this policy will depend on the plan you choose, but on average it will cost you around $25 to $50 per month for your Mini Goldendoodle.

The basic accident and illness coverage plans allow Doodle owners to customize the plans to suit their budgets. This feature allows pet parents to adjust their annual deductibles, annual maximum, and percentage for reimbursement.

Unfortunately, Embrace does not cover pre-existing conditions, so keep this in mind if you have an older Mini Doodle. Embrace Pet Insurance also does not cover pregnancy and will not take on new pets over the age of 15.

4. Nationwide Pet Insurance

Nationwide is deemed “America’s No. 1 pet insurance” and it is easy to see why. This insurance provider offers not only dogs and cats but is also popular with exotic pet owners.

This does not mean they are not well-suited to Mini Goldendoodles though!

Two plans that Doodle owners can consider are the Pet Wellness Basic or Pet Wellness Plus plans. These plans cover routine care such as vaccinations, as well as additional benefits like nail clipping.

A more comprehensive plan is the Major Medical Plan. This plan covers prescription medications, illnesses, and injuries caused by accidents. Just note that spaying or neutering is not covered by this plan.

There are plenty of other plans on offer, and Nationwide promises to reimburse you based on your vet bill.

The downside of Nationwide is that pre-existing conditions are not covered, and they also do not accept dogs older than 10 years. This is why it is so important to get your pet covered while they are young! Furthermore, as your pet gets older, Nationwide will increase your premium annually by 12%, as senior Mini Goldendoodles are more likely to require vet visits.

Common Health Concerns For Mini Goldendoodles

Mini Goldendoodles have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Although these hybrid dogs are pretty robust, they do have a small chance of developing some health concerns as they get older.

Here are some common health problems to be aware of so that you can look for specific insurance plans that cover these conditions.

Hip dysplasia: When the hip joint and socket do not interlock properly, which can cause damage to the cartilage and cause pain and limping.
Elbow dysplasia: This condition is similar to hip dysplasia, but occurs in the elbow joint.
Patellar luxation: This painful joint condition occurs due to arthritis and is common in smaller breeds like the Mini Goldendoodle. The kneecap slips from its position, which can cause a lot of pain.
Cataracts: This condition causes the eye lens to change, which can result in blurred vision and eventual blindness. Older Mini Goldendoodles have a high risk of developing cataracts.
Osteoarthritis: Damage to the joint or weakened bones and muscles can cause joints to be inflamed.
Heart conditions: Mini Goldendoodles are prone to heart disease. Symptoms can vary, so if your dog is acting differently, it is best to take it to the vet immediately.
Other eye problems: Apart from cataracts, Mini Goldendoodles can also get progressive retinal atrophy (which has no cure and can lead to blindness) and pigmentary uveitis (common in Golden Retrievers, this condition causes loss of vision but can be rectified with costly surgery).
Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS): SAS is a heart condition where tissue and growths block the aortic valve. This can result in heart failure. It can be rectified with expensive surgery and ongoing medication.
Sebaceous adenitis: This condition is inherited from Poodles. It results in dry, flaky skin and alopecia (hair loss).

Visit our homepage to learn more about caring for your Mini Doodle and keeping it in tip-top condition.

How Does Pet Insurance for Mini Goldendoodles Work?

Now that you know our top picks and what conditions you should aim to cover, you are probably wondering “but how exactly do pet insurance companies work?“

Firstly, just like human health insurance, dog insurance covers part or all of your pet’s medical bills should they go to the vet.

Policies differ but can cover all or part of preventative care (including annual checkups and vaccinations), as well as emergency care such as injury or illness.

Typically, you will pay monthly premiums to your chosen insurance company. Before your insurance company pays out your claim, you may have to first spend some of your own money, known as your deductible.

For example, if your policy has a $100 deductible, your insurance policy will only kick in once you have spent more than $100 at the vet.

Choosing Your Pet Insurance

There are certain things to consider before choosing your pet insurance. Make sure you understand the following elements before making a choice:

Deductible: The amount you have to pay out-of-pocket each year before your policy covers expenses.
Co-pay: The amount you pay per vet visit before your insurance covers the rest.
Cover limits: The maximum amount of money your insurance policy will pay out each year or for your Mini Goldendoodle’s life. A higher cover limit will incur higher monthly premiums.
Your Mini Goldendoodle’s age: The younger your Doodle, the more affordable your premiums will be.
Your dog’s weight: A heavier dog is more likely to develop health problems, which is why overweight dogs often have more expensive premiums.
Duration of the policy: Most pet insurance companies offer one-year contracts. If you dig a little, you are bound to find multiple-year contracts.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Pet Insurance Company For Your Goldendoodle

Now that you know what to look for before signing a pet insurance contract, here are some other factors to consider.

Limits on your dog’s age

It is best to get insurance coverage while your Mini Goldendoodle is still young. Most pet insurance companies register puppies from the age of six to eight weeks. However, they also place a limit on the maximum age of dogs they will cover.

It can be difficult to get insurance for an older dog (especially if they have pre-existing conditions). Most pet insurance policies do not cover dogs over the age of 14, although this age limit differs between insurance providers.

Waiting periods

When taking out a new policy, there is most likely to be a waiting period before insurance will pay out any claims.

There are also waiting periods following illnesses or accidents. These waiting periods differ, but generally, it is 14 days for illnesses and 5 days for injuries or accidents.

Type of Coverage

There are different types of coverage offered by pet insurance companies, so make sure you get the perfect coverage for your Mini Goldendoodle.

Accident and illness cover

This coverage is perfect for breeds that are likely to develop hereditary health conditions as they get older.

Accidents and illnesses cover will also pay for any emergency care needed due to accidents and injuries that may occur, such as bone fractures or if your dog ingested poison.

Illness cover

This type of cover does not pay out for accidents, only illnesses.

It is likely that your dog will develop some illness over the course of its life, such as cancer or something less major.

A good pet insurance policy will cover the expenses related to medication and treatment for any illnesses your Mini Goldendoodle may develop.

Preventative cover

All dogs need to go to the vet for annual checkups and vaccinations, and these checkups will be covered by a preventative cover policy.

Getting regular checkups and giving your puppy its vaccinations can prevent costly future diseases. Some preventative cover policies may also cover dental checkups.

Hereditary disease coverage

Although Mini Goldendoodles are less likely to develop hereditary conditions than purebred dogs, there is always a risk for conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia or cataracts.

Although many policies won’t cover pre-existing conditions, if you get cover for your pup when it is young, your policy can help to pay for any hereditary conditions should they arise later in life.

Flexible plans

The best insurance company is one that offers flexibility. Mini Goldendoodle owners should opt for policies that are affordable but also flexible, meaning they offer a variety of deductibles and coverage limits.

Easy to use and transparent

Insurance is a tricky business to understand. That is why the best insurance policies are those with no hidden costs and clear descriptions of what is included.

Having a smartphone application for your insurance provider is also beneficial as it makes it easy to make claims or get assistance.

Customer service

You ideally want an insurance company that will be able to help you when you need it. Read online reviews to get a feel for a company’s customer service, and check whether their contact details or customer service line is on their website.

Variety of plans

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to insurance coverage for Mini Goldendoodles, which is why you want an insurance provider that has a variety of plans.

This will give you the option to select the perfect plan (or customize a plan) that suits your budget and also covers your dog’s needs.

FAQs

How much does pet insurance cost?

The cost of pet insurance will depend on your plan and your dog’s age. Mini Goldendoodle owners can expect to pay between $25 to $50 per month for a young, healthy dog. The best pet insurance for Goldendoodles is worth paying for – it’s almost certainly cheaper than paying for unexpected vet fees!

Is pet insurance worth it?

Yes! Even if your dog is healthy, accidents can happen that lead to expensive vet bills. An insurance plan can help ease the burden on your wallet and make sure your pup gets the best veterinary care.

Final Thoughts

Pet health insurance is a must if you are a parent to a Mini Goldendoodle. Although these dogs are healthy in general, they can still get injured or sick. Should that happen, you want to make sure you have the best medical care for your pup.

The correct pet insurance cover will see that your Mini Goldendoodle is protected should he need annual vet visits or emergency surgery.

Getting pet insurance means you can rest assured that your furry friend will always be safe, and that expensive vet bills will not bankrupt you!