Great Dane Insurance

Great Dane Insurance For Pet Dogs

Great Danes are among the top largest and tallest dog breeds. They are also known as Apollo of Dogs and Gentle Giants. Great done make affectionate companions who love to play and be around their owners. This dog breed loves interacting with people and is a highly social animal. The breed is susceptible to multiple health issues due to their weight. Therefore, investment in a pet insurance policy is a cost-effective option to provide all the healthcare facilities your dog needs and deserves.

What are common illnesses found in the Great Dane breed?

Great Dane dog breed may develop many health issues during their lifetime. Timely cure helps to recover from illness quickly as well as minimises the risk of developing chronic conditions. Following are some of the most common diseases found in Great Danes.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

It is a disease in which heart muscles become weak and thin causing it to degenerate. It results in weakness of the heart which ultimately affects its functioning. The heart does not pump the blood effectively which causes increased blood pressure due to blood congestion in the heart. It causes heart muscle walls to stretch. Enough heart valve stretching might cause leakage resulting in a heart murmur or abnormal heart rhythm.

Dilated cardiomyopathy disease is more common in middle to giant-sized dog breeds. The common initial signs of dogs suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy include anorexia, excessive drinking, breathing issues, intolerance for exercise, coughing, fainting, etc. If your dog is experiencing a heart problem, contact the vet immediately. They will conduct X-rays, ECG, or ultrasound tests to diagnose this issue. Vets use different drugs to cure the issue.

Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV)

Large dog breeds with deep chests are often at a risk of Gastric Dilation Volvulus, commonly known as bloat. The common symptoms of GDV include extreme discomfort, pain, vomiting, restlessness, and frothing due to the accumulation of gas in the stomach. Dogs usually burp to relieve the pressure, but if it doesn’t happen, the stomach inflates causing it to twist. GDV is a life-threatening condition, so whenever you notice any signs rush to the vet immediately. To avoid this issue in dogs, it’s better to slow down the time your dog takes to eat food. Furthermore, avoid exercising immediately before and after eating to prevent this issue.

Hip Dysplasia

Elbow and Hip dysplasia issues are genetic conditions that affect joints in dogs. Hip Dysplasia in Great Danes occurs when the hip bones do not fit precisely together in the hip socket. It causes lameness, pain, discomfort, and mobility in dogs. If your dog experiences any such problem, contact the vet urgently to initiate treatment. If left untreated, it may lead to arthritis. Managing your dog’s weight helps to reduce the risk of this disease. Large dog breeds like Great Danes, Rottweilers, and Golden Retrievers are more prone to experience hip dysplasia issues.

Inherited Myopathy of Great Danes (IMGD)

This is a rare degenerative muscle disease found in the Great Dane breed. The symptoms of this inherited disease include difficulty breathing, muscle wasting, tremors, exercise intolerance, and abnormal body posture. The vets use DNA testing techniques to diagnose IMGD. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. Dogs affected with moderate or mild IMGD usually stabilize by two years of age and could lead a normal life.

Why do you need Great Dane insurance?

Great Danes are at high risk of many diseases which may make it difficult for you to bear expenses out of your pocket. With a pet insurance policy, you have to pay a pre-decided insurance premium fee either monthly or yearly and in return, you get access to free medical treatment for your dogs. It makes it easier for pet owners to manage the health-related costs of Great Danes.

Finding cheap and reliable dog insurance could be challenging a bit, so we suggest comparing insurance policies’ prices using our online quote comparison tool. Great Danes are large dog breeds that probably need high medication and anaesthetic doses during surgery or other illnesses. So, having an insurance policy helps to manage these expenses.

Tips to opt for a suitable Great Dane Insurance

Here few tips you must consider to choose a suitable dog insurance policy for Great Danes.

• Analyse different insurance policies to understand which aligns well with your breeds’ specific health needs.
• Compare insurance quotes from different providers to find a cheap yet comprehensive policy.
• Explore discounts companies offer and evaluate criteria to asses whether your dog fits in.
• Identify policy exclusions to ensure that they meet the needs of your dog.
• Explore excess and co-payment options to keep insurance premium costs low.
• Understand the insurance claim process.
• Check the waiting period limit during which no claim can be processed.
• Read policy wording carefully to identify any hidden terms before signing the insurance agreement.

What is included in the Great Dane insurance policy?

If you opt for Great Dane insurance, you will get access to the following services:

Veterinary Treatment

Taking out a dog insurance policy enables you to claim vet treatment bills from insurance companies. It may include coverage for diagnostic tests, therapy fees, medication, or surgery-related expenditures.

FirstVet Access

Insurance providers might allow you access to FirstVet 24/7 services. It enables you to get video call assistance from expert veterinarians in the UK. You can get immediate help whenever needed via this online service.

Third-party Liabilities

If your Great Danes have damaged someone’s property or hurt anybody or pets etc., then you might face legal claims. Having an insurance policy in place helps you to pay these third-party liabilities.

Emergency Treatment

Sometimes your dog may need urgent vet treatment in an emergency like bloat, or accident. With an appropriate insurance policy, you can claim reimbursement for emergency vet treatment fees.

Boarding Fee

What if you are admitted to a hospital and need kennel assistance to take care of your Great Danes in your absence? For this, you need to add-on this boarding fee coverage to your dog insurance policy.

The insurance policy coverage terms and conditions may vary from one company to another. It’s advised to check coverage terms carefully while buying insurance to ensure that it meets the requirements of your Great Danes.

Which costs are not claimable insurance expenditures?

Every insurance policy has some limitations which means you can not claim certain costs. Here are some common costs which are usually excluded from Great Dane insurance policy.

• Preventive care routine costs are excluded from insurance. It may include costs like routine vet checkups, vaccination, spaying, mite treatment, grooming costs, etc.
• You are not eligible for claims related to breeding, pregnancy, or birth expenditures.
• Costs such as dental care can only be claimed if they were incurred as a consequence of accidents.
• Dog microchipping costs are excluded from insurance policies.
• Pre-existing conditions are not part of any insurance policy.
• Illnesses or injuries that are diagnosed during or before the waiting period cannot be claimed by insurance providers.

These costs are some of the most common expenditures which are not claimable by insurance companies. Excluded costs may vary from one insurance company to another based on their policies.

Why do insurance companies exclude pre-existing conditions?

Pre-existing conditions are those health issues or injuries which were incurred before you opted for insurance. Insurance policies exclude these costs as they expect high reimbursements claim for existing issues. Pre-existing conditions could be any injury or illness for which symptoms appeared before you opted for insurance.

When you switch from one insurance company to another, all the previously diagnosed conditions are treated as pre-existing. Therefore, it’s recommended not to switch to new insurance providers when your dog is about to hit senior years. If you switch to a new insurance policy, you will be left paying the whole bill for already-diagnosed conditions out of your pocket. It is therefore advised to buy an insurance policy in the early stages and stick to that to get consistent coverage for your Great Danes. Some insurance companies may allow you a tailored insurance policy to get coverage for these existing health issues. However, the coverage might be restricted to a few conditions and a limited budget.

How much does it cost to buy a Great Dane insurance policy?

The price of a dog insurance policy is calculated by considering multiple factors like age, vet fee limit, extent of coverage, location, dog breed, etc. Here’s a description of how these factors influence dog insurance prices:

Coverage Type: Some insurance policies are more expensive than others based on the coverage allowed for your pets. If you choose comprehensive coverage for your Great Danes, it will cost you more. However, opting for minimum coverage policies like accident-only insurance is comparatively cheaper than other policies. This is because it allows coverage for only injuries due to accidents and does not cover illness costs.

Age: The lower the age of your Great Dane, the lessor will be the insurance premium expense. This makes puppy insurance way cheaper than adult or old dogs. Getting insurance for older dogs is difficult as well as expensive.

Pet Breed: The insurance premium expense for purebred dogs is more than for mixed breeds. This is because purebred dogs are more susceptible to genetic health conditions.

Location: The area where you live is also considered to determine the insurance price. Insurance companies estimate the cost of insurance by calculating the average vet treatment fee in your locality.

Insurance Company: The price of dog insurance policies varies across different companies. Compare the prices to choose affordable insurance for your Great Danes.

What are the benefits of opting for Great Dane insurance?

Dog insurance is crucial to providing all the health care and other needed services to your beloved companions. Here are some of the benefits associated with pet insurance policies:

Peace of Mind

Knowing that your pet is covered for unexpected costs related to illness or emergency releases stress. The satisfaction that you can provide your dogs with the best possible care offers peace of mind.

Minimize Financial Burden

Taking out dog insurance helps to manage financial costs related to pets more easily. With an insurance policy, you know what premiums you need to pay for upcoming times. However, if you don’t have insurance you are unsure what exact amount you need to save for pet healthcare and safety needs.

Hedge Financial Risk

Pet insurance allows you to hedge financial risk as you can claim back insurance expenses. It relieves the mental stress of what would happen if your Great Danes gets diagnosed with an ailment or is in an emergency.

Spread out insurance cost

If you don’t have insurance, you have to pay the whole vet bill at a time. However, with dog insurance, you can spread out the premium with either monthly or yearly instalments. Insurance companies will either directly pay the vet, or reimburse you for the paid expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can Great Danes live?

The average life span of the Great Dane breed is about 8 to 10 years. Your dogs can reach up to the upper age limit of 10 years of age if you provide them with proper health and preventive care facilities.

Is Great Dane a low-maintenance breed?

Despite their large size, Great Danes are a fairly low-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. They have short coats, so brushing once a week is usually enough. Bathing is necessary for this breed when they are muddy. Great Dane breed is comparatively easier to manage than small dogs who need to be kept inside because of safety reasons.

Do Great Danes need training and early socialisation?

To avoid aggression issues in Great Danes, you must socialise them early with people and other pets. With proper training and early socialization, you can minimize the behavioural issues in dogs.

What is the height of the Great Dane breed?

It is one of the tallest breeds with a height that may reach up to 81 cm. The female Great Danes are comparatively smaller than male dogs.

Is Great Dane a suitable breed for a small house?

Great Danes are a giant dog breed which needs a lot of indoor and outdoor space to stay engaged and active. So, keeping them in a small house wouldn’t be suitable for this breed. You must provide them with proper outdoor excess and enough space for exercise.

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