Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying?
In the United States, spaying is a surgical procedure that removes a female dog or cat's reproductive organs. This procedure is performed to prevent pregnancy, which in turn reduces the number of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. Spaying can also help prevent ovarian cancer in dogs and uterine infections in pets. However, most insurance companies don't cover this procedure because it's considered an elective surgery rather than a necessity of health care.
In this article, we’re going to talk about what spaying truly is and everything you can expect from the procedure. Then, we’ll be covering the many ways you can save on your pet’s spay surgery and the things you can do to prepare for it. Finally, we’ll be sharing some easy, real-life ways that you can save on your pet’s spay surgery.
What is Spaying?
Spaying is a surgical procedure to remove the ovaries and uterus from female animals. Pet parents get their animals spayed for a variety of reasons, including eliminating the possibility of pregnancy or going into heat (known as "estrus").
Because spaying is a surgical procedure, it comes with its own set of risks, which means that it isn't always covered by pet insurance companies. However, it’s important to realize that this procedure is not only helpful for preventing pregnancy, but also carries many benefits of its own.
Why is it Important to Spay Your Pets?
Spaying is one of the most important things you can do for your pet. When a female dog or cat is spayed, it will help reduce the number of unwanted animals in shelters because she won't be able to have puppies or kittens. It also prevents health problems like uterine infections, which are more common in un-spayed female dogs and cats than they are in males who aren't neutered.
The Benefits of Spaying Your Pets
Believe it or not, spaying your pet female dog or cat can actually help reduce the risk of mammary tumors, uterine infections, and uterine cancer. It can even increase the life expectancy of your pet.
In addition to preventing unwanted pregnancies in female dogs and cats, spaying is a routine procedure that improves the quality of life for pets and their owners by eliminating health risks associated with unspayed animals (including issues like pyometra—the presence of pus in the uterus).
How Much Does it Cost to Spay Your Pet?
The cost of spaying your pet won’t be the same price every single time. Because it’s a surgical procedure, the cost depends on several different factors, including:
- The weight of your pet
- Where you take your pet for the procedure and how much they charge.
You can get a privately-owned vet to do it, or go through a public clinic. There are pros and cons to each option; private vets might charge less but may not be as convenient to go to because they aren't always open during business hours like public clinics are. Public clinics can often be busy and may not have appointment times available.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying?
Though it carries numerous health benefits, spaying is still considered an elective procedure for most insurance companies. This can be especially frustrating for pet parents with multiple pets or those with larger animals. Unfortunately, it can be quite difficult to find a standard pet insurance plan that will cover this procedure.
But, there is a solution -- purchasing a wellness add-on.
How to Save Money on Spaying Your Pet
Considering that spaying isn't covered under an accident and illness pet insurance plan, a wellness add-on is the best option to allow you to afford routine and preventative care.
At Fursure, our wellness add-on allows you pay not only for the spaying procedure, but other routine visits and vaccinations.
Fursure Pet Insurance is designed to help pet parents afford veterinary care without ever worrying about how to afford it. You can learn more about our insurance plan and wellness add-on offerings, here.
Protect Your Pet With Fursure Pet Insurance
As you can see, spaying is a great way to keep your pet healthy and happy. With a wellness add on to your insurance plan, you'll be able to pay for the spaying procedure and give your furry friend the care they deserve.