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Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For Westies (2022)

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When you love a West Highland White Terrier, be ready for a lifetime of play, curiosity, and the best snuggles ever. Silly, spunky, and one of the best buddies you’ll ever have, Westies are pups with hearts bigger than their little bodies! And because your curly-coated cutie does so much for you, you’ll do anything to protect them. And part of protecting your precious pup means guarding their health with regular veterinary checkups and staying on top of any issues that arise.

Westies are active and sturdy little dogs, but they still deal with health concerns just like any other dog breed. The common health problems in Westies, like joint and eye problems, Westie Lung Disease, Addison’s Disease, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, tend to create big vet bills that can leave you reeling. Or even force you to make difficult choices. But pet insurance might just save your Westie’s life while protecting your finances from unexpected bills. And while finding the best pet insurance plan for your Westie used to be a confusing process, our plan comparison tool makes getting an easy-to-understand and detailed quote as easy as clicking and scrolling!

Compare The Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans for Your Westie Using our Free No-Obligation Quote Tool below

The simplest way to compare pet insurance prices is to use our tool below. The comparison tool will show you quotes from the top 9 pet insurance carriers, including Trupanion, Pets Best, Lemonade, ManyPets, FIGO, HealthyPaws, Prudent Pet, Spot, and Embrace pet insurance.

How Much Does Pet Insurance for a Westie Cost?

Below are some sample pet insurance plans for a 1-year-old male Westie using the zip code 75001 (Texas) as an example.

Ultimately, your plan’s premium will depend on several factors, including your dog’s age, size, and breed, as well as where you live. You also want to know what type of coverage your plan has and if it will help with Westie-specific health problems. Let’s get more into those medical conditions and how much you can expect to pay to treat them.

pet insurance plans for westies

Common Health Problems Associated With Westies

Joint Problems

Westies can suffer from joint and bone problems brought on by conditions like hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, and Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. Each of these issues can cause pain and problems with mobility.

  • Hip Dysplasia – This genetic condition occurs when the ball-and-socket joint in a dog’s hip doesn’t form correctly, leaving the joint to dislocate or the femur head to sit wrong in the socket.
  • Luxating Patella – Known also as a dislocated kneecap, patellar luxation can be mild to severe.
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease – An issue typically found in smaller dog breeds, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease occurs when the femur head turns necrotic and dies. This problem can occur from trauma or genetics, as it does within Westies.

RELATED: What You Need To Know About Hip Dysplasia

Westie Lung Disease

Because Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis occurs so regularly in this breed, it’s earned the name Westie Lung Disease and occurs due to thickening and scarring in the lungs. This damage makes it difficult for the lungs to expand and take in oxygen, leading to strain on both lungs and heart. Onset typically occurs anywhere between middle age and senior years.

Eye Problems

Westies are prone to eye problems that require treatment or your dog runs the risk of permanent damage that could cause blindness. The two common eye problems in West Highland White Terriers are:

  • Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (dry eye) – a condition in which the eye does not produce enough moisture or tears
  • Hereditary Juvenile Cataracts – a genetic form of cataracts that presents in puppies and younger dogs

Addison’s Disease

Known also as hypoadrenocorticism, Addison’s Disease occurs when adrenal glands don’t produce enough corticosteroid hormones, like glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. When the body doesn’t make enough of these “stress hormones,” dogs can exhibit physical symptoms that range from lethargy to sudden shock.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

A chronic condition in which the digestive tract, particularly the lower portion, remains inflamed. This continuous inflammation causes digestion and nutrient absorption problems and creates symptoms such as diarrhea, stinky toots, vomiting, and weight loss. Cases of IBD can range from mild to severe.

RELATED: Stinky Dog Farts: Causes And Prevention Tips

Typical Costs Of Treating Health Issues In Westies and How Pet Insurance Can Help

West Highland White Terriers are happy and healthy dogs, but like any other breed, they’re still prone to specific health problems, and emergencies can happen. Caring for ongoing conditions and emergency vet situations can create financial hardships in a hurry. But a small monthly payment for the right pet insurance plan for your Westie can save your bank account and give you time to care for your pup without worrying over bills.

  • Joint Problems: To treat joint problems in your dog, the vet may prescribe medications and injections and even suggest physical therapy. Drugs can run approximately $300 a year, while physical therapy appointments can cost $50 a pop. Severe cases of hip dysplasia and luxating patella could require expensive surgery with costs ranging between $2,000 – $7,000. Treatment for Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease involves surgery to remove the withered femur head. Prices for a femoral head ostectomy can run between $1,000 to $4,000, depending on your location. Treating any of your West Highland White Terrier’s bone and joint issues can wear away at your bank account, but pet insurance offers financial protection against the high costs of orthopedic problems in dogs by helping with vet bills and prescription medications.
  • Westie Lung Disease Costs: Diagnosing Westie Lung Disease can get expensive because your vet may need to perform costly imaging scans that require anesthesia. Not factoring in the cost of the scan, anesthesia alone averages prices of $400 for the first 30 minutes, with every additional 15 minutes tacking on $150. Your vet could also recommend a lung biopsy at an average rate of $500. While there is no cure for this progressive disease, Westie Lung can be managed with medications like steroids, bronchodilators, diuretics, and cough suppressants. You can expect monthly prescription costs to start at $50 and easily track upwards. Multiply that buy a few years, and meds get pricey. The right pet insurance plan for your Westie will give your wallet a break when it comes to vital prescriptions.
  • Eye Problems Costs: To relieve the dry eyes of Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, the vet will prescribe eye drops to relieve symptoms. These drops will cost an average of $400 yearly and are a must to keep your Westie’s eyes feeling fine. Cataracts can be corrected with surgery, but it’s not a cheap procedure, tipping the financial scales with costs between $3,000 and $4,000. Pet insurance can help you save on prescriptions and surgery so your Westie’s eyes will continue to sparkle their whole life through!
  • Addison’s Disease Costs: Unfortunately, Addison’s Disease has no cure, and once diagnosed, Westies will need close vet monitoring and monthly prescriptions, which can be pills or injections. Westie parents can expect treatment to cost anywhere from $50 to $500, depending on which medicines are effective and their dosage requirements. Diagnosing Addison’s Disease in Westies might involve an ACTH stimulation, typically averaging only $150, but for many dogs, diagnosis occurs after an emergency crash. Urgent care costs for dogs can range from $500 for outpatient treatment to $2,000-$3,000 for hospitalizations. Emergency vet visits for an Addison’s Disease emergency can be an expressway to huge medical bills. These astronomical and unexpected vet bills can leave families facing financial catastrophe, but a quality pet insurance plan for your Westie can remove the money worries an emergency causes.
  • IBD Costs: Diagnosing IDB in Westies could involve an endoscopy and colonoscopy, with costs starting at $500 and ranging up to $1,000. Once diagnosed, dogs will most likely need a cocktail of medicines, including steroids and immunosuppressant drugs. Between the initial costs of diagnosis and years of medication, you’re potentially looking at an expensive disease. But if you have a pet insurance plan for your Westie before IBD erupts, your costs for expensive procedures and prescriptions could see significant reductions.

What Is Pet Health Insurance, And Why Do I Need It For My Westie?

Pet health insurance works very similarly to human health insurance. Your policy quote will range in monthly price, depending on your dog’s breed, age, and where you live. Typically, you’ll spend around $15-$62 per month as a pet parent.

Pet insurance is mainly about peace of mind, knowing you won’t be totally overwhelmed in case of an emergency. Enrolling even when your dog is young and healthy will ensure you have plenty of coverage when they need expensive medical care later. If you choose a plan more suited to your dog’s particular breed, you’ll be more prepared when something happens later on in their life.

pet insurance plans for westies

Some plans cover accidents and illnesses, while others only cover accidents. Certain plans do cover breed-specific illnesses, and others do not. It all depends on what type of coverage you choose. With our free pet insurance comparison tool, you can get quotes from multiple insurance companies with no obligation to commit.

Whatever plan you choose, you’ll feel better knowing you can take care of your dog when they need you most. Plus, you won’t have to suddenly shell out thousands of dollars. Learn more about how pet insurance works here.

Additional Pet Insurance Resources

Pet Insurance Carrier Comparisons

Breed Pet Insurance

Pet Insurance by City

Pet Insurance by State

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