Pet Insurance Coverage for Hereditary & Congenital Conditions
When it comes to hereditary and congenital conditions, it’s important to understand the coverage provided in your pet insurance policy. Some pet insurance companies don’t cover these conditions or charge an additional fee for coverage. Knowing what a hereditary or congenital condition is and how it can affect your pet can help you choose a pet insurance plan that best fits yours and your pet’s needs.
Pets Best insurance plans offer coverage for a wide range of hereditary and congenital conditions, that can provide your dog or cat access to the care they need while keeping your expenses manageable.
What are Hereditary & Congenital Conditions?
Hereditary conditions are genetic diseases inherited from a dog or cat’s parents. Common hereditary conditions include:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Cherry eye
- IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease)
Congenital conditions are health issues developed while the animal is in utero. Some examples of common congenital conditions are: 1, 2, 3
- Idiopathic epilepsy
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Portosystemic shunt (liver disease)
- Hiatal hernias Aortic stenosis and other heart diseases
- Pyloric stenosis
- Wobbler syndrome
It’s possible for a condition to be both congenital and hereditary.
How are hereditary and congenital conditions diagnosed and treated?
Hereditary and congenital conditions should be diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian, however, they can be difficult to catch early. This is because they can go undiagnosed for many years due to the condition failing to present symptoms until later in the pet’s life. This is why routine checkups with your veterinarian are critical to your pet’s long-term health. Annual exams offer greater opportunities for your veterinarian to diagnose hereditary and congenital conditions and recommend the best treatment early on.
The cost of treatment for hereditary or congenital conditions can be expensive.
| Hereditary & Congenital Conditions | Average Cost (Dogs) |
| Dysplasia - Hip | $580 |
| Dysplasia - Elbow | $910 |
| Cherry Eye | $938 |
| Wobbler Syndrome | $1,240 |
| Aortic Stenosis | $317 |
| Epilepsy | $394 |
| Cataracts - Adult | $750 |
Which Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Do We Cover?
Hereditary and congenital coverage is available from Pets Best so long as symptoms of the condition are not present prior to the policy effective date or during any applicable waiting periods. Pets Best’s Accident and Illness pet insurance plans cover many hereditary and congenital conditions common in both dogs and cats. Plans are customizable and optional coverage can be added to help reimburse you for the costs required to treat your dog or cat’s hereditary or congenital conditions, such as:
- Exam fees coverage
- Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments
- Physical rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
For pets with a pre-existing hereditary or congenital condition not covered by pet insurance, using a CareCredit credit card at a CareCredit enrolled provider gives you the flexibility you need to provide your pet the best care possible.* Together, Pets Best and CareCredit offer a complete financial solution for a lifetime of care for your pet.
Why Pets Best?
Hereditary and congenital conditions are a serious health concern for diagnosed pets, however, advances in veterinary care are constantly providing greater treatment options. These treatments can be costly, but pet insurance for your dog or cat can help offset the cost and provide your pet the best available treatment.
Pets Best offers plans that can cover a wide range of hereditary and congenital conditions in dogs and cats. With benefits such as rehabilitation, acupuncture, chiropractic services, and physical therapy treatments—we design our plans to provide coverage to help your pet live a long and healthy life full of love.
Compared to other pet insurance plans, we have coverage options that fit you and your pet’s needs. Reach out to us and let’s talk about how we can keep your pet healthy and their tail wagging with comprehensive coverage and excellent service.
Start protecting your loved ones today!
* Subject to credit approval. Terms and conditions apply. See policy for details.
1 https://www.merckvetmanual.com/veterinary/dog-owners/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders-of-dogs/congenital-and-inherited-disorders-of-the-nervous-system-in-dogs)
2 https://www.merckvetmanual.com/veterinary/dog-owners/digestive-disorders-of-dogs/congenital-and-inherited-disorders-of-the-digestive-system-of-dogs)
3 https://www.merckvetmanual.com/veterinary/dog-owners/bone,-joint,-and-muscle-disorders-of-dogs/congenital-and-inherited-disorders-of-bones,-joints,-and-muscles-in-dogs)