Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For Shar-Peis (2022)

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Meat mouth or bone, coats of horse, brush, or bear, it doesn’t matter what kind of Shar Pei rules your home. This dog breed is seriously adorable thanks to all those wrinkles and funky tongues! And did you know Shar-Peis are one of the most ancient dog breeds? With origins reaching back into the late days of the Han Dynasty, Shar-Peis first stepped on the scene in China around 200 B.C. That means this loyal and loving dog has been stealing hearts for more than two thousand years!

And because your heart belongs to one of these wrinkly pups with ancient genetics, you do all the right things to keep your Shar-Pei their healthiest and happiest. You feed your pup the best foods, choose the most fun toys, and only buy the comfiest beds. As a responsible dog parent, you also take your dog to annual vet appointments and stay on top of any changes in their health. Happy, healthy, and well-protected—that’s the name of your parent game!

And one more way to keep your pup protected is a quality pet insurance plan tailored to your dog’s specific needs. While the Shar-Pei is a well-established and sturdy breed, these wrinkled darlings are prone to certain health problems. Issues like hypothyroidism, Shar-Pei Fever, joint problems, eye issues, and mast cell tumors not only bring worry over your pup’s health, but they can also cause stress over how to pay high vet bills. Having a pet insurance plan for your Shar-Pei before issues arise can ease financial burdens so you can focus on your dog’s health. To help you find peace of mind and the best pet insurance plan for your Shar-Pei, we’ve created a free and easy-to-use comparison tool to simplify the insurance quest.

Compare The Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans for Your Shar-Pei 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 Shar-Pei Cost?

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

• Pets Best – $57.16 per month
• Embrace – $57.07 per month
• Healthy Paws – $59.13 per month
• ManyPets – $52.27 per month

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 Shar Pei-specific health problems. Let’s get more into those medical conditions and how much you can expect to pay to treat them.

Common Health Problems Associated With Shar-Peis

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is another common health problem in Shar-Peis and occurs when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones to regulate metabolism. This condition often presents with fatigue, weight gain, coat problems, and flaky skin. Left untreated, your dog’s entire quality of life will decline.

Shar-Pei Fever

Developing at a rate of roughly one in four Shar-Peis, this autoimmune condition named for the breed causes fevers of 103 – 107°F (39.4 – 41.7°C) that can last 12 – 36 hours. Other symptoms include swelling in the hocks and muzzle, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Shar-Peis with this recurrent fever syndrome may also develop chronic kidney problems.

Joint Problems

Like many dog breeds, Shar-Peis can suffer from joint problems brought on by conditions like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. Hip Dysplasia 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. Patellar luxation is more commonly known also as a dislocated kneecap, and cases can be mild to severe. Both issues can potentially lead to pain and mobility problems.

RELATED: What You Need To Know About Hip Dysplasia

Entropion

While those Shar Pei wrinkles are just too cute, they can create problems for the eyes. Entropion is one of the more prevalent eye issues in Shar-Peis and causes the eyelids to roll inward. While this may not sound like much of a problem, entropion can lead to damage of the eye as inward-turned eyelashes and skin rub the sensitive surface of the eye. Entropion could lead to ulcers, infections, and even blindness when left untreated.

Mast Cell Tumors 

Shar-Peis are one of the dog breeds with a higher risk for cancer, aggressive mast cell tumors being one of the biggest concerns. Mast cell tumors are a type of skin cancer that forms from the immune system’s mast cells. Because these tumors can blend in with other lumps and bumps, it’s essential to monitor your dog’s suspicious spots and report any changes to your veterinarian.

RELATED: Dog Skin Cancer: What Every Owner Should Know

Typical Costs Of Treating Health Issues In Shar-Peis and How Pet Insurance Can Help

Taking your dog to the vet for annual visits is a bill you expect. But when the vet discovers a problem or emergency strikes, medical bills can stack up fast. With the right pet insurance plan for your Shar-Pei, you’ll be financially ready to deal with any bills, leaving you to concentrate on your best friend’s recovery.

Take a look at what it costs to treat the Shar-Pei health problems mentioned above:

• Hypothyroidism Costs: Hypothyroidism is typically treated with medication and monitoring. Depending on the severity of the issue, you’re looking at $20 – $50 a month to fill your Shar Pei’s script. That might not sound like much to start, but month after month, year after year, prescriptions for hypothyroidism can add up over time. An insurance plan for Shar-Peis that offers drug coverage or discounts can help offset costs.
• Shar Pei Fever Costs: Shar Pei Fever is often treated with anti-inflammatory and pain medications, but if your Shar-Pei spikes a fever of 106 degrees or more during a disease flare, you’ll need to seek medical treatment immediately. Your dog may require IV fluids and other treatments, as well as diagnostic blood tests. These emergency care costs can easily create a bill of $1,000 and likely more. Having a pet insurance plan for your Shar-Pei can make an urgent situation cost significantly less, so you only have to worry about your pup’s health and not how you’re going to pay for the care.
• Joint Issues Costs: The treatment plan for your Shar Pei’s joint problems might consist of medications that help with pain and slow degeneration. The cost of these monthly medications can add up over years of management. So can physical therapy appointments at an average of $50 a pop. And once the hips or knees reach a certain point of degeneration, your dog may require an orthopedic surgery that can create bills of $2,000 – $7,000. But, the right pet insurance plan for your Shar-Pei can help you find relief from monthly prescription costs and the expensive surgery that will get your pup back on its paws.
• Entropion Costs: Severe cases of entropion could require a blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure in which the excess eyelid tissue is removed. With bills landing between $500 and $2,000, procedure costs can vary depending on the severity of the case, your dog’s size, and where you live. But no matter the final price to fix entropion, having a pet insurance plan for your Shar-Pei is one way to lighten the load of surgery costs in the face of eye problems.
• Cancer Costs: When cancer is suspected, diagnostic costs for bloodwork, scans, and exploratory surgery can range from $200 to more than $1,500. Once the diagnosis comes, the treatment begins, and costs start mounting with surgery that averages $1,500, radiation prices of $2,000-$6,000, and chemotherapy costs that can climb to $5,000 depending on severity. Additional prescriptions can average $50 monthly, but the best pet insurance plans for your Shar Pei will reduce cancer costs significantly.

What Is Pet Health Insurance, And Why Do I Need It For My Shar-Pei?

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-$129 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.

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.

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