Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For American Staffordshire Terriers (2024)

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

The American Staffordshire Terrier is a keen watchdog piled with muscles and intelligence. And while the breed is known for its toughness, not many people realize AmStaffs are also cuddly dogs who love their families with the whole of their fierce hearts. But you already know this to be true because your heart belongs to an American Staffordshire Terrier!

These tough pups can stand up to just about anything, but like other dogs, the AmStaff struggles with health problems that are common to the breed. And because health issues pop up suddenly, they can destroy your bank account when you’re least expecting it. Treating the joint, eye, and heart problems often seen in American Staffordshire Terriers can be overwhelming to your finances and heart.

While pet insurance can’t stop illness or injury, it can give you financial peace of mind when you only want to concentrate on helping your pup recover. Paying just a little a month can save you big on vet bills. And with a solid plan in place, you’ll never be forced to make hard choices because of financial restrictions. We’ve created a free and easy-to-use comparison tool to simplify your life to help you find the best pet insurance plan for your American Staffordshire Terrier.

Compare The Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans for Your American Staffordshire Terrier 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 an American Staffordshire Terrier Cost?

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

• Pets Best – $47.92 per month
• Embrace – $51.24 per month
• Healthy Paws – $59.13 per month
• ManyPets – $43.82 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 American Staffordshire Terrier-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 American Staffordshire Terriers

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS)

SAS is a congenital heart defect in which the aortic valve is too narrow to pump blood effectively. For many dogs, the defect will not affect their quality of life. But those afflicted with more severe cases may experience lethargy, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, and fainting. Extreme cases may cause heart failure.

Knee Problems

As muscular dogs who love to play rough, it’s no surprise the AmStaff breed has problems with their knees. Two of the more common knee issues in American Staffordshire Terriers are:

• Patellar Luxation – Known as a dislocated kneecap, patellar luxation can be mild to severe. In bad cases, pain can decrease mobility in the affected leg.
• Knee Ligament Tears – One of the four ligaments stabilizing the knee, the cranial cruciate ligament is one easily torn by active AmStaffs.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball-and-socket joint in a dog’s hip doesn’t form correctly and eventually leads to pain and decreased mobility. Once diagnosed, the genetic condition will require lifelong care and management by a veterinarian. And within the American Staffordshire Terrier breed, 17% of AmStaffs struggle with this genetic condition.

RELATED: What You Need To Know About Hip Dysplasia

Eye Problems

Like other Bully breeds, American Staffordshire Terriers tend to have issues with their eyes. Some of the leading eye problems seen in AmStaffs are:

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) – a hereditary disorder of the retina that causes eventual blindness
• Hereditary Juvenile Cataracts – Amstaffs are genetically prone to developing cataracts at an early age rather than in their senior years
• Distichiasis – abnormal growth of eyelashes that causes lashes to poke and scratch the eye
• Entropion – occurs when the eyelid rolls inward, causing eyelashes to rub against the eye

Hypothyroidism

Another common health problem in American Staffordshire Terriers is hypothyroidism, a condition in which 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.

Typical Costs Of Treating Health Issues In American Staffordshire Terriers 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 American Staffordshire Terrier, 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 five common health problems in American Staffordshire Terriers mentioned above:

• Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS) Costs: To diagnose SAS, vets will turn to X-rays, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms, and this cardiac examination could cost an estimated $1,000. Once diagnosed, dogs with SAS will require lifelong veterinary care to ensure their hearts work properly. In some cases, dogs will need beta-blockers to keep the heart from working too hard, creating a monthly prescription bill that will vary depending on your dog’s size and dosage needs. In the most severe instances of SAS, a balloon catheterization surgery to reduce the restriction is available, but not many vets are equipped to perform the procedure. The surgery cost begins at $5,000 and can climb depending on where you live. Pet insurance can’t stop heart problems in American Staffordshire Terriers, but it can save you from an unexpected blow to your bank account.
• Knee Problems Costs: According to Veterinarians.org, depending on the nature of your AmStaff’s knee problems, you could be looking at $300 a year for treatment to $5,000 for orthopedic surgery and post-care. If surgery isn’t necessary, the treatment for knee issues can still be expensive. Your dog may need medications to relieve pain at a cost of $20 – $50 monthly, depending on severity and size. The vet may also prescribe physical therapy to maintain quality of life, and each session averages $50. Knee problems often turn into a continuing condition, leaving vet bills to wear on your bank account. Pet insurance can soften the expense of treating dislocated knee caps and ligament tears.
• Hip Dysplasia Costs: To manage hip dysplasia in AmStaffs, your pup may be prescribed medications to help with pain and degeneration. The cost of these monthly medications can add up over years of managing hip dysplasia. However, certain pet insurance plans can help you find relief from monthly prescription costs. And once the hip or hips reach a certain point of degeneration, the right plan can ease the financial shock of a $2,000 – $7,000 surgery.
• Eye Problems Cost: While there is no treatment for Progressive Retinal Atrophy, diagnosing PRA involves an electroretinogram (ERG), a test that measures the electrical impulses of the eye. The average cost of an ERG is $400. When treatable eye problems like entropion and distichiasis reach severe levels, surgery could be needed to save the eye. The average cost for eye surgeries to fix these issues can range from $400 to $2,000. If your AmStaff requires cataract surgery, the bill can land somewhere between $2,700 and $4,000. Pet insurance can help offset the costs of these expensive surgeries, allowing your pup a chance to keep their precious vision.
• Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is typically treated with medication and monitoring. Depending on your AmStaff’s size and the severity of the issue, you could be looking at $20 – $50 per month to fill your dog’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.

What Is Pet Health Insurance, And Why Do I Need It For My American Staffordshire Terrier?

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-$103 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.

iHeartDogs is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.