Top 9 Pet Insurance Plans For Shiba Inu (2022)

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If you’ve ever met a Shiba Inu, then you’ve looked upon the pinnacle of cuteness as these Japanese dogs with a foxy look are some of the most adorable dogs out there. But here’s an absolutely darling fact about the Shiba Inu you may not know. When the Shiba play-tussles with a dog buddy, this wily pup uses a “butt slam” technique to throw its opponents off-guard. And the move is just what it sounds like, with the Shiba whirling around and slamming their opponent with their cute fluffy booty! Whether you call it the butt attack, booty bump, or butt toss, this clever technique is cute and hilarious!

Because you love your silly Sheba and their spunky ways, you’ll do anything and everything to keep your pup powered up and feeling their best! And part of that ‘anything and everything’ means annual checkups with the vet to keep your pup fit and healthy. But no matter how diligent of a dog parent you are, illness and injury can still happen.

Shiba Inu are prone to joint issues, eye problems, flea allergies, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism. Treating any of these problems can get expensive, but you can be financially prepared to fend off whatever comes with pet insurance for your Shiba Inu. To help you find peace of mind and the best pet insurance plan for your Shiba Inu, 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 Shiba Inu 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 Shiba Inu Cost?

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

• Pets Best – $33.77 per month
• Embrace – $30.69 per month
• Healthy Paws – $22.99 per month
• ManyPets – $30.88 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 Shiba Inu-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 Shiba Inu

Joint Problems

Like many dog breeds, the Shiba Inu 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 commonly known as a dislocated kneecap, and cases can be mild to severe. Both issues can potentially lead to pain and mobility problems.

Eye Problems

Eye problems plague many dog breeds, but the Shiba Inu experiences more than their fair share. And without proper treatment, these eye diseases and conditions could lead to permanent damage and blindness. Some of the more common eye problems in Shiba Inu are:

• Hereditary Juvenile Cataracts – Breeds with this genetic form of cataracts develop the first signs of lens clouding in their early months and years of life.
• Distichiasis – This abnormal growth of eyelashes from eye ducts can cause errant lashes to poke and scratch the eye, leading to irritation or even ulcers depending on severity.
• Entropion – Dogs that suffer from entropion have eyelids that roll inward, causing the eyelashes and skin of the lid to rub the sensitive surface of the eye. The constant friction could lead to ulcers, infections, and even blindness.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Fleas create problems for all dogs, but the Shiba Inu has a rougher time dealing with these itchy pests thanks to a sensitivity to the antigens in flea saliva. And it only takes one flea to create a problem for dogs with flea allergies. One way to spot flea allergy dermatitis in dogs is hair loss and near-obsessive scratching in the area known as the “the flea triangle,” a zone that includes the hind legs, tail, and back up to where a dog can reach to chew or scratch. And it’s not just fleas that give Shibas a hard time. The breed also runs a higher risk of suffering from food and environmental allergies, which can also cause itchy issues.

Epilepsy

Shiba Inu are genetically predisposed to seizures, but the exact cause behind them is unknown. Seizure episodes that repeatedly happen without a primary cause are referred to as idiopathic epilepsy. Epileptic episodes happen suddenly, often without warning, and can last from a few seconds to minutes. There are different types of seizures, but symptoms can appear similar, with confusion, twitching, blinking, drooling, and behavior changes or bodywide stiffening that comes with rapid jerking movements.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is another common health problem in Shiba Inu 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. Once diagnosed, your Shiba will need lifelong veterinary management as there is currently no cure for hypothyroidism in dogs. Left untreated, your dog’s entire quality of life will decline.

Typical Costs Of Treating Health Issues In Shiba Inu 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 Shiba Inu, you’ll be financially ready to deal with any bills, leaving you to concentrate on your best friend’s recovery.

Have a look at what it costs to treat the Shiba Inu health problems mentioned above:

• Joint Problems Costs: The treatment plan for your Shiba Inu’s joint problems might include medications that help with pain and slow degeneration. The cost of these monthly medications can add up over years of management. Physical therapy could also help, but at $50 an appointment, those bills stack up too. If 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 Shiba Inu can help you find relief from monthly prescription costs and the expensive surgery that will get your pup back on its paws.
• Eye Problems Costs: With all the eye problems in Shiba Inus, those darling eyes can get expensive. Surgery to remove cataracts isn’t cheap, costing between $3,000 and $4,000. The average price of eye surgeries to fix distichiasis and entropion can range from $400 to $2,000. The final bills for surgery will depend on the severity of your dog’s eye issues and your location. But, one thing is sure, having pet insurance for your Shiba Inu before an eye problem occurs is a foresight that will protect your finances from high vet bills.
• Flea Allergy Dermatitis Costs: Diagnosing allergies with vet-administered tests will run around $200 – $300. Then comes medication costs for allergy drugs and injections, and if your Shiba’s allergies are severe, you could be paying between $300 and $500 for a four to six-month supply. Bills like these will inflame your finances in a hurry, but a pet insurance plan for Shiba Inu that helps with prescription costs will bring relief from big bills.
• Epilepsy Costs: Because epilepsy isn’t a cut-and-dry condition to diagnose, your vet might perform a full batch of tests like bloodwork, a CT scan, or even an MRI, which can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 depending on where you live. Once a treatment plan has been established, prescription meds can cost $200 to $5,000 a year. And while your Shiba adjusts to their meds, you may be required to do blood tests every month before moving to a twice-yearly process. Between diagnosis, treatment, and vet maintenance, epilepsy is pretty pricey to treat. Pet insurance can help maintain your finances by cutting test and prescription costs when dealing with this tricky but common health problem that troubles Shiba Inu.
• 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 Shiba’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. Getting an insurance plan for your Shiba Inu that offers drug coverage or discounts before your dog develops hypothyroidism can help offset costs for this lifelong issue.

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

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-$66 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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