This is a dog’s average pet insurance cost by age

Find out the average pet insurance premiums by age.

Important points

• More and more pet owners have taken out pet insurance for their dogs, which can cover vet costs and emergency surgery.
• Premiums vary based on your location, the type of policy you choose, your dog’s breed and age, and more.
• The average monthly premiums for puppies and 1.5 year old dogs are $40 and for 5.5 year old dogs nearly $50.

Around 70% of American households in the US own a pet. Dogs are the most common pet, with 69 million people owning at least one dog. Since 1988, pet ownership has increased 25% and spending on our pets has quadrupled to $109 billion. This includes pet insurance. Pet insurance is an insurance policy that helps pay off vet bills if your dog becomes ill or injured.

Emergency treatment for your dog can be expensive, with the average cost of emergency veterinary surgery for dogs ranging from $1,500 to $5,000. More and more dog owners have taken out pet insurance as the cost of veterinary care has increased as our dogs are now living longer. Pet insurance can help provide preventive care, pay for medical treatment, and cover emergency veterinary costs for their pets. Pet insurance premiums are based on your dog’s breed, age, location and more. Here are the average pet insurance costs by age.

How much does pet insurance for dogs cost?

There are two main types of dog insurance that pet insurance companies offer: accident and illness (A&I) coverage and accident-only (AO) coverage. A&I policies, also known as “comprehensive policies,” cover accidents, minor and major illnesses such as cancer, infections and digestive problems. AO policies only cover accidents such as car crashes, ingestion of foreign objects, lacerations, poisoning and torn ligaments. Here is the average cost for each type of policy.

Average premiums for accident and illness

• Annual: $594.15
• Monthly: $49.51

Accident-Only average premiums

• Annual: $218.13
• Monthly: $18.17

The average monthly premium cost for dogs varies widely and depends on various factors. Rewards can be as low as $61.29 in California and as high as $33.97 in Wyoming. The age of your dog also plays a big part in determining the cost.

Pet insurance cost by age

Pet insurance costs are typically higher for older dogs because they are more likely to need expensive veterinary care. Premiums tend to be lowest for younger dogs as they tend to be healthier.

• Average premium for a 6 month old pup: $39.39
• Average premium for an 18 month old dog: $39.34
• Average premium for a 5.5 year old dog: $48.89

Average premiums for a 5.5 year old dog can be as high as $70.76 in California and as high as $39.10 in Wyoming. Pet insurance premiums also depend on the type of cover you choose, your deductible, and your dog’s breed. Premiums for larger dogs like Rottweilers and Great Danes can be nearly double those for smaller dogs like Shiba Inus and Shih Tzus. Larger breeds tend to have more problems with their joints, ligaments, and bones due to their weight. Some other breeds like bulldogs are more expensive to insure because they are more prone to health problems.

Since many of us think of our pets as family, purchasing pet insurance can give us peace of mind, especially as our dogs get older. Hospital stays can cost $800 to $1,500 a night, and a trip to the ER for a dog would be worth the average $600 annual premium. The best pet insurance can save you thousands of dollars a year on emergency treatments and prescription drugs.