One best way to prevent unwanted litter, injuries, or even untimely death from your pets is to spay or neuter them.
Spaying helps to reduce the animal population and prevent future suffering and the potential spread of disease.
That’s why it’s expedient for you to opt for pet insurance that covers spaying when choosing.
Now, because spaying and neutering involve sophisticated procedures which are very expensive, most pet insurance companies don’t offer them.
This article will enlighten you more about spaying and neutering, why they are worth going for, and a comprehensive list of pet insurance that covers spaying, as well as their associated costs.
Table of contents
- What Does Spaying or Neutering a Pet Mean?
- How does it Work?
- Does Pet Insurance cover Spaying?
- When Should You Spay Your Dog or Cat?
- Why Do People Have Their Pets Spayed?
- What is the cost of neutering or spaying a pet?
- Best Pet Insurance that Covers Spaying
- Why Do Some pet insurance policies Exclude spaying?
- Pet Insurance Spaying Advantages
- Pet Insurance Spaying Disadvantages
- Conclusion
- Reference
What Does Spaying or Neutering a Pet Mean?
When you spay or neuter a dog or cat, you are deciding whether or not to sterilize it. These are routine surgical procedures that are irreversible.
Female pets are spayed by removing their ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes in a procedure known as an ovariohysterectomy.
Neutering male pets necessitate the removal of the testes, which is known as an orchiectomy. Note there are several options for making the sterilization of a pet more affordable.
How does it Work?
Spaying and neutering are procedures that licensed veterinarians to perform on a regular basis.
The female pet’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are removed during a spay procedure, rendering her sterile.
She won’t have a bloody discharge or a greater need to urinate, so there will be fewer messes around the house.
She will also have a much lower risk of uterine infections and breast tumors.
A veterinarian removes the testes from a male cat or dog during neutering.
Because this surgery prevents the male from fertilizing a female, male dogs and cats will be less likely to wander away from home in search of mates, putting them at risk of injury in traffic and fights with other males.
Neutering can also help protect against testicular cancer and certain prostate problems.
You can use both procedures to spay your puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks old because they are so safe.
Pets are usually able to return home the next day. Approximately 10 days after surgery, your pet must visit the veterinarian for removal of check-ups and sutures (stitches).
Ask if your pet needs to be vaccinated prior to surgery before scheduling a spay or neuter appointment.
These vaccinations can help protect pets from viruses and bacteria diseases.
Before a spay surgery, puppies typically require three office visits for vaccinations and booster shots, and kittens require two appointments for vaccinations and a booster.
Does Pet Insurance cover Spaying?
Yes. Some pet health insurance companies cover many vet procedures. These pet insurance companies offer the option of purchasing a wellness plan covering routine and preventative care.
Note wellness plans may include sterilization as a covered procedure, depending on the provider. As a result, pet insurance that covers spay and neuter costs is typically a standard accident and illness plan with a wellness component.
The amount of coverage is determined by the insurer and the procedures’ coverage or reimbursement limits.
Read 7 Best Pet Insurance In Ohio to find out if they cover spaying and neutering.
When Should You Spay Your Dog or Cat?
You’ll also need to get an answer to another crucial question. Knowing when a procedure can be done safely is just as important as knowing if your insurance will cover it.
This varies depending on the type and breed of the pet, as well as the requirements of the veterinarian performing the procedure.
Most dogs can be neutered or spayed between six and nine months safely.
The sterilization procedures may be performed on older or younger dogs, depending on their overall health.
When it comes to adult dogs, there is a chance of complications following surgery. The surgery can be performed on cats as young as 8 weeks old and up to 5 months of age.
You should talk to your veterinarian to determine what is best for your pet.
Why Do People Have Their Pets Spayed?
Pet owners have their pets spayed for the following reasons:
Good pet’s well-being.
Spaying and neutering a dog or cat has several advantages, one of which is that it allows your pet to live a longer and healthier life.
If a female dog or cat is spayed, she will live a longer and healthier life. Uterine infections and some cancers can be prevented by spaying.
Spaying your female pet before she goes into heat for the first time is the best way to protect her from diseases, but spaying her at any time is better than not spaying her at all.
The health benefits of neutering a male dog or cat include the prevention of testicular cancer and other reproductive cancers.
Testicular tumors are more common in unneutered male dogs than in male cats.
Read Also: 11 Best Pet Insurance in New York City for 2023
Prevent pets from becoming homeless.
Fixing your dog or cat can help to prevent pet overcrowding.
In the United States, seven puppies and kittens are born for every human born, and the reality is that there aren’t enough homes for these animals.
The most effective method for controlling the pet population is sterilization.
When pets cannot reproduce, they do not produce animals, which may end up in shelters or, worse, be euthanized.
To avoid pet overpopulation, consider having your dogs and cats spayed.
Reduce the cost of pet care
Another advantage of neutering or spaying your dog or cat is that it will save you money in the long run.
Care for a cancer-stricken pet can cost thousands of dollars, far more than routine spay or neuter surgery. Having your dog or cat fixed can save money on potential long-term costs.
Preventative care (such as spay and neuter surgeries) is one way to save money on vet bills throughout your pet’s lifetime.
Furthermore, many counties in the United States charge higher licensing fees for unaltered pets, allowing you to save even more money.
Addresses Animal misbehavior
Finally, why should you neuter or spay your pet? Fixing a dog or cat improves your pet’s behavior, especially in males.
When you don’t spay your dogs and cats, the pets can have various behavioral issues. This can make your pet more aggressive and “mark” their urine.
Additionally, spaying your pet can reduce their desire to wander from home, fight with other males, bark or cry excessively, or seek a mate to mount.
What is the cost of neutering or spaying a pet?
Depending on your veterinarian’s fee schedule, spay and neuter surgeries can cost much money.
To reduce pet overpopulation, the city of Los Angeles, for example, requires spaying most dogs and cats by the time they are four months old.
The benefits of neutering and spaying outweigh the costs, regardless of municipal ordinances.
Pet owners can choose between two preventative care options when purchasing Spot Spot Pet Insurance: Gold or Platinum.
The Gold plan costs $9.95 monthly, including dental cleanings, wellness exams, and deworming but excludes spaying and neutering.
Platinum pan covers blood tests, flea prevention, and spaying or neutering expenses.
Best Pet Insurance that Covers Spaying
Here are the best pet insurance companies that cover Spaying or Neutering offers:
- ASPCA
- Prudent Pet
- Embrace
- Spot
- Nationwide
- PetBest
1. ASPCA
You can choose between two different preventative care plans with an ASPCA Pet Insurance plan, but only one includes spaying and neutering.
Spay/neuter procedures are not included in the basic plan, which costs $9.95 per month.
The prime plan, on the other hand, covers dental cleaning and spaying/neutering for up to $150. This one will set you back $24.95 per month.
Read Also: Topic: ASPCA Pet Insurance Reviews 2023
2. Prudent Pet
Prudent Pet’s wellness coverage is divided into three categories: low, medium, and high. The low plan costs $11.95 per month and does not include spaying or neutering.
The medium plan costs $19.95 per month and reimburses up to $40 for spaying or neutering.
Finally, the high plan is available, which costs $29.95 per month and provides up to $60 in reimbursement for spaying or neutering.
3. Embrace
Embrace Pet Insurance offers Wellness Rewards, which reimburses pet owners for dental cleaning, grooming, exam fees, nail trimming, and heartworm and flea medications, among other things. The annual reimbursement can be $250, $450, or $650.
Embrace doesn’t have set prices for these, but a quote for a 5-year-old mixed-breed dog shows that the lowest-tier wellness plan costs $18.75 per month, and the highest-tier wellness plan costs $52.09 per month.
4. PetBest Pet Insurance
Vaccinations, microchipping, dental cleanings, and, in some cases, spaying and neutering are all covered by Best Pet Insurance’s wellness plans, which come in two tiers.
The best wellness plan from Pet Best insurance includes spaying and neutering. The cost of this plan is $26 per month.
With this add-on, pets will receive $535 in annual benefits for over ten different wellness protections, including spaying and neutering, tick prevention, deworming, and more.
Read Also: Pet First Insurance Review 2023: How It Works | Legit Or Scam
5. Spot
Pet owners can choose between two preventative care options when purchasing Spot Pet Insurance: Gold or Platinum.
The Gold plan costs $9.95 monthly and includes dental cleanings, wellness exams, and deworming but excludes spaying and neutering.
Blood tests, flea prevention, and spaying or neutering are among the more detailed expenses covered by the Platinum plan. For $24.95 per month, this plan can be added.
6. Nationwide
Nationwide is the first insurer to offer pet insurance in the United States. Its main plan covers your cat’s or dog’s routine and preventative care.
You can also purchase accident and illness insurance, as well as wellness plans, separately.
Birds and other exotic pets, such as chinchillas, ferrets, rats, amphibians, lizards, snakes, and tortoises, are covered by Nationwide, which is the only company in our ranking to do so.
While Nationwide appears to be more expensive than the other companies, keep in mind that the plan includes wellness coverage, which most other companies do not offer in their main plans.
Read Also: Nationwide Pet Insurance Reviews 2023
Why Do Some pet insurance policies Exclude spaying?
Spaying and neutering are generally considered elective procedures by pet insurers, which is why some insurance policies don’t cover them.
Many insurance companies, fortunately, offer add-on preventative care and wellness plans.
Some of they cover these procedures. Vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, wellness exams, and other services are usually included in these add-on plans.
Pet Insurance Spaying Advantages
Some of the advantages of spaying your pets include the following:
- You can get reimbursed for common procedures if you have a wellness plan. Physical exams, deworming, vaccinations, heartworm tests, micro-chipping, and (depending on the company) spaying and neutering are some of the wellness procedures you’ll be reimbursed for.
- The good news is that some companies provide pet insurance as a benefit.
- You may be eligible for a multi-pet discount if you have multiple pets.
Pet Insurance Spaying Disadvantages
In spite of the numerous advantages of spaying your cats and dogs, some disadvantages come with it.
Some of them include the following;
- Whether it’s a wellness plan or an accident-only plan, some breeds are more expensive to insure.
- Ensuring older pets is more expensive. Ensure your pet while he’s still young and healthy to get the best rates.
- In general, insurance can be costly.
Conclusion
The importance of spaying can never be over-emphasized. That’s why you should go for a pet insurance company with spaying coverage.
Reference
- https://www.petinsurancequotes.com/pet-insurance/spay-neuter/
- https://spotpetins.com/have-your-pet-spayed-or-neutered/
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