Best pet insurance for dogs of 2025

Veterinary bills for dogs are considerably higher for dogs than cats, according to the ASPCA, averaging $410 a year for canines compared to $300 for felines.

Dogs are more likely to need medical treatment and live shorter lives. And because they are outdoors frequently, they’re more likely to be exposed to risks that can cause an injury or illness.

To make caring for your pup easier on your wallet, CNBC Select has chosen the best pet insurance companies for dogs. (See our methodology for more on how we made our selections.)

Who’s this for? Pets Best has low rates for older dogs and no upper age limit for coverage. In addition, its basic plan covers periodontal disease and hereditary conditions that affect senior dogs, like hip dysplasia and glaucoma.

Standout benefits: Pets Best covers pre-existing curable conditions like broken bones and upper respiratory infections after 180 days without symptoms or treatment.

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Who’s this for? Lemonade‘s wellness plan for puppies includes spaying/neutering, microchipping and vaccines, plus more wellness exams and testing for parasites and coverage for flea/tick and heartworm medication.

Standout benefits: Lemonade boasts one of the fastest claims processes in the industry, with 40% of submissions handled instantly.

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Who’s this for? AKC Pet Insurance is a standout for covering both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage, including diabetes, cancer, cruciate ligament illness, hip and elbow dysplasia, Cushing’s disease and arthritis.

Standout benefit: AKC covers costs associated with breeding, including pregnancy whelping and breastfeeding.

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Who’s this for? MetLife’s preventative care plan includes vaccines, spaying/neutering and heartworm prevention, behavioral training and up to $150 toward teeth cleaning, among other benefits

Standout benefits: Claims can be filed online and reimbursed within 10 days.

Age limits: No maximum age limit

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Who’s this for? ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a 10% discount if you enroll more than one dog or cat.

Standout benefits: Unlike some competitors, ASPCA policies include exam fees. Policies come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Pets Best has insured over 750,000 animals since its founding in 2005, with annual deductibles as low as $50 and the option for unlimited annual coverage. It offers accident-only, accident and illness and wellness coverage

Coverage limit: $5,000 or unlimited

Annual deductible: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1,000 

Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%.

Waiting period: 3 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, six months for cruciate ligament issues

Direct vet pay option: Yes

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Lemonade‘s speedy claims process and user-friendly mobile app make it one of our top picks for pet insurance. There are breed-specific age limits ranging from 10 to 14 years old and policies not available in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia or Wyoming.

Coverage limit:  $5,000 to $100,000

Annual deductible: $100, $250 or $500

Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80%, or 90%

Waiting period: Two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and six months for cruciate ligament issues.  

Direct vet pay option: No

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AKC Pet Insurance offers accident-only, accident and illness and wellness coverage, although dogs over 9 are not eligible for accident and illness policies. The company is the official insurance provider of the American Kennel Club and policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company.

Coverage limit: $2,500 to $10,000

Annual deductible: $100, $250, $300, $400, $500, $600, $750 or $1,000

Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%

Waiting period: Two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and 180 days for cruciate ligament issues 

Direct vet pay option: No

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In addition to dogs and cats MetLife covers birds, lizards and other exotic pets. Your deductible drops $50 each year you don’t file a claim and up to three pets can be covered by one plan with a single deductible. MetLife does not offer accident-only policies.

Coverage limit: $500 to unlimited

Annual deductible: $0 to $2,500 

Reimbursement rate: 50% to 90

Waiting period: No waiting period for accidents and 14 days for illness

Direct vet pay option: No

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ASPCA Pet Health Insurance issues accident-only, accident and illness and wellness policies for cats, dogs and horses. Plans are underwritten by the Independence American Insurance Company and United States Fire Insurance Company. Accident and illness plans include behavioral therapy, alternative treatments, prescription food and microchipping.

Coverage limit: $2,500 to unlimited

Annual deductible: $100, $250, $500

Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80%, 90%

Waiting period: 14 days for accidents and illnesses

Direct vet pay option: Yes

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Coverage varies by provider, but there are three basic types of pet insurance coverage.

• Accident-only plans cover emergencies like broken bones, bites, swallowed objects and traumatic dental fractures. Diseases, parasites and cruciate ligament injuries are not covered.
• Accident and illness plans add coverage for diseases like cancer and diabetes and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia and glaucoma. They may also include medications, prescription food, treatments for behavioral issues and alternative therapies like acupuncture.
• Wellness plans cover routine care like checkups, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, microchipping, teeth cleaning and testing for parasites. They must usually be purchased with an accident and illness policy.

Premiums for an accident and illness policy for a dog averaged $56 per month in 2023, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, or about $676 a year. For an accident-only policy, the cost drops to about $17 a month or $204 annually.

However, pet insurance rates go up as your dog gets older and needs more care. And the cost of a specific plan will depend on your pets overall health, and the policy limits you select.

Pet insurance can be a great way to deal with unexpected vet bills, whether your dog ate something she shouldn’t have, came down with a respiratory infection or is diagnosed with cancer.

A policy can also help with routine care that keeps your dog healthier longer — including checkups, vaccinations, teeth cleaning and testing for heartworms and other parasites.

Pet insurance typically doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, however, and it becomes more expensive the older your dog gets.

If your premiums are costing more than the benefit you receive from coverage, you may want to consider putting money aside in a high-yield savings account instead.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every pet insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of pet insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

To find the best pet insurance companies for dogs, CNBC Select analyzed top providers companies based on numerous data points, including average rates for dogs, the types of policies available, the choice of deductibles, reimbursement levels and coverage limits.

We considered breed restrictions, age limits, waiting periods and policies regarding pre-existing conditions.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Our recommendations are sorted by the best plans for older dogs, for puppies, for dogs with pre-existing conditions, for wellness plans and for households with multiple dogs.

Premiums and policy structures listed for pet insurance companies are subject to change according to company policies.  

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