Four good reasons why you should get pet insurance for Goldendoodles
Mixed dog breeds are hugely popular and these days, particularly Poodle mixes (aka ‘Doodles’ or ‘Poos’) like Goldendoodles – a bouncy, brainy, affectionate blend of Golden Retriever and Poodle. Part of the appeal of mixed breeds – or hybrids or cross-breeds or mongrels or mutts – is that they suffer fewer health issues than pure breeds. This doesn’t make them invincible, though, which is why it’s a good idea to get pet insurance for Goldendoodles.
Here are four health issues that commonly affect Goldendoodles.
Hip dysplasia
Covered by insurance!
This nasty condition is often genetic – and a very good reason to get pet insurance for your Goldendoodle. It affects dogs when their bones and joints don’t align properly, and it regularly leads to arthritis, which is a painful disease – and one that’s very expensive to treat. You’re looking at up to $1,000 for x-rays, another $2,000 per year in drugs if they have arthritis, and – if surgery is required – up to $7,500 per joint.
Addison’s disease
Covered by insurance!
This condition, also known as hypoadrenocorticism in medical terms and among people who like to show off, is common in Poodles and therefore all Doodle mixes. It causes adrenal glands to produce insufficient levels of hormones – mainly cortisol and aldosterone. The symptoms are wide-ranging and may include gastroenteritis, poor appetite, or difficulty responding properly to stress. But if it’s diagnosed – which can cost up to $1,500 – it can usually be treated with lifelong medication (up to $2,400).
Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS)
Covered by insurance!
This heart disease is more common in certain breeds of dog, including Golden Retrievers and, therefore, Goldendoodles. It’s a narrowing of the aortic valve of the heart, which means the heart has to work harder to pump blood. This can have a number of harmful effects including, in serious cases, heart failure. You could pay around $600 for an echocardiogram to diagnose the condition, followed by lifelong medication. There are surgical procedures, but these are extremely expensive and, in some cases, risky.
Eye issues
Covered by insurance!
Their eyes can melt the coldest of hearts, but they’re also prone to a lot of issues such as glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, and cataracts. Cataracts affect the lens of their eye, same as in humans, and can severely limit their vision. They’re most commonly treated with surgery, often just the one eye so that the dog has sufficient vision to live a normal life. It’s not cheap, though, usually coming in at around $1,500 to $5,000 per eye.
