Pet insurance in Texas

Pets have a great life in the Lone Star State but there are many reasons why you should get pet insurance in Texas

It bodes well for a state when you learn that almost 50% of the people there own at least one dog. The Lone Star State – Texas to you and me – is that very place. In fact, with more than 7.2million in 2014, Texas actually has more dogs than any other US state. It is no surprise, therefore, that it’s a superb place to take your pooch – though there are plenty of reasons to get pet insurance in Texas.

Mutts at the movies?

A great example of the dog-friendly fare available in the Lone Star State is Plano’s K9 Cinemas, which lets your pooch pop in and enjoy the latest Marvel movie with you. Elsewhere, in San Marcos, you and your furry friend can have a decidedly wetter time tubing together at Lions Club Tube Rental. Please be careful though; your dog will be excited and may get into trouble if they’re not a little Michael Phelps, and near-drowning is a problem that comes with expensive vet bills. It can cost $9,000 for a professional to go through the various procedures to treat the breathing problems your dog will have experienced, so remember to insure your loved one before something so terrifying happens. Tubing shouldn’t be stressful for you or your dog.

Into the wild

Although Texas may not be as synonymous with natural beauty as some of its picturesque neighbours, like every US state it has jaw-dropping views aplenty. Why not star-gaze at Fredericksburg’s Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, where you can also climb rocks, have a picnic, or watch as white-tailed deer graze in the great outdoors.

Watch out, mind you: animals like lizards skitter about in this kind of hot, dry environment, and could retaliate if your dog took a liking to them. Especially pups who love a good chase, such as Huskies. At its worst, if the lizard is venomos, it can cost you $5,000 to treat the problem.

Sun, sand and safety

If it’s the sand and sea your pup likes, Texas has dog-friendly beaches galore. Over in Galveston there’s Stewart Beach Park, which lets you make your own barbecues (give your furry friend a cheeky sausage); in Corpus Christi there’s North Beach, where you and your doggo can take a calming walk down the shore; or, over in Port Aransas, there’s Port Aransas Beach, a six-mile sunbathing haven. Speaking of sunbathing: do not let your dog dehydrate because you got too distracted by your tan lines. Heatstroke (when a dog’s temperature gets to 41 degrees Celsius) is a scary thing for any pet to get, and its severity is matched by the seriousness of the vet bill: $5,000 is what you can expect to pay if you’re not insured.

Texas treats its dogs well, and the number of activities tailored for canine pleasure tell you one thing: you’d be doing right by this state if you looked after your dog while they’re there. It’s the least they deserve.

Why get pet insurance at all?

At Petted, we sincerely believe that pet insurance is a must for all pet parents, whether you live in New York, North Carolina or Nebraska. It doesn’t matter if you’re a city- or country-dweller, if you have a Bull Mastiff or a Burmese, your beloved pet is at risk from injury, illness and inherited conditions – and these things can cost a lot of money to fix.

If you don’t have a very large savings account then you run the risk of either getting into a ton of debt (we’re talking tens of thousands of dollars in some cases) or – and we hate to think about this – not being able to pay for your pet’s treatment and having to either give them up or, tragically, have them euthanized.

So, for the sake of a few dollars a month, please buy yourself some peace of mind and your pet a healthier, more secure future. To find the best pet insurance policy for where you live, click here. We'll fetch you the perfect quotes in less than a minute.

Some common questions about having a pet in Texas

Do you need pet insurance in Texas?

We think you do! It’s not a legal requirement to have pet insurance in Texas, but unless you have a ton of savings or don’t mind taking out expensive credit, it’s a big gamble not to have it. Vet bills can easily come in at five figures and they’re only getting more expensive. Pet insurance only costs a few dollars a month and could save your pet’s life.

Where in Texas is pet insurance the most expensive?

The cost of pet insurance tends to reflect the general cost of living, so the more expensive cities have more expensive pet insurance. In Texas, on average, it’s the bigger cities like San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Austin.

It makes sense: rent, bills, staffing and other costs are higher for veterinary practices, which is reflected in how much they charge for their services. There’s also a greater chance of your pet having an accident in a major metropolitan area. These factors are two of many taken into account when calculating pet insurance premiums.

How long are pet insurance waiting periods in Texas?

The waiting period for insurance is the period of time between you taking out a policy and it coming into effect. Waiting periods vary from provider to provider and are usually different for the ‘accident’ and ‘illness’ parts of a plan. Accident usually takes 1-3 days to kick in, while illness is ranges from 1-15 days. Some policies have a longer waiting period for certain conditions, such as ACL injuries.

It’s definitely worth checking out who waits how long, although it shouldn’t be a major part of your decision – a few days is nothing when you’re signing up for a policy, hopefully, for many years.

How long to pet insurance claims take in Texas?

The time it takes for pet insurance claims to pay out varies from company to company, claim to claim. It could take a day, or it could take up to 30 days, but likely it’ll be somewhere between the two. That said, some pet insurance providers are quicker on average at processing claims, so make sure you read our pet insurance company reviews.

Is pet rent legal in Texas?

There are no specific tenant pet laws in Texas, which means landlords can add their own rules for animals in a lease agreement. These may ban pets completely, allow only certain animals or breeds, require that you register your pet with them, or pay a pet deposit (for damage caused by the pet).

Unless your pet is an assistance animal, tenants can be evicted for violating any part of a lease agreement, which includes breaking any of the above rules. So, in short: always read the contract.

Is ear-cropping legal in Texas?

The American Veterinary Medical Association is opposed to the ear-cropping and tail-docking of dogs for cosmetic purposes. Unfortunately, painful and usually unnecessary animal mutilations such as ear-cropping, tail-docking, declawing and devocalizing are legal in all US states.

Texas does, however, prohibit surgically altering an animal unless it’s carried out by a licensed veterinarian. People who have cropped their dogs ears at home have had the animals confiscated and been charged with torture – a felony in the state.

Are there other specific pet laws in Texas?

Texas has several state-wide pet laws designed to protect animals and humans, such as that making it illegal to tether a dog overnight or in extreme weather, and tethered dogs must be treated humanely.

Texas requires all dogs and cats to have a license and a current rabies vaccinations. Any pets over four months old need to be microchipped and the microchip added to a national registry.

There’s also a legal limit on the number of cats and dogs over the age of eight weeks in any one household: four dogs or four cats, but no more than six such animals combined.

Texans are prohibited from keeping any animal that “causes frequent, excessive or long continuous barking, whining, crying, meowing, howling, or other animal-related noise that interferes with public peace and comfort”.

And you need to scoop your cat or dog’s poop in Texas; it’s a lea requirement to promptly remove and sanitarily dispose of any left on public or private property other than your own.

There are also laws around animals that are city-specific:

Austin

Dogs in the state capital need to be kept on a leash unless on your own property or in one of the city’s designated off-leash areas. It goes without saying that allowing your dog to run at large is also a no-no.

All animals must be kept in a clean, sanitary, and healthy condition, and have adequate shelter, food, clean water, exercise and medical care. Cats must not be de-clawed for any reason.

It’s also illegal for dogs and cats on heat to roam the streets of Austin.

Dallas

Dallas residents who let an unsecured dog to, unprovoked, bite and injure a person, domestic animal, or livestock, face a criminal charge.

Dog harnesses and collars must be properly fitted and designed for that breed or size of dog, and leashes must be attached to a collar or harness, and not directly to the dog's neck.

The city has very specific limits on the number of pets allowed in homes. If you live in an apartment, duplex, town home or anywhere you share a wall with a neighbor, you’re allowed a maximum of fours dogs and/or cats. For a single family home on less than a half an acre, the limit is six, or eight if you have more land. These limits don’t apply to animals under the age of six months or feral cats in a registered feral cat colony.

Fort Worth

Dogs in Fort Worth need to be confined to your yard by a physical fence that will keep them isolated the public and from other animals. These fences need to be at least 48 inches high, except in the cases of large breeds, dogs that can climb, and declared aggressive dogs, in which case it’s a minimum of 60 inches.

Cats must remain within the boundaries of its owner’s property (good luck with that).

Female dogs and cats over the age of six months and males over eight months must be spayed or neutered, unless you have an intact pet permit.

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies by the time they’re four months old, receive a booster 12 months after that, then be vaccinated at least once every three years.

The City of Fort Worth bans the use of chains, ropes, tethers, leashes, cables or other devices to attach an unattended dog to a stationary object.

Useful pet health resources in Texas

Pure Temple Holistics – We should treat ourselves as well as pet parents treat the dogs who visit Dallas massage therapist Suz O’Brien. Alongside massage – helpful for dogs with arthritis or recovering from injuries and surgery – they enjoy aromatherapy using essential oils, light therapy, reiki, sound healing, acupressure and laser acupuncture.

Central Houston Animal Hospital – This central Houston hospital provides a lot more than regular veterinary services for your pet. It has a dedicated rehabilitation center (with a fabulous hydrotherapy underwater treadmill) and also offers grooming and boarding.

Austin Canine Consulting – Any dogs in the Austin area requiring behavior modification would benefit from a visit to Lauren Hays: one of only two board-certified animal behaviorists in Texas. She’s been training dogs since childhood and at her company, ACC, since 2004, with remarkable results.