Best Pet Insurance for Small Dogs

We love small dogs! From funny-faced Pugs to spunky Chihuahuas, small pups capture our hearts and tickle our funny bones, but they also have more than their fair share of health issues.

Selective breeding to make dogs smaller and smaller has caused many health conditions in these tiny pooches, such as dental issues as teeth don’t always fit in tiny mouths, brachycephalic syndrome with those pawdorable squished in noses that makes it hard to for pups to breathe, and tracheal collapse. They can also be susceptible to inherited and joint specific diseases, such as intervertebral disc disease, patellar luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.

Wondering which pet insurance providers offer the best plans for your tiny pup? Check out our top picks for the best pet insurance for small dogs.

• Best wellness add-ons: Embrace
• Best dental coverage: Pets Best
• Most affordable monthly premium: Many Pets
• Most customization options: Trusted Pals
• Most comprehensive coverage: Nationwide

Embrace offers an accident only, and an accident and illness plan that covers a wide variety of conditions, and even has an add-on to cover wellness extras, like exams, grooming and training. Embrace is also incredibly special in that they only review the last 12 months of your dog’s medical history to determine pre-existing conditions, and differentiate between curable and uncurable conditions to provide more coverage than most pet insurance companies.

Why Embrace is a great choice for small dog insurance

• Covers dental conditions, and wellness plan includes dental cleanings
• Deductible reduces by $50 each year if claim reimbursement isn’t used the previous year
• Accidents only have a 2-day waiting period for coverage

What’s covered?

• Accidents
• Illnesses
• Dental illness
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Broken bones and ligament tears
• Diabetes
  
• Emergency care
• Diagnostic exams and testing
• Hospitalization and follow-up care
• Surgery
• Specialty care, including behavioral
• Prescription medications
• Hip dysplasia
• Intervertebral disc disease
• Cancer
• Lyme disease
• Parasites
• Osteosarcoma
• Acupuncture
• Laser therapy
• Prosthetics and mobility aids

Deductibles

• $200
• $300
• $500
• $750
• $1,000

Coverage limits

• $5,000 per year
• $8,000 per year
• $10,000 per year
• $15,000 per year
• $30,000 per year

Reimbursement rates

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%

Waiting period

• Accidents: 48 hours
• Illnesses: 14 days

Monthly premium: $30 to $40 on average.

Add-on options

Wellness Rewards covers routine exams, dental cleanings, grooming, spay/neuter procedures, training, and even flea, tick and heartworm preventatives. 

Offering the best in dental coverage, this premiere pet insurance also has no upper age limits, meaning your small dog is at the same level of coverage as they age. Behavioral consults and medication coverage, and even reimbursement for euthanasia, make Pets Best a wonderful option for pet parents in need. Choose from an Accident Only or Accident and Illness plan, and get routine care covered with wellness add-ons.

Why Pets Best is a great choice for small dog insurance

• Great coverage for dental injury, disease and other conditions
• Can pay veterinarian directly
• Wellness plans available that cover most routine services, including routine and dental exams

What’s covered?

• Accidents
• Illnesses
• Poisoning
• Broken bones
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Cancer treatments
• Emergency care
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Chronic conditions
• Hereditary and congenital conditions
• Diagnostic testing
• Periodontal disease
• Dental exams
• Dental injuries
• Dental procedures such as tooth extractions, cysts, enamel hypoplasia and unerupted teeth
• Exam fees
• Prescription medications
• Behavioral consultations
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic treatments
• Physical rehabilitation
• Euthanasia

Deductibles

• $50
• $100
• $200
• $250
• $500
• $1,000

Coverage limits

• $2,500
• $5,000
• $10,000
• Unlimited

Reimbursement rates

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%

Waiting period

• Accidents: 14 days
• Illnesses: 3 days
• Cruciate ligament conditions: 6 months

Monthly premium: $45 on average.

Add-on options

For help covering routine care, the EssentialWellness or BestWellness add-ons includes coverage for blood tests, fecal tests, heartworm, flea and tick prevention, vaccinations, dental cleanings, deworming, microchips and even spay/neuters.

Many Pets is new to the pet insurance game, but with low deductibles, coverage for a wide variety of conditions, and the ability to get 100% of your bills paid for, you and your little pup will be ready for whatever comes. For small breeds, they cover pre-existing conditions, hereditary and congenital conditions, and dental conditions, and even include holistic therapies and supplements for bones, joint, anxiety and more!

Why Many Pets is a great choice for small dog insurance

• Covers pre-existing conditions when free of symptoms and treatments for 18 months
• Offers 100% cost reimbursement
• Dental cleanings, routine exams and specialty care means your little pooch stays healthy

What’s covered?

• Accidents
• Poisoning
• Surgery
• Hospitalizations
• Diagnostic exams and testing
• Imaging
• Illness
• Cancer
• Infections
• Dental injuries
• Knee surgery
• Prescription medication
• Pre-existing conditions
• Specialty care
• Rehabilitation
• Chiropractic treatment
• Acupuncture
• Hereditary and congenital conditions

Deductibles

• $100
• $250
• $500

Coverage limits

• Unlimited

Reimbursement rates

• 80%
• 90%
• 100%

Waiting period

• Accidents: 15 days
• Illnesses: 15 days
• Accident and Illness after switching from another pet insurer: 24 hours

Monthly premium: $20 to $35 on average

Add-on options

A wellness plan adds on coverage for routine exams, vaccinations, flea, tick and heartworm prevention and dental cleanings. It will also reimburse you for holistic supplements and treatments for bones, joints, skin and coat, and even stress and anxiety!

TrustedPals is a great choice for insuring small dogs as they cover a lot of hereditary and chronic conditions that these tiny pooches can suffer from. Plus, the wellness add-on covers dental cleanings, which can spot dental issues before they become a serious problem. Many small dogs develop behavioral issues, and this pet insurance also covers prescribed training and treatments for many behaviors right in their base plan.

Why TrustedPals is a great choice for small dog insurance

• Offers 100% cost reimbursement and $0 deductible
• Service dogs, and veterans, military, veterinary workers and first responders get a 5% discount
• Coverage includes dental and behavioral issues

What’s covered?

• Accidents
• Injuries
• Illnesses
• Diagnostic exams and testing
• Prescription medications
• Prescribed pet food or supplements
• Surgery
• Chronic conditions
• Hereditary conditions
• Alternative and holistic treatments
• Behavioral training, treatments and therapies
• Euthanasia
• Cremation or burial

Deductibles

• $0
• $100
• $250
• $500
• $750

Coverage limits

• $4,000
• $8,000
• $15,000
• Unlimited

Reimbursement rates

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%
• 100%

Waiting period

• Accidents: 14 days
• Injuries: 14 days
• Hip dysplasia: 12 months
• Cruciate ligament: 12 months

Monthly premium: $25 to $70 on average

Add-on options

By adding on a Wellness Plan, you’ll get a set amount for covering routine exams, vaccinations, heartworm testing and prevention, flea and tick prevention, supplements, spay/neuter procedures, and dental cleanings.

Offering 5 main medical plans, and a wellness add-on, everything your small pup needs is covered. Not only do you get great injury and illness coverage, but also dental cleanings and treatments, hereditary conditions, and even eye problems covered. A set deductible can still cover up to 90% of your medical costs, including exam fees, vaccinations, and more.

Why Nationwide is a great choice for small dog insurance

• Multiple plans available to fit all your dog’s needs
• Preferred pricing on prescriptions at select pharmacies
• Access to dental and eye care

What’s covered?

• Accidents
• Illnesses
• Injuries
• Diagnostic exams, tests and imaging
• Prescription medications
• Surgery
• Hospitalization
• Chronic conditions
• Cancer
• Allergic reactions
• Arthritis
• Collapsed trachea
• Eye conditions
• Degenerative disc disease
• Deworming
• Diabetes
• Infections
• Dental cleanings
• Gingivitis
• Dental growths, injuries or tooth removal
• Parasite treatment
• Hip dysplasia
  
• Lyme disease
• Microchip
• Poisoning
• Various hereditary and congenital conditions
• Various joint conditions
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic treatments
• Laser therapy
• Caesarean section

Deductibles

• $250

Coverage limits

• $400 per policy period
• $10,000 annually
• Unlimited

Reimbursement rates

• 50%
• 70%
• 90%

Waiting period

• Accidents: 14 days
• Illnesses: 14 days
• Cruciate ligament: 12 months

Monthly premium: $25 to $87 on average

Add-on options

The Pet Wellness add-on helps cover routine wellness exams and testing, vaccinations, and flea, tick and heartworm preventions.

Paying for veterinary care out of pocket can be a major financial burden. Fortunately, many pet insurance companies reimburse claims within days, putting up to 90% of the bill back in your pocket. In the market for pet insurance? Compare leading pet insurance companies to find the right plan for your pet.