Diagnosis: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other conditions 
Cost: $13,880 | Reimbursed: $11,692 
Coverage options: 90 percent | $100 deductible 

Crosby is a seven-year-old bichon frise/shih-tzu mix living in North Carolina and is full of sassy attitude, say his pet parents Gary and Suzann. At the same time, he is independent and will only cuddle when he feels like it.  He loves to play ball in the backyard, using his feet and nose to move it around as if he is playing soccer.  Crosby, along with his brother Sidney, were named after Gary’s favorite hockey player - Sidney Crosby.  

Unfortunately, Crosby has suffered from health problems since he was about 10 months old, Suzann said.

• He first had what seemed to be a persistent urinary tract infection (UTI) that wouldn’t clear up. It turned out to be an anatomical issue that allowed urine to build up. Crosby has recovered from that condition.

• He has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), caused by a reaction to chronic irritation of the intestinal tract, which makes it difficult to digest and absorb nutrients, according to VCA Hospitals.

• Crosby has food allergies to both beef and chicken.

• He has kidney and liver issues and is vitamin B12 deficient. 

• Finally, he is being monitored for potential issues with his prostate.   

Gary said managing all these issues requires a lot of home care and special food. Crosby takes a daily probiotic and medicine for high triglycerides (elevated levels of fat in the blood) caused by his special diet. He eats prescription dog food and treats and needs to avoid all food with proteins.

Fortunately, Crosby doesn’t mind his mostly vegetarian diet. His favorite treat is a frozen green bean, and he loves bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon. He gets a B12 shot every three weeks, which they give him at home.

It also requires a lot of vet visits, which makes Gary and Suzann grateful they have pet insurance.

Crosby gets an annual ultrasound of his abdomen to monitor his kidneys and will now have one done every six months for possible prostate issues. They see his internists twice a year – having to drive 70 miles to the closest specialist. They see a local vet for routine care.

Even with all these health issues, Crosby is doing fine today, as long as his conditions are managed.

“Crosby has been very stable with his IBD for over four years now,” Suzann says. “Most days he is a happy, healthy dog!”

Suzann did extensive research on dogs to decide what breed she wanted, and pet health insurance came up during her research. She signed Crosby up right away.

“I am so thankful that I did! I get to take care of Crosby and his medical needs without worrying about the cost,” Suzann said. “I have recently seen so many TikToks of people trying to raise money for their dogs because they didn't have insurance. I would never be without it! I tell everyone about how wonderful your company is.”

Pet insurance is especially useful when pets like Crosby have chronic conditions as the vet bills never end. Gary and Suzann were smart to enroll him as a young pup before he had developed any conditions.

While most of their vet bills have been modest, minus two hospitalizations in the $1,500-$1,700 range, the frequent routine visits (158 claims to date) have added up to more than $13,000.

The claim scenarios described here are intended to show the types of situations that may result in claims. These scenarios should not be compared to any other claim. Whether or to what extent a particular loss is covered depends on the facts and circumstances of the loss, the terms and conditions of the policy as issued, and applicable law.

Insured persons providing testimonials in this report have not received compensation for their statements.