Paw Protect provides coverage for breed-specific, genetic, hereditary, and congenital conditions assuming they are not pre-existing to when your coverage starts.
Hereditary and genetic conditions
A hereditary or genetic condition is caused by a defect in certain genes transmitted to a puppy or kitten from their parents. These inherited conditions can affect both purebred and mixed breed dogs and cost thousands of dollars to diagnose and treat.
Paw Protect covers hereditary conditions as standard with no per-incident or per-condition limits at no added cost. We cover diagnostic testing, surgery, rehabilitation, and more for all hereditary or genetic conditions. Common genetic disorders in dogs and cats include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
- Cancer
- Allergies
Congenital conditions
A congenital condition is a medical issue that a dog or cat is born with, but that could lay dormant until provoked by an illness or accident. Congenital conditions do not always show symptoms right away.
Paw Protect offers coverage for congenital conditions as long as your pet hasn’t been diagnosed or shown symptoms prior to the start of coverage, which is why getting pet insurance early is crucial.
Common congenital diseases in dogs and cats include:
- Hernia
- Aortic stenosis
- Hypothyroidism
Is cherry eye covered by Paw Protect?
Paw Protect covers cherry eye – a condition, suspected to be congenital, in which the lachrymal gland in a dog’s third eyelid (yep!) prolapses – as long as your dog didn’t show signs or symptoms of the condition before you took out your policy.
Important information about pre-existing conditions and waiting periods
All pet insurance policies with Paw Protect have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and a 2-day waiting period for accidents. Dogs also have a 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions but this can be reduced to as little as 14 days by following the Orthopedic Exam and Waiver Process – a simple veterinary exam (no X-rays or sedation required) that checks for:
- Signs of hip dysplasia, luxating patellas (slipping knee caps), and cruciate ligament tears in the hind legs.
- Signs of elbow dysplasia and osteochondritis dissecans in the shoulders and forelimbs.
- Signs of intervertebral disc disease in the spine.
- Signs of arthritis in all joints.
- Signs of fractures and bone cancers in all bones
- And any other orthopedic abnormalities
The best part is, there are no additional waiting periods for hereditary or congenital conditions.
Accident and illness policies from Paw Protect provide full cover for breed-specific conditions but pre-existing conditions are not covered, whether breed-specific or not.