Shetland Sheepdog insurance in Tennessee: cost and what to look for
Small herder with hereditary eye disease and thyroid issues.
- $28–$46/mo est.Typical monthly premium in Tennessee (2 yrs, 80%, $250 deductible)
- $432/yr est.Estimated yearly cost at the midpoint
- 5Breed-linked conditions to check coverage for
Which insurer fits a Shetland Sheepdog? See our top picks by priority →
Insurers for a Shetland Sheepdog in Tennessee
Estimated monthly price for a 2-year-old at 80% reimbursement and a $250 deductible. These are BreedSure estimates, not quotes from the insurers; each insurer sets its own price.
Odie
Lowest est.14-day illness wait Limits $10,000 or $40,000 Exam fees extra Deductibles $250 or $500
$32/mo est.Plan details for OdieLemonade
14-day illness wait Limits $5,000 to $100,000 Exam fees extra Deductibles $100 / $250 / $500 / $750
$33/mo est.Plan details for LemonadePets Best
14-day illness wait Limits $5,000 to unlimited Exam fees included Deductibles $100 to $1,000
$34/mo est.Plan details for Pets BestEmbrace
14-day illness wait Limits $2,000 to unlimited Exam fees extra Deductibles $200 to $1,000
$36/mo est.Plan details for EmbraceSpot
14-day illness wait Limits $2,500 to unlimited Exam fees included Deductibles $100 to $1,000
$37/mo est.Plan details for Spot
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Fetch
15-day illness wait Limits $5,000 to $15,000 Exam fees included Deductibles $250 to $2,500
$38/mo est.Plan details for FetchHealthy Paws
15-day illness wait Limits $5,000, $7,000 or unlimited Exam fees extra Deductibles $100 to $1,000
$40/mo est.Plan details for Healthy PawsTrupanion
30-day illness wait Limits Unlimited Exam fees extra Deductibles $0 to $1,000 per condition
$45/mo est.Plan details for Trupanion
Estimates updated Sep 2026 · How we estimate
Waiting period. How long after the policy starts before accidents, and then illnesses, are covered. Anything that begins during the wait is excluded. More in the glossaryAnnual limit. The most the policy pays in one policy year. "Unlimited" means there is no yearly cap. More in the glossaryExam fees. The vet's charge for the visit itself, usually $50 to $150, separate from tests and treatment. Some insurers include it; others sell it as an add-on. More in the glossaryDeductible. What you pay yourself before the insurer starts paying. Most reset every policy year; some insurers charge it once per condition. More in the glossaryWhat Shetland Sheepdog owners claim for
- Eye conditions (cataracts, PRA, cherry eye)[1]very commonHereditary eye problems; cataract surgery is the expensive end.$300–$6,700[2][3]
- $300–$3,000[5]
- $290–$750[7]
- Hip dysplasia[1]occasionalMalformed hip joint leading to arthritis. Treatment ranges from pain management to total hip replacement.$1,000–$6,000[8]
- $200–$5,000[10]
What a Shetland Sheepdog costs to insure by age in Tennessee
Insured as a puppy, a Shetland Sheepdog costs about 44% less per month than one enrolled at 8 (modeled). Conditions diagnosed before enrollment are excluded as pre-existing.
Low, typical and high estimates by age
| Age | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (under 1) | $25/mo est. | $32/mo est. | $42/mo est. |
| 2 years | $28/mo est. | $36/mo est. | $46/mo est. |
| 5 years | $33/mo est. | $43/mo est. | $56/mo est. |
| 8 years | $45/mo est. | $57/mo est. | $74/mo est. |
| 11 years | $61/mo est. | $79/mo est. | $102/mo est. |
Pet insurance in Tennessee
A narrower, longstanding statute that predates the 2022 NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act and does not include NAIC-style protections like a mandated free-look period or standardized pre-existing-condition definitions. It defines 'pet,' authorizes insurers to offer group or individual pet health/medical policies with exclusions or deductibles, and requires every such policy to clearly disclose the annual premium and the benefits provided on the face of the policy.
Source: FindLaw
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) handles insurance complaints and consumer questions in Tennessee, including about pet insurance.
Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI)
The average routine vet visit for a dog in Tennessee costs about $62.
Source: CareCredit
The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville operates the UT Veterinary Medical Center, whose Emergency/Critical Care service is staffed by board-certified criticalists and serves the public and referring veterinarians up to 365 days a year.
Source: University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
Shetland Sheepdog insurance in other states
Questions people ask about insuring a Shetland Sheepdog
How much does pet insurance cost for a Shetland Sheepdog?
About $28 to $46 a month in Tennessee for a 2-year-old at 80% reimbursement and a $250 deductible, in our model. Older dogs, lower deductibles and higher reimbursement cost more; each insurer sets its own price. How we estimate.
Does pet insurance cover Shetland Sheepdog health problems like eye conditions?
Yes, as long as they are not pre-existing. Accident-and-illness plans cover hereditary and congenital conditions, including the ones Shetland Sheepdogs are known for: eye conditions, dental disease and hypothyroidism. All 8 insurers we compare cover hereditary conditions.
At what age should I insure a Shetland Sheepdog?
As young as you can. A puppy has no pre-existing conditions yet, and premiums rise with age: in our model about $36 a month at 2 years and $57 at 8. When to insure, by age.
Is pet insurance worth it for a Shetland Sheepdog?
For breeds with known expensive conditions, it usually is if you enroll young and keep the policy. One eye conditions bill can run $300 to $6,700, several years of premiums. The full math.
Why is the estimate different in Tennessee?
Our model scales premiums by a state index built from each state's published average dog insurance premium. Insurers set their own prices, so this is an estimate, not a quote.
Questions owners of Shetland Sheepdogs ask
Sources
- American Shetland Sheepdog Association health statement. American Shetland Sheepdog Association (AKC parent club), 2017.
- Cherry Eye. Embrace Pet Insurance, 2024.
- Cataracts: What to Expect. University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center, 2025.
- Teeth troubles in tiny dogs (reporting Wallis et al. 2021, Vet J 275:105717, Banfield records of 60 breeds). dvm360, 2024.
- Periodontal Disease and Dental Procedures in Dogs and Cats. Embrace Pet Insurance, 2026.
- Frequency, breed predispositions and other demographic risk factors for diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Medicine and Genetics (O Neill et al. 2022; PDF via Deutsche Nationalbibliothek), 2022.
- Hypothyroidism. Embrace Pet Insurance, 2021.
- Hip Dysplasia in Dogs Costs. Pets Best.
- Epilepsy in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals.
- Epilepsy and Seizures. Embrace Pet Insurance, 2024.
How we choose and check sources: Sources we use.
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