The Labrador Retriever has been the most registered American Kennel Club (AKC) dog for 17 years. It's now also the most insured purebred dog in America, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance.
VPI recently analyzed its insured database for each of the top insured breeds in 2007 -- and the Labrador Retreiver came out on top. While the AKC’s registration numbers indicate a large amount of registered beagles (No. 5), dachshunds (No. 7), poodles (No. 8) and miniature schnauzers (No. 10), none of these breeds were among VPI’s 10 most commonly insured breeds.
They also calculated the average amount its policyholders spent on non-routine veterinary care. No surprise that large breeds cost more than smaller breeds, which may be attributed to some degree to the increased cost of medications that are dispensed by weight.
What about mixed breed dogs? A quick call to VPI confirmed that they insure 75,086 mixed breed dogs with an average non-routine medical cost of $267 per year.
If you have more than one pet, you can see how those veterinary expenditures can add up.
Breed | Number Insured | Average Non-Routine Medical Costs Per Year |
1. Labrador Retriever | 38,591 | $287 |
2. Golden Retriever | 19,313 | $279 |
3. Yorkshire Terrier | 14,074 | $245 |
4. Shih Tzu | 13,149 | $207 |
5. Boxer | 10,281 | $295 |
6. German Shepherd Dog | 8,829 | $296 |
7. Chihuahua | 8,581 | $215 |
8. Maltese | 8,064 | $241 |
9. Pug | 7,404 | $249 |
10. Cocker Spaniel | 7,187 | $252 |