Pet insurance in Calgary works by covering unexpected expenses—from basic injury treatment to comprehensive cancer care costing over $50,000—but almost no insurance company covers routine care as part of a standard plan. Understanding this difference between accident/illness coverage and wellness services is critical to properly planning for the cost of caring for your pet.

Basic coverage structure: three main categories

Accident & Illness Coverage — the foundation of all insurance plans

Standard Accident & Illness insurance covers expenses related to unexpected injuries and illnesses. In Calgary, all major insurance companies offer this coverage as a basic plan with 70% to 90% reimbursement of covered expenses.

Accident coverage includes:

• Broken bones and joint injuries
• Cuts, bites, and wounds
• Poisoning and swallowing foreign objects
• Car accidents and injuries from falls
• Burns and electrical injuries
• Emergency surgery and hospitalization

Illness coverage includes:

• Infectious diseases (parvovirus, distemper, feline herpes)

• Gastrointestinal disorders and diarrhea

• Respiratory infections and pneumonia

• Skin diseases and allergies

• Chronic conditions (diabetes, hyperthyroidism, heart disease)

• Cancer and its treatment

Dental Coverage — dental coverage with restrictions

Dental coverage is automatically included in the mid-range and premium plans, but has significant restrictions and long waiting periods.

Desjardins Pet Insurance offers dental coverage:

• Bronze Paw: up to $500/year (optional)

• Silver Paw: up to $700/year (included)

• Gold Paw: up to $1,000/year (included)

Petsecure Alberta includes $200 of dental coverage in its Secure 1 basic plan, increasing to unlimited coverage in its top plan.

Dental coverage includes:

• Annual professional teeth cleaning
• Treatment of gum disease and gingivitis
• Tooth extraction due to infection or injury
• Treatment of abscesses and dental infections
• Oral surgery

Important limitations:

• Waiting period: 6 months for all dental procedures
• Cosmetic procedures and routine preventive cleaning are not covered (unless included in the wellness plan)
• Problems that arose before the policy took effect are considered pre-existing conditions

Alternative Therapies — Alternative and Physical Therapy Services

Most insurance companies in Calgary include coverage for alternative treatments in their mid-range and premium plans.

Alternative therapies covered:

• Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine

• Chiropractic and osteopathy

• Physical therapy and kinesiology

• Hydrotherapy (water treadmill, swimming)

• Massage therapy and manual therapy

• Muscle stimulation

• Laser therapy for wound healing

Desjardins Gold Paw offers up to $350 per category per year for alternative therapies, including behavioral therapy and medical devices.

Wellness Coverage — Preventive Care as an Add-On Option

Wellness Coverage Structure

Unlike basic insurance, wellness coverage is designed for routine and preventive care and is offered as an add-on option or a separate plan.

Fetch Wellness offers two levels of coverage:

• Essentials Plan: $315/year coverage for $17/month
• Advantage Plan: $520/year coverage for $28/month

Detailed breakdown of wellness coverage

Fetch Wellness Essentials includes:

• Annual veterinary exam: $30

• Core vaccines (DHLPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats): $10 each

• Rabies vaccine: $10

• Heartworm, flea, and tick prevention: $30

• Heartworm tests: $10

• Spay/neuter OR dental cleaning: $175

• Blood, urine, and stool tests: $10 each

Fetch Wellness Advantage additionally covers:

• Advanced annual exam: $50 (instead of $30)

• Microchipping: $25

• Anal gland expression: $15

• Behavioral evaluation: $20

• Travel health certificate: $15

• Activity monitor: $25

Other wellness coverage providers

Petsecure Secure 4 offers wellness coverage:

• $450 for dogs / $350 for cats per year
• Includes annual exams, vaccinations, blood tests, parasite prevention

OVMA Pet Health Insurance Unlimited+ provides:

• $450 for dogs / $350 for cats for wellness
• No waiting periods for preventive care

Specialized treatment: oncology, cardiology, orthopedics

Cancer treatment

Cancer treatment for pets is one of the most expensive categories of veterinary services, but it is fully covered by all major insurance plans in Calgary, with the exception of pre-existing conditions.

Cancer procedures covered:

• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy

• Surgical removal of tumors

• Biopsy and histological examination

• Specialized diagnostic procedures (CT, MRI, PET scans)

• Supportive therapy and pain protocols

• Specialized prescription diets

Real-life example: Furkin Pet Insurance covers complete cancer treatment with no limits on individual conditions, with an annual limit of up to $20,000.

Orthopedic Procedures

Orthopedic problems are particularly common among large breeds of dogs in Calgary, where an active winter lifestyle can lead to injuries.

Typical orthopedic expenses and coverage:

• Hip dysplasia: $4,000–6,000 for surgical treatment

• Cruciate ligament rupture: $2,000–5,000 for TPLO surgery

• Patella luxation: $1,500–3,000 for corrective surgery

• Intervertebral disc disease: $3,000–9,000 for spinal surgery

Important conditions for orthopedic coverage:

• Waiting period: 6–12 months for most orthopedic conditions
• Waiting period may be waived with an orthopedic evaluation within 30 days of enrollment
• Bilateral conditions (e.g., dysplasia of both hips) may have coverage limitations

Exclusions and coverage limitations

Pre-existing conditions

The biggest limitation of all insurance plans is the exclusion of pre-existing conditions — any health problems that existed before the policy began or during the waiting period.

Categories of pre-existing conditions:

• Curable conditions — may be covered after a period without symptoms:

• Urinary tract infections and cystitis

• Ear infections

• Respiratory infections (kennel cough)

• Completely healed injuries

Fetch covers curable existing conditions after 12 months without symptoms. Spot covers curable conditions after 180 days without symptoms and treatment.

• Non-curable (chronic) conditions — permanently excluded:

• Diabetes and endocrine disorders

• Heart disease

• Arthritis and degenerative joint disease

• Epilepsy and neurological disorders

• Cancer

• Kidney and liver disease

• Bilateral conditions — conditions that can affect both sides of the body:

• Hip or elbow dysplasia

• Cruciate ligament tears

• Cataracts and eye problems

Standard exclusions for all plans

Never covered:

• Cosmetic procedures (ear cropping, tail docking)

• Experimental treatments

• Breeding and delivery

• Behavioral problems (in most plans)

• Grooming and routine nail care

• Nutritional supplements (except prescription)

• Euthanasia for behavioral or convenience reasons

Real-life coverage examples in Calgary

Case 1: Emergency surgery

Situation: A Labrador swallowed a ball and needed emergency surgery. Total cost: $3,500

• Emergency consultation: $200

• X-rays and diagnostics: $400

• Anesthesia and surgery: $2,200

• Hospitalization (2 days): $700

Reimbursement (80% plan with $200 deductible):

• Covered expenses: $3,500

• Minus deductible: -$200

• 80% reimbursement: ($3,300 × 0.8) = $2,640

Owner pays: $860 instead of $3,500

Case 2: Diabetes treatment

Situation: Cat diagnosed with diabetes, requires long-term treatment Annual treatment cost: $2,400

• Monthly insulin: $100 × 12 = $1,200
• Regular blood tests: $400
• Specialized food: $600
• Veterinary exams: $200

Reimbursement (90% plan with $100 deductible):

• Covered expenses: $2,300 (food not covered)

• Less deductible: -$100

• 90% reimbursement: ($2,200 × 0.9) = $1,980

Owner pays: $420 + $600 (food) = $1,020 instead of $2,400

Case 3: Cancer treatment

Situation: German Shepherd diagnosed with osteosarcoma, comprehensive treatment Total cost of treatment: $15,000

• Biopsy and diagnosis: $800
• Paw amputation: $4,200
• Chemotherapy (6 sessions): $7,000
• Regular checkups and tests: $2,000
• Pain management: $1,000

Reimbursement (90% plan with no annual limits, $250 deductible):

• Covered expenses: $15,000
• Minus deductible: -$250
• 90% reimbursement: ($14,750 × 0.9) = $13,275

Owner pays: $1,725 instead of $15,000

Special programs and additional benefits

Blue Ribbon Benefits (Pets Plus Us)

Pets Plus Us offers unique additional benefits included in all plans:

• Pet hotel expenses during owner hospitalization

• Compensation for vacation cancellation due to pet illness

• Cremation and burial expenses

• Advertising to find a lost pet

• Compensation for hotel stays during emergencies

Behavioral Therapy Coverage

Most premium plans include behavioral therapy coverage:

• Consultations with certified behavioral therapists
• Group training classes
• Individual sessions for aggressive behavior correction
• Separation and anxiety therapy

Specialist Coverage

All basic plans cover consultations and treatment with veterinary specialists:

• Cardiologists and heart surgeons
• Oncologists and radiologists
• Orthopedists and neurologists
• Ophthalmologists and dermatologists
• Anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists

Practical tips for maximizing coverage

Strategies for increasing effectiveness

• Documenting health status: Before purchasing insurance, have a complete veterinary examination and keep all documents.

• Early insurance: Insure animals at a young age (6–12 weeks) for the lowest premiums.

• Choosing the right plan: for active animals, choose plans with orthopedic coverage; for older animals, choose plans with coverage for chronic conditions.

Financial planning

• Combining wellness and basic coverage: calculate whether it is beneficial to include wellness.
• Understanding deductibles: higher deductibles lower premiums but increase out-of-pocket expenses.

Conclusion: comprehensive protection with informed limitations

Pet insurance in Calgary offers solid protection against unexpected expenses, covering everything from simple injuries to cancer treatments costing tens of thousands of dollars.

However, effective use requires an understanding of coverage limits, especially regarding pre-existing conditions, waiting periods, and the difference between basic insurance and wellness coverage. It is important for Ukrainian immigrants to adapt to the Canadian model of private insurance, where reimbursement conditions are more complex, but the right plan provides peace of mind and financial stability.

Key rule: Pet insurance is most effective as protection against catastrophic expenses for young, healthy animals, rather than as a way to save on routine care. Combining basic insurance coverage with a personal emergency fund often provides the best balance between cost and protection.