- Pumpkin Team
- Aug 27
- 8 min read
Key Points
Behavioral issues and contagious illnesses are common health problems in rescue dogs.
Adopting dogs from high-risk countries may come with extra requirements.
Pet insurance can help you pay for qualifying veterinary bills for your rescue dog.
It can feel truly rewarding to adopt a rescue pet, but it can also come with a few unknowns, like past medical history. That means you might not know what kinds of health issues could come up later.
It leads many adoptive pet parents to wonder: Should I get pet insurance for my rescue dog? Pet insurance for dogs can help cover eligible veterinary bills for accidents and illnesses after adoption, and most importantly, it can give you peace of mind knowing your dog can get the quality care they deserve.
In this guide, we’ll break down pet insurance for rescue dogs, what to look for in a plan, and how to decide if it’s the right move for you and your four-legged friend.
Common health concerns in rescue dogs
Rescue dogs typically have unique health challenges that can be physical or behavioral; they are often shaped by their abuse or neglect. Fortunately, veterinary care — along with training, mental stimulation, and exercise — can help manage these potential road bumps.
Illnesses
Because many rescues come from uncertain backgrounds, they may be more vulnerable to certain illnesses, especially if they haven’t had regular veterinary care.
Rescues in shelters may face common health concerns like:
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC): Also known as Kennel cough, this respiratory disease — born of a bacteria called Bordetella — causes dry, persistent coughing and other ailments and can spread quickly in environments where dogs congregate like shelters, kennels, boarding facilities, dog parks, and daycare centers.
Canine Parvovirus (Parvo): Parvo disease attacks your dog’s white blood cells and affects their gastrointestinal tract. Among other symptoms, it may result in lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting. This disease is also highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with infected dogs, their feces, or contaminated surfaces.
Heartworm disease: Heartworm disease in dogs is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by a parasitic worm (Dirofilaria immitis) that lives in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels. It can lead to severe lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and death if untreated.
Flea and ticks: These parasites can cause irritation, skin infections, and transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease. Dogs may pick them up from infested environments or through contact with other animals.
Some pet insurance plans like Pumpkin plans help cover eligible veterinary treatments for these infectious diseases and parasite-borne illnesses, while other plans may exclude them from coverage entirely or only cover them if the pet is up-to-date on their vaccines and preventative medications. Before choosing a pet insurance plan for your rescue dog, it’s always a good idea to check out a sample policy, which will include a list of covered benefits and exclusions.
All that said, the best thing you can do to avoid these health threats is to keep up with proper routine care. This includes annual wellness visits, vaccinations, and preventative medication. As these costs can add up year after year, some pet insurance providers also offer optional wellness plans or packages that can help manage routine health expenses.
Behavioral issues
Many rescue dogs come from environments where they were mistreated, or didn’t get the care they needed. As a result, your dog might start showing signs of anxiety, aggression, or destructive behavior — even long after they’ve settled into your home.
Some pet insurance plans can help cover the cost of treating behavioral issues if a dog is already enrolled in a plan (and past the waiting period) when the first signs or symptoms show up. But here’s the catch: Not all plans include coverage for behavioral therapy or medication. Some plans exclude it entirely, while others charge an extra monthly fee to add it. Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans, meanwhile, include this coverage as standard –– so you won’t have to pay additional fees to ensure your dog would be covered if behavioral issues arise in the future.
Want to see what a Pumpkin plan includes? Fetch a free Pumpkin quote in minutes.
What to consider when adopting a rescue dog from abroad
Adopting a rescue dog from abroad can be a life-saving act, especially for dogs in high-kill shelters, and a way to help fight overpopulation. While there’s a lot to celebrate on Gotcha Day, there are a few things to keep in mind beforehand.
Some countries may lack proper health and safety standards for pets, and rescued dogs can carry region-specific diseases, such as Leishmaniasis (a serious parasitic disease spread by sand flies), rabies, or heartworm.
To avoid any hiccups, be sure to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s requirements ahead of time so you’re fully prepared to welcome your new companion home. It’s also a good idea to ask the shelter or rescue for any medical records they may have, as some facilities will vaccinate and treat sick pets upon arrival.
CDC travel and import requirements
Here’s what the CDC requires so your pup’s journey home goes smoothly.
Requirement | Details |
Age | Must be at least 6 months old |
Health | Must appear healthy upon arrival |
Microchip | Must be microchipped for identification |
CDC Dog Import Form | Must be completed and submitted before arrival |
Rabies Vaccination Certificate | Must obtain for dogs from high-risk countries |
Serology Titer Test | Must obtain, if rabies vaccination isn’t documented on the CDC form |
Quarantine | Must undergo quarantine at a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF) for 28 days if documentation is incomplete |
All documents must be written in English or officially certified by a licensed English translator.
You’ll also need to reserve a quarantine spot in advance, and entry is only allowed through airports with a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF). Once your pup is in the U.S., you can enroll in a pet insurance plan to help cover veterinary care for accidents and illnesses that could happen to your pup in the future.
How pet insurance can help rescue dogs
Rescue dogs’ unknown medical histories can make their long-term health needs unpredictable. From lingering effects of past neglect to breed-specific conditions or trauma-related injuries, it’s not uncommon for adopted dogs to require specialized care.
Pet insurance helps shield you from unexpected veterinary bills, giving you one less financial worry if your rescue dog needs care down the road. It helps you pay eligible bills for veterinary visits, diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, medications, and hospitalization if they get sick or hurt.
Your plan could help cover eligible expenses for those services and treatments if it was caused by a qualifying condition:
Accident: When your dog gets hurt (e.g., fractures, ingestion of foreign objects, or lacerations)
Illness: When your dog gets sick (e.g., infections, joint problems, cancer)
Knowing you're both covered allows you to make medical decisions based on what’s best for your dog — not just what you can afford in the moment.
How to choose the right pet insurance for your rescue dog
Choosing the right pet insurance can be tough, especially since coverage benefits vary by provider. Comparing sample policies and reading the fine print can help you choose the right provider for your needs. Here’s what you should know about pet insurance for a rescue dog.
Balance price with coverage
A plan with low premiums may come with high deductibles and low annual limits and reimbursement rates, which means you’ll likely pay more of your veterinary bill out-of-pocket. Additionally, low-cost plans may have more coverage exclusions or require add-ons for certain conditions, so it’s important to read that sample policy ahead of time to avoid surprises down the road.
When choosing a plan and features like coverage limits, reimbursement rates, and deductibles, think about the following factors to determine your needs.
Breed: Certain breeds are more likely to develop certain conditions. Work with your veterinarian to determine the type of health issues your rescue may face as they age, and try to find a plan that covers the associated health expenses for those conditions.
Age: Senior dogs are more prone to chronic health diseases, so choosing a higher annual coverage limit and reimbursement rate when your pet is young can help you get more money back on veterinary care as they age.
Lifestyle and personality: Does your dog love outdoor adventures or play a little rough? Pet insurance can help cover injury-related bills if your pup ever gets hurt. That said, orthopedic injuries like fractures can be expensive to treat, so it’s wise to consider the cost of care they may need when picking an annual limit or reimbursement rate.
If you want a high level of protection, Pumpkin customers can get up to 90% cash back for eligible veterinary bills and high annual coverage limits – all the way up to unlimited!
Check for exclusions and limitations
No insurance policy covers every scenario, and some offer less coverage than others. It’s a smart idea to review common exclusions to understand how they might impact your coverage:
Age limits: Many providers restrict coverage for senior pets past a certain age. Even if they don’t, they might reduce your coverage as your pet ages.
Breed-specific conditions: Some providers exclude or charge extra for hereditary and congenital illnesses. Find out if the plan covers your type of dog and if it offers coverage for breed-related conditions.
Pre-existing conditions: If a condition develops before your coverage starts or during the waiting period, the condition likely won’t qualify for coverage. That said, your insurer may cover eligible expenses for curable conditions if your pet has been cured, symptom- and treatment-free for a specific period of time.
Waiting periods: Many policies have a waiting period from the time you enroll to the time your coverage starts. If a condition develops during this window, your pup would not be covered for that condition. Accident and illness waiting periods can also differ, so be sure to check the requirements for both.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans don’t have upper age limits or breed restrictions. They also offer shorter waiting periods and may cover veterinary bills for eligible cured and curable pre-existing conditions if they occur again in the future, so your coverage can help when you need it most.
Tips for keeping your rescue dog healthy
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Routine care is one of the most important responsibilities of being a pet parent, and it can also help reduce future vet costs.
Below are tips to ensure your dog lives a quality lifestyle:
Stay current on vaccinations and veterinary visits
Get flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
Feed a nutritionally balanced diet
Practice positive reinforcement training
Provide mental stimulation, like puzzle toys
Exercise them based on their breed, age, and temperament
Gradually socialize your dog with people and other pets
Some providers offer wellness plans or packages you can either purchase with or without insurance, so it may be worth looking into whether these options are offered when evaluating different pet insurance providers.
Is pet insurance for rescue dogs worth it?
Pet insurance is worth it as rescue dogs can develop health conditions and injuries after you adopt them. If your rescue dog gets sick or hurt, the last thing you want to think about is whether you could afford the care they need. Saying “yes” to pet insurance means having peace of mind that you can pay for your new pup’s health care if the unexpected happens.
Ready to protect your rescue pup? Enroll in Pumpkin Pet Insurance plan today!
FAQs
Can I get insurance for a senior rescue dog?
Yes, but some providers have upper age limits. Pumpkin doesn’t restrict coverage based on age or reduce it as your rescue gets older.
What is the best pet insurance for rescue dogs?
The best pet insurance fits both your pet’s needs and your budget. Pumpkin plans cover eligible expenses for hereditary and congenital conditions, behavioral issues, parasite infections and more –– with flexible reimbursement rates, annual coverage limits, and deductibles to choose from.
Can I get pet insurance for a rescue dog?
Yes, you can usually get pet insurance for a rescue dog. Just note that some plans have age or breed restrictions and may exclude coverage for certain conditions.
Is pet insurance more expensive for rescue dogs?
Not necessarily. Insurers mainly consider your dog’s age, breed, and location when setting your pet insurance premium.
List of references
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/kennel-cough-in-dogs/
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/canine-parvovirus
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/heartworm-disease-in-dogs
https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/flea-and-tick-prevention-and-treatment-dogs
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/leishmaniasis-in-dogs
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/foreign-vaccinated-high-risk-countries.html
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/approved-care-facilities.html
The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
