Pet Insurance

Does Pet Insurance Cover C-Sections?

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mother dog deep sleep and puppy new born after c-section

A Cesarean, or C-section, can be a lifesaving procedure for the mother and her litter of pups. Unfortunately, C-sections are expensive, and they have associated risks, including bleeding, infection, anesthesia complications, and the surgery itself. These risks can lead to increased medical intervention, leading to inflated vet bills when you’re already expecting more vet visits because the treatment of offspring during the first year of life is frequent.

So what are your options? Do pet insurance companies cover C-sections, and are there any restrictions to the coverage? I read pet insurance policies from over 40 providers and found that most insurers list planned or elective C-sections as exclusions. However, some pet insurers cover emergency C-sections.

When Is A Cesarean Section Necessary For Dogs?

Cesareans are needed during emergency birth situations or due to difficulty giving birth naturally due to the breed or health conditions. Unfortunately, some dogs struggle to give birth naturally as a result of breed-specific breeding practices to achieve more exaggerated traits. This is the case for French Bulldogs.

The veterinarian determines if your dog needs a C-section. Some things the vet takes into consideration is:

  • Discolored vaginal discharge (pus-like, bloody, green, black)
  • Contractions for more than four hours with no puppies born
  • More than two hours have passed between the puppies
  • Signs of illness (fever, pain, vomiting)

What Happens During A Dog’s C-Section?

The following steps may occur to prepare for surgery.

  • Physical exam, including a vaginal exam to check for puppy position and labor signs
  • Imaging, including X-rays and ultrasounds
  • Intravenous (IV) catheter placement and fluids administered
  • Blood work
  • Sedation and anesthesia
  • Shaving and sanitizing of the abdomen

The veterinarian performs the surgery, during which the removal of all puppies is done rather quickly. Staff wakes the puppies up from anesthesia and stimulates them. After all puppies are born and the mother is closed up, all dogs are monitored closely during recovery.

How Much Does A C-Section For Dogs Cost?

A female dog’s C-section will vary in cost based on her size, health status, location, and type of facility where the surgery is performed. But on average, you can expect the expenses to be between $500 to $4,000 for a canine C-section. We know that’s a wide range, but it is realistic. This is why we recommend asking your veterinarian for an estimate beforehand to help you prepare financially. If there’s time, you should get additional opinions from other veterinary clinics.

If you want to avoid dog breeding and potential C-sections, consider spaying/neutering your dogs. Pet insurance doesn’t cover spay and neuter procedures, but some pet wellness plans do.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Cesareans?

Most pet insurance companies list pregnancy, breeding (including fertility treatments, artificial insemination, and stud fees), whelping, and nursing costs as exclusions in their policies. However, some companies offer coverage for C-sections that are deemed medically necessary and meet certain criteria.

Pet insurance providers that cover some C-sections include:

  • AKC Pet Insurance – Emergency C-sections are eligible for coverage with its breeding rider. The BreedingCoverage add-on covers breeding, pregnancy, whelping, or nursing complications. Also included are mastitis, gestational diabetes, eclampsia, dystocia, and pyometra. Planned C-sections are not covered.
  • Fetch Pet Insurance – Emergency C-sections are eligible for coverage as long as the breeding/inception date was after the 15-day waiting period ended.
  • Figo – C-sections qualify for coverage if it’s considered medically necessary and the breeding was after the 14-day waiting period. If the pet had pregnancy complications with pre-existing pregnancies noted in medical records for the 12 months prior to the pet insurance policy start date or within the waiting period, pregnancy complications are excluded from coverage, and a C-section is ineligible for coverage and may be deemed a pre-existing condition. If the C-section is being conducted for preventative measures and not due to an emergency, then it’s not a covered condition.
  • Trupanion – Planned C-sections due to medical risk factors are eligible for coverage after enrollment once the waiting period is met.

What’s The Best Pet Insurance For C-Sections?

If you plan to breed your dog and a C-section is a concern, then we recommend considering AKC Pet Insurance, Fetch, Figo, or Trupanion for your pet insurance needs. All four providers offer some limited pet insurance coverage for Cesareans.

Beyond C-section coverage, there are many more items to consider in your pet insurance selection. Our best pet insurance companies comparison includes information about other considerations, including specific policy coverage details, customer service and reputation, claim processing timeline, plan options, and more.

Methodology: How We Rank The Best Pet Insurance Companies

My team and I conduct extensive research on the most reputable pet insurance companies, analyzing customer feedback, policy changes, and industry trends. Our licensed insurance agent fact-checks everything, and we update our reviews year-round as insurers adjust premiums, coverage, exclusions, and customer service.

We rank each U.S. pet insurance provider using a 100-point scale, ensuring an unbiased breakdown of how companies perform in real-world claims.

Our Ranking Criteria

  • Coverage & Exclusions (30%) – We analyze policies, exclusions, and age restrictions, rewarding companies with fewer coverage limitations.
  • Pricing (15%) – We run thousands of sample quotes and factor in extra fees, discounts, and add-ons.
  • Customer Service & Reputation (12%) – We review hundreds of customer experiences, assess the sign-up process, and evaluate claim support.
  • Financial Strength (10%) – We examine A.M. Best & Demotech ratings to ensure companies can pay claims reliably.
  • Customization Options (10%) – Providers with more deductible, reimbursement, and payout flexibility rank higher.
  • Waiting Periods (5%) – Shorter illness & accident waiting periods result in a better score.
  • Claim Processing (5%) – Companies offering fast reimbursements and direct vet pay score higher.
  • Innovation (3%) – We recognize unique offerings and advanced technology in the industry.

Unbiased Pet Insurance Rankings: Putting Pets First

Unlike many review sites, we don’t sell rankings—every provider earns its spot based on real performance. Our in-depth comparisons help pet parents make informed decisions, while insurers use our reviews to improve their policies. We only recommend the best because that’s what our readers deserve.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance for 12+ years, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to author for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Kimberly reads every line in all pet insurance plans to help her answer a breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately. And on the rare occasion she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head, she can find it within minutes due to her extensive list of resources.

Kimberly Alt

Kimberly is a writer and content strategist for Canine Journal, specializing in pet insurance consulting. She has written and edited professionally since 2010. In 2014, Kimberly began researching dogs and discovered her passion for pet insurance. She strongly advocates for insuring pets and knows insurance is a complex subject for most. Kimberly has read hundreds of pet insurance policies (including the fine print), ran more than 3,000 pet insurance quotes, engages in frequent discussions with pet insurer representatives, and conducts mystery shopping to gain an unbiased perspective and explain how companies differ and their strengths. Her passion is teaching others about the pet insurance industry and helping them make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs. Kimberly has a B.A. in Multimedia Journalism from Simpson College. She is a Dog Writers Association of America member, and her work has appeared in many brands, including The New York Times’ Wirecutter, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, People, Woman’s World, and Huffington Post. Kimberly is the parent of a rescue Coonhound mix, Sally.

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