Free tool
How much does a dog really cost?
Routine care, the big emergencies, and whether pet insurance is actually worth it — with real numbers for a dog like yours, every one linked to its source. No account needed.
Without insurance
- Routine care $200–$400
With insurance
- Premium $360–$840/yr
- Routine care (not covered)$200–$400
On a bad-day year, insurance saves roughly $160–$2,640. On a normal year, it costs about $360–$840 more.
For a healthy adult with an emergency fund, it's genuinely a toss-up. The average buyer gets back about 65¢ in claims per premium dollar — you're paying for protection against a rare, expensive event, not an expected-value win. If a surprise $8,000 bill would wreck you, insure; if you'd rather self-fund and carry the risk, that's a defensible call.
Insurance only works before something happens — a policy bought after a diagnosis covers nothing related to it, for life.
Save this to your dog's profile. Create a free account and keep this estimate, track your real vet spend, and ask Copper anything — no card required.
Create a free accountBuilt by Paws on Board— the place your dog's life is organized. Informational, not financial advice.