Exotic Pet Insurance: A Complete Guide (2024)

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on “The Best Exotic Pets Pet Insurance”! If you’re a proud owner of unique and extraordinary pets, ensuring their well-being is of utmost importance. In this article, we will delve into the world of pet insurance specifically designed for exotic pets.

• The exotic pet definition varies around the U.S.
• Some top insurance companies offer exotic pet insurance
• Obtaining exotic pet healthcare can help prevent you from catching an infectious disease

From birds to reptiles and small mammals, we’ve got you covered. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to protect your extraordinary companions and gain peace of mind. Enter your zip code now to compare rates from the best insurance providers and find the perfect coverage for your beloved exotic pets.

Which companies offer insurance for exotic pets?

Like all other animals in your care, exotic pets need insurance to help offset the cost of their health needs. Pet care can become increasingly expensive, particularly if you have numerous unusual pets. With an exotic pet insurance policy, you can help tend to various needs.

Some of the top insurance companies that currently offer insurance for exotic pets include the following:

• Nationwide
• Pet Assure
• Petplan

With these providers, consistent exotic pet checkups and medical services are covered. In addition, many insurance companies for unusual pets may also offer additional benefits, like discounts on specific veterinarians or treatments.

Nationwide’s price for exotic pets coverage varies, but it can start as low as $9 a month.

What does exotic pet insurance cover?

When you start looking for a new insurance product like your pets’ insurance, you’ll want to ensure that it can offer you savings on all the services your pets will require during their lifetime.

These are some of the services that your insurer will cover under your exotic pet insurance plan:

• Exams
• Lab work
• Drugs and vaccines
• X-rays
• Hospital stays and surgery

With a comprehensive pet insurance plan, you’ll have your costs covered for any of the above situations and, ideally, more.

You should be aware that many insurance companies won’t pay for the services outright but will instead reimburse you after the fact. As a result, you’ll still likely need to have money for the fees or any other costs up front.

Where can I get insurance for an exotic pets shop?

If your needs for exotic pet insurance are more commercial, there are options for you. On top of needing insurance to protect your animals, you’ll also be subject to the minimum business insurance requirements listed by your state.

If you’re merely worried about your pets’ health insurance, you can likely get a more robust policy from one of the leading pet insurance companies listed above.

With those insurance policies, you’ll have options when considering your pet’s health. As a pet shop owner, you’ll want to ensure that your pets are healthy because the health of your product has a significant impact on the income of your business.

Outside of employee and pet health insurance, there are other policies you should consider as well. These different business insurance types are as follows:

• Liability – The worst thing that could happen is if a customer became injured by an animal in your shop. This coverage protects against legal liability by helping you pay for damages and legal costs.
• Business property – Exotic pets can be worth a lot of money, especially if you have a shop full of them. This policy can help provide some financial help if you lose any of your animals.
• Commercial auto – If you’re making numerous deliveries, or otherwise have a lot of exotic pets in your automobile at times, this policy can help protect your business vehicles and the property held within.

It can be stressful and financially draining to run a business; therefore, having proper insurance is a great way to avoid losing everything due to a single unforeseen disaster.

What is considered an exotic pet according to insurance?

An exotic pet is an umbrella term that begins to change as you move across the country. In recent years, due to wide public attention, the exotic pet industry has begun to change, and so may these designations.

However, according to Nationwide’s exotic pet insurance plan, the designations include birds and exotic pets such as the following:

• Amphibians
• Lizards/Chameleons/Iguanas
• Ferrets
• Gerbils/Hamsters/Guinea Pigs
• Mice/Rats

These are just a few examples of the pets that Nationwide considers exotic, but it provides an idea of the insurer’s headspace. Of course, if you have questions about your specific pet, you can always contact your prospective insurer and determine how they perceive your animal.

What are the legal requirements for exotic pets?

Legal requirements for exotic pets vary broadly among states, complicating the answer to this question.

For example, Alabama doesn’t require either a license or a permit to buy an animal within the state but may have other restrictions. On the other hand, Alaska bans private ownership of exotic animals like undomesticated felines, wolves, bears, reptiles, and more.

These laws are traditionally meant to protect citizens who might otherwise interact with an animal with which they are untrained. By preventing or adding limitations to the specific ownership of animals, the legislature can attempt to minimize injuries and death caused by exotic pets.

How do exotic pet regulations vary by state?

Only certain legal unusual pets are allowed in the United States, depending on where you live. So you might be able to own a wolf in one state, yet if you travel 100 miles across the border, you might be in a place where it’s outlawed.

Because the laws are different depending on location, it’s best to understand your local laws before venturing out to purchase a new exotic pet.

What should I be aware of concerning exotic pets and my health?

While it may be an afterthought, the health of your exotic pets can have a big impact on how you feel as well. While caring for your beloved animals, you should also be aware of infectious diseases, otherwise known as zoonosis, that can transmit between species.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the transmission of diseases from animals to humans accounts for 75% of the emerging infections we see in the world today.

Some examples of human diseases that can derive from animals include the following:

• Salmonella
• Ringworm
• Tuberculosis

Each of these diseases is a severe condition for either you or your pet and will need to be checked out immediately. Luckily, with insurance for your exotic pets, you can be reimbursed for your pet’s health costs while ensuring you don’t acquire any of their contagious diseases.

How can I ensure that my exotic pets are healthy?

The primary need for many exotic pet owners is to make sure that you can keep your pets healthy and happy for the extent of their lives. Ensure that you understand the species, and take the pet in for regular examinations with a knowledgeable veterinarian.

According to our research, the most common pet insurance claims include skin, eye, and ear issues.

Each species will differ when sick; however, the following are some telltale signs that something is amiss:

• A noticeable lethargy
• A lack of appetite
• A runny nose or other traditional symptoms

If you’re spending a lot of time with your exotic pets, you’ll likely understand when something is wrong with them. Getting them to a competent veterinarian may even prevent a worse condition. If you’re worried about costs, paying in advance for an insurance plan can help too.

Insurance for Exotic Pets: The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for insurance for exotic pets, there’s a good chance that you have a precious animal you’d like to protect. Luckily, some top insurance companies offer coverage for exotic pets’ health. Providing a sick pet the help it needs can prevent you from catching the illness as well.

If you’re looking for exotic pet insurance quotes, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool to determine what you could pay for a policy today.