Why You Should Care About Bilateral Conditions

For most pet parents, their knowledge of the pet industry only goes so far as basic maintenance of their beloved pets. But for those who are interested in investing in pet insurance, it may be important to understand a few more advanced terms, and bilateral conditions is definitely a good one to be familiar with.

Let’s use a real world example to describe what a bilateral condition means. If you have a dog, that jumps off a couch and dislocates his left hind knee, then the next time, if your dog dislocates his right hind knee, this will be known as a bilateral condition in the world of pet insurance.

You may be wondering by now, why you as a pet owner should you care about bilateral conditions?

The plain and simple truth is that most pet insurance plans, won’t cover them, while some will consider both sides to be one claim and limit payout, and still a few others will cover them with no restrictions. If your pet’s medical history includes an illness or injury to one side of the body, then the pet insurance industry will automatically consider it a bilateral condition when the same illness or injury occurs on the other side of the body.

So, what pet insurance providers provide coverage for bilateral conditions?

epetsure lists three providers that offer coverage for bilateral conditions, however you should always check to make sure before purchasing any plan.

• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
• Healthy Paws Pet Insurance (except cruciate ligaments)
• Pet First Pet Insurance

Are there certain illnesses that are always considered bilateral conditions?

Yes. According to GoPetPlan.com these include but are not limited to:

• Orthopedic injuries and illnesses like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament tears
• Eye conditions such as cataracts, conjunctivitis, etc…
• Renal problems
• Stenoic nares: a narrowing or closing of a nostril that usually occurs in “smushed” face dogs like Pugs, Bulldogs, etc…
• Pannus: vascular tissue that forms over an organ, usually a cornea.

Do Bilateral Conditions Signify Anything?

Yes. Often times, the presence of a bilateral condition can be the result of an underlying problem. For example:

• Bilateral or symmetrical hair loss is a symptom of hormonal imbalance
• Bilateral retinal detachment can be the result of high blood pressure
• Other bilateral conditions can be the cause of fungal infections, tick-borne disease, as well as neoplasia.

The good news is that usually even if two sides are affected, they can be treated and/or cured with the same treatment. Having a sick or inured pet can be scary and dealing with the bureaucracy of the pet insurance industry can make it tougher. But if you do your research and familiarize yourself with the terms of possible health conditions, as well as the policies of any plan you might considering, then having pet insurance could turn out to be a life saver.

Doing research on pet insurances isn’t always easy. Just looking at reviews can prove to be depressing, because most pet owners are quick to complain and slow to praise, especially when they are already stressed by their fur baby’s health.

Be sure to talk to your veterinarian and visit our pet insurance providers page to learn as much information as you can, before making any final decisions.