A pair of pet health insurance providers are working to provide greater access to coverage for veterinary clients. Healthy Paws, a division of Chubb insurance provider, has announced a new partnership that offers convenience to clients, while adoro Pet Insurance Services is preparing to enter the growing US market.

The US pet health insurance sector has more than doubled over the past 3 years, exceeding $5.2 billion in written premiums in 2024, up from $4.2 billion in 2023, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA)’s 

. The report also indicated 7.03 million insured pets across the US and Canada with a penetration rate of 5.46% for US dogs and 2.04% for US cats.

Healthy Paws, a provider of accident and illness pet insurance coverage for dogs and cats, is collaborating with pet supplies retailer PetSmart to improve accessibility to companion animal owners. The partnership will allow PetSmart customers to easily shop for a pet health insurance policy that meets their needs as part of the online shopping experience, and obtain a free quote for Healthy Paws plan.

"Pet parents trust PetSmart to deliver comprehensive care solutions for their beloved companions at every life stage, including support during unexpected events. We are thrilled to partner with Healthy Paws, a leader in pet insurance, to provide pet parents with access to Healthy Paws' accident and illness coverage that offers pet parents unmatched peace of mind," Rob Pace, senior vice president of Veterinary Health Services at PetSmart, said in a news release.

The Healthy Paws pet plans offer a seamless mobile claims process, no maximum annual or lifetime payouts, rapid reimbursement for covered expenses and empathetic customer service, according to the insurance company. Furthermore, these insurance plans are designed to facilitate pet care without financial barriers.

"We're excited to team up with PetSmart to expand access to pet insurance at a destination many pet parents already frequent for trusted products, services and advice," Alex Faynberg, executive vice president and head of Healthy Paws, said in the release.

 "This partnership empowers animal lovers to protect their pets like family and safeguard against life's unforeseen health challenges."

adoro plans to enter the pet insurance market in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a news release. Tricia Plouf, COO and cofounder of adoro, said the company saw a “huge opportunity” to serve an underpenetrated market.

“We did not start adoro simply to participate in the market. We will offer a number of features and options that are not available today, and we look forward to adoro becoming a leading brand in the market," Plouf said in a news release.

The full-stack agency will have underwriting capacity provided by Crum & Foster, a company with more than 20 years of pet insurance program experience. "We are proud to underwrite pet insurance policies for valued partners like adoro so they can deliver solutions to the marketplace to help pet owners manage the costs associated with their pets' health and well-being," Gary McGeddy, president, Crum & Foster accident and health division, said in the release.

Gavin Friedman, CEO and cofounder of adoro, said the company “cannot image a better partner than Crum & Foster” in offering a product to pet owners. “From day one, the Crum &Foster team has demonstrated why they are so highly regarded and sought after as an insurance partner. Their underwriting capabilities and expertise will allow us to bring adoro's vision of elevating pet insurance to life," Friedman said in the release.

adoro is capitalized by Griffin Highline Capital LLC and Badger Equity US LLC. "We have been looking for the right pet insurance opportunity in the US market for a number of years. We are confident that the adoro management team, with Crum & Forster as the carrier, provides the opportunity we've been looking for," Brad Hogan, founder, chairman and CEO of the Badger International Group of insurance companies, said in the release.

According to Logan Bitter, leader of the NAPHIA’s 2025 

 initiative and director of pet insurance at Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, a continuing launch of new pet insurance brands, combined with product innovations and regulatory efforts to make pet insurance laws more consistent across the US, are all contributing to the industry’s growth. “Over the past 5 years, the industry has experienced a combined growth rate of 20.8% in written premium,” Bitter said in a news release.

 “There is simply no other line of insurance and few other pet health products experiencing that level of ongoing growth.”

Healthy Paws partners with PetSmart to bring insurance where pet parents shop. News release. Chubb. August 12, 2025. Accessed August 12, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthy-paws-partners-with-petsmart-to-bring-insurance-where-pet-parents-shop-302526899.html

adoro announces entry into pet insurance market. News release. adoro Pet Insurance Services. August 12, 2025. Accessed August 12, 2025. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adoro-announces-entry-into-pet-insurance-market-302527121.html

North American pet health insurance industry market reaches $5.2 billion in written premium. News release. North American Pet Health Insurance Association. April 22, 2025. Accessed August 12, 2025. 

https://naphia.org/news/naphia-news/soi-report-2025/

Articles

adoro Pet Insurance Services LLC, and insurance provider Chubb have announced new initiatives for the market

Insurance companies work to improve access to pet health coverage

We’re officially less than 2 weeks away from Fetch Kansas City! The dvm360 team can’t wait to welcome attendees and faculty for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun. From keynote addresses to our first-ever Women’s Symposium, there’s a lot to see and do, so we condensed the highlights into this exclusive preview just for readers.

From Passion to Purpose: Discovering What Truly Drives Me

On Day 1 of Fetch Kansas City,Kenichiro Yagi, MS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (SAIM), kicks off the show officially with his keynote address. On the keynote stage, Yagi will share what truly drives him in veterinary medicine, and how he was able to find it with hopes attendees can use what they learn to refine their purpose.

Heartworm Preventive Resistance: Where Do We Go From Here?

Day 2 of Fetch Kansas City will welcome Michael W. Dryden, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVM, to the stage to share more on the current state of heartworm preventive resistance, where it emerged, and where veterinary professionals go from here. Dryden will provide attendees with insights into the changing understanding of heartworm preventive resistance, plus new prevention programs that have the potential to limit the severity and spread of resistance dramatically. 

While attending a Fetch Conference, including Fetch Kansas City, attendees have access to participate in Consult and Connect with Fetch faculty. Set up in a booth in the exhibit hall, attendees can have extra time with speakers to discuss things from their lectures or labs, consult with them on a real-life case they have questions about, and more. Consult & Connect is not RACE-approved, so participants will not receive CE credit.

The following faculty will be available at the Consult & Connect booth, all in central time:

10:25-10:55 AM: Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM

12:20-12:50 PM: Jason Pieper, DVM, MS, DACVD

12:55-1:25 PM: Jamie Kopper, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM), DAVECC-LA

4:00-4:30 PM: Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT

5:45-6:15 PM: Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

10:25-10:55 AM: Michael Dryden, DVM, PhD, DACVM

12:20-12:50 PM: Shadi Ireifej, DVM, DACVS-SA

12:55-1:25 PM: Melissa Evans, CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC)

4:00-4:30 PM: Adesola Odunayo, DVM, MS, DACVECC

10:25-10:55 AM: Michael Petty, DVM, CCRT, CVPP, MAV

On Friday August 22 from 1:30-3:30 PM CT, Joshua Broadwater, DVM, DACVO, Natalie L. Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V, and Shelby Bossler, DVM, will lead an interactive workshop where attendees will work in teams to solve real-life ophthalmologic cases. Throughout the lab, Broadwater and Marks will use their expertise to guide attendees through the program, plus Broadwater helping attendees learn the difference between cases that need an emergency referral and those that can be managed in general practice or with home care.

This lecture, sponsored by Domes Pharma, has no prerequisites and can only hold 50 participants, and is approved for 2 hours of continuing education (CE) credit.

This lab, which will take place on Saturday, August 23, in 2 groups, with Group 1 from 9:15-11:15 AM CT and then Group 2 from 1:30-3:30 PM CT, will explore the risks of anesthetic hypoventilation, practical guidance for choosing and then operating a ventilator, empowering practitioners to elevate patient safety and optimize anesthetic outcomes in their practice, and more. Gianluca Bini, DVM, MRCVS, DACVAA, will lead both groups of this lab.

This lab, sponsored by Mindray Medical USA Corp, does not require any prerequisites but is limited to only 20 veterinarians, with one assistant, per group. This lab is free, and is approved for 2 hours of CE credit.

Bruce Nwadike, DVM, DACVS, MRCVS, will lead this lab on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 1:30–4:30 PM CT. This three-hour, hands-on lab includes a one-hour lecture followed by two hours of practical laboratory work, plus a required three-hour online prerequisite. Each lab participant will deepen their understanding of patellar luxation through coverage of diagnostic techniques and treatment selection. With a strong emphasis on the novel and minimally invasive alternative to traditional sulcoplasty, RidgeStop, the lecture will show that this product utilizes a medical-grade ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene implant to provide stability but also minimal joint interference.

This course has limited seating available at 16 per group and is for veterinarians only. There is a 3-hour prerequisite online course that is included in the fee, and registrants will be emailed access to the online course. Sponsored by OrthoMed North America, Inc, participants will earn 6.0 hours of RACE-approved CE credit, 3 from the prerequisite online course work and then 3 for the live presentation during the lab, and costs $600.

For the first time at Fetch, there will be a women’s symposium available to our attendees. For 3 hours, women within the symposium will hear from women leaders in veterinary medicine, such as Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB, and Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ, CCFP, Elite FFCP-V, as well as Laura Neff, CPCC, on topics such as discovering internal core values system, self-discovery and interpretation of unexpected care values in the system, and more. This symposium is limited to 50 veterinarians and will be held in the Convention Center, and at the end there will be a book signing with Lynsey Rinelli, DVM, author of 

, a children’s book about love, loss, and saying goodbye to a pet.

From wet labs to a women’s symposium, check out all that Fetch Kansas City has to offer 

Sneak peek at Fetch Kansas City 2025 

Leslie Bauer, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice), is the medical director of Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists in San Antonio, Texas, director of Thrive’s House Officer Steering Committee, and the national director of Thrive ER Academy, an emergency internship program. Since graduating from veterinary school, Bauer has dedicated all 23 years of her career to emergency medicine.

Her commitment to the profession stems from making a difference in patients’ and people’s lives, she shared with 

. “How often do you get to help somebody you know, every single day, and make a difference in their lives?” she posed. “There [are] not many other professions that get to do that—especially from an emergency medicine situation.”

“Every single day, I could be helping someone make a decision or helping a loved pet in [a client’s] life stay in their life a little bit longer. And there’s a lot of responsibility with that.... I have a lot of respect for being able to do this and to help people and make those changes,” she continued.

In addition to helping patients and caregivers, Bauer also helps new veterinary graduates receive mentorship in emergency medicine and surgery through Thrive ER Academy, a program Bauer helped develop. The goal of the program, Bauer explained, is to provide new graduates with a strong mentorship foundation in emergency medicine to help them enter the profession. “We wanted people to be lifelong [emergency department] veterinarians and be comfortable with that,” she said. She added that another objective is to prevent burnout and help individuals discover a lifelong passion for emergency practice.

Bauer’s advice to veterinary professionals working in emergency medicine is to embrace the profession. “I think it’s hard the first few years. You're not coming out of vet school, and you don't know everything. I think we sometimes forget the passion that we had when we were trying to get into veterinary school and become a veterinarian,” she said. “All of a sudden, life catches up with us and we're like, ‘I may not want to really do this too much anymore. It's hard.’ And so, I think [it’s about] embracing it and realizing why you did this in the first place, and why you went through all that schooling and that training and just finding the joy and the happiness in this profession.”

“Yeah, there [are] going to be hard days, but we focus too much on the hard days, and we don’t focus on the great successes and the wonderful things that happen and how much joy [we] can get from [our] work.”

On her reaction to learning she had won the Veterinary Heroes Award in the Emergency category, Bauer shared, “It was very meaningful. There's a lot of work that goes into this, and definitely sometimes it feels like there's a lot of thankless days [but] to see [my staff’s] true, genuine joy that I had won this and that they had been able to help me achieve that was very meaningful and really speaks to the strength of our [hospital’s] culture: how much we all want to work together and celebrate each other’s successes and help each other when we don’t have successes.”

The 2025 class of dvm360 Veterinary Heroes will be honored at a celebratory luncheon in the dvm360 Fetch Kansas City Conference. 

Click here learn more or register for the event.

Leslie Bauer, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice), wins the 2025 dvm360 Veterinary Hero award in the emergency category.



2025 Veterinary Heroes: Leslie Bauer, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice) (Emergency)

As summer gives way to fall and families race to fill shopping carts with school supplies and lunchbox snacks, another calculation is quietly unfolding in homes across the United States: whether parents can afford to keep their pets healthy. I was talking to my neighbor, who is preparing the kids for back-to-school shopping. She received an overdue reminder that her dog needs an exam and preventive measures. She said, “I unfortunately have to pick and choose where I allocate my funds this year. The dog will just have to wait for now.”

This is the conversation I find myself having repeatedly in my exam room. It’s the parent torn between paying for a much-needed dental cleaning and buying new clothes for their child for the start of the school year. It’s the retired couple quietly confessing that they’re stretching their cat’s insulin doses so they can afford their own prescriptions. And it’s the middle-income professional, earning a comfortable salary, staring at an estimate for diagnostics and whispering the same words: “I can’t afford this.”

A recent Gallup survey underscores just how widespread this struggle has become. More than half—52%—of US pet owners have delayed or declined veterinary care in the past year. Among them, 71% cited cost as the primary barrier.. What’s striking is that these aren’t only families living paycheck to paycheck. One in 3 households earning $90,000 or more also reported that the price of care was out of reach.

If rising costs are making households with decent incomes pause before seeking care, what options are left for those living paycheck to paycheck? For many, it means facing many heartbreaking choices with no good outcome in sight.

One Denver, Colorado, pet owner, Cynthia Barnes, learned that her cat Lily had a rare cancer requiring radiation therapy. After already paying more than $1000 for surgery, she was quoted $6000 more to continue treatment. She simply couldn’t manage it, and Lily died within the year.

Chicago, Illinois, pet owner Caroline Sturges was told a few years ago it would cost $800 to spay her cat. A college student at the time, she ended up turning to a shelter-based program that provided the same service for $150.

These stories are not outliers. They are the new normal. The price of veterinary care has risen dramatically in recent years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of services increased 5.9% over the past 12 months—more than double the general rate of inflation. In 2024 alone, Americans spent nearly $152 billion on veterinary industry expenditures, and that figure is projected to exceed $157 billion by the end of 2025. However, 37% of pet owners are concerned about access to veterinary care, with 60% of those individuals citing affordability as their top concern.

Part of this trend reflects real progress. We can now offer pets nearly every medical intervention available to humans: chemotherapy, joint replacements, stem cell therapy, imaging and diagnostics via artificial intelligence, and progressive medicine. The rise of specialty medicine has saved countless lives and improved outcomes that would have been unthinkable a generation ago.

The need to deliver consistent margins so that we, as veterinary professionals, can earn a living and keep the lights on in the building has had its challenges. And although pets are living longer and healthier lives (whoo-hoo!), the bill for that progress is landing squarely in the laps of families already juggling rising costs for everything from rent to childcare.

This fall, as parents stretch their budgets to cover backpacks and school lunches, many will quietly decide whether they can afford vaccinations, preventive care, or critical treatments for the pets they love. For some, the decision will be to walk away.

As veterinary professionals, we are caught between our professional oath and the economic reality of modern practice. We want to offer the highest standard of care with a spectrum of care. We want to say, “We’ll figure it out.” But we also carry the burden of keeping our hospitals running, paying our staff fairly, maintaining equipment, and covering rising supply costs. Have you comfortably placed your head on the pillow at night this year, knowing that price may have compromised care?

As veterinary professionals, we can start by creating transparent, judgment-free conversations about cost, early and often. Too many of us wait until a crisis unfolds before talking about money, but proactive communication allows clients to do what I refer to as the 3 P’s—prepare, plan, and prioritize care. Offering preventive care plans or wellness packages can spread out expenses and reduce the shock of urgent costs. We can also work to identify and share resources. They may include nonprofit clinics, financial aid programs, pet insurance guidance, and payment flexibility so no client walks away simply because they didn’t know help existed.

Beyond the clinic walls, we must use our collective voice to advocate for systemic change. That means pushing for more community-based support models, mobile outreach programs, and public-private partnerships that close the $20 billion gap in unmet veterinary care. We can also collaborate with tech partners, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to make training, tools, and telemedicine more accessible and affordable.

None of this fixes the problem overnight. But it does put us back in control. Acting rather than reacting. Leading rather than apologizing. Because the truth is, our profession cannot afford to stand still while families are forced to choose between their pets’ health and their household survival.

In addition, we must help prospective pet owners understand the full cost of care before they bring an animal home. I have a rhyme I often say to them: “Before the wags and purrs begin, be sure you’ve planned for what caring costs within.” This is not about discouraging adoption. Instead, it’s about fostering commitment rather than sentiment. As one veterinarian observed, “It’s easy to look at a cute puppy and not think about its whole life.”

Finally, we need to give ourselves permission to talk openly about the toll this matter takes on veterinary professionals. It is exhausting to spend every day negotiating which parts of care clients can afford. It is heartbreaking to watch animals suffer for reasons that have nothing to do with science or skill. The human-animal bond is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. But love alone doesn’t pay the invoice.

This fall, as families do the math on school supplies and rising bills, let’s not pretend veterinary care is a luxury. It’s a responsibility. And if we want pets to remain part of our families, we must find a more sustainable way forward.

No one should have to choose between buying groceries and ensuring their pet gets the care they need. And no veterinary professional should have to stand by while an animal’s health is compromised simply because compassion met an empty wallet.

Passy C. ‘I don’t have $800.’ A look at the heart-wrenching decisions pet owners face as vet care has gotten so expensive. 

. April 22, 2025. Updated April 28, 2025. Accessed July 14, 2025. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/manyamericans-cant-afford-vet-care-for-their-pets-and-the-resultscan-be-deadly-72d35390

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) releases 2025 state of the industry report. News release. American Pet Products Association. March 26, 2025. Accessed July 14, 2025. https://americanpetproducts.org/news/the-american-petproducts-association-appa-releases-2025-state-of-the-industryreport

The rising cost of veterinary care is forcing clients to make tough decisions

From the CVO: When lunchboxes compete with leashes

“It's our responsibility to educate about the risks of bird flu transmission, as well as the preventative measures and the symptoms that people need to look out for,” said Deborah Thomson, DVM. 

A veterinarian’s role in bird flu client education

Over the last several months, confirmed cases of H5N1 have been 

. Although large-animal practitioners may already be aware of the risks, small-animal veterinarians may find themselves on the front lines as well. In this video, Deborah Thomson, DVM, founder and executive director of One Health Lessons, discusses the pivotal role veterinary professionals play in educating clients on H5N1 and the risks raw food may carry. She also touches on the February 2025 reports of 

3 bovine veterinary practitioners who tested positive for antibodies to H5N1

For more information and resources on H5N1, see: 

Recommendations for veterinarians evaluating feline cases of H5N1

Below is the transcript, lightly edited for improved clarity.

Hello. I'm Dr Deborah Thomson, and I am the founder and executive director of One Health Lessons. One Health Lessons is an educational nonprofit that teaches about One Health.

You may or may not have heard, but there have been dairy veterinarians who had positive antibodies for H5N1, or bird flu. So, we are at risk of catching bird flu from our patients, depending on what species we're working with. 

Even small animal practitioners need to be extra careful, because we have seen not only respiratory concerns in cats, but also neurologic concerns in cats that have been affected and infected by H5N1.

Now, how could these cats have gotten it? One of pretty much 3 main ways: if they're outdoor cats, they could have eaten an infected bird, or even maybe a rodent that could have been infected with H5N1; or the virus could be coming into the house via raw milk or raw food.

It is so important right now to make sure that we educate our clients on avoiding raw diets because of this potential of bringing H5N1 into the house. It's a main concern for the animals, but it's also a major concern for the people.

As veterinarians, it is our responsibility to educate the public to protect not only the animals, but also the families associated with those animals against bird flu. So, it's our responsibility to educate about the risks of bird flu transmission, as well as the preventative measures and the symptoms that people need to look out for. By having an educated public, there's going to be less concern about diseases coming into your community.

Videos

A recent Nationwide report has revealed that skin allergies have been the #1 claim in dogs with Nationwide Pet insurance for 13 consecutive years. In 2024, Nationwide’s pet insurance division received more than 450,000 individual claims in skin allergies for cats and dogs, marking a 13% increase from claims made for the condition in 2023.

In 2024 alone, skin allergies made up 16% of all dog-related claims at Nationwide Pet,

 with the skin condition being #10 in most common claims for cats with the insurance.

 The company estimates that treating skin allergies in canines costs dog owners approximately $266 within the first 30 days after diagnosis and up to $841 after 1 year. For cats, the price is estimated to be $318 within the first 30 days after diagnosis and is projected to reach $592 after a year.

Educating clients about skin allergies in pets, including their symptoms and other signs to watch out for, is important given their high prevalence and economic and emotional impact. “By educating pet parents to observe shifts in frequency, intensity, or pattern, we can empower pet families to manage their pets optimally at home and understand when to bring us into the care plan,” Emily M. Tincher, DVM, chief veterinary officer at Nationwide, told 

“Itchy skin is the most common condition we see affecting dogs. Often, when a pet is diagnosed with skin allergies, it is a chronic condition that requires ongoing care,” said Tincher in a news release.

 “The financial impact can be just as concerning as the diagnosis of chronic conditions. Understanding this and planning can help pet parents navigate these challenges and ensure their pet receives the care they need.”

Some of the environmental triggers of allergies in cats and dogs include pollen, dust mites, certain foods, flea bites, and more. Symptoms may include itching; redness or skin irritation; skin infections due to excessive scratching; a rash on the feet, ears, face, base of tail, toes, or abdomen; scooting; bald spots/hair loss; pawing at ears; head shaking; vomiting or diarrhea; and more.

Although rare, allergic reactions can become life-threatening if they progress to anaphylaxis, which may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or collapse. Patients exhibiting signs of an allergic reaction, particularly facial swelling or other severe signs should receive prompt veterinary attention.

“Many allergy symptoms in cats and dogs are so subtle they’re often chalked up to routine behavior—like a cat’s excessive grooming or a dog’s persistent paw licking. Skin allergies are a year-round and chronic condition, but Nationwide pet insurance claims for the condition do increase by nearly 10% in the spring and summer months,” Tincher told 

“Skin allergies often start subtly, with increased licking, scratching, or localized redness,” she continued. “Pet parents are the first to notice these early shifts in behavior and appearance, which makes their observations invaluable. When veterinary teams empower clients with knowledge about breed predispositions, environmental triggers, and skin barrier health, it opens the door to timely interventions and effective topical care. And because dermatology cases can be emotionally draining, empathetic statements from the team and adjustments to the care plan can make all the difference.”

To help prevent and reduce allergy flare-ups, outdoor exposure should be limited. Pets should avoid leaf piles and tall grasses. It is also recommended to wipe the pet’s paws after walks to clean off pollen, ragweed, mold spores, and other allergens.

Additionally, bathing dogs with a pet-safe hypoallergenic shampoo and upholding a grooming routine to help check for irritation may also help.

Still, veterinary teams play an essential role in the management and prevention of skin allergies in pets. “Educating pet parents on what management truly involves, from regular bathing and ear cleaning to maintaining flea and itch control and using appropriate topical treatments, can make a big impact,” Tincher expressed.

Kleven L. The itch you can fix: A guide to managing Itchy Pet Month. July 28, 2025. Accessed August 11, 2025. https://news.nationwide.com/a-guide-to-managing-itchy-pet-month/?utm_source=prpitch

Kleven L. What is most likely to send your pet to the veterinarian? Nationwide. March 19, 2025. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://news.nationwide.com/what-is-most-likely-to-send-your-pet-to-the-veterinarian/?utm_source=prn

Allergies & skin issues in pets. Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. August 24, 2022. Accessed August 11, 2025. https://www.oregonvma.org/care-health/companion-animals/health-safety/allergies-skin-issues-in-pets

As part of Itchy Pet Awareness Month, dvm360 is highlighting data on the prevalence of skin allergies in dogs and cats, plus common symptoms and management tips