Shih Tzu Insurance Cost: Average Monthly Price (2026)
Quick answer: Pet insurance for a Shih Tzu costs about $37 a month ($444 a year) on average for accident-and-illness cover, based on MoneyGeek's 2026 data for a 6-year-old dog with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible, and 80% reimbursement. That makes the Shih Tzu the 2nd cheapest of the 46 popular breeds we track, $17 a month below the middle of the pack.
| Average monthly premium | $37/month |
|---|---|
| Average annual premium | $444/year |
| Rank (cheapest = 1) | 2 of 46 popular breeds |
| Size category | Small (9-16 lb) |
MoneyGeek average for a 6-year-old dog with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible, and 80% reimbursement. Your quote will depend on your dog's age, your ZIP code, and the deductible and reimbursement you choose.
Estimate what coverage would cost for your dog
Premiums swing widely by breed, age, and location. Our calculator gives you a realistic range in about a minute — no email, no sign-up.
Open the pet insurance calculatorShih Tzu insurance cost by age
| Age | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Puppy (enrolled under 1 year) | ~$31/month |
| Adult | ~$37/month |
| Senior (9+ years) | ~$59/month |
Puppy and senior figures are our planning estimates: the breed average adjusted with the same age factors as our pet insurance calculator. Insurers set their own age pricing.
How the Shih Tzu compares with other breeds
| # | Breed | Avg. monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chihuahua | $33 |
| 2 | Shih Tzu | $37 |
| 3 | Jack Russell Terrier | $38 |
| 4 | Shiba Inu | $40 |
| 5 | Yorkshire Terrier | $41 |
| 6 | Australian Shepherd | $41 |
| 7 | Maltese | $41 |
| 8 | Lhasa Apso | $42 |
| 9 | Dachshund | $43 |
| 10 | Pomeranian | $43 |
| 11 | Border Collie | $44 |
| 12 | Shetland Sheepdog | $45 |
| 13 | Border Terrier | $46 |
| 14 | West Highland White Terrier | $46 |
| 15 | Miniature Schnauzer | $47 |
| 16 | Bichon Frise | $47 |
| 17 | Siberian Husky | $48 |
| 18 | Boston Terrier | $50 |
| 19 | Whippet | $50 |
| 20 | Cairn Terrier | $50 |
| 21 | Beagle | $52 |
| 22 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | $53 |
| 23 | English Springer Spaniel | $53 |
| 24 | German Shorthaired Pointer | $54 |
| 25 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | $54 |
| 26 | Samoyed | $54 |
| 27 | Pug | $55 |
| 28 | Vizsla | $55 |
| 29 | Cocker Spaniel | $57 |
| 30 | German Shepherd | $58 |
| 31 | Poodle | $58 |
| 32 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | $58 |
| 33 | Labrador Retriever | $61 |
| 34 | Golden Retriever | $61 |
| 35 | Greyhound | $66 |
| 36 | Dalmatian | $68 |
| 37 | Weimaraner | $69 |
| 38 | Basset Hound | $69 |
| 39 | Boxer | $80 |
| 40 | French Bulldog | $90 |
| 41 | Cane Corso | $92 |
| 42 | Rottweiler | $94 |
| 43 | Great Dane | $99 |
| 44 | Bulldog | $100 |
| 45 | Bernese Mountain Dog | $108 |
| 46 | Doberman Pinscher | $114 |
What drives the price for a Shih Tzu
Insurers price breeds by how often, and how expensively, they claim. For the Shih Tzu, the common health issues are:
- Brachycephalic airway issues can make heat tolerance and breathing during exercise a concern.
- Dental crowding and related dental disease are common in this small-jawed breed.
- Hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease occur in the breed despite their small size.
Any of these that appears in your dog's records before you enroll can be excluded as a pre-existing condition, which is the strongest reason to insure a Shih Tzu young. More on the trade-offs in Is pet insurance worth it?
Is it worth it?
A single $4,000 vet bill equals about 9.0 years of average Shih Tzu premiums. Commonly cited ranges are $3,000-$7,000 for orthopedic surgery and $5,000-$15,000 for cancer treatment. If one of those would be hard to pay out of pocket, insurance (or a dedicated emergency fund you won't touch) is the safer plan.
Run the numbers for your Shih Tzu
Adjust for your dog's age and see how the premium compares to a major vet bill.
Open the Pet Insurance CalculatorFrequently asked questions
How much is pet insurance for a Shih Tzu?
Pet insurance for a Shih Tzu costs about $37 a month ($444 a year) on average for accident-and-illness cover, based on MoneyGeek's 2026 data for a 6-year-old dog with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible, and 80% reimbursement. That makes the Shih Tzu the 2nd cheapest of the 46 popular breeds we track, $17 a month below the middle of the pack.
Why does Shih Tzu insurance cost less?
Insurers price each breed against how often, and how expensively, dogs of that breed claim. Health issues associated with the Shih Tzu include: Brachycephalic airway issues can make heat tolerance and breathing during exercise a concern. Dental crowding and related dental disease are common in this small-jawed breed. Hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease occur in the breed despite their small size.
Is pet insurance worth it for a Shih Tzu?
At about $444 a year, one $4,000 vet bill — a common cost for something like cruciate ligament surgery — equals roughly 9.0 years of premiums. If you couldn't comfortably pay a bill that size from savings, insurance is usually worth it, especially if you enroll while your Shih Tzu is young, before any condition goes on record as pre-existing.
How much is Shih Tzu insurance per month for a puppy?
Roughly $31 a month is a reasonable planning figure for a Shih Tzu puppy, based on the breed average and the lower pricing insurers typically give young dogs. Premiums rise as your dog ages — plan for something closer to $59 a month in the senior years. Get quotes for your own dog's age and ZIP code.
How much is Shih Tzu insurance in the UK?
UK prices are quoted differently (in pounds, and often as lifetime, time-limited, or accident-only policies), so the US figures above don't convert directly. As a reference point, lifetime cover for a Labrador is around £36 a month at age 2 and £70-£115 a month by age 8, according to MyInsuranceExpert. Get UK quotes for your own Shih Tzu — breed, age, postcode, and vet-fee limit all move the price.
Related
Sources
Cost figures on this page come from the sources below. Veterinary pricing moves quickly and varies a lot by region, so treat every number as a planning range rather than a quote.
- Average Dog Insurance Cost (2026) — MoneyGeek. Used for the Shih Tzu's average monthly premium and the comparison with other breeds (baseline: a 6-year-old dog with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible, and 80% reimbursement; data updated Sep 17, 2026). Checked Sep 30, 2026.
- Dog Insurance Cost UK 2026: Average Prices by Breed & Cover — MyInsuranceExpert. Used for the UK lifetime-cover Labrador example (updated Jul 14, 2026). Checked Sep 30, 2026.