---
title: Elbow Dysplasia Pet Insurance Claim
description: Elbow dysplasia is inherited and expensive to treat. If you had Embrace, you could've had it covered.
lastUpdated: 2025-10-02T19:06:12.000Z
sources:
  html: https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/coverage/elbow-dysplasia-german-shepherd
  md: https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/coverage/elbow-dysplasia-german-shepherd.md
---

# Nala's Story

![A german shepherd dog named Nala acting cute on a vertically-stripe covered couch underwent elbow surgery after limping.](//images.ctfassets.net/cy68knbg9g5b/VwUU3YCyHzKerQukvPAlJ/cde007b6b8415ad894e502e9f31365fb/nala-german-shepherd-dog_0f2f9495-320e-4a93-9c82-c998a39a6cb6.webp?)
German Shepherd Dog, Nala, has elbow surgery after limping.

### Vet Bill: $1,734

#### Background

Kim got Nala on Memorial Day Weekend at 14 weeks old, and the following January, she took out a policy with Embrace. Unfortunately, Nala is a bit of a problem child and has had health issues since Kim got her. In August, Kim and her husband noticed Nala limping, and she would cry when she applied any weight to her front right leg. Kim was able to get her an appointment immediately at Countryside Veterinary Hospital in Chelmsford, Mass., and the vet discovered that Nala had an ununited anconeal process, [a breed specific condition](https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/coverage/genetic-breed-specific-conditions) prevalent in [German Shepherds](https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/dog-breeds/german-shepherd-dog-pet-insurance). The only treatment for this form of elbow dysplasia [is a costly surgery](https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/coverage/surgery-coverage).

That day, Kim submitted a pre-certification to Embrace, and within a week Nala was in surgery and Kim knew exactly how much of the vet bill would be covered by Embrace and how much she would be responsible for. Nala's right elbow is healing nicely but Kim recently found out that Nala now needs surgery on her left elbow for an ununited anconeal process. Reassured by the ease of the first claim, Kim sent in the precertification and scheduled the second surgery.

#### Kim says:

"My husband, like so many others, was laid off and we are struggling. Embrace helped take that pressure off of my family. I was able to provide the best treatment for Nala without hesitation, and because Embrace really does care, I was able to get her in for the surgery quickly. All I can say is thank you."

## Nala's Claim Refund

| **Claim Details** | **Amount** |
| --- | --- |
| Actual Vet Bill | $1,733.81 |
| Covered Charges | $1,667.21 |
| Annual Deductible | $200.00 |
| Copay | $293.44 |
| Total Embrace Reimbursement | $1,173.77 |