In response to the American Kennel Club’s announcement of the top dog breeds in America, Trupanion, North America’s fastest growing pet health insurance company, today revealed common health concerns associated with these breeds.

Here are the top five most popular dog breeds in America, and the health characteristics of each:

Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are great family pets, as they are friendly, eager to please, and easy to train. The Lab has been the most popular dog breed several years running and many people bring one home simply because they are stable and well-known. However, Labs are prone to several health conditions, including cataracts (the clouding of the eye lens), hip dysplasia (the improper fit of the hip joints), patellar luxation (a displaced kneecap), and Osteochondritis Dissecans (a cartilage disease).

German Shepherd
German Shepherds offer a sense of security for a family due to their reputations as police dogs and protectors. They are also very intelligent and loyal. This breed is prone to cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart), dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), and elbow dysplasia (the improper fit of the elbow joints).

Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies are fearless and bold and love adventure, which is ironic considering their tiny bodies. Patellar luxation is the main health concern for this breed, but they can also suffer from achondroplasia (a genetic disorder causing dwarfism), Legg-Perthes (a degenerative disease of the hip joint), and portacaval shunts (a serious liver condition).

Beagle
The beagle is known to be one of the happiest of all dog breeds. This dog will love his family unconditionally and is regarded as being a great pet for children. Beagles are prone to Cherry Eye (a congenital eye defect), glaucoma (excessive fluid in the eye), epilepsy (recurring seizures), and hip dysplasia.

Golden Retriever
Like the Lab, the Golden Retriever is a family-friendly pet who loves to please. Some of this breed’s most common health concerns are elbow dysplasia, hemangiosarcoma (a fatal form of cancer), lymphoma (a disease that causes immune system cancer), and progressive retinal atrophy (deterioration of the retina).

Whether you have one of the most popular dog breeds listed above or another loveable breed, the unfortunate fact is that one in two pets will experience a major illness or injury in their lifetime. These incidents can be emotionally and financially draining. However, enrolling a pet as early as possible with pet insurance increases the chance that all health issues will be covered under a pet insurance policy.

“It’s important to consider all characteristics of a breed when you are choosing a pet for your family, including health characteristics,” says Howard Rubin, Chief Operating Officer at Trupanion, who was the founding CEO of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues. “It’s important to be well-prepared so you can successfully build a lasting relationship with your new pet.”