Last Updated: 18/09/24
For many of us, our dogs are family members, and it can be distressing if they become unwell or injure themselves.
It’s always sensible to have a plan in place should your dog require unanticipated treatment. One option is pet insurance which can offer a potential solution, but your vet is always here to help you no matter what your situation.
There are lots of policies available, from simply ‘accident only’ cover to lifetime policies. ‘Cover for life’ policies tend to offer the most comprehensive cover.
Choose your policy carefully, read the small print and check whether the policy imposes a premium increase policy after a claim has been made.
Should I just put some money aside each month?
Some owners choose to put aside some money each month for unexpected costs rather than taking out an insurance policy (this is basically self-insuring).
This takes ongoing commitment and often takes time to grow to a level where significant costs can be covered.
Insuring puppies
Considering this practically, young animals like puppies can be accident-prone, and if they fracture a leg, you may find your savings haven’t yet grown to a size where you can cover the costs of treatment.
Similarly, if an elderly dog gets an ongoing condition, funds can sometimes be depleted quicker than they can be replaced.
It is therefore important to fully consider all eventualities and whether taking out a pet insurance policy might be a safer option.
Is pet insurance for your dog worth it?
Whilst we all hope our dogs and puppies will remain healthy and well, many of us have no idea of the costs involved in managing certain health conditions, and this can come as a shock!
We all want the best for our dogs and provision of specialist care, hospitalisation and treatment may cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
For example, a diabetic patient could cost around £3,000 for hospitalisation and stabilisation with significant ongoing costs.
Similarly, referral to a specialist orthopaedic surgeon to fix a fracture could easily cost £4,000.
Accessing treatment options
Pet insurance for your dog can reduce our stress in these situations, by giving us the knowledge that these costs can be met and that we are able to access the full array of treatment options.
When deciding whether to take out pet insurance, the best place to start is assessing whether you would be able to fully cover unexpected veterinary costs if they arose.
Veterinary Nurse Emma (RVN CVPM PgCert – VBM) says:
I always recommend pet insurance; from personal experience it takes the financial worry out of a very emotional situation. Knowing you don’t have to worry about the bill, allows you to concentrate on helping your pet recover.
What types of insurance policies are available?
There are many different types of policy available, and many will vary. However, the main different types of policy are outlined below:
Accident only policies
These cover accidents but not illnesses and are often the cheapest type of cover to take out
Time limited policies
Cover both accidents and illnesses, but each problem will only be covered for a fixed period.
Maximum benefit policies
Cover both accidents and illnesses for an unlimited period, but set a maximum amount you can claim for each condition
Lifetime or cover for life policies
These provide the highest level of protection available and cover accidents and illnesses for your puppy’s lifetime (subject to any restrictions).
Read the small print carefully as there may be a financial limit either in total, per year or per condition.
Also check whether it’s the insurance company’s policy to increase their fees (premiums) after a claim has been made.
Did you know? Many insurance policies will not cover any illnesses which occur in the first 14 days of the policy being taken out. All policies are different, but it is good to be aware of this – always read the small print!
What is an excess?
The term ‘excess’ refers to the amount of money you are expected to pay yourself when needing to make an insurance claim.
When taking out a pet insurance policy for your dog or puppy, it is important to check what sort of excess applies.
Some excesses will involve a fixed charge per insurance claim made, others will be worked out as a percentage of the claim being made and some may have both.
There can be a considerable price difference between these options, so it’s important you know the ins and outs of the policy you are taking out.
What sort of things are covered by pet insurance?
The specific costs covered by pet insurance will likely vary between policies, but examples of the possible costs covered include:
- Veterinary fees (not including routine treatments)
- Other supportive care (e.g. physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and acupuncture)
- Care for behavioural problems
- The costs involved in loss or theft of your puppy (e.g. advertising fees)
- Boarding fees (e.g. if you are hospitalised)
- Liability cover (to cover against your dog causing injury to others or damage to property)
- A refund of your puppy’s purchase price if they sadly die (this is usually age limited)
What doesn’t pet insurance cover?
Again, this will vary between insurance providers and policies, but most will not cover routine vet fees (e.g. vaccines and netuering), pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, illnesses that could have been prevented by vaccinations or veterinary fees while on holiday abroad.
Covering dental treatment
It is important to note that not all policies will cover dental treatment (although some will meet the costs of certain dental procedures if regular dental checks have been carried out).
Some policies will also stipulate the need for your dog or puppy to be seen by a vet for regular health checks and be fully vaccinated (the costs of this are not covered by the policy, but the policy may be invalid if these criteria are not met).
Thoroughly research the different insurance policies available and find the one that is best tailored to you and your puppy’s individual needs.
Always read the small print and query anything you aren’t sure about before committing to a policy.
Before committing to a pet insurance policy make sure you know:
- What you are eligible to claim for
- What restrictions, if any apple
- Whether the policy will be subject to any change as your puppy gets older
- Whether the policy will increase with each claim
- The maximum cost the policy will cover and for how long. For example, is it:
- Per year, but for all conditions?
- Per condition, per year (or other fixed time period)?
- Per condition, with no time limit?
What factors can affect the cost of pet insurance for your dog?
Several factors can affect the cost of pet insurance, including the age and breed of your dog, the level of cover you are taking out and the area you live in.
Can I insure an older dog?
It is possible to take out an insurance policy for an older dog, although some providers do have age limits to taking out a new policy.
You may also find that the cost of a policy is more expensive for an older dog and that the excess is higher.
Any existing health conditions your dog or puppy has are also unlikely to be covered.
Take time to compare policies and carefully read the small print.
What if my dog has a pre-existing condition?
You can still take out insurance for your puppy or dog, even if they have a pre-existing health condition, however any existing health issues need to be declared and will likely be excluded on the policy.
Not notifying the insurance company of any pre-existing health issues can invalidate your policy.
Some companies will re-include a condition after a specific length of time (set by them) has passed without the condition recurring.
Can I change from one policy to another?
It is often possible to do this, however if your dog or puppy has an ongoing health issue or you have made claims on your existing policy, you may find that other insurers will only offer policies which exclude pre-existing issues or conditions you have already claimed for.
If you are unsure of the potential costs of veterinary treatment or would like more information about pet insurance, then please reach out to your local veterinary practice for further advice.
