Best Pet Insurance Deals

Whether your latest family member is a properly pampered pooch or a cat who loves scaling the neighbours' gates, you'll want to do everything you can to protect them. This is, of course, where pet insurance comes in. Our animal allies are not fortunate enough to have a national health service of their own, so it's up to us to foot the bill for the unexpected. It is no-one's favourite monthly expense, but the small cost beats being forced to choose between paying out and putting down.

As you might expect, no pet insurance is created equal. Most policies will cover large, unexpected costs as standard (ie broken bones and accident-related injuries) but may not include illnesses that are equally unpredictable. It is best to look out for plans which cover both, as well as third-party liability cover (it handles the cost of advertising and reward if your pet goes missing).

Unless you opt for comprehensive cover (often called ‘lifetime cover’), your pet is unlikely to be covered for routine injections, check-ups, worming treatments, anti-flea medications, whelping costs and pre-existing conditions. Always check the small print.

Like all insurance policies, they are there to protect you and your pet from the unexpected. Vet fees can be incredibly expensive. Hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, for a single treatment expensive. If you’re unable to drop a couple grand at a moment’s notice, pet insurance gives you the assurance that you won’t need to.

Most pet insurance companies are happy to pay vets directly, but some vets will only accept payment from a pet owner at the time of treatment.