A Comprehensive Guide to Dog Insurance

We all love our pets, but vet bills are expensive. If your pet is ill, injured or lost, their treatment can cost hundreds of pounds. That is where pet plans come in. Having animal insurance could help you cover those costs.

Many dog owners who have not bought pet insurance before understandably opt for the cheapest pet insurance they can find. While this approach can offer short-term savings on the cost of dog insurance, price is not the same as value, and it can lead to nasty surprises when you make a claim. For example, time-limited policies tend to be cheaper but do not cover a condition for the lifetime of your dog. Lifetime policies do if you renew each year. Cheaper policies may suit some owners but make sure you know what you are buying.

Animal Friends’ Basic pet insurance policy is available for dogs for under £10 a month. It provides £1,000 - £4,000 of cover for vet bills – and as it’s a 'time-limited' pet insurance policy, it will only pay out for an illness for a period of 12 months, after that, you'll have to pay for treatment for that condition yourself. There are similar limitations with cheap lifetime dog insurance policies.

By contrast, comprehensive lifetime dog insurance policies from established market leaders, such as Petplan, More Than, and John Lewis Finance Insurance can offer up to £12,000 of vet fees cover with no time limit or condition-related caps.

Some policies even include added value features such as dental treatment cover, and complementary medicine.