Owning a dog can be great fun and very rewarding. On the downside, it can also be costly.
Animal charity PDSA estimates that, over the course of its lifetime, having a dog could cost an owner anything between £4,600 for a small animal, to an eye-watering £30,000-plus for a large dog breed.
On top of these costs, the biggest potential expense that a dog owner faces is the risk that their pet needs unexpected treatment at the vet. The cost for this can range from hundreds, to thousands, of pounds.
Costly treatments
For example, pet insurer Animal Friends says it costs £714 to treat an eye ulcer in a Bichon Frise, or nearly £3,000 to put right cruciate ligament damage in a Japanese Akita.
Vet bills can be a real financial struggle for owners who either aren’t prepared for, or can’t afford, unplanned medical care for their canine companions.
Vets’ fees are neither regulated nor standardised in the UK and differ depending on location, staff costs and overheads. You can expect to pay more at the vet if your dog should end up requiring surgery, rather than just medication.
This is where dog insurance steps in, with policies designed to protect owners against unexpected costs. Plans can also help a pet to live a longer, healthier life.
There are a range of dog insurance policies. From ones that you might describe as ‘basic’, to those offering comprehensive cover against all manner of canine catastrophes.
For example, as well as being on hand to cover the cost of medical treatment, certain dog insurance policies also extend to offering liability cover.
This is where your animal has caused an accident for which you, as the owner, are being deemed responsible.
Loss and theft
Policies also offer financial protection against the loss or theft of your dog. The latter is a bigger problem than you might think. According to the Kennel Club, there were an estimated 2,355 cases of dog theft in Britain in 2020.
When choosing dog insurance, it’s important to shop around (you can do this online) and closely match a policy with your dog’s individual needs.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), some of the most common conditions that are claimed for include skin problems, bone fractures, wounds, arthritis, muscular and skeletal issues, viral infections and chronic illnesses such as diabetes.
Dog insurance policies offer different levels of cover. A comprehensive version will protect against a variety of eventualities, including:
- Accidents
- Veterinary fees
- Third-party liability
- Loss of a pet
- Advertising costs (should your dog go missing)
- Boarding/hospitalisation costs (should you need to go into hospital with no one else to care for your dog)
- Holiday cancellation
- Overseas vet fees.
The ABI says that the average pet insurance claim was £817 in 2020, while the most expensive came in at £8,377.
Depending on how far your finances stretch, there are four main types of dog insurance cover.
Basic
The cheapest is ‘accident-only’. Premiums are comparatively low but, as the name suggests, the cover it offers is fairly limited as well. This level of insurance only extends to where your dog has been involved in an accident.
In terms of broader cover, the next steps up the price bracket are ‘time-limited’ and ‘maximum benefit’ policies. Unlike accident-only plans, these extend to costs of treatment if your dog should get ill. There are, however, certain restrictions with each type of policy.
In essence, these plans either cap the amount you can claim for a dog’s particular condition by time (typically 12 months) or they apply a financial limit to the cost of treatment. Once your dog’s treatment exceeds that time limit or amount of money, then you as the owner are required to pick up the remainder of the bill.
Comprehensive cover
The most comprehensive version of dog insurance is called ‘lifetime cover’. Premiums will likely be more expensive compared with the previous options. But this type of cover could be worth a small fortune in the long run if your dog became poorly over an extended period.
That’s because, providing the owner renews his/her lifetime cover each year, any conditions your dog develops will be covered (up to annual limits stipulated by the plan).
This could be particularly valuable if you take out the cover when your dog is just a puppy and hasn’t developed any health conditions. No one can predict what health issues animals might develop as they grow older. A chronic condition, such as diabetes or a kidney problem, can be expensive if you’re covering the treatment entirely out of your own pocket.
As well as the type of policy you select, there are a variety of factors that will affect what you pay for your insurance.
These include the amount of cover you desire, your dog’s age and breed, and also your location (as this has a bearing on vets fees).
Exclusions
When taking out dog insurance, bear in mind that your insurer may impose certain exclusions on the cover being offered. These differ from provider to provider, so it’s important to read a policy’s details before taking out a new plan or renewing an existing one.
The last thing an owner wants is to make a claim on their insurance only for it to be declined.
According to the ABI, some of the most common conditions or events that an insurer may not cover include:
- Pre-existing illness or injury
- Exclusion or waiting period (this may last between 14 and 30 days at the start of a policy)
- Routine and preventative treatment (for example, vaccinations, spaying, flea treatment, castration)
- Pregnancy and giving birth
- Administrative costs
- Dogs that are used as part of a business (for example, security dogs)
- Dogs that don’t live permanently in the UK.
To help keep down the costs of dog insurance premiums, there are a number of things an owner can do.
For example, reducing the level of cover or choosing a higher excess should help depress the costs of premiums. The excess is the amount deducted from any claims pay-out you receive.
If you go down this route, make sure the excess you choose is affordable as you will need to pay it to meet the full cost of treating your pet.
Paying premiums annually, rather than monthly, is another way of putting a lid on the overall amount that you’ll pay for cover during the course of a year. Owners with more than one dog may also get a discount on their insurance by covering several animals on one policy.
FAQs
Should I take out dog insurance, or just take the risk?
It’s up to you. There’s no NHS equivalent for dogs and even basic treatment can run into hundreds of pounds. If dog insurance seems like a financial bridge too far, then consider self-insuring. In other words, set aside the money that you would otherwise have paid in insurance premiums and put them in a savings account for any future canine emergencies.
Does my address affect the price I pay for pet cover?
It can do, yes. Vet fees vary from region to region, which means insurers price their policies accordingly.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
A handful of insurers provide this level of cover. Some providers will cover historic conditions providing a pet has been free of those symptoms for a stipulated amount of time, typically, two years.
What if I forget to get my dog vaccinated?
If you don’t keep your dog up-to-date with its routine treatments, such as vaccinations and dental treatments, there’s a possibility this could invalidate any future claim you made on your insurance. Keep vaccination certificates in a safe place as they may be required should you need to make a claim.
What if my dog has a life-threatening accident?
An increasing number of insurers will meet the cost of your dog being put down, if illness or a life-threatening condition or accident means this is the kindest option. Some providers will also cover the cost of cremation or burial expenses (within certain financial limits).
Is it possible to insure older dogs?
Yes. In this scenario, an insurer would probably classify a dog as ‘older’ once it’s reached eight years of age, although this may vary by breed. Because the risk of injury or illness increases with the age of your pet, expect to pay extra for your cover by way of increased premiums.
What if I’m on a low income and can’t afford insurance?
You could try taking your dog to an animal charity such as the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals or the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Mean-tested treatments may be on offer, although eligibility criteria will apply.
What if my dog insurance claim is rejected?
Your first port of call is with the insurance company which will outline its complaints procedure as part of the policy you bought. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, or want to take the case further, you should contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Decisions made by the FOS are binding on the insurer but not on the consumer.
