A Brief Guide to Dog Insurance

Ownership of a dog brings with it many joys and special moments. It can however also bring the unforeseen costs and the resultant anxiety that comes with having to deal with veterinary emergencies. It is because of this that dog insurance is so highly appreciated by many dog owners.

There are many dog insurance products on the market ranging from very basic emergency cover to comprehensive insurance policies. The following types of cover are often included in dog insurance policies:

• Medical Emergency Cover: This will cover you against vet bills arising from illness or injury. Basic policies will only cover a certain percentage of the actual treatment cost while more comprehensive policies will cover the full treatment amount, related testing costs (e.g. x-rays) and medicine. It is important to note that pre existing conditions, pregnancy and congenital conditions will normally be excluded from policies. Your dog may also have to undergo a medical examination before cover can commence.
• ‘Life Cover’: More and more companies are offering insurance products that can only be described as ‘life cover for dogs’. Under the terms of such polices an amount will be paid out when a dog dies. Some policies even offer access to bereavement counselling at the loss of your dog.
• Liability Cover: It should always be remembered that the owner of a pet can be held liable for its actions. Many dog owners find it prudent therefore to take out liability insurance to cover against injuries or damage caused by their dogs.
• ‘Theft/Loss Cover: The costs associated with the loss or theft of a beloved family dog can be immense. A great deal of peace of mind can therefore be gained by taking out a policy that will make the best possible search for your pet possible. This kind of cover will provide resources to fund the search for a missing dog (e.g. through placing ads in local newspaper, or through providing the money for a reward to be posted). In some cover can also be arranged for the ‘cash value’ of very valuable dogs (e.g. pedigreed dogs, breeding males or members of very rare breeds).

The sheer variety of what is available can make choosing the right dog insurance policy rather difficult. It would be prudent to shop around and do a bit of research before making your final decision about which policy, and level of cover, to go with. Some of the things that you may want to consider are:

• Track Record: There are unfortunately many ‘fly by night’ operators in the dog insurance industry. Going with an established player with a positive reputation can help protect you against unpaid bills.
• Recommendations: Recommendations from friends or animal welfare charities can be a significant factor in helping you to decide on the right provider.
• Clarity and simplicity in communication: Do your best to find a company that clearly spells out cover levels and premiums in plain English.

After all that were said it is important to remember that having a good dog insurance policy in place is not an optional extra since it can mean the difference between giving your dog the best and having to make some heart wrenching decisions because you are struggling to afford the cost of treatment.

Summary:

• Dog Insurance will cover you against some of the most common contingencies related to owning a dog.
• Medical cover forms a key component of many dog insurance policies
• ‘Life cover’, theft/loss cover and liability cover can also be arranged
• Dog owners would do well to shop around for the best possible policy, from the best possible provider at the best possible rate