When it comes to dog ownership, it’s not always the most budget-friendly experience. Of course, owning a dog is far more rewarding in so many other ways, from having a companion to socialising with others and teaching young children responsibility.
For this reason, we all want to look after our dog, and make sure it never wants for anything. This is why dog insurance is a popular option for owners. Not only can it save you a big shock on unexpected vet bills, it could just save your pup’s life.
Before we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pet insurance for dogs, it’s important to understand the different types.
Dog life insurance
This is the most standard insurance package, so it’s likely to be the most competitive on price. Your insurer will ask a lot of questions to help you get the best deal, including the age and breed of your dog, plus any pre-existing medical conditions. Often this is the best deal package as it can cover expensive operations, but other factors could make a difference, such as age.
Puppy insurance
As the name suggests, this kind of insurance is just for the little ones – up to about 12 months. The reason this has its own category is because puppies can get themselves into more mishaps than older dogs! Buying a puppy from a breeder can be expensive, so you’ll want to be assured that you’re covered if anything should happen.
New puppies may be subject to more costs than older dogs, for example injections, so you should discuss this with your insurance provider. Most providers will include puppy insurance as part of a dog life insurance package, but you can also choose short-term packages, for example, 12 months. This is good if you just want to cover short-term costs, like the above mentioned shots.
Senior dog insurance
Like the younger pup insurance, this one is age-specific too! Pet insurance for older dogs can be more expensive as it tends to assume that your dog will have more health problems. If your dog is nearing the end of its life, this may be cheaper than life insurance, but if it’s middle to old-aged, a standard life insurance plan might be cheaper.
These dog insurance plans may also take into consideration any pre-existing conditions, or the tendencies of one particular breed. For example, German Shepherds may be more prone to hip problems.
Working dog insurance
This type of dog health insurance is harder to come across as most insurers aren’t keen to pay out for injuries caused by work. For example, for dogs used in the same vicinity as guns, it may be harder to find a deal or more expensive. If you’re working with a dog, for example on a farm, you may need to find a specialist working dog insurer. Thankfully, these do exist, but be prepared to pay higher premiums.
Accident only insurance
Unlike the other plans we’ve listed, this does not factor in age, breed, or any other characteristics of the dog (unless you count bravery!). If you live in an area where you feel accidents might be common, for example near a main road, you might want to consider accident only insurance. This is ideal if you feel your dog is young enough and generally in good health, plus it comes very cheap – averaging around £5 per month in the UK.
Multi dog insurance
Many insurers offer multi dog or multi pet insurance to help you spread the cost if the worst should happen. This can be for anything from using catteries/kennels if you’re taken ill to paying for the cost of surgery. The average cost of pet surgery in Britain is £1,500, so this could save you a small fortune – particularly if something as extreme as an accident affecting two pets happens.
Dog dental insurance
Paying for your dog’s dental care is perhaps one of the biggest costs as a pet owner. You could find yourself paying up to £75 per tooth for simple tooth extraction, so these costs soon add up. If you’re confident that your dog is healthy all-round but want some added assurance, a dental package might be a good place to start. These packages will cover accidental damage, and may even be included as a bolt-on to your existing insurance, but always make sure you read the small print.
What is the average cost of dog insurance?
Consumer research in 2019 revealed that the average cost of dog insurance over the course of a year was £364.41, equating to just over £30 per month. When we consider the above mentioned figure that just one round of surgery can cost £1,500, this makes pet insurance a very attractive option.
Of course, many factors can make this fluctuate. In the same piece of consumer research, the following factors were revealed to make the biggest difference to dog insurance premiums:
The type of package you buy
Accident only or time-limited insurance packages were found to be the best way to get cheap dog insurance. This is simply because it’s not costly to insurers: for example, if your dog has a recurring illness again after the 12-month period, they are unlikely to pay out.
On the flip side, insuring your dog based on a pre-existing condition can be the most expensive. Life insurance may also work out more expensive if your dog fits certain criteria e.g. age/illness.
Where you’re based
It’s not just limited to car insurance. Where you live can make a significant difference to your pet insurance premiums. This is because vet surgery prices vary so much from place to place.
Your dog’s breed
As we mentioned above, certain dogs are more predisposed to some conditions than others. It’s not just medical conditions that affect the price, however. Larger dogs cost more than smaller ones, while pedigree breeds, which are more expensive to buy, also cost more to insure. Females may even cost less than males due to differences in neutering.
Your dog’s age
Older dogs can affect your insurance premiums massively. In fact, if your dog is over eight years old, your premiums could be 10 times as expensive! For this reason, time-limited policies may be a more cost-effective choice.
The company you buy insurance from
Some insurers are pet-specific, whereas other companies may simply offer pet insurance as a bolt-on. Ensure you’re getting all the relevant benefits before you sign up to a package.
So, why get dog insurance?
Pet insurance is not compulsory, but can provide peace of mind when you need it most. You never know when accidents might happen, and if yours is a particularly expensive dog breed, then it will more than cover itself should the worse happen.
From surgery costs to even buying a new dog, insurance gives you and your family the assurance you need to make sure your dog is safe. We should treat our dogs just as everything else we value living under our roof – you look after your home and contents, so why not the pets? By picking a fair policy that suits your dog, your pet insurance plan will pay for itself in the long term.
