We were looking at pet insurance for our 10 week old chocolate lab. Worried about future issues that are very costly. We live on a tight budget since I am home with the 4 children and we want to make sure we can always take care of her needs. . Do most of you have it? Do you recommend it? I was looking at Petplan since they don't have the breed restrictions. We paid $222 last weekend for an emergency trip for a uti and I still have to get another week of antibiotics abs have it tested again which will run another $100. I expect those things but am worried about big things like hips, cancer and obstructions from eating things.
Re: Pet Insurance Having paid insurance for two dogs for years and never having made a claim, I did seriously consider not getting insurance this time around and putting some money aside every month instead. However, when I started looking at the costs involved for hip / elbow surgery, I decided I just couldn't risk it and insured her... I am hoping that I will declare it was a waste of money again in around fourteen years time! Clare
Re: Pet Insurance I've always had pet insurance particularly for third party. Before I got Scott and scout our garden although hedged and lots of trees and bushes it was never completely enclosed also the fields aren't fenced so there was always the chance of the dog going onto the lane. It's a quiet lane no way through for traffic so we get a lot of walkers, cyclists and horses down and were concerned incase the dogs caused an accident. When my old lab was 12 he had an operation which I claimed for but then decided to stop insurance. The premium had gone up a lot because of his age and I didn't think I'd put him through an op again because of his age. However that was a mistake. He lived to 15 and for about the last two years of his life although reasonably fit for his age he was on a variety of medication which cost a fortune. With hind site I should've kept the insurance. ??? We live and learn :
Re: Pet Insurance I can recommend Petplan, I've had no need to claim from them yet but they can deal with most vets by paying them directly so you won't have to foot the bill and wait to get the money back, all you'll have to pay is the excess which for my policy is £70. This can be useful if you're on a tight budget. Pet plan also cover dental care as long as you have a dental exam done every year. Most policies don't cover this and even a simple procedure to remove a single tooth can be pricey. A lot of dogs will inevitably need dental care at some point in their lives. I would definately go for a policy that provides lifetime cover, as switching from year to year like you would with car insurance can be cheaper however anything that arises when you are with one company will become a pre existing condition and will not be covered with future policies. With a lifetime cover plan conditions are covered up to a certain amount each year and then for the following year the cover is reinstated.
Re: Pet Insurance I've got life time insurance for my girl. After the last few months I'm really glad I have. I used to claim just for hydrotherapy, but Meg has recently been diagnosed with cushings disease and over the last few months has had loads of antibiotics for UTIs, propentofylline after she collapsed, and propalin and incurin for incontinence. She's also had urine sent off to the lab and this week had 2 blood tests to check for cushings. I reckon I've probably spent somewhere between £500 - £600, maybe more. Mind you until she was 8 I never put a claim in.
Re: Pet Insurance I have got a lifetime insurance plan for Harley. I also have a care plan through my vets which I pay £10 a month. It pays for: vet consultant fees for any appointment, booster jabs, nail clipping, annual health check including dental check, bloods, urine and other test yearly and a few other things. I also get any mecication at a discounted rate. So far I have had 2 vet appointments for Harley when she was poorly and had her nails clipped, and check up for worming/fleeing. It has saved me over £85 in vet fees already and I've only had it 4 months . It might cost me £120 a year, but spread out so it is easier to pay . Might be Worthing asking your vets if they do something similar!
