Dog insurance, who do you recommend?

[Fab Foodie]

Our Whippet-dog is still on 4 weeks Kennel Club insurance from the breeder. We've started looking around for Pet insurance, but it's a bit of minefield as these things usually are.

So what are people recommendations and things to look out for in particular?
At the mo, John Lewis looks pretty reasonable:

http://www.johnlewis-insurance.com/homepage/pet-insurance.html

We were quoted approx £21/Month, £75 excess, £10,000 cover.

Whippets are renown for skin damage, occasional broken bones and running in front of cars .


Cheers
FF.

 

[Paulus]

I used this company when I had my dog, he had a ongoing skin problem that need regular treatment, and they always paid up, and when unfortunately he had to be put to sleep because of a brain tumour there was no quibble over the vets bills and the specialist's bill where I was sent to for referral.

http://www.helpucover.co.uk/product/pets/page/protecting-your-pet/

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Good idea, there's dog theft too, you wouldn't want someone to whip it...

 

[2wd]

Make sure you have ongoing cover

Some policies restrict a claim to a 12 month period

Ongoing means any problems can be continually covered

We have a 13 year old whippet and two 5 year old Greyhounds and pay around £65.00/month

Our Whippet cost around £35.00/month due to his age

The only claim we have had with the Whippet in all those years was when a dog off the lead bit him and tore the thin skin

We dont let any of ours off the leads

We did let one of the Greyhounds off in country park once,BIG mistake as boy can these things run and before we knew it she was a dot on the horizon


The Greyhounds have had quite a few claims for removal of corns which is common,unfortunatley one had to have a toe removed

They are all insured with Direct Line and we have neve had any problems putting the claims in.

 

[fossyant]

Pet Plan - not cheap.

 

[MichaelM]

I'm with Pet Plan, and we have whole life cover.

One of our dogs has bad skin and they've paid out an absolute fortune.

Not cheap, but reliable.

 

[gbb]

As stated, compare them all with each other, the devils in the details (consecutive claims, duration, amount payable per condition per year etc).

I'm with MoreThan, no problems with them with my labs claim for meningitis, cost circa £5000, no quibbles, no problems. What surprised me was how little its just gone up at renewal time. I feared it was going to rocket up...but it was only from circa £21 a month to £22.

I think on mine, there's a maximum annual amount payable per condition which is (IIRC) £7500, so ive still got £2500 to play with if the meningitis re-occurs within a year.

They've lost a shed load of money on me...thats why i thought it would rocket in cost

 

[seadragonpisces]

This one we use for our 3 dogs, they give their profits to charity

http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/

 

[Lisa21]

I'm with Pet Plan, and we have whole life cover.
Not cheap, but reliable.

+1
They are very good, and dont try to get out of paying out when they have to, like i believe some companies can.
been with them for years, and have had quite a few payouts, one running into a good few thousand when one of my pups needed serious knee-surgery. They also are good with long-term payouts, as another of my dogs needed tablets every day for life and it was all covered.

 

[Becs]

Petplan, NFU, tesco (finest not basic), M and s are all good. As others have said get the lifetime cover not 12 months. You get what u pay for I'm afraid.

 

[Crankarm]

The insurance company with the nodding dog, yes!

 

[mr_cellophane]

Our cats are with More Than (not quite the same, but it is pet insurance). No problems, both have had major ops paid for with no fuss.

 

[Panter]

AXA gave the best life cover and policy vs cost when I was shopping around

 

[Davidc]

The cheapest way round this is not to have a dog!

 

[Becs]

Another option is to put the £40 or so a month into a savings account so that you have a buffer in case of an RTA etc.

It really depends how far you are going to be prepared to go with regard to treatments. If you are a "do everything just save him" type then get insurance - there are loads of complex interventions possible now (I have just been in rounds looking at an MRI from a dog that had 2 brain tumors removed 2 years apart and is still running about at 14 years old for example). However if you would pay for injuries and minor illnesses but would opt for euthanasia over treating a chronic condition or a very sick animal (acute pancreatitis for example) saving may be the way to go. If you are not sure, get insurance!