Compare Puppy Insurance Quotes
Welcoming a puppy into the family can be both exciting and exhausting. As well as training and playing with your new puppy, it’s a good idea to think about puppy insurance in these early days too.
But is puppy insurance worth it? An unfortunate injury could lead to unwanted veterinary bills should your pup need treatment. Investing in puppy insurance gives you peace of mind, knowing you’ll be able to claim to meet the cost of treatment should your puppy need it.
What are the different types of puppy insurance?
This is the cheapest and most basic puppy insurance which only covers treatment related to your puppy having an accident.
Time limited policies are good for short-term illnesses and injuries. The cover usually runs for a year and there is often a cost limit, with pre-existing conditions not being covered.
With maximum benefit insurance, your puppy is covered up to a specified cover limit for each injury or illness. Once reached, you cannot claim for that condition again - you will have to pay for any further treatment.
This is the most comprehensive cover option, offering continuous cover up to an annual limit for each condition.
What to look for in a puppy insurance policy
What is covered by puppy insurance?
It’s always important to check what is and isn’t included in a puppy insurance policy. Typical pet insurance covers illness, injury and disease, but won’t cover routine treatments or specific conditions. This is particularly important if your puppy is a pedigree and is therefore more susceptible to hereditary conditions.
Your policy may include:
What isn’t covered by puppy insurance?
Each policy varies depending on cover and provider, but you will usually find a number of common exclusions.
For example, your policy will not normally cover routine treatments, and some conditions might be excluded. This is important to consider if your puppy is a pedigree and prone to certain hereditary conditions.
Things that aren’t often covered in puppy insurance policies include:
When should you get a puppy insured?
Pet insurers commonly offer policies for dogs from eight weeks, although in some cases you can insure a puppy as young as six weeks old.
Even when your puppy is very young, it won’t be covered for pre-existing and/or hereditary conditions. Choosing a long-term type of pet insurance for your puppy while it’s young can help you avoid this exclusion.
Pet insurance prices tend to increase as your dog gets older and you become more likely to make a claim, so it’s best to insure your puppy while it is still young.
How much does puppy insurance cost?
The cost of puppy insurance depends on several factors:
Puppy Insurance – Useful FAQs
Insurers price policies based on risk and unfortunately some pedigree breeds are more susceptible to certain genetic illnesses, meaning that the cost of insuring them is generally higher than insuring crossbreeds.
You can usually insure a puppy when it is as young as six weeks old. Many insurance companies have a period of two weeks* where they will not pay for any claims, so it is a good idea to get insurance at least two weeks before you collect your puppy.
(*This period may vary in length from one company to another.)
Yes – it is a legal requirement to have any dog over the age of eight weeks microchipped in England and Wales.
If you’re covered for Third Party Dog Insurance costs, you’re protected if your puppy causes damage or injury. Even if your pet doesn’t mean to cause trouble, mishaps sometimes happen so you might want to consider this type of insurance.
You should also check your house and contents insurance, as some policies cover legal liability for injury or damage caused by pets.
No – dental insurance for pets only covers the cost of vets’ treatments. If your puppy needs a professional teeth cleaning, you will need to pay for this yourself.