Rescue dog- Pet insurance

[Elroy Blue]

We're lucky enough to have been accepted to adopt a rescue dog, which we have just got home and to say we're delighted is an understatement.

Looking on the net for pet insurance seems a bit of a minefield regarding cover etc. All the vets seem to advertise Petplan. Direct Line offer more comprehensive cover for a slighter cheaper price. I'd just like to ask for any experiences and/or recommendations.

[Myc]

Elroy Blue said:

We're lucky enough to have been accepted to adopt a rescue dog, which we have just got home and to say we're delighted is an understatement.

Looking on the net for pet insurance seems a bit of a minefield regarding cover etc. All the vets seem to advertise Petplan. Direct Line offer more comprehensive cover for a slighter cheaper price. I'd just like to ask for any experiences and/or recommendations.

Congratulations and well done on taking on a Resue Dog, have one myself and it's hugely rewarding.

With regards insurance, obviously look at the financial limits for the cover per year and the excess they charge for each claim. I'd suggest the most important thing is to ensure you get "whole of life" cover this means that if the dog develops an illness that requires ongoing treatment or medication it will be covered for every subsequent year you renew your insurance. If you don't have this then at the end of the years cover it will become a pre-existing condition and therefore uninsurable for in the future.

Bearing that in mind ask around for peoples experiences at renewal time as you won't want to change provider if and when your dog has developed a condition as swapping provider would again mean it fell into pre-existing condition. On that basis I won't recommend M&S as they doubled my excess and premium at the end of the first year I was with them despite not making a claim and the dog still being young.

The other thing to look at are the smaller extras such as if you travel abroad a lot do they cover cancelled holidays due to dog falling ill that sort of thing, kennels if you fall ill etc. Some of these things may be of more/less importance depending on your personal set up.

[Myc]

Whilst you will have a message shortly telling you to feed your dog raw, I would recommend asking the rescue centre what they are currently feeding your dog and use that for the first few weeks to reduce the number of changes it experiences all at once.

If you have problems with toilet training or anxiety then a crate is a great idea as well for helping them feel like they have a safe place of their own. You can buy them pretty cheaply of ebay.

Any other questions feel free to ask.

[Jasandjules]

What breed? It may be the breed club will have an preferred insurer.

[Elroy Blue]

We've got the same food as she was fed with. It's an RSPCA dog and comes with six weeks free 'More Than' cover. Looking on the web, they seem to offer competitive cover when comparing to others.
It's the various exclusions that I want to know what to look for and the posts so far have been very helpful.

[myvision]

Both our rescue dogs are on petplan and the cat. One of the dogs has arthritis and needs tablets for the past two years and for the rest of her time no problem we pay and claim them back. It's all done through the vet.
Can't fault petplan.