Pet Insurance

Did you know 1 in 3 pets may require unexpected veterinary treatment each year?*

Whilst advances in veterinary medicine mean we can do more for your pet, treatment costs can soon mount up. We recommend pet insurance to all our clients to help cover unexpected vets bills. 

You may be surprised to hear that you are more likely to claim on your pet insurance than your car or household policies (Allianz Insurance plc). In fact, in our experience if you are one of the few people who don’t need to claim on your pet insurance you really are very lucky indeed!   It’s important to be aware that not all pet insurance is the same. Some policies limit the amount of time or money that you can claim for. Don’t just shop around on price alone.

Ask the following five key questions so you clearly understand what each policy does and doesn’t cover: 

• Will the policy cover my pet for on-going conditions (e.g. eczema) into its old age?
• Will exclusions be placed at renewal for an illness that occurred in the previous year?
• Will my excess or premium increase if I make a claim?
• Will the policy cover: congenital and hereditary illness, hip-related conditions, dental treatment or behavioural conditions? 
• Is the provider a pet insurance specialist?

 Click here to find out more about the different types of pet insurance.   

Why not try before you buy? For 4 weeks free Petplan insurance simply click here and quote our practice reference number 1300018400.  

*Source: Petplan

One of our clients has been kind enough to let us share with you the story of her dog Mabel.

This is Mabel, a 2 and a half year old springer spaniel. As you can see she looks the picture of health, however poor Mabel suffers from a very rare and serious medical condition. She was a fit and healthy puppy who became ill at 6 months old. Her owners noticed a change in her temperature and although she still had a healthy appetite it appeared that she had no energy. A trip to the vets concluded that she would need to undergo some testing, including heart scans and blood testing. In the first year of owning Mabel, her vet bill had exceeded £4,500. Mabel's owners were only insured up to the limit of £4,000 and had to pay the remainder out of their own pocket. Luckily their insurance company allowed them to increase their cover limit.

At only 2 and a half years old, Mabel's veterinary costs now amount to somewhere in the region of £7,000-£8,000. She is on medication for life with a monthly bill estimated at around £150. The insurance company Mabel is covered by offers a 'life-time cover', this means her owners never have to worry about not being covered for this condition. It also means they only ever have to pay one excess fee (around £60) per year for that condition. Have a look at the gallery for more pictures of Mabel and friends.

Pet insurance is very important, and any member of staff will be happy to discuss finding the right cover for your pet.

While we normally require payment at the time of treatment, where this is a problem we may offer to claim directly from your insurance where this has been agreed with the vet in advance.

 This is NOT possible with policies underwritten by E&L where payment will always be required at the time of treatment.