Why dog insurance matters
Veterinary care in the UK has improved dramatically over the past two decades, and dogs now have access to MRI scans, chemotherapy, orthopaedic surgery, and specialist referrals that were unheard of a generation ago. The quality of care is exceptional, but the costs reflect that. A cruciate ligament repair can cost £2,000-£4,000. Cancer treatment can run into five figures. Even a straightforward emergency, a dog eating something they should not have: can easily generate a bill of £1,000-£3,000 with overnight monitoring.
Dog insurance exists to protect you from these unexpected costs. Without it, you face the agonising choice between your dog's health and your bank balance. With the right policy, you can make decisions based on what is best for your dog, not what you can afford that month. But not all insurance is created equal, and choosing the wrong policy can leave you exposed at the worst possible moment.
Types of dog insurance policies
Understanding the different policy types is the single most important thing you can do before buying. The differences are significant and affect what you are covered for and for how long.
Accident only
The cheapest option. Keep it simple. Covers injuries caused by accidents (broken bones, road traffic accidents, cuts requiring stitching) but does not cover illness, disease, or any condition that develops over time. It's a minimal safety net and leaves you uncovered for the majority of veterinary costs.
Time-limited
Covers both accidents and illness, but only for a set period: usually 12 months from the start of each condition. After that period, the condition becomes excluded, even if treatment is ongoing. For example, if your dog is diagnosed with arthritis and you claim for treatment, after +12 months that condition is no longer covered, even though arthritis is a lifelong condition requiring ongoing management.
Time-limited policies often also have a monetary limit per condition per year (for example, £3,000 per condition). Once that limit is reached within the 12-month period, the condition is excluded regardless of time.
Maximum benefit (per condition)
Covers each condition up to a set monetary limit with no time restriction. So if the limit is £5,000 per condition, you can claim up to that amount over however many years the condition lasts. Better than time-limited for chronic conditions, but the limit can still be exhausted by expensive treatments.
Lifetime
The most comprehensive option. Covers each condition for your dog's entire life, with the monetary limit resetting each year when you renew. So if you have a £7,000 annual limit per condition and your dog has arthritis, you can claim up to £7,000 for arthritis treatment every year, indefinitely, as long as you renew the policy without a break.
Lifetime policies are the most expensive, but they provide the security that matters most. Every dog is different, so choose the policy that suits your dog and lifestyle. Coverage for chronic and long-term conditions that other policies would exclude after 12 months.
What is typically covered
A good comprehensive policy generally covers:
- Veterinary fees: consultations, diagnostics, surgery, medication, hospitalisation
- Third-party liability: if your dog causes injury to a person or damage to property (legally required for some breeds)
- Theft or straying: costs of advertising and reward if your dog goes missing
- Death from illness or accident. The purchase price or market value of your dog
- Overseas travel cover: veterinary treatment while abroad (usually limited duration)
- Boarding kennel fees: if you are hospitalised and cannot care for your dog
- Complementary treatment: physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture (often with sub-limits)
Common exclusions
Every policy has exclusions. In our experience working with hundreds of dogs across Essex, we have seen many people be caught out by exclusions. Read them carefully before buying. Common exclusions include:
- Pre-existing conditions: anything your dog has been diagnosed with, treated for, or shown symptoms of before the policy started (more on this below)
- Routine and preventative care: vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, neutering, dental scale and polish
- Pregnancy and breeding: unless you have a specific breeding policy
- Dental treatment: many policies exclude dental work entirely or only cover it if caused by accident
- Elective procedures: tail docking, ear cropping, cosmetic surgery
- Behavioural treatment. Some policies cover it, others exclude it entirely
- Food and supplements: prescription diets are sometimes excluded or have sub-limits
- Waiting period conditions, most policies have a 14-day waiting period for illness (accidents are usually covered immediately). Any condition that appears during the waiting period is excluded.
Pre-existing conditions: the biggest pitfall
Pre-existing conditions are the number one source of claim rejections. A pre-existing condition is anything that showed symptoms, was investigated, or was treated before your policy start date. Even if it was never formally diagnosed.
For example: if your dog had an ear infection six months before you bought the policy, any future ear problems may be excluded. If your vet noted in their records that your dog was limping at a routine check-up, any orthopaedic condition may be excluded, even if the limping resolved on its own.
In practice, it's why timing matters. It adds up. The best time to insure your dog is:
- As a puppy, before any conditions develop. The younger and healthier your dog is when you insure them, the fewer exclusions you will face
- Before using any veterinary service beyond routine vaccinations: once something is on the vet's notes, insurers can access it
- Before starting day care or any professional service: many day care providers require proof of insurance, and having it in place protects you if anything happens during a session
Critical rule: never let a policy lapse and then start a new one. Any condition claimed on the old policy becomes pre-existing on the new one and will be excluded.
Understanding excess
Excess is the amount you pay for any claim before the insurance kicks in. There are typically two types:
- Fixed excess. A set amount per claim (for example, £85)
- Percentage excess, a percentage of the claim (for example, 20%). Many policies apply this on top of the fixed excess for dogs over a certain age (typically 8-10 years old)
A higher excess usually means a lower premium, but be realistic about what you can afford to pay out of pocket. If your excess is £200 and your dog needs a £300 consultation, you are only reclaiming £100, and may decide not to bother claiming, which means you have paid premiums for nothing on that occasion.
How much should you pay?
Premiums vary enormously based on breed, age, location, and the level of cover you choose. As a rough guide in 2024-2025:
- Accident only: £5-£15 per month
- Time-limited: £15-£40 per month
- Lifetime: £30-£80+ per month
Higher-risk breeds (Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pugs) attract significantly higher premiums due to breed-specific health conditions. Older dogs also cost more to insure, and premiums typically increase each year as your dog ages.
Some breeds are now very difficult or expensive to insure. French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs in particular face higher premiums per month for lifetime cover due to the high incidence of breathing problems, skin conditions, and spinal issues, and the complexity of surgery to resolve these issues.
Tips for choosing the right policy
- Choose lifetime cover if you can afford it. It is the only type that reliably covers chronic and long-term conditions. Everything else has gaps.
- Compare the annual vet fee limit, not just the monthly premium. A cheap policy with a £2,000 annual limit will not usually cover a single major surgery.
- Read the exclusions before you buy. Not after you need to claim.
- Check the excess structure: especially the age-related percentage excess, which can make policies very expensive to claim on as your dog gets older.
- Do not switch providers unless you have to: switching means pre-existing conditions from the old policy are excluded on the new one.
- Keep your vet records clean: do not ask your vet to investigate minor things unnecessarily before you have insurance, as it creates a paper trail that insurers can use to exclude conditions.
- Consider the claims process, some insurers pay the vet directly, others require you to pay and then claim back. If you cannot afford to pay a large bill upfront, choose a provider that pays the vet directly.
Why it matters before day care
At Wagtails, we require all day care dogs to be vaccinated and recommend insurance. While we take every precaution, dogs play, run, and interact, and accidents can happen. A dog that twists a leg during play, or swallows something they should not have, needs immediate veterinary attention. Having insurance means you are never in a position where cost delays treatment.
Similarly, if your dog uses our dog fields, walking services, or attends training classes, insurance provides a safety net for unexpected incidents during any of these activities.
Key takeaways
- Lifetime cover is the gold standard. It resets annually and covers chronic conditions for life
- Time-limited policies leave you exposed after 12 months for ongoing conditions
- Insure your dog when they’re as young and healthy as possible to avoid pre-existing condition exclusions
- Never let a policy lapse: any claimed condition becomes pre-existing on a new policy
- Read exclusions, understand the excess structure, and compare annual vet fee limits, not just premiums
- Budget £30-£80+ per month for comprehensive lifetime cover, depending on breed and age
Protect your dog, and your finances
The right insurance policy gives you peace of mind and ensures your dog always gets the care they need. If you are not sure where to start, get in touch with the Wagtails team. We are happy to share what we have seen work well for our day care and park families across Essex.
