threelions asked:
Hi,
I have three dogs. One is with farmers union insurance, and the other two are with petplan.
Petplan are brilliant but the yearly payments are sky high, (nearly £800 a year for two dogs) and the cover is only four grand a year each.
Now the problem is that for both of these dogs (they are mastiffs) we have had to claim in the past for cruciate operations. The female mastiff has had x- rays since she was a pup as she has bad hips, but my vet has said they dont always operate on hips, as long as they have the right meds and dont get too heavy this can be lived with quite nicely without an op. (if the op went wrong, they said they could not do it again, and she is far too heavy a dog to cope on three legs).
My other mastiff has also had the cruciate ops and has x-rays which show his hips arn’t perfect either.
Ive had quotes for much less a year for both dogs ( I have told the companies about my dogs past probs) but I know they wont cover the important probs for my dogs so there’s not much point in switching to these companies I know.
Also, pet plan cover the illness right through the dogs life, unlike some other companies. I know petplan is a top company, I was just wondering if anyone knew of any others?
I know with my dogs history it will be harder. I have not claimed on either of them for over a year now. They are 4 and 3 years old.
I am a student from next month so am a bit worried about costs. Im lucky in that I still live at home and have very supportive parents, but I want to be able to pay the insurance myself as I have managed to every year up to now.
I love these dogs to bits and will find a way somehow, I just wanted to see if anyone knew of any slightly more lenient pet insurance companies?!
Many thanks for any help on this.
Hi,
I have three dogs. One is with farmers union insurance, and the other two are with petplan.
Petplan are brilliant but the yearly payments are sky high, (nearly £800 a year for two dogs) and the cover is only four grand a year each.
Now the problem is that for both of these dogs (they are mastiffs) we have had to claim in the past for cruciate operations. The female mastiff has had x- rays since she was a pup as she has bad hips, but my vet has said they dont always operate on hips, as long as they have the right meds and dont get too heavy this can be lived with quite nicely without an op. (if the op went wrong, they said they could not do it again, and she is far too heavy a dog to cope on three legs).
My other mastiff has also had the cruciate ops and has x-rays which show his hips arn’t perfect either.
Ive had quotes for much less a year for both dogs ( I have told the companies about my dogs past probs) but I know they wont cover the important probs for my dogs so there’s not much point in switching to these companies I know.
Also, pet plan cover the illness right through the dogs life, unlike some other companies. I know petplan is a top company, I was just wondering if anyone knew of any others?
I know with my dogs history it will be harder. I have not claimed on either of them for over a year now. They are 4 and 3 years old.
I am a student from next month so am a bit worried about costs. Im lucky in that I still live at home and have very supportive parents, but I want to be able to pay the insurance myself as I have managed to every year up to now.
I love these dogs to bits and will find a way somehow, I just wanted to see if anyone knew of any slightly more lenient pet insurance companies?!
Many thanks for any help on this.
I have insured my pup with Direct Line and they seemed really good, for me to get £6000 cover for the rest of his life I think it was about £11 a month, but I went with the £4000 for 12 months which is £9 a month. I’m not sure what they would be like with your dogs but its worth giving them a ring and finding out.
Belonging to forum groups and having dogs for so long then you do get to know who is about and who everyone else uses.
I am about to go with Animal Friends. They have been getting a good reputation and certainly seem very helpful. They do a range of policies and the lower three are not lifetime cover and the upper four are with varying limits to the amount you can claim.
However………obviously, you have to check that if you change now whether a new company will include the cruciate & hips or whether you are best sticking with petplan who at least will pay out for medication for life even if they have no ops on them.
That is extremely unlucky that you have had two sets of cruciates go. The only time (other than once) I have known of both to go is when they do the TPLO method which alters the angulation so much on the ruptured knee that it puts so much pressure on the other and that also goes as well. Presume these dogs are related then. The breeder should be informed of all of this, as cruciates go because of under or over angulation (breeding fault) or trauma or over exercise.
Hips for the same reason, including traumu when a pup.
Best of luck with it.
Stay clear of E & L, as a lot of vets will not deal with them as they are notorious for not paying up.
Hope this helps.
Add on — just a note to “Me”. You really do want to consider the lifelong and not the 12 month insurance. Honestly it can cost you a lot of money. I had a boy that developed ED and everything involved with those elbows after the first year had to come out of my own pocket, and that amounted to a lot of money. The lifetime one is worth the extra pennies per month.
No other companies would cover for pre-existing conditions. Petplan is expensive, but it does cover what you need. You could put the same amount of money into an account to be used just for vet bills, but that would be a risk.
For new policies, M&S, Sainsburys and Tesco look ok, but you need to check out the policy details for yourself.
I suggest you think about how to keep your dogs’ hips as strong as possible, and the joints in good condition. You should keep their weight down, without starving them. Swimming is excellent non-wieght bearing exercise which builds up muscle to support the joints, and Glucosamine and Chondroitin tablets helps to keep the joints supple.
I have argos insurance platinum and it offered more than tescos for around the same price, Tescos is also good as you get your points as well. I pay £15 a month for the highest cover
i have a springer spaniel and her insurance is with pet plan i know it is expensive but its ther best in my opinion x
I have found most pet insurance companies a waste of time.
They never like to pay out and you are normally best off putting the money you would spend on pet insurance in a savings account for your pet.