Pet Insurance Advice

Veterinary medicine has, in recent years, become increasingly sophisticated. We are able to diagnose and treat many conditions that a few years ago would have remained undetected with often fatal consequences, especially in the older pet. The downside of these advances is cost. It is not unusual for treatment at referral centres to reach a total of well over £5,000.

One of the most distressing situations we find ourselves in is where a pet's problem is curable but the cost of tests or treatment is too high for the owner and the animal has to be put to sleep. A less serious situation is when the owner has to opt for the less than the best treatment available to cut costs.

That's where pet insurance comes in. Veterinary fee cover can help you avoid such situations but when choosing an insurance company, there are a few things that you should look out for:

Be careful to check that the amount of veterinary cover is adequate. Over time, a single illness can cost hundreds of pounds even if you do not opt for a referral.

Check there is no limit on how long you can claim for each illness. Chronic conditions can go on for life, not just 12 or 24 months. Check that your pet will still be covered in later years when he or she needs it most and the premium in those years will not be raised suddenly.

What won't be covered: Like with your household or car insurance, pet insurance also has a small excess which you will have to pay on a claim. Vaccinations and routine treatments such as worming are excluded. Prescription diets are generally also excluded.

Pensioner and multi-pet discounts: Some insurers offer special discounts which helps pensioners and pet owners with several pets make big savings.

Like the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, this practice endorses the concept of pet insurance and we would recommend it to all our clients. This way we can ensure that we never have to compromise the quality of veterinary care on the basis of cost. There are leaflets for several insurance companies in our waiting room but if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

We are approved to issue four weeks' free pet plan insurance to animals under 12 months old.