RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

Help!
We were with pet plan and cancilled it until our finances were better. Now we are in a position to get both our dogs (6 months & 3yrs) insured again but can't work out who to go with..

We were with Pet plan as they are the best but £65 a month No thanks

I'm thinking more than but it looks like if they get a life long illness (Beagles are known to get epilepsy later in life) you have to pay 90% of the fees.. again no thanks..

Just wondering what you guys are using??

oldsplice

Sainsburys.

Tidgy

pet plan, i know there expensive,but the covers worth it for your babies

Johnny E

We went with Asda after 5 years with petplan

pslewis

Insure them yourself ... you can't lose.

You pay into an account, say, £50 a month ...... take the fees out of this pot.

If you don't have ill dogs you have all the money - if they need treatment later in life you have the funds.

Remember, if a Vet knows you have Insurance the cost is at least 25% higher than if you are paying personally!

Insurance companies have weighed up the odds and make sure they take in more than they pay out - use that to your own benefit by insuring yourself!

Jamescsti

Agreed with PSlewis, just put money to one side, pet insurance seems ridiculously expensive to me (Greyhound owner)

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

Pet insurance is a rip off, I have two cats and when I went to see what it would cost me it was £22 a month This was a price for two cats both brothers and they were six weeks old. If I had put the money in a seperate bank account I would have £2500 saved by now

And if one one fell ill I'm pretty sure I could buy a black cat for under £100 so its all money in the bank

BurgerKing

iTrader: (1)

My cats are with heathypets, not bad tbh and they are covering my oldest cats heart condition on an ongoing basis. The vet always seems to be happy to deal with them directly as they have a good reputation.

what would scooby do

Best value insurance is a hammer and a new purchase

An0n0m0us

I don't agree with those who say self insure. For small stuff that's fine but if your pet gets a life long illness or is hit by a car etc you're fcuked unless you have thousands sitting around ready to pay the bill.

I was with MoreThan but they kept whacking the renewal up each year so went with Tescos for £16 a month. For that amount i'm covered for massive bills but not needing to put away £50 a month to self insure which wouldn't cover anything nasty.

ScoobyWon't

Take a look at www.vetmedicover.co.uk - I use them for my Newfoundland pup. It costs me £28 a month, but that's because he's a giant breed, regular breeds are a £21 a month, which is cheaper than putting £50 a side each month.

kj200sx

iTrader: (7)

Tesco have been great in my experience have paid out over £5000 in the last year for my American bulldog and premium only went up a couple of £ £23 a month worth every penny IMO

Leslie

We are with Sainburys for our cat, they seem reasonable to me.

Les

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

I considered these but wondered if they were like that 24/7 spares website.. ****e but now I know someone else is using them they could be a contender.

Myles

iTrader: (40)

Its like car insurance though, you wont find out how good the companies are until your cat jumps in the tumble dryer. I use a company and when my cat had cystitis I took her to the vet, and noticed the vet wouldnt deal directly with that company. Uh oh. One jab and appointment, £95.

Chip

A doggie endowment then.

ScoobyWon't

They are really popular with Newfoundland owners and were recommended to us by about 5 or 6 people. I've had no need to claim, but we know one owner who's dog suffered bloat on a camping trip after midnight and had to be rushed to an emergency vet for an immediate life saving operation. They use the same insurer and everything was handled for them.

pslewis

The self-insurance route is only for those who like the odds to be in their favour ............... chances are great that you will come out the winner. Whatever you put in 'should' cover what is ever needed to be paid out.

My dog cost me over £1,000 in 2009 .... the only cost in 10 years, bar the usual minor stuff.

£20 a month put away for 10 years - £2,400.

By self insuring I'm at least £1,000 in pocket!

PLUS, I don't keep an animal going for longer than I should - they have given me joy for years, the least I can do is let them go with dignity without putting them through some treatment in some selfish act under the name of 'care' (I've even seen GSD's in wheelchairs for gods sake!! Not for the benefit of the dog, but the owner! Selfish IMO).

Anyway .............. self insure is my advice.

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

I was with NFU Mutual when my Lab/staff cross ruptured his cruciate ligament in his left leg - had TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy)surgery - almost £3000 with all the aftercare and NFU were fine about costs. 6 months later same thing for his right leg but the metal plates got infected which meant almost 20 weeks of strong antibiotics, dressings every other day etc - cost £4500.

Yearly premium then was £136 with a £40 excess - he's 11 now and the most I have ever paid on insurance is £200 per year with a £50 excess so I'm quids in.

Also bare in mind that if your dog bites someone or causes an accident then YOU are liable and can be sued. Any decent insurance policy will cover you for liability - I'm with Tesco's and costs me £14 per month for the top level cover and interest free monthly payments.

ps. my golden Lab had cancer as well and had over £4000 of surgery spread over 3 occasions.

Always shop around, it might take a couple of hours but I have always found a decent quote for full cover for under £200.

Also always check thoroughly the cover you get - none of this crap £6 a month bronze cover stuff.

boxst

I am currently with Tesco for £11/month (up from £8 last year).

I used them ten years ago for my other dog which unfortunately had some sort of cancer near the end (when he was only eight). That cost in excess of £2000 and then he had to be put down. Now, whether it was worth prolonging his life by six months is a different argument, but Tescos were very good.

As a nice touch they even sent "I'm sorry your dog is dead" card after we informed them he had passed away.

Steve

pslewis

Spending £1,000's on extending a dogs life by a few months is not something you would do if you were self-insuring ..... in my opinion, it makes you make the right choices earlier.

Treatment for animals is never pleasant .....

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

Totally agree with extending a dogs life for a few months is not the right thing to do.

My lab/staff (Charlie) had both his operations (TPLO) when he was 2-3 years old and he's eleven now - a bit of arthritis but OK. All the cheaper optinons (knee staple and thread replacement for ligament) were not viable becasue he is so active.

My golden lab (Belle - no longer with us) had two major operations to remove cancerous lumps when she was 8 and 9 years old and she lived to be 14 - her last op was at 13 for a small ulcer on her belly and turned out that the cancer had spread to her lymphatic system so only lasted six months then but was a minor op.

That's almost eleven grand on two dogs in five years and all on insurance with no problems.

As a family though we have had six dogs since I was born and these two above are the only ones who have had major bills.

Pay yer money (or not) and takes yer chances