Dog insurance guides
Straight answers to the questions owners ask before buying a policy, built on the same cost and plan data as the rest of the site.
Coverage
Dog insurance waiting periodsHow long each insurer makes you wait before coverage starts, and the orthopedic clause that catches large-breed owners.
Pet insurance for hip dysplasia and cruciate tearsThe clause that decides whether a knee or hip claim is paid: how long each insurer makes you wait, and how to shorten it.
Pre-existing conditions and dog insuranceThe rule that decides most denied claims: what counts as pre-existing, how insurers check, and what you can still cover.
The bilateral exclusion in pet insuranceIf one knee was a problem before the policy, many insurers won't cover the other one either. Here is who does what.
Does pet insurance cover dental?Dental disease and dental cleanings are treated very differently. Here is what each insurer pays for.
Does pet insurance cover cancer?Cancer is one of the most expensive claims a dog can have. What each insurer says it covers.
Does pet insurance cover rehab and alternative therapy?Physical therapy and acupuncture after surgery or for chronic pain: included, an add-on, or not covered, by insurer.
Does pet insurance cover prescription food?Prescription diets are a long-term cost for many chronic conditions. Most policies exclude them; one insurer covers them.
Does pet insurance cover behavioral therapy?Anxiety and other behavior problems can need a vet or a behaviorist. What each insurer pays for.
Does pet insurance cover spay and neuter?Not under accident and illness cover, but several wellness add-ons pay toward it. How much, insurer by insurer.
Does pet insurance cover your dog abroad?Taking your dog to Canada or overseas? Where each insurer's cover stops.
Costs
Pet insurance annual limits comparedThe most an insurer will pay in a policy year. Some offer unlimited, others cap it. Here are the published options, insurer by insurer.
Emergency vet costsPublished emergency fees from teaching hospitals and claims data, and how each insurer handles the bill.
Does pet insurance go up with age?Yes, and every insurer we could check says so. What each one says, and an estimate of how much prices rise.
- Health conditions and their costs31 conditions that drive claims, what each costs to treat, and the breeds most at risk.
Choosing a plan
Accident-only pet insuranceA cheaper policy that covers injuries but not illness. Which insurers sell one, and who it suits.
Curable vs incurable pre-existing conditionsA cured ear infection can be covered again; a chronic disease cannot. Each insurer's rule and waiting time.
Claims