ur view on pet insurance

[oldgrape]

i want to hear good and bad experiences abers have had with their pet insurance company.

i need to get my 12 week collie insuranced but want to hear your views

[kitesurfer]

r u a meat eater?

[oldgrape]

huh?

[bensmum]

I have one of my cats insured (the other was too old) but as yet haven't had to use it so no bad experience. I would suggest you shop around as my premiums have gone up a lot each year and I wonder if it's worth it. Of course she is now older and more likely to need vetinary care so I don't want to cancel it just in case. I do think there should be no claims bonuses on the policies though.

[pinkcowprint]

hi,weve got a bulldog and he has been to the vets a few times which probably mount up to couple grand in bills,we have insurance with sainsburys and they have been brilliant,print off a claim form,drop in at the vets and thats that!we pay about�13 a month and is worth every penny.i would reccomend,you never know.

[barb1314]

We had our collie insured with Petplan. We had to make a few claims over the 17 years she was alive and they were great.I now have a black lab and she is insured with Sainsburys,via recommendation from many people.It's a little cheaper and my vet said they have only heard positive things about them.Hope that helps.

[webdude]

We have a pair of Labrador's and insured both of them from day one, after experiences with previous dogs and vets bills. Like pinkcowprint, we also have a policy with Sainsbury's and are very pleased with their service. Our dogs are still relatively young, but require medication for hip problems. All this has been paid for by the insurance, and we would not have wanted to pay these bills ourselves.

So yes - suggest you get insured.

[thugulike]

Wouldn't be without insurance. I had a Neapolitan Mastiff who had a gastric torsion. He survived but it cost �1500 even at my vets who are very reasonable. He was insured with Tesco who paid up by return. Nice people too. You also get 3rd party insurance in case your pet does any damage.

[jules77]

Got all mine insured with Pet Plan, not the cheapest, but the only one my vet is happy to claim from direct, so apart from paying any excess, I dont have to pay upfront and claim money back. Never had any problems, and have made a few claims.

I used to be with DBI, they would only pay for any illness once in a dogs lifetime. Eg: one of my males had a few 'footballing injuries' and used to knock his claws back when skidding, after the first time they wouldnt pay for any veterinary treatment. They also asked me for a death certificate when I lost one due to old age and cancelled the premiums, which was heartless and unnecessary in the circumstances.

I dont mind paying insurance and not claiming, at least then I know my dogs are healthy and not requiring veterinary treatment, but I have the peace of mind that if they need expensive treatment, I have insurance backup.

[bednobs]

i could never be in a position where i had to chose between paying out for something expensive or having my pet put down

[Im a BusyBee]

mine are insured with marks and spencer because friends recommended m + s, they have made claims but as yet i havent had to.

[angiebaby57]

No probs at all with Tesco...paid out no probs, several hundreds of pounds when my pup was unwell.

[Silverdancer]

I have my Irish Wolfhound insured with Tescos and pay �10 a month with them for her. We had our Cocker insured with them before that and when he died they paid out very promptly. Would recommend them. Have not had good reports about DBI.

[missrandom]

you need to check that they insure the dog for life whoever you go with. Some insurers stop at a certain age (about 9 - just when you might need it most).
My cocker is with the kennel club, i havent had to claim yet, but the vet said they havent had any probs with them.

[lilypoppyfre]

I have had all kinds of dogs over the past 40 years and have never insured any.

My husband's fishing friend was a vet and always told his customers to have a savings account for their pets. In it would go all the premium quoted by the cheapest insurance company. From it would come any expenses apart from the annual vaccinations . He often told us that fewer than 1% had had reason to be unhappy with his suggestion.....

Of course, before buying the animal you should see whether the particular breed has a genetic problem ( e.g hip for some breeds, or eye for others ).

I have had big and small dogs ; now I have got some small ones ( miniature Schnauzer ) as I am getting older and less strong.....My pet-insurance fund is in credit....