Dog Health Insurance
Get Out Your Wallet For These Dogs!

There are some things you should know regarding dog health insurance and specific breeds when thinking about buying pet insurance.

Did you know mixed breeds generally are healthier and outlive purebreds? It's true and pet insurance companies know this. Some companies charge more for purebreds and/or have age restrictions related to them because of this.

Make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations. Many of the policies I reviewed had exclusions for diseases that could be prevented from vaccines. Some will even deny claims if your pet is not taken for annual checkups (even if the plan does not offer coverage for routine wellness care).

Breed restrictions in pet insurance is very common. All dogs in the UK are subject to The Dangerous Dog Act of 1991. If your dog falls under these guidelines, and it applies to ALL dogs, it is virtually impossible to obtain insurance for your pet in the UK.

Some pet insurance policies specifically exclude wolves or wolf-hybrids from coverage. I personally had two wolf-hybrids. They are wonderful animals, and very smart, but from an insurance standpoint, they are not thought highly of. (They just never met Bubba and Kochise.) I found one insurer in the UK who does not cover any dog that is crossed with a Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Perro De Presa Canario, Japanese Tosa or a Fila Brasileiro.

Many pet insurance policies also exclude "working" dogs and/or will have an exclusion related to livestock-related injuries. If your pet falls under this classification, make sure the insurance policy you choose does not have this exclusion

If you have a purebred or a mixed breed dog, check the breed specific conditions to make sure your pet will have coverage. Some breeds are prone to genetic or hereditary conditions. Many insurance companies will specifically exclude these conditions from coverage based on your dog's breed while others will severely limit the amount you can claim should your pet develop one of these conditions. Another reason I continually stress to read the policy before you buy.

One more thing to look for in a dog health insurance policy is the premium charged in relation to certain breeds of dogs. Some companies charge higher rates for select breeds of dogs.

Finally, most companies exclude procedures such as tail docking, ear cropping, and dew claw removal unless medically necessary....sometimes not even then. They consider these procedures elective or cosmetic.