This is the big question that pet owners ask themselves when they become pet parents for the first time. So let us outline a few brief points to consider.

1. Pet insurance will protect your pet and your wallet against unexpected vet fees. Your new puppy or kitten may be healthy now, but if they become ill or have an accident can you afford to make them better? Could you afford an MRI scan for $1,000? Or spinal surgery for $8,000?

2. The annual cost of a pet insurance policy can be as low as $19 per month. If you compare this to the costs above, you start to see the benefit immediately. Try our ‘Quick Quote’ tool to see how much it will cost to cover your pet.

3. If your pet is stolen can you afford to replace it? With the high cost of buying a puppy or kitten (thank you Covid lock-down) it has never been more important to protect yourself and your pet against theft. Stories of people paying $3,000+ for a new companion are now common. This unfortunately, has meant that dogs are being stolen at an alarming rate. If your policy covers theft you can recoup the money you paid plus any cost associated with trying to find them.

A difficult one to answer as there are many different insurance providers, each with a number of different policies. These are the most common items covered when taking out a pet insurance policy:

3rd party liability cover

Cover for vet fees

Cover for medical treatments

Kennel or cattery fees*

Behavioral issues

Travel

*Only if your pet needs to stay for recovery after an operation

This can vary depending on the dog or cat breed, age, health or illness history.

On average, pet insurance policies cost around $300 for 12 months of medium level cover. Lower levels or ‘Accident Only’ plans can cost as little as $110 to $15 per month.

Try our free Quick Quote tool for a pet insurance quote today.

Pet insurance policies will usually start when they are 7 to 8 weeks old, so don’t delay taking out insurance. If any issues arise before you take out the policy it can be excluded as a ‘pre-existing condition.’ You should only take ownership of your new puppy or kitten after 8 weeks as they need to be nurtured by their mother during their first 2 months. However, insurance can be bought today for a cover start date in the future.

Most pet insurers have an age limit of around 10 years for older dogs.

Dental surgery for your pet can be very expensive. However, most insurance policies won't cover your pet for dental treatment unless they were damaged in an accident. There are however some policy providers that include dental cover so be sure to read the pet insurance plan carefully before you buy online. We have heard some horror stories of dental surgery costing over $10,000 so it is a level of cover that is worth considering.

Taking pets on an airplane is possible, but you will need to check with your airline before you book. Service animals have the ability to fly without the same restrictions as your family dog. Short trips around the U.S. and Canada are generally permitted but long-haul international flights carry more restrictions.

Check out our blog post on the Pet-friendly airlines >

We know the benefits of having a family pet. But what happens to them when you go on vacation? You could leave them with family or friends, or you could bring them with you. We prefer to bring them with us!

If you choose the latter, you need to make sure that your pet insurance policy covers them for travel. 3rd party liability is available for some dog travel policies. Some insurance providers limit their cover to travel within the U.S. so make sure you read and understand all the terms and conditions of your pet plan.

Pet travel insurance is not a legal requirement but it can save you a lot of money if something happens to them when you are on vacation..