Everyone wants the best for their pets, but nobody wants to pay over the odds, which is why it’s so important to compare pet insurance before you buy.

Not only can shopping around help you find an affordable deal but it can also help you secure the right cover for your dog to ensure it is well protected against a number of risks including falling ill or suffering an accident even when you’re on holiday in Britain.

How does pet insurance work?

The primary purpose of pet insurance is to help cover the cost of veterinary treatment. Advances in pet medicine and equipment mean that previously fatal conditions may be treatable but these advanced practices come at a cost, which pushes veterinary bills up. As a result, owners are often left with difficult decisions about the future of their pet when faced with high bills but pet insurance can help remove this pressure allowing owners to explore the treatment options available and receive help against the cost of spiralling fees.

Broadly, there are three types of pet insurance available in the UK:

• Set policies: These cover a pet for a limited period – usually 12 months – after which the policy ends and no longer covers treatment.
• Cover limit per condition: This covers conditions up to a set amount, after which the contribution towards treatments ends.
• A lifetime policy: This is the most thorough form of pet insurance available in the UK as it provides a cover limit per condition per year and renews each year in line with the renewal of the policy. This means that a pet will remain covered through its lifetime as long as the policy is renewed.

So what does pet insurance cover?

As discussed, the main purpose of pet insurance is to cover vet fees but you shouldn’t assume that all policies are the same. In addition to checking the restraints per condition and per year, you should also examine what therapies are available and whether there are any exclusions – for example, will the policy provide cosmetic treatments, cover for behavioural conditions and the provision of a special diet?

In addition, pet insurance can also cover the following:

• Death by illness or accident: Some pet insurance policies will cover the purchase price or market value of a pet if it dies in select circumstances. Several policies also cover the cost of cremation.
• Kennel fees: If you require emergency inpatient treatment at a hospital then your pet insurance may cover the cost of kennel fees for your dog.
• Missing pet cover: If your pet is missing or stolen, some policies will help cover the costs of advertising and a reward.
• Third party liability: Unfortunately, if your dog damages someone else’s property or causes an injury to a third party then you can be held liable for the costs. Third party cover will protect you against this risk although you should be careful to ensure the policy also includes accidental damage.

Will my pet be protected while holidaying in the UK?

The good news is that your pet will usually be covered against the risks outlined in the policy no matter where you plan to go on holiday in the UK – although you should check the terms and conditions to ensure no exclusions apply.

It’s well worth checking your policy for specific holiday cover, however. This is because pets can fall ill at the most inconvenient times including during or before a planned holiday. As such, you may need to cancel your trip or cut it short and return home. Most travel insurance policies will not cover illness to a pet as a reason for cancellation – but with some pet insurance policies you can receive help towards the cost of accommodation and travel expenses that otherwise could not be recovered.

Taking your pet abroad meanwhile, is more difficult. While some pet insurance providers will extend their cover overseas, your pet will need to meet the conditions outlined in the Pet Travel Scheme.

Is there anything else to be aware of?

When shopping around for cover also pay attention to the following:

• Age restrictions: Insurers typically treat dogs above the age of eight as ‘older pets’ and will usually charge higher premiums or exclude certain treatments for age-related illnesses.
• Excess levels: This is your contribution towards a claim – so for example if you have a £50 excess and you make a successful claim for £500 then you will pay the first £50 and the insurance provider will pay the remaining £450.
• Pre-existing conditions: If your pet has any pre-existing conditions these must be declared to an insurer and will usually be excluded from the cover it provides.

So where can you get the cover you need?

Once you know exactly what you want from a pet insurance policy, use a pet insurance comparison website to compare the deals available. Just remember to look beyond price alone and ensure your pet is getting the level of cover you expect.