Dog Advice

There is no one breed that is the "most expensive" to insure. However, some dogs are more prone to certain health conditions than others and that means that pet insurance prices can vary depending on breed.

Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds, such as French Bulldogs and Pugs, are often more expensive to insure due to their propensity for respiratory conditions. Meanwhile, Dachshunds can be more prone to back and hip conditions due to their long shape. Larger breeds like Labradors and German Shepherds can also be prone to joint and hip problems.

With over 45 years' experience specialising in dog insurance, our pricing approach is different to other pet insurance providers. Unlike many other providers, our Claims Pricing Guarantee means that we'll never charge you more for claiming. Whilst your premium might go up due to things such as your pet’s age and vet bills increasing over time, your premium won’t be affected by claims you make on your policy.

The price of dog insurance varies depending on a number of factors including where you live and your dog's age and breed. Dog insurance policies in the UK are generally priced based on these individual factors which means there is no fixed premium. That's why it's important to do your research and look for a dog insurance policy that suits your individual needs, in term of cost and the benefits included on the policy.

Your premium will increase each policy year, to reflect increased risk as your dog ages, as well as increasing veterinary costs, but unlike other pet insurers, with Petplan you'll never pay more for claiming. Our pricing approach is different to most other pet insurance and one of the reasons why over 90% of customers renew each year. Find out more about our Claims Pricing Guarantee. Get a dog insurance quote today.

A carefully chosen dog insurance policy can help you cover the cost of vet bills if your dog is ill or injured. You can pay your premium annually or monthly (at no extra cost); the cost of your policy (your premium) will vary depending on your dog's age, and breed, as well as where you live. As each dog is an individual, we will look at these factors, plus your dog's medical history so we can make an informed decision on what they will and will not cover on your policy; many other pet insurers will simply rely on pre-existing terms. If you choose a Petplan policy, your Certificate of Insurance will detail any exclusions (conditions that are not covered), so it's important to read this carefully and keep it somewhere safe. If your dog does fall ill or get injured you can submit a claim to your insurer. The insurer will review this and pay you or your vet for the treatment covered by your policy. In the event of a claim you will usually be required to pay an excess, the amount of which will be detailed on your policy documents.

All dog insurance policies are different; whilst some policies cover just the basics others will be much more comprehensive with a wide range of benefits beyond just vet bills. This is why prices can vary so much between different insurance providers. When researching dog insurance policies, it's important to look beyond the headlines and check if the policy will cover the essentials; things like dental and behavioural conditions aren't always covered, and some insurers might have additional limits within their vet bills cover. For example, you may find two policies that have the same vet bills limit (e.g. £4,000 per year) but one may cover significantly more conditions or treatments than the other. When it comes to dog insurance, you generally get what you pay for with pet insurance so if you see a policy that is much cheaper compare the details carefully.

Petplan dog insurance covers vet bills, pet therapies (such as hydrotherapy and acupuncture), theft or loss and legal liability insurance, as standard – as well as a host of other benefits. We also cover dental treatment, provided your dog has an annual dental check-up and any treatments recommended by your vet are carried out within sixmonths.

Most insurers won't cover things like vaccinations or neutering and pre-existing conditions may not be covered. Find out more here.

You're likely to come across this when shopping around for a dog insurance policy, but the term pre-existing condition can be confusing. Put simply, a pre-existing condition is an illness or injury that your dog has suffered from before you took out a pet insurance policy. At Petplan, we define this as an illness that you noticed or injury that happened before your policy started. Read more about our approach to pre-existing conditions.

With every new application, we ask you about any pre-existing conditions your dog has had and then decide if we can provide cover for these. Our intention is always to make clear to customers at the start of their policy what we will and won’t cover so there are no surprises in the event of a claim. Not all insurers do this. With some insurance policies you only find out what isn’t covered when you claim.

A pre-existing condition will not affect your premium.

With new conditions your pet develops you would be covered in line with the usual policy Terms and Conditions so insuring your pet with Petplan can still help you cover the cost of other veterinary bills that arise.

When you tell us about any pre-existing conditions your pet has, there are three possible outcomes:

We’ll provide cover for the pre-existing condition if it happens again. In the majority of cases this means that the condition is fully resolved, so should your pet have the same condition again, it’ll be covered. For example, if your dog suffered from kennel cough but had been symptom-free for the past three months, there would be no exclusions placed and any future bouts of kennel cough would be covered.

We can’t cover the pre-existing condition now but may be able to in the future. Sometimes we can’t cover a specific condition as part of a policy immediately. However, in many cases we’re happy to review this once certain criteria has been met. This is generally the pet being symptom-free for a certain period of time. For example, if your dog is suffering from kennel cough when the policy is taken, we’ll place a temporary exclusion for the condition. Once we have a copy of the veterinary history showing the dog has been symptom free for three months, the exclusion will be removed and any future bouts of kennel cough will be covered.

We can’t cover the pre-existing condition. If the condition is likely to affect the dog for the rest of its life (such as arthritis), we’d unfortunately not be able to cover costs attached to that particular ailment at any point in the policy.

You are more likely to claim on your pet insurance than your home or motor policy. It can help you cover the cost of unexpected vet bills if your pet becomes ill or gets injured so it's an important part of responsible pet ownership. Whilst dog insurance in the UK is not a legal requirement, it can help give you peace of mind that you can get the best care for your dog should they get sick or injured. Most dogs will need vet treatment at some point during their lives, and a comprehensive dog insurance policy allows you to budget monthly for your pet's care so you don't have to worry about unexpected vet costs later on. Petplan's dog insurance policies also include cover for behavioural conditions, Legal Liability and missing pets as standard.

Petplan can pay your vet directly so you don't have to find the money first. Ask your vet if they can submit a claim on your behalf, as this is the fastest way of getting information to us. You can also click here to learn more about making a claim or find the relevant form for the treatment or incident you need to claim for.

Whichever way you submit your claim, you can monitor its progress with our online claims tracking service.

Rest assured, with Petplan, your dog insurance won't increase if you make a claim. Your premium will increase every policy year as your dog gets older and in line with increasing vet costs. However, our Claims Pricing Guarantee means that we’ll never charge you more for claiming.

You can claim as many times as you need to on your dog insurance policy, until you reach your vet bills limit.

Our Covered For Life® plan provides ongoing help with vet bills up to your chosen limit of

£4,000, £7,000 or £12,000 every year. You can continue to claim year after year for the same condition providing you renew with no break in cover.

With our Essential plan, you can claim for 12 months' treatment up to £3,000 per illness or injury.