A to Z

Your guide to Pethood

Do you wonder what breed is right for you? Would you like some advice on how to train your new puppy or kitten? Or are you simply looking for tips on how to care for your pet?

Being a pet parent can raise a lot of questions! Therefore, Petplan brings you the A-Z of Pethood – your go-to guide for all things pet. Find out useful tips and tricks from our pet experts, people who understand the highs and lows of owning a pet.

A

a border collie jumping over a fallen tree

Agility

Guaranteed to get the adrenalin pumping, Agility is a great way to step your dog's exercise routine up a notch. It'll put your handling skills to the test too.

Anxiety

Noise, being left alone, the unfamiliar... there are lots of things that can make your pet feel anxious. So it's good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep your pet in their comfort zone.

Barking

Dogs have a whole repertoire of sounds they use to communicate with us and with those they encounter. But sometimes understanding dog language isn't so straightforward.

a beagle sitting down on a blank background

Breeds

Angora to Lionhead, Bengal to Ragdoll, Dachshund to Labradoodle, we all have our favourites. How well do you know yours? And does your pet's personality match the rest of its breed group?

Congenital Condition

An illness that exists since birth but doesn’t necessarily show symptoms right away. Congenital conditions are covered by our policies as long as they haven’t been diagnosed or show symptoms prior to the start of your policy. Examples include heart disease, respiratory issues and liver disease.

a jack russell terrier lying on a purple stool against a purple background

Covered For Life®

Petplan's Covered For Life® plan provides ongoing help with vet bills. You can continue to claim year after year for the same condition up to your chosen yearly limit providing you renew with no break in cover.

a black terrier drinking water out of a white bowl that says Petplan on the side

Diet

Is it OK for your dog to wolf down his dinner in seconds? Are raw diets a good idea? Read an expert's response to some of the most common concerns about canine nutrition.

a dalmatian lying on a maroon sofa looking into the camera

Dog Insurance

Petplan insurance can help you cover the cost of vet bills so you can get your dog the best possible veterinary care.

a digital illustration of a pet owner sitting on a sofa with a rabbit on their lap looking at the rabbit's ears

Ear Infection

Ear problems are common for all breeds of rabbit, but the first signs of trouble aren't always in the ears themselves. Read our quick guide on what to look out for.

a digital illustration of a dog inside a circular arrow

Essential Plan

Petplan's Essential plan provides 12 months treatment up to £3,000 per illness or injury. Once you reach either of these limits the condition will no longer be covered. This plan provides short-term help with vet bills.

a digital illustration of a blue sheild with a white tick in the middle

Excess

The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim. Having Petplan insurance can help you cover the cost of vet bills but to help keep premiums affordable we apply an excess. To find out more about the benefits and excesses on our plans get a quote today.

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a bulldog standing in a paddling pool with a giant tennis ball

Exercise

Looking to add a bit of variety to the daily walk? Here are five fun ways to stretch those legs beyond the obvious.

Fireworks

Fireworks light up the sky and your dog's anxiety goes through the roof. Here are three tried and tested ways to keep your pet calm amid the whizzes, pops and bangs.

a terrier lying on a sofa underneath a blanket looking sad

Fleas

One of the five common pet parasites, fleas are more than an irritation. A heavy infestation can lead to serious skin problems. Here's how to manage fleas as well as tips on the other 4 most common parasites too.

a dachshund lying in a blue pet bed whilst being brushed

Grooming

Grooming is an important part of dog care. Vet Brian Faulkner gives us some useful insights into effective grooming and its benefits.

a beagle resting its head on the arm of a sofa

Health

When it comes to keeping your pet happy and healthy, prevention is better than cure. And thanks to advances in nutrition and healthcare, it's now easier than ever to prioritise your pet's wellbeing. Here are some essentials.

Holidays

Thinking of taking your dog with you on holiday? We've put together a checklist of things you shouldn't leave home without.

a picture of a cat with illustrated labels pointing to common areas of health concerns

Illness

As your cat grows, it pays to keep a lookout for early signs of potential health problems. Here are six symptoms that could be telling you it's time to book a check-up with your vet.

a puppy lying down looking curiously at the camera

Insurance

Did you know that one in three pet owners have to make an unexpected visit to the vet each year? Or that more people in the UK claim against their pet insurance than their home or car insurance? Petplan can help you cover the cost of vet bills so you can get your pet the best care.

Joints

Joint inflammation (arthritis) is common in dogs, especially as they age. But with early diagnosis, much can be done to ease and slow down its progress. Here's how you can help.

a ginger kitten raising a paw in front of the camera

Kitten Insurance

Hard as it is to imagine your gorgeous little kitten could ever get sick or injured, the time to think about pet insurance is right now.

a small kitten hiding under a piece of furniture

Kittens

Bringing a new kitten home for the first time? Petplan pet behaviourist Nick Jones has a few words of advice to help things go smoothly.

Lazy Cats

Is your cat snoozing too much? It happens, especially when it's cosier inside. So it's good to have a few tricks you can call on to bring out those hunter instincts and keep them on their toes.

a illustration of a dog within a circular arrow

Lifetime Insurance

Provides cover for long-term and recurring conditions such as arthritis, skin conditions or diabetes that need ongoing treatment throughout your pet’s life provided you renew your policy every year without a break in cover.

a small kitten being placed into a litter tray

Litter Training

Most kittens are naturally drawn to use a litter tray, but there a few things you can do to make sure your toilet training goes to plan.

an illustration of a dog lying down looking sad with grey clouds overhead

Mood

Turns out it's not just people who can get the winter blues. Certified clinical animal behaviourist Claire Hargrave gives us the lowdown on canine seasonal depression and how to put the bounce back into your dog's life.

Multi-Pet Insurance

Cover up to five pets under one policy and get a £12 discount per pet every year. You can even choose different levels of cover for each pet.

a puppy sleeping resting its head on a blanket

New Dog

Settling a dog into a new home takes time and patience, but things are likely to go better if you follow a few ground rules. Animal behaviorist Claire Hargrave shares some key dos and don'ts.

a brown dachshund sitting next to a blue plastic pet food bowl

Nutrition

How you feed your puppy in those first crucial months sets the pattern for the future. All the more reason to get into good habits from the off. Animal nutritionist Dr Marjorie Chandler has six top tips.

an older dog having its ears examined by a vet

Older Pets

Just like their owners, dogs are more likely to suffer from certain health conditions. Spotting the symptoms early can be a big factor in how things pan out. We highlight 7 signs your dog needs to see a vet.

Oral Health

How best to take care of your dog's teeth? We asked both experts and owners to give us their recommendations.

Pet Therapies

Petplan provide cover for Pet Therapies in addition to Vet Bills on all our policies. You can claim for Hydrotherapy, Acupuncture, Homeopathy and Herbal medicine recommended by your vet. Get a quote today to find out more about how we can help you get the best care for your pet.

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Pre-Existing Conditions

These are illnesses and injuries that your pet has had or shown signs of before you buy your insurance. We consider something as pre-existing if diagnosed by a vet, or even if you just noticed that something wasn’t right. For example if you had noticed your pet was limping when you didn’t have insurance, this would be a pre-existing condition.

Premium

A premium is the amount you pay for your policy. You can choose to pay annually or monthly by Direct Debit allowing you to spread your premium over the course of the year at no extra cost.

a golden retriever puppy looking into the camera

Puppy Insurance

It is important to insure your puppy as early as possible so you can receive cover for any illnesses or injuries that occur. Petplan is the UK's No. 1 pet insurance provider and can help you cover vet bills.

Puppy Training

Training your puppy to follow your commands isn't difficult once you know how. In this video, Petplan pet behaviourist Nick Jones shows us how to teach your dog to lie down.

Questions & Answers

Want to check something? Got a question? You'll find answers to the questions we're most commonly asked on our FAQs page.

a rabbit sitting on a table in front of greenery

Quotes

With pet insurance, you can protect your pet and give yourself peace of mind. You're a few simple questions away from getting a Petplan quote.

Get a Quote

R

Rabbit Insurance

Our rabbit insurance can provide cover for life-threatening conditions, such as fly strike and coccidiosis, which would need emergency treatment that might run into thousands of pounds.

a jack russell terrier sleeping on a pink chair

Rehoming

Rehoming a pet brings great joy but taking on a dog that's already past the puppy stage can have its own challenges too. With the right approach, it's not too late to retrain and iron out any undesirable traits.

Sit

Everyone knows how to teach a dog to sit. Or do they? Watch pet behaviourist Nick Jones in action, and you might just pick up one or two tips on how to do it effortlessly.

Skin Cancer

The 'C' word is always a scary one, but the good news is vets can often treat skin cancer successfully – as long as it's caught early. Vet Brian Faulkner explains and highlights to things to look out for.

Training

From teaching your kitten to use a litter tray to training your dog to stay put and wait for you to call them by name. Pet behaviourist Nick Jones shares his expertise in our useful and insightful video series.

Travelling

Taking your cat on a trip? We asked pet owners and experts to share their personal stories and insights. Whether you're on your way to the vet or visiting friends, here's how to take the stress out of transporting your pet.

a brown dog sitting on a brick floor looking at the camera

Understanding Pet Insurance

Pet insurance can help you cover the cost of vet bills but not all pet insurance is the same so you need to choose your policy wisely. Find out more about the plans available from Petplan, the UK's No. 1 pet insurer.

Upset Stomach

Has your dog eaten something they shouldn't have? Or is the cause of those tummy troubles more serious? Pet owners often know instinctively when things are not right and a trip to the vet is in order.

a black and white dog at the vets with a vet and owner

Vaccinations

Vaccinations will protect your pup against five of the most serious dog diseases. Here's our quick guide to the why, what and when.

Vets

Where would we be without our vets! The Petplan Veterinary Awards recognise the fantastic work that goes on in veterinary practices throughout the UK.

Weight

Carrying too much weight - or too little - can lead to health problems. Vet Brian Faulkner shows us the three simple checks you can do to assess your dog's weight with a body conditioning score.

a black and white dog being examined by a vet

Worms

Not something we like to think about, but it's something that every pet owner needs to read up about. A worm infestation can pose a serious threat to your dog's health.

a terrier on a vet table with a vet beside

X-Rays

A core diagnostic and exploratory tool, x-rays can help your vet get to the root of a problem. Our policies cover necessary diagnostic tests under the vet fees benefit. Find out more about what our policies do and don't cover.

Yes or No

Should you or shouldn't you? We round up some of key do's and don'ts of pet ownership and pet care.

Zoomies

Does your dog suddenly race around the house or garden like a wild animal? If so, welcome to the world of zoomies, or frapping as it's sometimes called – from the initial letters for Frenetic Random Activity Period.

Dog insurance

Just like their feline friends, dogs need proper care when they're ill or injured. It's sensible to plan ahead and get pet insurance to help cover the cost if your dog needs veterinary attention.

Dog insurance

Cat insurance

Just like their canine counterparts, cats need proper care if sick or injured. It's sensible to plan ahead and get pet insurance to help cover the cost if your cat does need treatment.

Cat insurance

Rabbit insurance

Rabbits may be small, but their vet bills can still accumulate. Petplan's Rabbit Plan provides £4,000 every year to help with vet bills helping you cover the cost of care for your pet.

Rabbit insurance

Multi-pet insurance

Multiple furry friends? Get a £12 discount per pet every year when you insure more than one pet with us. You can tailor your cover for each pet and manage payments in a way that works for you.

Multi-pet insurance

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Frequently asked questions

What type of pet insurance is right for me?

Every pet is individual and unique so we have a range of plans to suit every cat, dog and rabbit, from time-limited to lifetime policies – we even have a multi-pet discount if you have more than one furry friend. We’ve compiled a handy guide explaining the different types of policies in the market and to help you decide which best meets your needs.

Why should you insure your pet?

Just like us, pets are susceptible to illness and injury, anything from developing a skin condition to contracting an auto-immune disease, and everything in between. They need the same level of care as we do, whether that’s an X-ray, an MRI scan, or even chemotherapy to help diagnose and treat their health problems. Having pet insurance is the best way to make sure your animal stays safe and well without the worry of having significant impact on your own finances.

Why get pet insurance

What is Covered For Life®?

Our Covered For Life® policies are designed to cover long-term, chronic or recurring illness, as well as short term illness and injury. As long as the policy is renewed each year without a break, we will continue to provide cover for conditions such as diabetes or arthritis which require treatment over a long period of time, often for life. Other insurance policies, such as time-limited policies, will limit the time you can claim for each illness of injury.

Learn more

What is 12 month cover?

Time limited pet insurance, such as our 12 month Essential policy, is designed for pet owners requiring a less comprehensive policy. It is important to remember that each illness and injury on our Essential policies are covered for a maximum of 12 months. Should your dog suffer from the same condition again you will not be able to claim for it.

Learn more

How do I make a claim?

In most cases if you're claiming for vet fees your vet can submit an eclaim on your behalf. If you check with your vet and they can’t submit an eclaim, or if you're claiming for anything else, please head to our Claims page for more information on submitting your claim.

See all FAQs

Pet Care Offers

Petplan customers have access to a range of offers on products and services to help you care for your pet for less.

Petplan's Claims Pricing Guarantee

With Petplan, you'll never pay more for claiming on your policy.

Tabby cat sat on owners lap, owner cradling their head lovingly

Is cat insurance worth it?

They may have nine lives, but cats still need the right care if they get sick or injured.

Pet dental cover for illness and injury

When shopping around for a pet insurance policy always be sure to ask if dental cover is included.

Pet Expert Chat

Free health, behaviour and nutrition advice for Petplan customers.

Types of pet insurance policy cover

If you’re asking ‘What is the right type of pet insurance?’ our handy guide is here to help!

Pick the right policy for your pet

We provide a Covered For Life® plan and an Essential plan to help with vet bills - but which is right for you?

Supervet on cheap pet insurance

Supervet Professor Noel Fitzpatrick on why cheap pet insurance can cost you more in the long run.

How much does pet insurance cost?

Learn more about pet insurance costs and the factors that can affect your premium.

No penalty for claiming

Many pet owners find too late that cheap deals can lead to penalties for making claims.

Why has my premium increased?

We price our policies to allow us to provide the best care for our customers and their pets.

Supporting new pets with 4 weeks free

Providing immediate Petplan cover from day one.

The importance of pet insurance

Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick on why the right pet insurance is so important as we navigate the cost of living crisis.

Think best cover not best price

How Petplan Covered For Life helps you get the best care for your pet.

Female vet in green scrubs holding a fluffy grey and cream cat close to her chest

When should you get pet insurance?

Whether you’ve got a kitten, puppy or baby rabbit, you can start their insurance from 6 weeks old

Petplan is a trading name of Pet Plan Limited (Registered in England No. 1282939) and Allianz Insurance plc (Registered in England No. 84638), Registered office: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1DB.

Pet Plan Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 311969. Allianz Insurance plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register No. 121849. Pet Plan Limited is a subsidiary of Allianz Insurance plc. Fitz All Media Limited is an Appointed Representative of Pet Plan Limited.