Sitting here in shock!!

Sally_A

I'm a big fan of taking older cross breed dogs from the Rescue Centres, if you home them when they've been up there for 3 - 4 months any pre existing conditions should have come to the fore already.

When my most recent old boy was PTS (aged 16ish) the vet commented how he'd hardly been seen for ailments other than standard jabs.

I very rarely go to the doctors, nor has my daughter - I think seeking medical advice whether for humans or animals has become a bit too frequent, and 90% unnecessary.

Bodies have a way of sorting themselves out - 3 days, so long as the pet is taking liquids is my measure.

Anyhow - my main reason for posting was negotiate a saving for a bigger excess...sorry I do ramble a bit.

moggymutt

If any of you decide against dog insurance , dont forget to make sure that your dog has still got 3rd party cover. Many years ago, when working as a groom, my dog wrote off a car- the driver was amazing, concentrating only on my dog being okay, but eventually he had to say about his car. I could never have believed that a dog could have done so much damage by running into the car.(Dobe was never allowed loose in public, this was the only time he had ever got out of the gate). The side looked a total write off. It was a look of total relief on the drivers car when I said Dobe was insured, because he realised I was only on a groom's wage and living in a caravan. I was relived because firstly my dog was okay, and secondly it was me in the wrong, and without insurance, I couldn't have paid him anything. He'd been so good helping check the dog over as well.

OP, I cant suggest much apart from sympathise- sorry.

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhh beeping beep Dollar know how much no-one needs that ..... that's a huge increase:(

fairymoneysaver wrote: »

plus if they know an animal is insured some vets will suggest extra tests I am sure.

I have said this before but I don't know how people can moan about the increase in premiums when they are claiming huge amounts especially in breeds that are known for their health problems, someone has to pay for it and it is all of us that suffer, in the long run some of our pets will also suffer. My current dogs are young at the moment and their insurance is quite cheap but there is no way I could afford £100 a month for each of them. I do have an unused credit card incase of emergencies though - not saying I could pay it back but will cross that bridge if/when it comes to it.

I agree to a certain point - I know whenever I went with Ben it was "is he insured - oh he's not, well we'll try this instead" (and whatever the cheaper option was always did the trick).

Difficult with older pets that have pre-existing conditions - my old cat needed daily meds from the age of 2 and cost £000s each year (he had a very full and comfortable life for another 9 years) which I couldn't have afforded without insurance but I do also think there must come a point when you have to decide what's fair to put the animal through (ie I wouldn't have put Ben through difficult surgery due to his age & other conditions & could afford to cover a few hundred each year which was much cheaper than paying the insurance premiums).

meames_2

fairymoneysaver wrote: »

OP, that is a huge jump, I know I could not afford that amount.



I don't think insurers are taking the mick, they need to make money after all. I think that some pet owners are asking for all sorts of unnecessary tests, x rays etc and even taking the mick because they know the insurance will pay, we have become more 'savvy' becasuse of the internet, the vets aren't going to say no are they? plus if they know an animal is insured some vets will suggest extra tests I am sure.

I have said this before but I don't know how people can moan about the increase in premiums when they are claiming huge amounts especially in breeds that are known for their health problems, someone has to pay for it and it is all of us that suffer, in the long run some of our pets will also suffer. My current dogs are young at the moment and their insurance is quite cheap but there is no way I could afford £100 a month for each of them. I do have an unused credit card incase of emergencies though - not saying I could pay it back but will cross that bridge if/when it comes to it.

Not all of us have breeds with health problems and Not all of us actually claim, i have actually only claimed £450 for a cruciate operation. He has had other ops that have been about £200 and I haven't claimed because of the increased
premiums. i too have an unused credit card I use for emergencies. The insurance is for if it goes over £500 for a claim. i would do anything to make sure my dog is well. The last time he was in I think the vet was taking the mick, I would have paid if he had needed what she recommended, but in the end a bit of milk thistle from Holland and Barrett recommended by another vet in the same practice, sorted him out.

I think all insurance (car, house etc) is taking the mick personally, they only want to cover the possibility of the unlikeliest thing happening, No I'm going to go off on a rant so i'll stop.

chucknorris

When my dog reached 8 I started self insuring because the cost was so much I thought that I might as well take on the risk of what it would cost, because the cost of the premiums was getting to be such bad value.

mavvymoo

My Dog is 6 years old with ongoing problems just had my new quote and its gone up from £29.90 per month to £66.00 But after reading some of your sky high figures had decided its not bad value !
So will go with it for the next year but try and put a bit by as next year think it will be out of reach unless I win the lottery

LellyMc

Wow thats extortionate!!! I have a 10 year dog whos renewal is just £26 with Axa and i thought i was being ripped off lol If you are paying £130 a month you may as well just put the premiums into a bank account and leave to mount up and pay for treatment that way

Fridaycat

My two Bengals cost £25 a month (for both) and I self-insure the 3 moggies. I'm thinking of stopping the insurance as well. I can afford £25 a month, but I just don't think it's value for money, particularly now the Bengals are in an enclosure when outside, so the risk of theft (which was low to start with where I live) and the risk of injury are reduced.

I've had several cats for many years and the Bengals were the first I insured. Up to now the most I've ever had to pay out was when Friday broke her leg - cost of emergency appointment at 9pm, overnight stay in vet, x-rays, plaster cast, pain killers etc was in the region of £150. When you consider I have a £65 excess, it's a bit of a no-brainer to me.

Though I might add, that if an operation costing several £000 was needed, I could find the funds to afford it

~Chameleon~

fairymoneysaver wrote: »

I have said this before but I don't know how people can moan about the increase in premiums when they are claiming huge amounts especially in breeds that are known for their health problems, someone has to pay for it and it is all of us that suffer, in the long run some of our pets will also suffer.

You've hit the nail on the head with the above statement. Far too many people are buying unhealthy animals from unscrupulous breeders who haven't performed the necessary health checks before breeding. Insurance companies are completely aware of the congenital conditions affecting the majority of breeds and most will either refuse to cover or charge excruciatingly high premiums for particular breeds.

sazzybum

Oh DD- That's horrendous!

I don't agree in the main with the poster who said 'pet owners are asking for unnecessary xrays' etc.. I think it is the VETS who find out about insurance and start a whole rake of scans etc as they know the insurance will cover it.

We're insured for our two and our year old staffie was 23 pounds a month with PetPlan last year. No claims at all and it's went up to 28 a month and excess went from 75 to 125? Not a great amount but jings! What if we'd had a claim??

What a horrible position to be in DD. Although, knowing you- you'll go without to make sure your dog gets the best!