Questions about Dog Insurance

Lynxette

I have a few questions about dog insurance for Bella. I have scanned the variying related threads but couldn't immediately see any answers - Apologises if they are already answered somewhere!

For the record, at the moment my shortlist comprises of Direct Line and M + S - Halifax won't quote me online!!

1. Does it matter that I don't know Bella's exact date of birth? RSPCA have predicted middle of Jan so I've been putting 15-01-2007
2. What happens when she gets her injections? Will my premium go down or stay the same (or go up!!!)? Have been saving a fiver a month since I got her to get them done and can afford it next month!!

More questions will likely come to mind!!

pboae

No, just use an estimated birthdate, some insurers have a set policy for estimating (e.g. first of the month) some take your word for it. If there is an option for 'unsure of birth date' tick that. Otherwise just go with your guess.

The injections will make no difference to the policy, but you won't be covered for any illness which would normally be prevented by vaccination, if they've not been done. I am surprised that the RSPCA have rehomed an unnvaccinated dog though. I know it happens, but the RSPCA ought to know better really. :-(

Lynxette

pboae wrote: »

No, just use an estimated birthdate, some insurers have a set policy for estimating (e.g. first of the month) some take your word for it. If there is an option for 'unsure of birth date' tick that. Otherwise just go with your guess.

The injections will make no difference to the policy, but you won't be covered for any illness which would normally be prevented by vaccination, if they've not been done. I am surprised that the RSPCA have rehomed an unnvaccinated dog though. I know it happens, but the RSPCA ought to know better really. :-(

They had one of those blue-book packs from the previous owner which had a date of vaccine on it - She wasn't due them until feb so she didn't have them! That's what we were told, anyway.

Thank you so much. You're like a little vat of knowledge! ((hug))

Lynxette

Wait... If I get her vaccinated, and then in the (presumably highly unlikely) case she gets ill from a disease that she's been vaccinated against, will the policy then cover it if I can prove she has been vaccinated?

pboae

Ahh I see, it's just her booster due, I thought you meant she was unvaccinated. :eek:

If she is in date for her vaccinations (and as you have the book to prove it you can assume she is), then you will be covered if she catches a preventable disease. Vaccines are not 100% guaranteed, and sometimes a dog will still catch the illness, though usually to a much less serious degree. If she is one of the unlucky ones you may be asked to prove you took reasonable precautions to prevent it, i.e. that she was vaccinated.

Lynxette

pboae wrote: »

Ahh I see, it's just her booster due, I thought you meant she was unvaccinated. :eek:

Gosh no! I'd have had that sorted straight away - Even insisted that the RSPCA did it before I took her!!

So, when it says "Is the dog vaccinated?", it's not referring to her boosters? Can you tell I'm a bit of a newbie to this dog insurance malarky! The last time I had a dog, I was 7!!

pboae

It just means are they up to date with their jabs, doesn't matter whether it's the initial course or the boosters. You can usually go over the annual date by a few months (3 months with most vets, double check what your vet's policy is). So if it was due Feb, you should be OK to just get a booster done now, rather than having to pay for the full course again (which is a lot more expensive).

Lynxette

Thank you so much, Pbeao, for your vast knowledge!!!

((hug))

Chesnut1

Must admit I can not fault Tesco for dog insurance. One of my dogs is now an aged Golden Retriever and over the last 10 years she has cost Tesco about 2 grand with various illnesses and ops. They have only ended up increasing her premium by about £5 pound extra a month in the last couple of years and they have never once moaned about a claim. She had to have an emergency spaying last year, not only did they pay the vet promptly and direct to the surgery as usual but phoned a week after her op to ask if she was OK now:D

Lynxette

Tesco's actually works out £1 more a month, for less fees cover (4,000 v. 7,000) and more excess! Doesn't make sense, all this quoting rubbish.

foreign_correspondent

I found halifax the cheapest, so it might be worth giving them a ring.

As for estimating the dogs date of birth, when I asked them I was told (by the insurers) to go with what the vet estimated - She is a rescue dog and the rescue had her down as 6 or 7. I didnt feel she was that old, and when I took her to the vets, the vet chcked her over, looked at her teeth, and said 'no way, she is about three or four!' So on her pet insurance I used the older end of the vets estimate and put her down as four.