Any advice on insurance for rabbits, please?

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi all

Any advice on insurance for rabbits, please?

Which company is best, things to watch out for, etc etc?

Thank you

[FernieB]

I have never insured a bunny. Mine have had dental ops, neutering etc and it has never cost more than £50 ish.

[ShouldIworryornothelp]

I haven't got ours insured

Most expensive op was a lumpectomy for one who had a cyst on his back. £170 all in for that

[Midori1999]

Mine are insured. They weren't. Then one had pneumonia (after he'd been being treated for snuffles for a couple of weeks and it had suddenly got worse) and I was quoted up to £700 to treat him. I have since had further bills for £200 (for stasis) and £620 (to investigate weight loss) all within a year, although admittedly I have six bunnies. The insurance gives me the peace of mind to get them the best treatment possible.

I use PAH and am currently in the process of making my first claim. I have heard they are good at paying out though and they were about 30% cheaper than Petplan for similar cover, although PAH offer some dental cover. With six bunnies that makes quite a difference cost wise.

I wouldn't consider any other company except PAH or Petpaln as I've heard a lot of bad things about them sadly.

[catzpyjamas]

Shop around and look for the best cover you can afford. There are lots of levels of insurance and I'd go for lifetime cover for any condition, not limited by amount or time period. Exotics Direct offer a dedicated Rabbit Cover.
Most vets will require payment up front which you then reclaim from the insurance company, less your excess, so bear that in mind.
Some rabbits can develop long-term conditions like dental issues which means they require regular treatment and the costs can mount up. Insurance doesn't cover routine procedures such as neutering and vaccines so you may want to have a little savings account/bunny bank for theses.

[Italiangreyhound]

Midori is PAH Pets at home?

Thanks catzpyjamas that sounds very like the cat insurance we had and after the cat had cystitis I realised if we renewed it may not be covered next time as we had annal insurance! I would not make the same mistake again. Very sadly dear cat was run over before we had to renew the insurance!

[catzpyjamas]

Poor cat

[Italiangreyhound]

Thanks catzpyjamas it's OK, he had a really lovely life, he was so loved and he was so happy. He was the best tempered best natured cat I have ever met. Sadly, he had very little road sense (NONE) and he was desperate to get outside. Any efforts to keep him in were thwarted. When he was ill and we had to keep him in he was very stressed and kept trying to get into the garage! He was happy and although he had a short life I think it was a good one. I wish he hadn't died though, I loved that cat!

[catzpyjamas]

I know how that goes. My DCat cannot be kept indoors or he gets stress related cystitis . He is frequently seen crossing our road and I live in fear of him getting hurt but no driver would risk the dent he'd leave

[Italiangreyhound]

That was the issue when cat had cystitis had to stay in and avoid stress and stressful being in!

[catzpyjamas]

I had no idea how common stress related cystitis was in cats until our cat had it. Now I know of several cats on long term medication for it.

[Italiangreyhound]

It was massively stressful for me too! Poor cat, it was awful.

[catzpyjamas]

So long as you didn't refuse to go for a wee too

[GinBunny]

Pet Plan is easily the best. They are slightly more expensive per month but they do cover a lot more. One of my poorly buns run up a bill of just short of their limit - £2k I think - when she died, we were just desperate for her to live and it was reassuring to know that insurance was covering it rather than having to consider the treatment vs the bill.

I think they are the only company that offers for life cover ie same condition reoccuring for life. Another of my buns has taken good use of that.

[Italiangreyhound]

Thanks, we are going to foster rabbits so need to find out how this works in terms of medical bills! We do not know yet!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Italian I would imagine if you foster the rabbits then they'd be covered by the Rescues Vet . (Unless you do something untoward/neligent/harmful which you won't )

The vets that the Rescues use will often do Charity rates, be more experienced with small furries (they'll do umpteem neuterings and vaccines)

They won't be your responsibility unless you adopt them (and if you do, then finding out the name of a good rabbit vet is essential anyway, you could ask them which one they use)

My parents adopted a retired Guide Dog years ago and her Vet fees were covered (local vet, they didn't have to take her to where she used to live)

And don't forget RAW (Rabbit Awareness Week) lots of vets so free bunny advice clinics.

Good Luck with the bunnies

[Italiangreyhound]

Thank you 70s

[Italiangreyhound]

Yay www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

ooops not they won't be your responsibility should be This won't be must pre-read.
The bunnies day-to-day will be your responsibilty.

Have you got some rabbits lined up?
The Rescue might loan you some hutches (I'd imagine they get donated some when they take in rabbits)

[Italiangreyhound]

Yes rabbits lined up but no hutch and the like yet!

[Midori1999]

More insurance (although that's probably not relevant to you now) PAH is pets at home and their cover is pretty similar to petplan, except their limit per year is £1500 and not £2000 and they offer better dental cover than petplan. They offer the same 'lifetime cover' as petplan.

If you foster, the rescue would normally provide or find suitable accomodation unless you already have some you are prepared to use. They should also cover vet bills. Most rescues do ask you to cover the cost of day to day care though.