Insurance for older dog...is it worth it?

[Caffeineaddictedmumof4]

Hi I have a lovely old boy who I've had insured for the last year (I've always thought it was important to insure my pets, just incase). However his renewal has just come through at £27 a month, that's annual policy £2,700 limit and I have to pay excess of £75 plus 10% of the fees. I've looked for a better policy but am not really coming up with anything, due to his age I think. The policy now doesn't cover any death benefits (hate that term ) or funeral costs, again due to his age

So I'm considering self insuring, is this too risky I'd hate it if he needed a big op and I couldn't afford it but then again would it be kind to put him through anything big at his age, he's 11 (although until last week I thought he was 9) Oh should probably say he's a cavalier (no heart problems etc)

Anyone else self insure or have any advice, it would be appreciated, thanks

When my labs hit 10 I started self insuring, the exclusions on my policy meant that not a lot would be covered. You have to also bear in mind that if your dog required major surgery, would it be fair on an older dog to put them threw it. one of my labs was a fabulous gundog, but due to arthritis was retired, when he turned 10 and i stopped the insurance some one said "but what happens if he breaks a leg" my answer was "then i would pts", as his quality of life would never be the same and i know that a 5 minute potter down the road would destroy him. As it happened my vet advised on putting one down 6 months later due to rapid heart failure, the other died of old age at 13, but had required only paliative care vet visits so the self insurance went towards cremation.

Since our dog got older we just put money by in case. My parents insured their last dog to the end and regretted it. He was 16 and got epilepsy and all kinds of other stuff. Because of the insurance they kept having treatments they said they might jot have done. By the end he was in a bad state and they regretted not having let him go 6 months or a year earlier. Having the medication and vet visits paid was definitely a factor in keeping him going.

Our old boy is 11 and was insured up until a couple of years back. Now if something major went wtong I would be disinclined to operate anyway. He's had a lovely, happy, healthy life. Anything easily treatable we would pay for, of course.

I'm very much in favour in insurance for older dogs. We currently live with four oldies. The higher cost is reflective of the relative risks, and that's part of the overall package of owning a senior. I can think of plenty of examples where older dogs have needed treatment for conditions that haven't necessarily required big operations but are still pretty pricey. Even with the higher excess the insurance has still made a big difference. A quick recent example - one of our middle aged dog's recently had a bladder infection but it took two lots of ABs to sort it. The cheque from the insurance company was very welcome last month! Another friend has a dog that has just been diagnosed with Cushings (more common in middle aged/elderly dogs) - eminently treatable now they know what it is but they've been round the houses a bit getting it sorted, and the bills have piled up.

You should also make provision for your dog to have 3rd party coverage - I wouldn't be without that. Not because my dogs are worrying but because we live in a highly litigious culture now.

To be honest in an older dog the £2,700.00 limit will be reached very quickly if medical care is needed. If this is a chronic condition then you will have no choice but to pay for further treatment yourself. However your policy with excess and 10% of fees is pretty normal for the oldies but can also mount up for just general day to day treatment and you may find it easier not to claim on these so I would not pay for your policy.

I would shop around for other policies and see if you can get a better deal. However saying that I do not insure my oldies I have money set aside for them for day to day injuries/illnesses. I know we are in a situation where we would find the money if we had to but sometimes with oldies the choice ofor treatment is not always so clear cut.

We have third party cover on our business insurance.

Thanks for your replies.

I just found a cheaper policy with Animal Friends, still not much covered but £10 a month cheaper and I'd have my 3rd party cover just in case. Anyone used them?