Insurance - not covering ‘scavinging’

[Delatron]

We’ve been with Many Pets for about 4 years. No real problems, they pay out quickly without quibble. We have a lively lab who has had a few accidents now - one involving eating mince pies and one accident running in to a branch.

Coincidently (or not) our premiums rise by the exact same amount as the claim. So we’re now up to £170 a month. Tried Pet Plan and they’ll do £125 per month but not cover ‘scavenging’ so I’m guessing anything involving him eating something he shouldn’t.

We are careful in the home but can’t account for things he may find outside. Can’t decide whether to stick with Many Pets or accept the lower cost but with this exemption.

Anyone else had this with labs and Pet Plan? Trying to think of worst case - I guess if he eats something and has to have surgery to remove? Then they don’t cover that.

I can see you have decided to stick with your current one which is probably wise as we have had two emergency surgeries due to 'scavenging' with the bill being in the thousands each time. And yes we now muzzle when walking to avoid the stress of it all as the cost is covered but not the emotional side.

I've got a 6 year old large breed dog. They are chunky so everything costs more, they have many health problems as a breed and they're sometimes a bit of a dick personality wise but we only pay £40 per month. Which I was thinking of cancelling because it was so much 😂

I'd say you're a walking advertisement for insurance as you have one incredibly unlucky dog! I honestly don't know what I'd do in your situation because it sounds like you're just paying for the treatment at a monthly rate rather than one go.

Why can't you account for what's outside? I'd say if he can't be trusted then he can't be off a lead, long line only until he stops running into branches and eating stuff he shouldn't?!

I’m with animal friends and they have paid out to have a sock fished out of my dogs stomach, but we have been with them since she was a pup so I’m not sure what it would be like if we had to start from scratch. I muzzle on all walks now, it’s much less stressful for me and means she can sniff the verges as much as she likes.

My 4yo lab costs £78 a month with PetPlan on their covered for life+. They didn't ask me about scavenging. He's been insured with them since he was 8wks old. I can't see scavenging on the small print.

With pet insurance you really have to stick with the same company and choose a covered for life policy. If you change next year, any previous conditions are usually not covered. So as he's been treated for scavenging before, that won't be covered in a new policy.

If he was only 8 weeks old with you took out the policy then they won't ask.

It's more of an issue with adult that have never been insured before or if you're switching companies.

Fair enough.

I’d say if you own a Lab, a scavenging exclusion renders the policy pretty useless.

Although, I think part of the issue is vet practices who convince (insured) clients their dog needs all sorts of specialist treatment and two nights stay when they ingest a stray sultana. It’s very lucrative.

I think it’s a good point - at this stage with about 4 claims we are probably better sticking with the same company and taking the hit.

To be fair to him the mine pies were my fault (left in a bag and he found them). And we haven’t had any accidents with scavenging outside - he just finds the odd bit of food from time to time.

This is true. I’ve heard of dogs having ££ treatment for one grape. This never used to happen in the olden days.

I know there are a certain percentage of dogs that are fatally allergic to grapes/raisins and you don’t know which are. I think I can safely say my lab is not one of them now.