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Dog insurance

Find cover for your furry friend

Compare a wide range of UK dog insurance policies, including cover for pre-existing conditions and multi-dog households.
Understand the different types of policies available - from lifetime to accident-only cover.
Get instant quotes tailored to your dog's breed, age, and health needs.

Compare dog insurance quotes

When you're getting a dog insurance quote, you've got to first think about what level of cover you want. You've got a few options:

Lifetime pet insurance - This is usually the most comprehensive type of dog insurance. It covers your dog for life, and any conditions that start when the policy is active.
Maximum-benefit - You have a pot of money per condition (illness and injury). Once the pot runs out for that condition, you have to cover the cost yourself. If your dog gets a new condition, your insurer starts another pot of money for treatment.

Time-limited - It covers a condition for a certain time, usually 12 months from when your pet started treatment.
Accident-only pet insurance - Only covers your dogs for accidents like a fracture.

We'll go into more detail on these later.

How to compare dog insurance quotes

Comparing dog insurance policies is a great way to see the different types of cover available. When we've got your list of quotes ready, you can click the 'more info' button. It lists what the policy covers, and what it doesn't.

Tell us about your dog

First we'll need a few of your dog's details. Such as their name, how much you paid for your dog and their breed. We'll need to know your details too, like your address and contact details.

What cover do you need?

You can choose accident only, or accident and illness. Then you can choose what type of policy you want. You choose how much cover you'd like here too. It ranges from £1,000-£4,000 or more.

Compare dog insurance quotes

In just a minute or 2, we'll compare up to 26 trusted pet insurers and find you some quotes. It's important to check what each policy covers. Don't just pick the cheapest option.

Why do I need dog insurance?

The main reason for insuring your dog is to help you out with vet bills. According to the ABI, treatment for Arthritis could cost over £2,000. For a spinal injury, vet treatment could cost £8,000 - £10,000.

If you didn't have pet insurance, you'd have to pay for this yourself.

But pet insurance doesn't just cover illnesses - it can cover the cost of missing posters if your dog gets lost. Or if you get ill, some pet insurance policies cover your pet's care while you recover.

Our dogs are unpredictable, so it's helpful to think of dog insurance as a sort of safety net against the unexpected.

Types of dog insurance policies explained

There are 4 different types of dog insurance to choose from:

Accident-only

This only covers accidents, for example, your dog cutting their leg on something or getting a fracture.

It's often the cheapest policy (a bit like third-party only if you have a car) and the least comprehensive because it only covers accidents.

Time-limited

This is the next level up from accident-only. It comes with a specific amount of cover (pot of money) for treatment.

You're only covered for 12 months of treatment or until the pot of money runs out, whichever comes first.

Insurers usually start the year's cover from when the treatment starts.

It's one of the cheapest types of cover, and you get some protection for different illnesses and accidents. But it'll stop after 12 months whether you've used your pot of money or not.

It's not a great choice if your dog is diagnosed with an ongoing condition, like Arthritis.

Maximum-benefit

This is one of the more comprehensive types of dog insurance.

You have a pot of money per condition. For example, a pot for injuries, another one for conditions like Gastroenteritis.

But once these pots have run out, you're on your own. You'd have to pay to cover these conditions yourself.

Again, it's not a great policy if your dog is diagnosed with a condition that needs ongoing treatment. But it's more comprehensive than the time-limited and accident-only.

Lifetime cover

This is probably the most comprehensive type of dog insurance. It covers accidents, illnesses and injuries for the duration of your dog's life.

If your dog develops a condition that'll need treatment for life, life time insurance covers it. That's as long as you keep renewing the policy.

There's no limit on this like there would be on the maximum-benefit policy. You just need to make sure you renew the policy every year to keep it active.

What's the best insurance type for my dog?

It depends on your dog, for example, it's age, breed and health history can all have a bearing on the type of policy you choose.

But really, opting for a lifetime policy is probably the best option. It covers your pet for life, and any long-term conditions that they might develop. It also covers accidents and illnesses, not just accidents.

Maximum-benefit is probably the next best option, but remember that you only have a limited amount of cover per condition.

Accident-only and time-limited are more like basic safety nets.

If you've got a dog with a pre-existing condition, remember that if you switch insurers, their pre-existing condition won't be covered by the new insurer.

If you've got a working dog, insuring them is slightly different. If your dog does herding, shooting, guarding, or even assistance work in some cases, you'll need a specialist policy. We'll talk more about this in a bit.

How much does dog insurance cost in the UK?

The price you pay for dog insurance varies depending on:

Your dog's breed - some are more prone to conditions than others.
How old your dog is - having an older dog means they're more likely to develop health conditions.
Where you live - there might be more hazards to dogs living in city centres vs. the countryside, for example. The price of vet treatments can also vary based on location. For example, it might cost more in London.
Medical conditions - your pet insurance could be more expensive if your dog has medical conditions. Some insurers might not cover the condition at all.

How to reduce your pet insurance prices

The main thing is to keep your pet in good health. Make sure they're getting proper exercise and have a good diet.

Take them for their annual vet check so your vet can spot any red flags health-wise. That way, they can treat any health issues before they develop into something more serious.

It's also worth shopping around to see what policies are out there. But don't skimp on cover, you might be saving on your insurance price, but you might have to pay a hefty vet bill.

Insurance for dogs with pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions aren't included as standard on most pet insurance policies - but there are specialist pet insurers out there that can help.

Try searching for mainstream pet insurers that cover pre-existing conditions.

Pet insurance for pre-existing conditions can come with caveats though, like cover limits and exclusions. Our key piece of advice: always read your policies terms and conditions so you know what's covered.

We unfortunately don't compare pet insurers that specialise in pre-existing conditions. But you could still get a standard pet insurance policy. It would cover everything but treatment for the pre-existing condition.

For example, if your pet had arthritis, you can't claim on your policy for pain relief. You'd have to pay for this yourself.

But if your dog got a cut on their leg and needed treatment or stitches, your pet insurance should cover this.

What our pet insurance expert says

"Some policies exclude hereditary conditions common in certain breeds - like hip dysplasia in Labradors or heart issues in Cavaliers. Check if your dog's breed has specific exclusions before buying a policy."

Faith Tagg - Confused.com pet insurance expert

Faith Tagg Pet insurance expert

Multi-dog insurance

If you've got more than 1 dog, you could insure them both on a multi-pet insurance policy. This is usually cheaper than insuring them on separate policies. Plus, it's one less bit of admin to think about.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any breed-specific considerations I should make when buying dog insurance?

Yes, it might be worth choosing a policy specifically for your dog's breed. That's because some breeds of dog are more prone to illnesses than others. Here's a list of common health conditions in different breeds:

Breed	Common Health Conditions
German Shepherd	Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, arthritis, joint disorders
Golden Retriever	Hip and elbow dysplasia, heart conditions, cancer (e.g. hemangiosarcoma)
Labrador Retriever	Exercise intolerance and collapse (EIC), obesity-related joint issues, Von Willebrand Disease (bleeding disorder).
English Bulldog	Brachycephalic airway syndrome, hip dysplasia, cherry eye, entropion (eyelid inversion)
Cocker Spaniel	Ear infections, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts glaucoma, heart disease, patellar luxation
Dachshund	Intervertebral disc disease (back issues), patellar luxation, hip dysplasia
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Mitral valve disease (early-onset heart failure)
Rhodesian Ridgeback	Hip dysplasia, dermoid sinus, degenerative myelopathy, hypothyroidism, bloat
Bulldog	Hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, skin-fold dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, birthing issues
Basset Hound	Skeletal malformations, bloat glaucoma, yeast/skin infections, hereditary thrombopathies (excessive spontaneous bleeding)
St. Bernard	Bone cancer, polyneuropathy (nerve damage), dilated cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament deficiency, bloat, skin disorders
Scottish Terrier	Von Willebrand's disease (bleeding disorder), craniomandibular osteopathy (excessive bone growth around the jaw and ears), Scottie cramp (muscle spasms and stiffness), cataracts, glaucoma, bladder cancer

Some dogs are seen by insurers as riskier than others because they're more prone to health conditions. For example, Bulldogs, King Charles Cavalier Spaniels and Dachshunds.

Over time, these breeds have developed a history of illnesses. That makes them more expensive to insure, because insurers are more likely to have to cover a vet bill for say, breathing problems, or heart disease.

Some insurers might not cover some breeds. For example, brachycephalic breeds, like bulldogs and pugs can have serious breathing problems. More often than not they need specialist surgery to fix Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).

This is expensive, and so common that insurers might refuse to cover it. It's not impossible to find insurance for this breed, but you might need a specialist policy and it'll often be more expensive.

If you have a breed that's prone to health problems, it's worth looking into specialist insurance that offers the right insurance for your dog's specific needs.

Can I get pet insurance for working dogs?

If you use your dog for herding, security, gundog work, or any kind of commercial role, pet insurance won't do the job.

That's because pet insurance is mainly for companion dogs. Their day-to-day lives are very different to working dogs. So something more specialist is needed here.

That's where working dog insurance comes in. It covers the specific risks a working dog might face. For example, if your sheepdog was kicked by livestock, your working dog insurance would cover the treatment.

Loss of use is covered too, so if your dog can't work anymore, some insurers pay out a lump sum.

Sadly, theft or straying is pretty common in working dogs. But working dog insurance can generally cover this.

Public liability is also included in working dog insurance. So, if your dog causes damage, injury or an accident while it's working, this insurance can step in and cover some legal costs.

We don't compare working dog insurance policies, you can find this type of insurance through agricultural insurance companies like NFU mutual, Petplan sanctuary and CLA insurance.

Can I get pet insurance for a rescue dog?

Yes! You can get pet insurance for a rescue dog, just like you would if you were buying a dog.

There's a lot to think about when you rescue a dog. That's why some rescues give you a temporary pet insurance policy that covers you for a couple of weeks while your pet gets settled in.

It gives you a bit of time to shop around for pet insurance, and find the best policy for your pooch.

One thing to be aware of, if you're rescuing a dog that has a pre-existing condition, you probably won't get pet insurance to cover this. You might have to pay for this treatment yourself.

If you foster dogs, they should be covered under the rescue centre's insurance. Make sure you check this with the rescue centre though.