Does anyone have experience of taking out a new insurance for a 10 year old dog? Her renewal from Sainsburys has come in at a whopping £1600 so I shall cancel it. I know the pitfalls of pre-existing conditions but have still made the decision to cancel her policy so all advice welcome. Thanks.

Animal friends will insure an older dog. They pay out 65% on claims for older dogs. Merlot at 9 1/2 even with her cushings and the fact that they have paid out huge sums over the last few months still comes in at approx £50 per month. I have never had a problem with them paying out. She has some arthritis and they have paid for many courses of hydrotherapy and now still pay for her pain relief if needed. The say in the information they are happy to insure older, new customer dogs.
Aileen

Thanks.

I just changed insurers for my older dog, as it was ridiculous. She is just over 10 1/2. I went from M&S to Tesco. Tesco is £49.50 for £7000 per condition cover, I went for a high excess £90 or £100 I think, because I am only really worried about the insurance for something major. M & S had put it up to £117 per month.  Obviously she wont be covered for any pre existing conditions, but the cost of medicuation for arthritis which is her only pre existing is so cheap bought online anyway. I just wanted cover should anything new hit us. At least I know for the next 12 months, that is all it will cost. I don't know what renewal will come in at after the year, but realistically she hasn't got that many more years ahead. If we make 13 years I would consider us blessed. So if it is expensive again after that we may just have to bite the bullet unless we can change again as we have this time, but we might be pushing it at 11 1/2.

Neither of my two (15 & 11) are insured. They are both extremely healthy at the moment (fortunately) but I wouldn't consider any major treatment for them now anyway so insurance is just not worth the money.

I thought that too, Daisy and was about to cancel my old RR's insurance as he was 12. Then he got torsion but we caught it early and he was a big, strong and fit boy and we decided to give him a chance. He was allowed to come home after 2 days but my bill was still over £2000. Then recently he had to have a couple of teeth taken out, and I'm waiting for the bill for that. I wasn't going to have him put to sleep for a couple of teeth but they were causing him problems. It's going to be pricey too I expect. But he's now even better than he was before they were removed, chasing my cows (albeit only a short distance :) ) and so happy and full of beans. We're looking forward to his 13th birthday next month (all crossed!)
It's just a gamble with insurance ...

Dental work isn't usually covered under insurance, sadly. :-(

> It's just a gamble with insurance

Oh I agree :) Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't PTS just for a few teeth (unless he couldn't have a GA and was in pain), but we were paying £50 a month for the two of them 9 years ago when we stopped insuring (they were fit healthy dogs then so worth the risk) - we've saved huge amounts of money so far and are able, anyway, to fund any treatment that we choose. I just feel that having insurance for oldies may, for some people, put them through surgery/treatments that it may be kinder not to do - just because the funding is there through insurance - if you see what I mean :) Tara (at 11) is extremely fit, but I still wouldn't put her through, say, chemo. Bramble had a minor op on his eye at 12/13. I didn't have a problem with that - it's just major surgery (or not being fit enough for it anyway) that is not an option for me at this age.

Pet Plan have paid out for the removal of a broken tooth for one of mine before, and I'm hoping they will this time. Fingers crossed!

Insurance is always such a gamble.

I have insured her with Liverpool Victoria for £35 per month, £5000 cover, £6o excess, on a one year policy. Surely it is only for the owner to decide if a dog is too old to be put through treatment?  My 12 year old had a cruciate repair 4 years ago which removed the pain and she lived a further 3 very happy, pain-free years until she was 15 years and 4 months. Should I have put her to sleep, left her in pain or gone for the op? My decision surely?  Too many people are quick to judge others.

> Too many people are quick to judge others
>Surely it is only for the owner to decide if a dog is too old to be put through treatment?

You did ask for advice in your opening post and that was what you got :) :) Everybody has a different opinion - sometimes it is helpful to hear others opinions. I have based my own decisions for my oldies on a very painful experience when my aunt (when I was living with her) refused to have her 17 year old beagle PTS until long after she ought to. I woke up every morning hoping that he had died during the night and when the vet was coming to see him, I came home from work hoping that he had gone :( :( The vet kept on dishing out the pills etc - my aunt could afford to pay. It was awful - no dog of mine will ever have that end :( :(

In no way were people telling you what to do - merely telling you what they do (or will do).