Hi everyone and a belated happy new year to you all ( my modem died on 31st December and has only just been resolved!)

Spice is settling in well and now we have to get her insurance plan underway! We have the 6week free from KC until end January,but do not intend to continue with them ( I ticked the box to say no thank-you for continuation of policy), so it's Petplan or More Than.But which one? I cannot decide,so can I have your pros and cons please..I have done a 'search on insurance' but it has not really helped me decide.
Thanks in advance
Jacqueline.

No help really, but when I was looking to insure a dog owned in partnership I found Pinacle was the best lifelong cover similar to Pet Plan and more Tahn, but was a thid cheaper than Petplan.

I'm on Pinnacle for dog/cat - I got 3 months free when I used a form from my vet and discount for 2 animals.  Haven't had to claim yet so don't know how good their customer service is, but their costs compare well.

CG

I went for petplan because I wanted one that was for life. this is the first time I have insured a dog . I have insured puppy this time because my last dog developed arthritis as a puppy. We had her till she was 8 she was constantly on painkiller & steroid tablets. We loved her to bits and did all we could but it would have been easier on the purse if she had been insured. Now hows that for advertising pet insurance

Jean

Well as for advertising insurance - you have to have it!  I had my kittens for just weeks when one got suspectedly run over - broken hip, broken jaw, seriously not well.  The first thing my vet asked me when she examined her was "is she insured"  Had I said no i suspect the vet may well have said there was no hope.  Because she was insured, they had her in for 3 weeks, 2 operations, another week, amputation of leg, no mention of money despite my panicking and then we had the cat delivered home well and the vet had sorted it all out with the insurance company.  Isn't that what you need when you have a sick pet?  I think so.  Lulu the 3 legged cat is still enjoying a great life :D

CG

Way to go lulu, Bracken my three legged lab is enjoying life too :)  These tripod animals do wonderful :)

Thanks for all your input,I hadn't heard of Pinnacle health care before and they do look a good choice! I would definately have gone for a lifetime policy no matter what,as vets fees are so expensive these days.

I have also investigated the online vet supplies as previously mentioned on one of the threads on here and found 'wormer' to be MUCH CHEAPER purchased online than from my vets,in fact it is half the price!
Thanks everyone.

I went for Pet plan for the puppy covered for life and no limit (thats what I chose), having been stung by having a £6000 capping per condition on my Lab and having the treatment rise above £10,000 I have learnt a very costly lesson (but she is worth it)

Good on you for forking out that much for your poor Lab but what on earth was wrong for it to cost that much !! Is it me just being cynical or have vet prices rocketed since the widespread availability of insurance policies.

Steve

MARK /SPENCER IS VERY GOOD TO,IT FOR LIFE COVER AND THEY PAY UP QUICKY IN A WEEK OF THE CLAIM.

She went lame aged 8 was at vets daily, they could not tell me what was wrong so I insisted on referral, they sent me to orthapedic surgeon he took one look at the xrays I brought with me and said sorry bone cancer nothing we can do, ( was annoyed at that point when he pointed out the tumor it was so seeable but my vet missed it!!), said with pain killers she could have a couple of months, I am afraid I was not going to accept that, and said is there nothing we can do, he said I will get the soft tissue surgeon to speak to you (if anyone needs a cancer surgeon then I cannot reccommend mine too highly she is the best), she came and was very honest with me, she could take the leg off and the hip too (was in hip bone) and bracken would have 6 to 8 months pain free life, but she would only do this if I had chemo for her and if it had not reached the lungs.  She xrayed her lungs there and then and I decided if it was in the lungs to let her go before she came round from the xray, luckily it wasn't, so I decided to go ahead, I kept asking but do any dogs live happily longer, she said it was very unlikey only one percent chance living longer than 6 to 8 months. Well that was three years ago, until october 2003 when she damaged her one remaining back leg ligament she was running around like an idiot, she has since had the ligament repaired and is just starting to exercise again :) getting her strength back.  The cost of the operation was expensive, but far greater have been the cost after, ie chemo, every three months we go back to the mainland to see the cancer surgeon for tests and xrays, as there will always be a possibility or it returning despite having done so well.  I have swam her in the dog swimming pool to build up her muscles eversince and that really helped  The insurance paid up to £6000 which was the limit then, but of that they took of my excess so I ended up only getting about £5000 from them, luckily alot of the rest of costs has come in smaller block amounts so have paid it as I go, but as I said have learnt my lesson the puppy has petplan :).  I cannot change brackens insurance as no one will touch her now lol.  But I would always look into every option available to me when pets are poorly :)  I know there is only so much you can do, but am amazed how much can be done now days.

Edited to say the operation took over 10 hours to do, I think she deserved her pay ;).  Plus we had to get blood doner dogs in for the operation too!

What a lucky dog she is to have an owner like you and its great to hear how well she's done!! Thankyou you've really cheered me up this morning its so nice to know there's people who are so comitted to their pets.

Steve

Thankyou :)  I am sitting here grinning like an idiot just got back from walking her on the beach and she can run again :) First time she has run since her cruciate ligament operation in November :) Not bad going for 3 legged 11 year old ;)

Congrats Ebony, that's great.

Re Insurance: please just make sure that the plan you choose does not exclude a condition after 12 months. My one doesn't exclude after a set period and doesn't exclude with age. They are Pet Healthcare Insurance services in Henley. Good with paying promptly too! :D

Kat