It is no surprise that dogs are Australia’s most popular pet. They help us to deal better with stress, improve our quality of life and even increase our overall health and wellbeing[1].
But just like people, dogs get sick. And when they do the bills can add up to thousands of dollars. That’s why more dog owners are taking out pet insurance to cover their companions in the event of illness or injury. After all, our dogs are part of our families and their health and wellbeing is as important as our own.
There are some routine treatments that all dog owners should budget for each year. Like us, dogs need regular check-ups, teeth cleaning and vaccinations to ensure they stay in peak condition. The top 10 routine treatments for dogs include:
- Vaccinations
- Health checks
- Flea, tick or worm control
- Heartworm control
- Prescription diets
- Desexing
- Teeth cleaning
- Blood screening
- Dental illness treatment
- Microchipping
But even with the best preventative care, your dog could still have an accident or fall ill. The chart below sets out the most expensive pet operations completed in Australia. You can use this information to help you work out what your ongoing expenses could be and to think about whether taking out pet insurance might be right for you.
Source – Real Insurance Claims Statistics as at June 2015.
Real Insurance offers dog owners affordable Pet Insurance packages to pay for essential treatment in an emergency. Depending on the policy you choose it can also help to pay for the costs of illness, along with routine healthcare like teeth cleaning and worming.
Real Insurance offers 3 levels of pet cover:2
- Premium Accident and Illness Cover – this is the highest level of cover, where you can claim up to 80% of eligible vet bills for an accident and injury, up to a maximum of $12,000 per year (Pre-existing Conditions are excluded). You can also add Routine Care Benefit to this policy and Real Insurance will help with the cost of everyday treatments like vaccinations and health checks.
- Standard Accident and Illness Cover – with this cover option, Real Insurance will cover up to 75% of eligible vet bills for an illness and injury, up to a maximum of $12,000 per year (Pre-existing Conditions are excluded), so you can give your dog the care they need to help them get well.
- Accident Cover – if your dog suffers an accident, you can claim up to 80% of eligible vet bills up to a maximum of $8,000 per year (Pre-existing Conditions are excluded).
Some dog owners may find that pet insurance is a great way to manage vet expenses and can give peace of mind when you need it most. Remember, a dog is for life and happy dogs make happy families.
[1] Source: Australian Companion Animal Council http://www.acac.org.au/pdf/PetFactBook_June-6.pdf
Animal Health Alliance, Pet Ownership in Australia 2013 http://223.27.22.40/~sh10135/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Pet-Ownership-in-Australia-2013-Summary-report-2013.pdf
2 This is general information and does not take into account your financial situation. Terms and conditions apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement available at www.realinsurance.com.au. Real Pet Insurance issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473.
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