Insurance
I think many people have become increasingly disheartened with insurance companies over the past 12 months. Premiums are rising to unaffordable levels, yet when owners need to make a claim, they sometimes discover that they are not covered.
Why insurance matters
Here at Silvestre, every puppy receives a thorough health check a few days before leaving us. This allows us to confirm that, at the time of collection, the puppy is showing no known pre-existing conditions. You will receive a health letter, which can be provided to your insurance company if required.
This is the strongest reassurance any breeder can reasonably provide—but it is not a substitute for ongoing pet insurance.
Veterinary fees are no longer limited to a few hundred pounds. Treatment, referrals, investigations and aftercare can easily run into several thousand pounds. As I often say, everything is fine until it isn’t.
For this reason, arranging insurance from the date of collection is extremely important. A puppy may leave us in excellent health, yet develop a virus or another condition a week later due to circumstances outside our control.
Once a puppy leaves our home, responsibility for its care rests with the new owner. Changes in environment, infections, accidents, vaccinations, medications and parasite treatments can all affect a dog’s health, and we cannot be responsible for events that occur after collection. This is why the pre-collection health check is carried out—and why suitable insurance is so important.
Be careful when choosing a policyThere are some concerns about the way certain insurers deal with claims and exclusions. For example, urinary tract infections are relatively common in puppies and may develop after exposure to bacteria in their new environment. However, if you make an early claim, the insurer may later place exclusions on related conditions, such as kidney or urinary tract problems.
You may feel that your dog never had a kidney disorder, but the insurer may still regard a previous urinary issue as relevant to future claims. Always check exactly how a policy deals with related or recurring conditions before taking it out.
Insurance policies generally do not cover pre-existing conditions. Anything discussed with or treated by a veterinary surgeon may be recorded in your dog’s clinical history and could later be considered relevant by an insurer. It is therefore essential to read the policy wording carefully and understand how medical history is assessed.
That said, please do not avoid seeking veterinary advice when your dog genuinely needs it. Your dog’s health must always come first. Instead, ask the insurer how minor or resolved conditions may affect future cover, and keep copies of all veterinary records.
Some policies also have an initial waiting period—for example, five weeks—during which certain claims cannot be made. Check this before purchasing cover.
What to look forI am now reluctant to recommend a specific insurance company because policies, prices and terms change regularly. You will need to research the options yourself and choose the policy that best suits your circumstances.
When comparing policies, look for:
Alternatives to insuranceSome owners choose to open a separate savings account for their dog and contribute to it regularly. This gives them control over the money and avoids the uncertainty of insurance exclusions. However, it requires discipline, and there is always a risk that a serious illness occurs before enough money has been saved.
Whatever option you choose, think carefully about what you could and could not afford in an emergency. Discuss this with your family so that everyone understands the plan. Veterinary treatment can become extremely expensive, and difficult decisions may need to be made quickly.
The most important thing is to make an informed decision, arrange cover—or establish a dedicated savings plan—from the date of collection, and understand exactly what your chosen policy does and does not include.
Hope this helps x R x
I think many people have become increasingly disheartened with insurance companies over the past 12 months. Premiums are rising to unaffordable levels, yet when owners need to make a claim, they sometimes discover that they are not covered.
Why insurance matters
Here at Silvestre, every puppy receives a thorough health check a few days before leaving us. This allows us to confirm that, at the time of collection, the puppy is showing no known pre-existing conditions. You will receive a health letter, which can be provided to your insurance company if required.
This is the strongest reassurance any breeder can reasonably provide—but it is not a substitute for ongoing pet insurance.
Veterinary fees are no longer limited to a few hundred pounds. Treatment, referrals, investigations and aftercare can easily run into several thousand pounds. As I often say, everything is fine until it isn’t.
For this reason, arranging insurance from the date of collection is extremely important. A puppy may leave us in excellent health, yet develop a virus or another condition a week later due to circumstances outside our control.
Once a puppy leaves our home, responsibility for its care rests with the new owner. Changes in environment, infections, accidents, vaccinations, medications and parasite treatments can all affect a dog’s health, and we cannot be responsible for events that occur after collection. This is why the pre-collection health check is carried out—and why suitable insurance is so important.
Be careful when choosing a policyThere are some concerns about the way certain insurers deal with claims and exclusions. For example, urinary tract infections are relatively common in puppies and may develop after exposure to bacteria in their new environment. However, if you make an early claim, the insurer may later place exclusions on related conditions, such as kidney or urinary tract problems.
You may feel that your dog never had a kidney disorder, but the insurer may still regard a previous urinary issue as relevant to future claims. Always check exactly how a policy deals with related or recurring conditions before taking it out.
Insurance policies generally do not cover pre-existing conditions. Anything discussed with or treated by a veterinary surgeon may be recorded in your dog’s clinical history and could later be considered relevant by an insurer. It is therefore essential to read the policy wording carefully and understand how medical history is assessed.
That said, please do not avoid seeking veterinary advice when your dog genuinely needs it. Your dog’s health must always come first. Instead, ask the insurer how minor or resolved conditions may affect future cover, and keep copies of all veterinary records.
Some policies also have an initial waiting period—for example, five weeks—during which certain claims cannot be made. Check this before purchasing cover.
What to look forI am now reluctant to recommend a specific insurance company because policies, prices and terms change regularly. You will need to research the options yourself and choose the policy that best suits your circumstances.
When comparing policies, look for:
- Lifetime cover, rather than a policy that ends after a set period
- Cover for ongoing treatment and aftercare, not just the initial operation or injury
- A high annual veterinary limit—ideally around £15,000, if affordable
- Clear information about exclusions and related conditions
- Details of waiting periods and excesses
- Whether the cover renews each year and whether the annual limit is reinstated
- How pre-existing conditions and previous veterinary visits are treated
Alternatives to insuranceSome owners choose to open a separate savings account for their dog and contribute to it regularly. This gives them control over the money and avoids the uncertainty of insurance exclusions. However, it requires discipline, and there is always a risk that a serious illness occurs before enough money has been saved.
Whatever option you choose, think carefully about what you could and could not afford in an emergency. Discuss this with your family so that everyone understands the plan. Veterinary treatment can become extremely expensive, and difficult decisions may need to be made quickly.
The most important thing is to make an informed decision, arrange cover—or establish a dedicated savings plan—from the date of collection, and understand exactly what your chosen policy does and does not include.
Hope this helps x R x