Is Pet Insurance Necessary?

As a dog trainer, one of the most common questions I receive from pet owners is about pet insurance: Is it really necessary? Is it worth the investment? My personal opinion is that every pet, regardless of age or breed, should absolutely have pet insurance.

The simple truth is that you can never predict when an accident or illness might strike. Pets, just like people, can get into situations that require urgent veterinary care—whether it’s a sudden injury from an accident, an unexpected illness, or even something as serious as surgery. The last thing you want to do in those stressful moments is to be faced with a vet bill that could run into thousands of rands and have no financial support to help cover those costs. Pet insurance helps alleviate the financial burden, ensuring that you can focus on your pet’s health and well-being without worrying about how you’re going to afford treatment.

That being said, it’s important to understand the limitations of pet insurance. One key factor to remember is that pet insurance does not cover preexisting conditions. This means that if your pet is already diagnosed with a health issue before you take out an insurance policy, that condition will be excluded from coverage. For instance, if you have an older pet who develops cancer or any other major illness, that condition will be considered preexisting, and any subsequent treatments or vet visits related to cancer will not be covered under your policy. So, while pet insurance is incredibly valuable, it’s essential to start coverage early to avoid gaps in protection.

Ultimately, I believe that the peace of mind pet insurance provides is well worth it. No one wants to think about their pet getting sick or hurt, but when it happens, having insurance can make a huge difference in the care your pet receives and how you manage the financial aspect of veterinary care.

If you have a service dog, or one that is still in training, it seems to be more of a necessity rather than a choice. Service dogs are generally much more active and engaged than typical pets, as they are often required to accompany their owners to a variety of locations, including public spaces that are not designed with pets in mind. These environments can expose service dogs to a variety of potential risks that everyday pets are less likely to encounter. For example, they may come into contact with hazardous chemicals or substances left on the ground, such as cleaning agents or toxic waste, as well as small shards of broken glass or sharp objects that can cause injuries. Additionally, service dogs are sometimes exposed to animals in public spaces that may not be well-behaved or could pose a threat. Given these factors, ensuring the safety and well-being of a service dog is essential, which is why having the proper precautions in place becomes even more important.

I know someone whose 6-month-old service dog prospect unfortunately contracted parvo and required immediate hospitalization. It was a very difficult time, as the dog was critically ill, and the situation was emotionally draining. Thankfully, after receiving intensive care, the dog made a full recovery, but the medical costs were incredibly high. Unfortunately, the person didn’t have the financial means to cover the expenses, which created additional stress during an already challenging situation. It really highlights how unexpected circumstances, like a medical emergency, can become both emotionally and financially overwhelming.

If you have pet insurance, they typically reimburse you for a percentage of your expenses. There are many options and providers available, each covering different amounts. For example, our primary pet insurance reimburses 90% of vet bills for illnesses, accidents, and emergencies, but it doesn’t include wellness care (such as vaccines and routine checkups). The dog we got from someone else has the same insurance, but it covers 100% of those costs for the same conditions, while our current policy only covers 80%. Unfortunately, we can’t switch insurance providers because he now has “pre-existing conditions.

The insurance has saved us thousands of rands. My second service dog developed hip dysplasia in both hips and knee luxations in both knees. He was retired, of course, but we were advised to proceed with surgery on his knee, which cost over ZAR50,000. When that surgery went wrong, the subsequent two surgeries on the same knee each came with the same high cost. Without pet insurance, we might have been forced to put him down, despite him being young at the time, as we simply couldn’t afford the surgeries and the necessary aftercare.

If you have a service dog (or an SDiT or prospect), there’s one key piece of advice I’d like to offer when it comes to pet insurance: avoid telling the insurance company that your dog is a service dog. The reason for this is that, because pet insurance isn’t as heavily regulated as other types of insurance, some companies may charge additional fees for working dogs, including service dogs. It’s a practice that’s not uncommon, and it could result in your premiums going up unnecessarily. In most cases, being open about your dog being a service animal doesn’t give you any financial benefits, such as discounts. I’m not suggesting that you lie about your dog’s status, of course, but when it comes to pet insurance, every extra dollar counts, especially since the cost of insurance can already be a burden. Adding fees for a working dog can just make the price even higher.

When deciding whether or not pet insurance is right for you, it’s helpful to do a bit of math. Think about how much you would pay monthly for your dog’s insurance over their expected lifespan and how much it would take in vet bills to make that monthly payment worthwhile. In our case, because of some major surgeries our dog needed early in his life, we’ve actually received more in reimbursement from the insurance than we’ll likely ever pay them over his lifetime. While those types of surgeries aren’t common, the point is that unexpected, expensive veterinary care can come up at any time. For example, what if your dog swallows something they shouldn’t, and they need surgery to remove it? Or maybe they need an X-ray to determine if they’ve ingested something dangerous? These kinds of situations can quickly become very costly, and insurance helps alleviate the financial burden in these cases.

I personally feel more comfortable having insurance in place because it gives me the option to get the necessary diagnostics, treatments, or surgeries for my dog without worrying about the expense. Without insurance, many veterinary services, particularly those requiring advanced tests or emergency interventions, could be out of reach financially. It’s not always easy to predict what might come up in the future, but knowing that I can give my dog the care they need when it’s necessary is worth the peace of mind. That being said, pet insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s important to consider your personal financial situation and what you can afford. Some people may choose not to have insurance, while others might find it invaluable for managing the unexpected. However, in my experience, I think pet insurance is generally worth it. Pets, like humans, tend to face some kind of illness or accident at some point in their lives, and it can be incredibly expensive to handle those situations without the support of insurance. In the end, it’s all about balancing what works for you and your pet’s needs.