We are not FCA regulated, but offer the following information on Insurance as a general guide only.

Veterinary fees can soon add up especially in emergency situations or with ongoing medical conditions so having insurance to help cover some of the costs enables your pet to get the best treatment.

There are generally four types of pet insurance cover:-

1. Accident only Cover - Often the cheapest,   this will only cover if the pet has an accident,   like a road traffic accident but not for any medical conditions.   Some may also have a time limit and most have a fixed sum of money they will pay out for each accident.

2. Per condition Cover with a time limit - Whilst one of the cheapest covers that pays for accidents and illnesses,   the cover is for a maximum of 12 months.   They often also have a payout limit;   meaning if the limit is reached or the condition lasts more than 1 year you will have to pay the extra.

3. Per condition, no time limit - This is similar to No 2,   but there is no 12 month limit as long as you renew the policy,   you just have to pay a new excess each year.

4. For Lifetime cover - The most comprehensive and the one we recommend,   but the most expensive.   They have a maximum amount per policy year and require a new excess payout each year but lifelong illnesses are covered each year as long as you renew the policy.   These policies are more likely to cover extras such as dental fees,   lost animal adverts or burial fees.

Think twice before changing your insurance each year to save money.   Unlike car or house insurance it may not be beneficial to change pet insurance companies.   This is because any new policies will often put exclusions on any previous health conditions or reasons for past claims.   For this reason it is best to check out the company you are about to get insurance from as once you commit you may need to deal with them for many years.

PREMIUMS - these will increase for older pets and often rise rapidl.  You may be asked to pay apercentage of the bill as well as the excess as set out in your policy.   Most policies have a maximum age limit on starting a new policy so it is best to get insurance early on.   Some ''Individual Condition'' policies will charge an excess per condition instead of an excess per year.   It is worth checking what exclusions they have on the policy such as dental procedures.   Also check the wording as some policies have a total amount you can claim each year but also a total amount per condition,   so a £4000 policy may be the total overall and not the total per condition.   Basically read the small print so you really do know what you are buying and do not choose your policy on price alone.

EXCESS - this is the amount you have to pay each time you claim for a new condition and on each policy year for continuous conditions.   Some companies will require this excess for every claim whilst others will only require it once for each condition for the length of that condition.   Check the small print.

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS - These are illnesses or injuries that your pet has suffered before starting the new insurance policy.   These will not be covered (excluded) and so you will not be able to make a claim if they re-occur.   This is one reason why insuring your pet when they are healthy and young is the best way to go.

DEFERRED PERIOD -This is the amount of time that needs to pass after the insurance policy being taken out before any claims for illnesses can be made.   This is typically between 10-30 days.   Any illnesses in this time will not be covered.

THIRD PARTY INSURANCE - This provides cover should your pet cause accidental injury or damage to someone else’s person, property or pet (such as damage done to a car by your pet if hit whilst off the lead - as you are legally responsible for the damage to the car,   irrespective of the injury to your pet).   This can sometimes include legal costs.   However this does not apply to cats as they are legally regarded as ''free spirits'' and not able to be under the owner's control.