Many pet owners start by comparing the monthly premium when looking at pet health insurance. 30 euros or 45 euros? Zero euros or a 250-euro deductible? 80 percent or 100 percent coverage? These questions are important, but they are by no means the deciding factor in whether a pet health insurance plan will actually cover the costs in an emergency. After all, two plans can both advertise “100 percent coverage” and still differ in their benefits—differences that could amount to several thousand euros down the line. That’s exactly why it’s worth taking a close look at the fine print. In this article, we’ll show you ten benefits that many pet owners overlook when signing up, but which can make a huge difference in an emergency.
When people think of pet health insurance, the first thing that comes to mind is often the surgery itself. In reality, however, the first costs often arise much earlier. Before surgery, your pet may need:
Modern diagnostic procedures, in particular, can quickly cost several hundred or even over a thousand euros. A good insurance plan therefore covers not only the surgery itself but also the medically necessary preoperative examinations.
After most surgeries, treatment for many pets is not yet complete. Often, additional costs arise during the recovery process. Depending on the condition, the following may be necessary:
These costs can add up very quickly, especially with orthopedic procedures. That’s why it’s worth checking how long pre- and post-treatment care is covered under your specific plan.
After cruciate ligament surgery, herniated discs, or joint procedures, veterinarians often recommend physical therapy. This includes, for example:
Depending on the scope of treatment, costs can range from several hundred to over a thousand euros. Not all pet health insurance plans automatically cover these treatments.
Not every medical condition can be detected on an X-ray. Anxiety disorders, aggression, or traumatic experiences can significantly impact a dog’s or cat’s daily life. For this reason, some insurers also cover behavioral therapy or the treatment of related behavioral issues. Others exclude these services entirely. This difference can prove crucial later on, especially for young dogs or animals from animal shelters.
Hardly any other coverage area distinguishes insurance plans as much as dental treatment. While some plans only cover tooth extractions resulting from accidents, others also reimburse the following:
Other insurers, in turn, offer separate dental coverage options for these services. Dental treatments can incur significant costs, especially for older animals or certain breeds.
Many dog owners take their four-legged friends on vacation. But what happens if your dog suddenly needs veterinary care while traveling? Not every pet insurance policy offers the same coverage abroad. Differences exist, for example, in:
If you travel regularly, you should definitely compare these details.
More and more insurers are offering additional health budgets. These can be used, for example, for:
Depending on the plan, fixed budgets are available for these services per insurance year. This not only provides coverage for serious illnesses but also helps reduce regular healthcare costs.
Many pet insurance plans operate on a reimbursement basis. This means that you pay the vet bill yourself first and are then reimbursed for the costs, depending on your plan. However, some insurers also offer direct billing with certain veterinary practices or animal hospitals. This can provide significant financial relief, especially when dealing with very high bills, since you don’t have to pay several thousand euros out of pocket.
Many pet owners assume that any pet health insurance policy covers all costs. However, that’s not automatically the case. Some plans limit the annual reimbursement to, for example:
Others have no annual coverage limit at all. Especially in cases of serious illnesses, multiple surgeries, or long hospital stays, unlimited coverage can be very helpful.
A low premium isn’t much help if important conditions aren’t covered at all. That’s why you should pay special attention to potential exclusions when comparing plans. These include, for example:
Equally important is the question of whether the insurer can terminate the policy following a major claim or whether your coverage will remain in effect long-term. Especially if your pet develops a chronic condition later on, you’ll want to be able to count on continuing coverage.
There is no such thing as the "best" pet health insurance for everyone. A young mixed-breed dog has different needs than an older Maine Coon. An active Labrador may require different coverage than a French Bulldog with breed-specific health risks. That’s why it’s worth comparing different plans based on your specific needs. In addition to price, you should pay particular attention to the scope of coverage, potential exclusions, the coverage limit, pre- and post-treatment care, and long-term coverage.
There are a wide variety of free comparison platforms available online. Here, you can compare over 200 different pet health insurance plans tailored to your pet’s specific details. This allows you to quickly identify which plans are right for your dog or cat and what differences exist in the scope of coverage. After all, many plans advertise “100 percent reimbursement.” However, what matters most is what exactly this 100 percent actually covers. That’s precisely why a careful comparison is often more valuable than any so-called “test winner.”
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace veterinary advice. Please contact your veterinary practice directly.
Thiamine (=vitamin B1) is required by all cells in the body for energy production. Nerve cells have particularly high energy requirements and depend on an adequate supply of thiamine. A deficiency leads to functional disorders that result in degenerative changes in the brain. Cats are primarily affected. Thiamine-deficient encephalopathy is less common in dogs.
Infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum was first described in the 19th century in southern France, which is where the name “French heartworm” comes from. It commonly affects foxes and, less frequently, dogs, and is transmitted through the ingestion of snails. In Germany, French heartworm has only recently come under increased scrutiny, as the consequences of infection can be severe.
UV radiation in Central Europe has increased unexpectedly sharply in recent decades. This is primarily due to climate change and changes in cloud cover. Sunburn is a serious issue—and not just for us humans. UV radiation also causes skin damage in animals.
Diabetes insipidus is a hormonal disorder in which the kidneys excrete excessive amounts of water. This results in the production of large volumes of very watery urine, often several liters a day. The loss of water causes intense thirst, leading affected animals to drink extremely large amounts of water.
Pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis) is a bacterial infection of the renal pelvis that involves the kidney tissue. It is usually caused by bacteria that travel up through the urinary tract into the kidney. For this reason, it is usually accompanied by inflammation of the ureter and the bladder. In rare cases, pathogens reach the kidneys via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream, leading to what is known as excretory nephritis.
An ectopic ureter is a congenital malformation in which the ureter does not empty into the bladder as it should, but instead empties into another location, such as the bladder neck, the urethra, the vagina, or the uterus. Affected dogs cannot voluntarily control urination and experience continuous dribbling.
Watery feces have become a common occurrence in horses. This refers to the passage of a blackish-brown, usually acidic liquid along with the feces. The feces themselves are normally shaped. Watery feces may be passed independently or along with the feces. In severe cases, it is excreted in a gush. It may be a persistent condition, occur only in winter or summer, or appear intermittently—for example, during stressful situations such as loading. Fecal water is far more than just a cosmetic problem.
A perineal laceration refers to an injury to the perineum, the area between the vulva (the externally visible female reproductive organs) and the anus. It is one of the most common birth injuries in mares. A perineal laceration should always be treated surgically, unless it is very small.
Rot is a rot disease affecting the hoof area, specifically the frog and the surrounding tissue. Bacteria and/or fungi colonize this area when it is damp, breaking down the horn and forming a slimy, foul-smelling coating. Rot occurs more frequently in the hind hooves than in the front hooves.
