Insurance for older Dogs

[Jessie_Pup]

We have had Dylan's renewal quote come today, as he will be twelve next year the qoute is now £817.32 annually. OH had to sit down while he read it.
Dylan has his eyes checked every three months for his cataract problem  but we don't claim for that.  What do you all do that have older dogs regarding insuring them? He is with the Kennel Club insurance.

Erica.

[White Bryony]

Woofie is 13 and for the last two years at renewal time we have had long discussions about whether we should renew his insurance - it is currently costing us £55 a month with M+S for the highest level.

Its a bit like emotional blackmail as we want to ensure that money isn't a factor in us deciding whether he has treatment or not but at some stage putting him through operations and long recovery times wouldn't add to the quality of life he has.

For instance he has been diagnosed with age related hip displasia and it is currently being managed with metacam / tramadol ... the vet offered to send us to the orthopaedic specialist to see about hip replacements which would cost £3,000 per each hip and both needed doing.  This would mean having an operation ... waiting 8-12 weeks for recovery and then having the other hip done with the same recovery time.  We felt that 6 months out of his life wasn't fair as his quality of life is still very good. We can only do what we think is best for our dogs ... someone else may feel differently.

I think the time is coming where we will stop insuring Woofie but need to make sure there is a small pot of cash put away for him before we do that.

[Jessie_Pup]

I know how you feel will probably continue insuring him.  If he needed any help regarding treatment the insurance is there . Yet there comes a time would it be in the dogs interest to undergo any intensive treatment.

Erica.

[MIN]

If I found myself in your position (again),  because of Woofie's age I would not even consider putting him through a operation. Big chance he would not survive the anaesthetic. (can not believe your vet has even suggested it especially as the condition is being well managed with medication) If he still has good quality of life and can get about happily then I would leave be. Iam sure woofie will let you know when things change.
13, what a grand age. 

[LurcherGirl]

It depends on your dog really. I would still put my 11-year old lurcher through almost anything as he is as fit and healthy as a two-year old. However, what the situation is in another year or two, I don't know.
My insurance premium for Dylan (said lurcher) is now £106/month, so around £1200/year   I have decided to continue with it as he has a couple of pre-existing conditions which could become very expensive if something went wrong!  

If it gets to the stage where major  surgery may not be an option anymore, then I might consider changing insurance policies to something cheaper, which of course that would mean that pre-existing conditions are excluded.

[Homebird]

I agree with White Bryony - we didn't insure when our dog was older - we put money aside in a (small interest) account and if she had been suitable for surgery would have used that.  When you consider we would have been paying £500-1000 a year for the insurance it seemed a risk worth taking.  But we all have to make that difficult decision, will they need that expensive treatment the minute the insurance lapses and you can't change companies or all pre-existing conditions are excluded.

[waggytails]

When we still had Millie, we reduced her cover to the minimum.  For us it got to a point were we considered her age and what we would do if she need serious treatment, so we kept cover going but it was only for the minimum so at least I knew, if needed she would be covered for small things.