Pet Insurance for
Growing Dogs
Bringing home a puppy is equal parts excitement and chaos. One minute, they’re curled up asleep, the next, they’re chewing something they definitely shouldn’t be. With all that curiosity and energy, it’s no surprise that unexpected vet bills can pop up while they grow and explore the world.
That’s usually when pet insurance for your puppy starts to come into the picture. With so much growth (and a fair bit of mischief) happening in those early months, having cover in place may assist with eligible vet expenses for accidents and illnesses as your puppy figures out the world around them.
Why Many Owners Look Into Cover Early
For many new dog owners, insurance pops up on the to-do list not long after bringing their puppy home. Somewhere between toilet training, puppy school and settling into a new routine, it becomes something worth looking into.
It’s not about expecting something to go wrong. It’s more about getting your head around what your options are before anything unexpected happens.
Puppies are still growing and learning, and while most go on to live happy, healthy lives, there can be a few bumps along the way. Looking into pet insurance for puppies early gives you time to understand how policies work, including waiting periods and what counts as a pre-existing condition.
Starting early also means you can compare features, read through policy terms properly and make a more considered choice.
What pet Insurance Can Help Cover for your puppy
When pet parents start looking into pet insurance for their puppy, it’s usually because they’ve realised just how quickly vet visits can pop up in those early months. From zoomies gone wrong to curious taste-testing, puppies have a way of keeping things interesting.
Depending on the policy, pet insurance for puppies may assist with eligible vet expenses related to accidents and illnesses, including:
- Surgery for injuries or unexpected conditions
- Hospitalisation and overnight care
- Diagnostic tests such as X-rays, blood tests or scans
- Prescription medications
- Emergency vet visits
- Ongoing treatment for covered conditions, where applicable
These are the kind of costs many owners think about when deciding whether pet insurance for puppies could be helpful as their pup grows.
It’s important to remember that cover is always subject to policy terms, conditions, limits, exclusions, waiting periods and eligibility requirements.
Reviewing the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) will help you understand exactly what may and may not be included.
Flexible Options for You Puppy
As They Grow
When you’re comparing pet insurance options for your puppy, flexibility is one of the biggest things to look for. Puppies change quickly, and what suits them in those early months might not be the same once they’ve grown into adults.
With Pet Insurance Australia’s Select & Protect approach, you can choose your annual benefit limits2, benefit percentage15 and excess4 based on what works for you. It gives you the ability to shape your dog’s cover around how you’d prefer to handle potential vet costs as your puppy grows up.
There are also optional benefits, like (non-insurance) Routine Care which contributes towards certain routine and preventative items, and Booster Care, which may help with specified dental conditions and specialised therapies. These can sit alongside your accident and illness cover, depending on what you decide to include.
| Option | What It Means | Your Choices | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual benefit limit2 | This is the maximum amount you can claim for per policy period, subject to any applicable excess, for eligible accidental injuries and illnesses, as well as emergency boarding. Booster Care and Routine Care (non insurance benefit) are subject to their own limits. | $15,000; $25,000 and $35,000 | Lower for budget-conscious premiums; higher if you want more protection. |
| Benefit Percentage14 (Reimbursement) | The percentage of the eligible vet bill we will cover before the applicable annual excess is applied. Where applicable, it is also subject to the annual benefit limit or Booster Care limit. | 70%, 80%, 90% | Higher % can allow you to claim more back on your eligible vet bills. |
| Annual Excess4 | The amount you may contribute to your claim. The annual excess applies to each eligible claim in the policy period until fully paid. | $0, $100, $300, $600* *$600 annual excess not available with 70% benefit percentage | Choose a higher annual excess to help lower your premium. Just remember you may pay more out of pocket at claim time. |
| Routine care add-on7 | Optional non-insurance benefit to cover for everyday care such as vaccinations, microchipping, flea/tick | An optional benefit which you can add to your policy | Add for additional vet-cost cover. |
| Specified dental conditions add-on (Booster Care13) | Optional cover for specified dental conditions, subject to the Booster Care limit of $2500 | An optional benefit which you can add to your policy | Add for extra vet-cost protection; Great for breeds prone to dental issues. |
| Specialised therapies add-on (Booster Care13) | Optional cover for specialised therapies, subject to the Booster Care limit of $2500 | Add to your policy or skip | Add to boost vet-cost protection; skip to lower premium |
| Waiting periods | The time from your policy start date when your pet isn’t covered for certain conditions or benefits in the first year you first obtained cover for them. If a condition exists or occurs during the waiting period, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and may be excluded from cover. | Accidental injury – 2days Illness – 30days Cruciate Ligament Conditions – 6 months Specified dental conditions (Booster Care) – 6 months Behavioural conditions (Booster Care)– 30days | Starting early helps ensure your pet is covered sooner rather than later |
| Multi-pet discount12 | A percentage saving when you insure more than one pet. | Get 5% off for each additional pet you insure after the first, up to 15% max.* Example: 2nd pet: 5% | Helpful for multi-pet households. |
| Choice of vet | Use any licensed vet in Australia, other than yourself. | Included on all policies | Continue care with your preferred vet |
Get a Quote for Pet Insurance for your Puppy
Between puppy cuddles, training sessions and the occasional chewed-up surprise, there’s already plenty to think about. Taking a little time to explore pet insurance for your puppy now can help you feel more confident about what may suit your dog as they grow.
You can compare cover options and request a quote to see how different levels of cover might work for you. And before you decide, it’s always a good idea to read the PDS and policy terms carefully so you understand eligibility, limits, waiting periods, exclusions and any optional benefits.
Frequently
Asked Questions
How much does pet insurance for puppies cost?
The cost of pet insurance for a puppy can vary depending on your dog’s breed, age, location and the level of cover you choose. Things like annual limits, excess and optional add-ons can all play a part. If you’re curious, you can explore options on the dog insurance page to get a better feel for how cover may be structured.
When to get pet insurance for puppies?
Many owners start looking into pet insurance not long after bringing their dog home. It gives you time to understand how policies work, especially since pre-existing conditions are generally not covered if they develop before cover is arranged.
Does pet insurance cover puppy vaccinations?
Not usually in standard accident and illness puppy insurance. That’s where optional benefits like (non-insurance) Routine Care can help with everyday costs such as vaccinations, microchipping and preventative treatments, depending on whether you choose this option.
