The costs linked to veterinary care and interventions can become very significant over the years, considerably increasing the budgets of owners. Dog health insurance can cover part or all of the expenses, thus relieving the wallets of canine owners.
Initial and regular care that can be expensive
Every year, too many dogs are abandoned or even euthanized because their owners are no longer able to afford the costs. Often, in these cases, the initial enthusiasm clashes with the reality that many forget; dogs are living beings with needs.
These needs translate into expenses for their owners, who must therefore plan a substantial budget including food (kibble, mash, homemade food, pellets, etc.), various accessories (toys, bedding, transport cage, leash, collar, etc.), hygiene (brush, shampoo, grooming, etc.) and health.
Veterinary expenses, in fact, are often underestimated and can take unwary owners by surprise. And this starts from the purchase (in a pet store, from a breeder, etc.) or adoption. The owner must cover vaccination costs (electronic chip or tattoo at around sixty euros), vaccines (from 300 to 350 euros between CHP, CHPPILR, piroplasmosis, Lyme disease, Kennel Cough) and possibly castration (between 150 and 250 euros) or sterilization (between 150 and 300 euros).
Then come the regular consultations with the veterinarian, which generally take place every year. These visits, which are essential, make it possible to monitor the dog, obtain advice and detect diseases early, cost around 40 euros (varies depending on the veterinarian). You have to count double, or even much more, when you go to a specialist: between 70 and 100 euros for a behaviorist, around fifty for an osteopath. The price for a descaling session is around 50 euros.
Fortunately, some dog health insurance plans include a prevention budget to help finance this routine care. At Santévet, this envelope helps in particular to support owners in monitoring the health and well-being of their companion.
A dog's life is made up of unexpected events
With a dog, you are never safe from an accident. Mishaps whose consequences can be more or less serious and which can require urgent and fairly serious care. Hospitalization costs in a veterinary clinic vary greatly.
A surgical intervention required by a rupture of the cruciate ligaments can cost up to 1,800 euros, including rehabilitation. A dilation or twisting of the stomach, a phenomenon to which certain breeds of dogs are particularly prone (Great Dane, Doberman, Boxer, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, etc.), requires urgent treatment, the cost of which can reach 400 euros.
The costs of veterinary imaging services are also not negligible: 40 euros for an x-ray, 75 euros for a complete ultrasound, 60 euros for the ultrasound of a pregnant dog.
No one is safe from serious illness
Unfortunately, our dogs are just as vulnerable to chronic or serious illness as we are. And here again, costs can quickly add up. Radiotherapy sessions for cancer cost 1,300 euros on average. The discovery of a breast tumor must give rise to an ablation operation costing around 500 euros. Laboratory blood tests cost between 50 and 100 euros.
Please note that veterinarians have free pricing, veterinary costs can vary from one clinic to another.
By taking out health insurance for your dog, you can calmly offer your 4-legged companion the care he needs. With health insurance for dogs, part of the costs linked to accidents and illnesses can in fact be reimbursed, depending on the guarantees taken out.
At Santévet, reimbursement rates range from 70% to 90% depending on the formula chosen, with annual ceilings of up to €5,000. Owners can insure their dog from €19.99 per month with the Light plan, for a group 3 dog and a deductible of €0. In order to adapt to everyone's needs and budget, the insurer also offers 3 levels of deductible: €0, €50 or €100. The amount of the contribution thus varies depending on the formula and the deductible selected, allowing each owner to find the right balance between the cost of insurance and the desired level of protection.
When to take out insurance for your dog?
It is best to take out health insurance when your dog is still in good health. Indeed, contracts generally include waiting periods, that is to say a period during which certain guarantees are not yet applicable.
At Santévet, these deadlines are now 30 days for illnesses and 48 hours for accidents. The waiting period applicable to surgical interventions is divided by 2 compared to the old conditions.
Anticipating therefore allows you to benefit from your coverage more quickly, while avoiding unpleasant surprises when a health problem arises.
Likewise, it is strongly recommended to insure your puppy from a very young age. The first months of life are essential for a dog's health and development. To support owners during this period, Santévet therefore offers “Premiers Pas”, a Junior range intended for animals under one year old.
Its main advantage: a prevention budget doubled during the first year, to help finance preventive care (vaccination, anti-parasitic treatment, etc.) and support the puppy in its first months.