Older dog insurance
You concentrate on making the memories, we’ll take care of the rest.
Dog insurance policies to suit your needs and budget
Dogs are more than just animals - they're part of the family! We know that as our beloved dogs get older they are more likely to need additional care.
But finding the right cover for your dog's needs can sometimes be confusing, which is why our quotes take you through a step-by-step process that will help you determine what you need for you and your canine companion.
Plus, with Animal Friends, not only will you be getting protection from unexpected vet bills, you'll also be making a difference to animals around the world.
Our policies
We have 5 types of pet insurance policies, including two options for Lifetime, each with different levels of cover for the cost of vet fees.
This aims to protect your dog if they have an accident. It doesn’t cover you for any illnesses or diseases they might have. If your dog has an accident, the policy offers £2,500 per year towards the cost of treating their injuries. The £2,500 limit applies to each accident your dog might have, and there’s no limit to the number of accidents you can claim for.
Each accident also has a lifetime limit of £15,000 – as long as you renew your policy. So, you can make claims over multiple years if your dog needs long-term treatment for their injuries – up to the £2,500 annual limit.
Time Limited products aim to protect your dog if they become ill or are injured in an accident. You can claim up to a set amount for vet fees for each condition your dog might have.
Each new condition is covered for 12 months – as long as you renew your policy. The 12 months starts from the date your dog first showed signs or symptoms of the condition. Once you reach your vet fee limit – or after 12 months, whichever comes first – we won’t cover that condition anymore, even after you renew.
The annual limit in your schedule is the most we’ll pay in total each year for all conditions.
Maximum Benefit policies aim to protect your dog if they become ill or are injured in an accident. You can claim up to a set amount for vet fees for each condition your dog might have. You can claim for as many conditions as you need to, as long as you stay within the vet fee limit for each condition. Once you reach the limit for a condition, you won't be able to make a claim for it again, even after you renew.
Lifetime Annual Limit
Lifetime Annual Limit policies aim to protect your dog if they become ill or are injured in an accident. This policy allows you to claim up to a set amount for vet fees each policy year. You can claim for as many conditions as you need to each policy year, as long as you stay within your vet fee limit. The limit resets when you renew, and we’ll cover your dog’s conditions for as long as you have a policy with us.
Lifetime Condition Limit
Lifetime Condition Limit policies aim to protect your dog if they become ill or are injured in an accident. This policy allows you to claim up to a set amount for vet fees per policy year for each condition your dog might have. You can claim for as many conditions as you need to each policy year. This limit resets when you renew, and we’ll cover your dog’s conditions for as long as you have a policy with us.
Pet insurance premiums increase as your pet gets older, as the chance of your pet becoming ill increases. Excesses apply to all our policies and a co-payment is currently payable on claims if you renew your policy after your dog turns 8 years old.
Protecting your older dog
According to the Association of British Insurers, the average vet claim was £848 in 2021. Knowing how much your dog could cost is important so you’re prepared with the right type of policy and we’re here to help with cover up to £18,000 in a year.
Dog insurance FAQs
Dog insurance can help you to cover the cost of veterinary treatment if your older dog were to get injured or falls ill. It can also have additional benefits such as cover for if your dog injures someone or damages their property.
It is important to choose a dog insurance policy that best suits your needs now and in the future. We have policies that can provide cover for accidents and illnesses. If you would like to cover your dog for long-term conditions which will need treatment year after year, such as diabetes, then you may prefer a Lifetime policy. If you have a smaller budget then you may want to choose cover for accidents only or for illness that will not last more than 12 months.
Find out which policy meets your needs by completing an online quote.
Our Prestige and Lifetime £5,000 policies will cover dental and gum treatment if it is a direct result of an accident or injury.
Our Lifetime £10,000 and Lifetime £18,000 policies cover treatment for dental illness and accidents.
In all cases, your dog will have needed a dental exam within a year before the injury or illness took place, and you must have followed the vet’s advice.
Yes! We offer cover for dogs of all ages over 4 weeks. To ensure we can keep prices affordable, all owners with dog's over 8 years old will need to pay 20% of each claim in addition to your policy excess. This is known as 'co-payment'.
If your dog has been unwell or was injured before, this is known as a pre-existing condition. Pre-existing conditions aren't covered by our policies.
We consider a condition to be pre-existing if it was first noticed before your policy start date or within the waiting period, whether your pet needed treatment previously or not.
Why choose Animal Friends?
With over 25 years' experience, more than £8.5 million donated to support animal welfare, and over one million pets covered, customers choose Animal Friends for:
- Affordable, award-winning cover to suit you and your pet
- Free vet video calls 24/7/365 through the Joii app for dog and cat customers
- Every policy bought helps support animal charities and conservancies around the world
- Fuss-free claiming. Vets can claim on your behalf
- Expert advice and guides for you and your pet.