“A single visit to the vet can be more expensive than you think, and many illnesses require ongoing treatment where costs mount up.”
John Brady, Head of Commercial at John Lewis Pet Insurance.
Q. Why do I need pet insurance?
A. Pet insurance assists with the cost of your pet’s healthcare and wellbeing. This means that your insurance will pay for things like trips to the vet, treatment, complementary therapies and even some special diets.
Q. How much cover should I have?
A. Think about the potential costs you might have to pay for vet treatment. The amount will vary according to the type of dog you have, but as a general rule, the larger the dog, the bigger the bills. You should also think about the breed of your dog and its pedigree status, as certain dogs are known to be more susceptible to specific illnesses.
John Lewis offers four levels of cover for vet’s fees:
• £2,000 per year
• £3,500 per year
• £7,000 per year
• £10,000 per year
This may sound like a lot of money, but vet bills soon mount up if your dog requires ongoing treatment for common problems like arthritis and poor eye sight, or even serious diseases like cancer.
Many insurance providers will cover you up to a set amount for the lifetime of your dog. This means that once you reach your limit, you won’t have any more cover, regardless of your dogs age. John Lewis Pet Insurance offers cover per year, so you’ll never have to worry about making a claim.
Q. What are typical vet bills?
A. Vets bills vary greatly from region to region and they can also be more expensive if your pet needs treatment on a weekend or out of hours. Here is an indication of what standard costs could be:
| Treatment | Approximate cost |
| Standard consultation | £25 - £35 |
| Blood tests | £10 - £120 depending on illness (plus charge for vet's time) |
| Prescribed course of treatment | £3 - £70 depending on prescription |
| Emergency out of hours supplement | £30 - £150 |
| Overnight stay | £30 - £50 |
| X-rays | £45 - £55 per x-ray |
| Chemotherapy | £150 - £5,000 depending on size of dog and length of treatment (Two months to two years) |
| Surgery | £1,000-£2,000 |
| MRI scan | £1,000-£2,000 |
These are approximate costs for single treatments, however one accident, such as your dog being hit by a car, could result in multiple injuries which require different treatments over a long period of time.
Q. How does pet insurance work with my vet?
A. John Lewis is often able to pay your vet directly, so you don’t need to worry about paying up front for treatment. If you have pet insurance, your vet will also be able to refer your pet to a specialist immediately, without delays over payment.
Q. My dog is a pedigree: do I need special insurance?
A. You can use standard pet insurance for pedigree dogs, however you may need a higher level of cover.
Pedigree dogs can be prone to certain illnesses due to their specific physical attributes or because of a low genetic diversity in the breeding pool. Breeds with abnormally shaped skulls or flattened faces can suffer from breathing problems, for example, or dog breeds with folded skin may have skin complaints or eye disorders.
You should question your breeder about your dog’s pedigree and origins to ensure they’ve been screened for inherited diseases.
Q. How can I keep my dog healthy?
A. If your dog is ill or acting strangely, you should take your pet to be checked out by the vet. There are, however, steps you can take to keep your dog in good health and reduce their risk of illness:
• Keep vaccinations up to date (the cost of these will not usually be covered by insurance)
• Feed your dog a balanced diet
• Don’t feed your dog leftovers from the table, as this could make them ill
• Give your dog regular exercise
Q. Is complimentary therapy covered by pet insurance?
A. Yes, John Lewis Pet Insurance covers complimentary therapy such as acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, osteopathy, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy treatments for insured illnesses.
Q. How can I choose the right level of cover for my pet?
A. You should ask yourself the following questions before choosing pet insurance:
• If my dog is a pedigree, will he or she have specific health needs?
• How much are standard vet bills in my area, and what estimated costs could I incur for standard care?
• Do I live in an area where my dog may be exposed to particular risks?
• Will my pet get the best level of care with this policy?
• Is the cover for vet’s fees enough?
• How much excess will I have to pay?
Read more about the benefits of John Lewis Dog Insurance.
If you have any more questions, please read our policy document or read our Pet Insurance FAQs
John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. Registered in England No. 00233462. Registered office 171 Victoria Street London SW1E 5NN. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. AXA Insurance UK plc. Registered in England No. 78950. Registered office: 5 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1AD
Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.
Not sure whether you need to insure your cat?
Discover how wedding insurance protects your big day.
Worried about identity theft?
Get the expert's view...
Are you getting enough of a
reward for being a safe driver?
Planning a driving holiday abroad? Don’t miss these tips.
Copyright © John Lewis Partnership 2001-2012
John Lewis plc Registered office: 171 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5NN. Registered in England.
Company registration number: 233462. VAT no: GB232457280