Older dog insurance

Senior dog insurance you can trust

At Petgevity, we believe no dog’s too old to benefit from flexible dog insurance and free 24/7 access to vet video support. Our cover has a Defaqto 5-star rating when you choose vet fees over £4k with all optional extras included. We’re proud to offer peace-of-mind protection for senior dogs and the owners who love them.

Why get pet insurance for older dogs?

Having the right insurance in place protects you financially from unexpected vet bills, regardless of age. For this reason, it’s always worth considering having older dog insurance.

As senior dogs age, unfortunately they get weaker, and more susceptible to illnesses and infections. Much like their humans.

If you’re still undecided, find out more about the potential benefits of cover in our guide to whether dog insurance is worth it.

What are the most common conditions in older dogs?

According to Petgevity data from 1 Jan 2024 to 31 Dec 2024, these are the conditions with the most pet insurance claims in dogs over 7 years old:

When getting a quote for Lifetime Plus dog insurance, make sure you declare these or any other conditions to see if we can cover you*.

How much does pet insurance for older dogs cost?

As with all insurance, numerous factors come into play which affect price. Generally speaking, older dog insurance is likely to be a little bit more pricey than when they’re in their pomp – but that’s to be expected.

The cost of insurance will be influenced by things like:

• Your dog’s breed. Some breeds are more prone to certain conditions than others, which will affect the price you pay for insurance.
• Your dog’s age. As a rule of thumb, what you can expect to pay for cover will generally increase as your dog gets older.
• If they have any pre-existing conditions. Likewise, the price of insurance tends to go up if your pet is already living with any medical conditions. Nonetheless, you should inform us if your dog has any conditions, because – when it comes to making a claim – it’s important to have the right level of cover in place. With our Lifetime Plus policies, we might be able to cover existing conditions, subject to acceptance*.
• Where you live. Your location nationwide will have a bearing on what you pay too. For instance, if you live in London, you might find insurance more costly. If a greater number of claims are made in an area, for a greater value, this usually pushes the cost of cover up. So if you move home, you may well see your price go up or down accordingly.
• Your chosen vet fee limit, excess, bill share, plus any optional extras

When deciding on the exact level of cover for your old friend, it’s a good idea to look into:

• The cost of emergency treatment at your local vet
• Any genetic issues that may be common in your dog breed, and how much these generally cost to treat

What’s the best pet insurance for an older dog?

This depends. Ultimately, the decision of what’s right for your older dog’s needs is in your hands. The most important factors to consider are your exact circumstances and budget.

If you’d like to know how to weigh this all up, here’s how to choose the best pet insurance.

What does older dog insurance cover?

At its core, all pet insurance is there to help financially with unexpected vet bills. So if your senior dog becomes ill or gets hurt, that’s when you can rely on your policy.

With Petgevity dog insurance, you’re covered for:

• Vet fees
  • Complementary therapy and behavioural treatment
  • Dental accidents
  • MRI/CT scans (up to £2k)
  • Cruciate ligaments (up to £2k)
  • Euthanasia
• Emergency care

Need more protection? If so, you can add optional extras to your policy for a small fee. These include cover for dental illness, or travel and holiday cover. Think about your senior pup’s exact needs so you can tailor a policy which is a perfect fit.

What doesn’t older dog insurance cover?

Across the board, pet insurance doesn’t usually cover routine and preventative treatments. Petgevity policies are the same in this regard. This means we don’t cover things like:

• Fleaing and worming
• Neutering (spaying for females and castration for males)
• Routine teeth cleaning
• Vaccinations
• Routine or investigative tests (unless it’s to diagnose a new or worsening condition covered under your policy)

Your local vet may offer a healthcare plan with monthly payments, allowing you to spread the cost of these kinds of treatments. Ask to see if you can join a plan which covers health checks, preventative care, annual boosters and so on.