Insurance
Pet insurance can be a minefield and seemingly self regulating that enables it to pretty much do as it wishes. The system where claiming for veterinary fees cuts out the pet owner enables vets to simply charge whatever they wish and it is covered by insurance. This, in reality, has inflated vet fees - which often only comes to the light where we see pet owners who are not insured having to pick up huge bills.
Many pet owners avoid full cover insurance and choose to do a variety of alternatives, including 3rd party only.
The other alternative is simply not to insure at all (and/or putting the money into savings that they would otherwise pay in insurance cover). This is especially the option of those who feed naturally and avoid unnecessary drugs (like vaccines) and have long lived healthy dogs that rarely need veterinary treatment at all, so have no need for insurance.
Insurers who don't insist on annual vaccination:
(please note these may offer policies that include the need to vaccinate, so (as with all policies) the pet owner should ensure they specifically ask for the cover they require.
Very simply - if your insurance stipulates you have to vaccinate annually then go to another insurer (like www.AnimalFriends.co.uk or http://www.healthy-pets.co.uk/) who do offer policies where you don't have to vaccinate every year. They don't provide cover for the disease you would otherwise vaccinate against, but if you have titer tested positively then your pet is immune and doesn't need cover anyway. Not vaccinating on these policies does NOT invalidate your other cover on your insurance.
3rd Party Only:
(3rd party cover may be covered under the ‘accidents’ section on your home policy)
Cornhill Direct: http://www.cornhilldirect.co.uk/
Join as a supporter of Pets As Therapy (PAT Dogs) and get 3rd party cover included.
www.petsastherapy.org
Kennel Insurance that doesn't insist on annual vaccination:
Cliverton Insurance (who are underwritten by Amlin UK) state:
"As long as kennels/catteries comply with their local authority licensing conditions, then it is up to the individual establishment regarding vaccine policy".
So, the first thing for any boarding establishment is to check with your insurer - do they offer the same cover as Amlin? If you are not getting that cover then switch to Amlin UK, either through your own broker or by contacting Cliverton Insurance on 01328 857921. Other insurers may also offer the same benefits.
Many pet owners avoid full cover insurance and choose to do a variety of alternatives, including 3rd party only.
The other alternative is simply not to insure at all (and/or putting the money into savings that they would otherwise pay in insurance cover). This is especially the option of those who feed naturally and avoid unnecessary drugs (like vaccines) and have long lived healthy dogs that rarely need veterinary treatment at all, so have no need for insurance.
Insurers who don't insist on annual vaccination:
(please note these may offer policies that include the need to vaccinate, so (as with all policies) the pet owner should ensure they specifically ask for the cover they require.
Very simply - if your insurance stipulates you have to vaccinate annually then go to another insurer (like www.AnimalFriends.co.uk or http://www.healthy-pets.co.uk/) who do offer policies where you don't have to vaccinate every year. They don't provide cover for the disease you would otherwise vaccinate against, but if you have titer tested positively then your pet is immune and doesn't need cover anyway. Not vaccinating on these policies does NOT invalidate your other cover on your insurance.
3rd Party Only:
(3rd party cover may be covered under the ‘accidents’ section on your home policy)
Cornhill Direct: http://www.cornhilldirect.co.uk/
Join as a supporter of Pets As Therapy (PAT Dogs) and get 3rd party cover included.
www.petsastherapy.org
Kennel Insurance that doesn't insist on annual vaccination:
Cliverton Insurance (who are underwritten by Amlin UK) state:
"As long as kennels/catteries comply with their local authority licensing conditions, then it is up to the individual establishment regarding vaccine policy".
So, the first thing for any boarding establishment is to check with your insurer - do they offer the same cover as Amlin? If you are not getting that cover then switch to Amlin UK, either through your own broker or by contacting Cliverton Insurance on 01328 857921. Other insurers may also offer the same benefits.
Many insurers insist on the out-dated and unscientific practice of annual vaccination. But more and more now provide cover without insisting on annual (or any) vaccination, but exclude claims for anything that you might otherwise vaccinate against (ie. they won't pay out for treatment for a dog with Parvo if you have not vaccinated against Parvo).
However, if your dog's immune status (via vaccination or otherwise) is positive then 1) there is no benefit in vaccinating, and 2) your dog is immune and will not contract the disease anyway and therefore insurance cover against those diseases are not required. You can test to establish immunity by doing a simple, quick and inexpensive titer test.
It has also been believed that boarding kennels are not able to change their vaccine policy due to insurance requirements. This is not the case (as listed above).