On this page:

• What does brachycephalic mean?
• What problems do brachycephalic dogs have?
• Do you need pet insurance for a brachycephalic dog?
• How much does pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs cost?
• What is the best pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs?

Flat-faced breeds are rising in popularity in Australia. In fact, in 2024, the French bulldog was the fifth most popular dog in Australia, and it’s easy to see why. It’s hard not to love their wide-eyed wrinkled faces, and cute little trot, not to mention their highly social nature and suitability as an urban companion.

But unfortunately, the sweet faces of pugs, Frenchies, Boston terriers and the like come with a predisposition for a swathe of health concerns. The most common being a difficulty breathing known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, or BOAS; but also eye, skin, spinal, and gastrointestinal conditions. 

And, as anyone with a pet can tell you, veterinary treatment does not come cheap. We explore the best way to financially manage the treatment of these costly companions, and crunch the numbers to reveal the best value pet insurance policies for brachycephalic dogs

What does brachycephalic mean?

Brachycephalic literally means short-skulled, and is the term given to dogs with a flat-faced, or snub-nose appearance like pugs, French bulldogs, British bulldogs, Shih Tzu, boxers and Boston terriers. 

Over time these breeds have been selectively bred for their flat faces, and in some cases short curly tails. 

What problems do brachycephalic dogs have?

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

Selective breeding for extreme brachycephaly has resulted in a respiratory condition known as BOAS, caused by excess soft tissues in the respiratory tract and structural abnormalities.

The average cost to treat BOAS in 2024 was $3174, with a maximum cost of $29,775, according to pet insurance underwriter Petsure. 

Symptoms of BOAS include noisy, laboured breathing, snoring, exercise and heat intolerance, sleep disturbances, and even fainting in severe cases. It can also cause gastrointestinal issues such as gagging, regurgitation and vomiting. 

Skin conditions

The wrinkles and skin folds of brachycephalic dogs can encourage bacterial and fungal growth, making them more susceptible to infections like skin fold dermatitis, particularly around the face and tail. 

They’re also predisposed to other skin conditions like allergies. In fact, flat-faced breeds are twice as likely as non-flat-faced breeds to suffer from skin allergies. In 2024, treatment for skin allergies cost $815 on average with a maximum of $16,935. 

Eye conditions

The protruding eyes of flat-faced dogs can struggle to close completely and are at risk of developing corneal ulcers, pigmentary keratitis, and chronic dry eye – a collection of symptoms known as brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS). 

Brachycephalic dog owners are six times more likely to claim for corneal ulceration than owners of other breeds, the average treatment cost of which is over $1000, with a maximum claim of $19,420. 

Spinal issues

Small brachycephalic dog breeds like the pug and French and English bulldogs suffer from a high prevalence of spinal malformations such as scoliosis and intervertebral disc disease, which are sometimes associated with neurological symptoms and can affect limb function.

Dental and gastrointestinal problems

The small jaws of flat-faced breeds often mean crowded teeth, which are harder to keep clean and therefore result in more dental issues than other breeds. The level of dental cover varies from policy to policy so make sure you read your policy disclosure statement (PDS) to understand what you are and aren’t covered for. 

These dogs are also more likely to swallow excess air which results in them being 20 times more likely to be treated for hiatal or diaphragmatic hernias than non-flat faced breeds at an average cost of over $5000. Symptoms of these hernias include vomiting, regurgitation and acid reflux.

Do you need pet insurance for a brachycephalic dog?

Given the likelihood of having to pay high treatment costs for a flat-faced dog, pet insurance is definitely worth considering. 

The range of health conditions that extremely brachycephalic breeds are susceptible to means that keeping these flat-faced fur balls comfortable can be quite a costly experience. It follows, given the risk-based nature of insurance, that they can be pricier to insure as well. So, is pet insurance worth it? 

Pet insurance should give you peace of mind in case your pet requires costly veterinary treatment. When you have a breed at high-risk of requiring costly treatment like these ones, it’s very important to understand all the terms and conditions of your policy so you’re not caught out when you need it most.

It’s also important to start paying for insurance when your pup is young, before they show symptoms of illness, otherwise that illness might be declared a pre-existing condition, for which cover is often limited or excluded. Read more about how to choose a pet insurance policy in our buying guide.  

Be aware that often with pet insurance you need to pay upfront for treatment before claiming it back from your insurer. This means that you may need thousands of dollars handy if your pet requires complex treatment. If this is likely to be difficult for you, check with your vet to see whether they have agreements with any insurers that allow you to claim on the spot so you only have to pay the gap. 

What about self-insurance?

Sometimes self insurance can work out cheaper in the long run – that’s when you save up or invest what you would otherwise pay in insurance premiums and use this to fund your pet’s treatment.

The beauty of self insurance is that there are zero restrictions on what you can spend these savings on. But this only works out cheaper when your treatment costs are lower than the balance of your savings account.

If you can afford to set aside a decent sum of money, probably a little more than standard pet insurance premiums, and you’re reading the PDS and worried about the ins and outs of what they cover, self insurance could be for you. 

How much does pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs cost?

On average, premiums for a 3-month-old French bulldog are $228 per month, and $377 for a 5-year-old. This is over three and a half times what it costs to insure a cavoodle on the same policy. 

We analysed quotes from 12 different pet insurance policies to find the policies that provide a good level of cover for brachycephalic breeds. We looked for over $20,000 of cover per annum with at least an 80% benefit, and a ����Vlog Expert Rating over 75%. When an insurer offers more than one policy, or variable limits, we chose the policy the highest annual limit. We then compared prices for a 3-month-old and a 5-year-old French bulldog with those for a cavoodle of the same age.

What is the best pet insurance for brachycephalic dogs?

Below, we reveal the best pet insurance policies for brachycephalic dogs.

These policies all include cover for BOAS, as well as some cover for skin conditions, dental illness, eye conditions and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and an annual benefit limit of at least $20,000. Make sure you read the PDS to understand the ins and outs of this cover before purchasing a policy.

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Bringing a new pet into your family isn’t a decision to be taken lightly – it’s a significant responsibility, both logistically and financially.

With some breeds fetching prices in the thousands of dollars, you’ll already have spent a small fortune before your new puppy or kitten has even come home. 

And whether you’re picking up a “bitzer” from a shelter or one with an impeccable pedigree, you just can’t predict what kind of mischief your pet may get up to, or what illnesses might lie ahead for your new family member.

Pet insurance may give you some peace of mind but, as with any insurance, the devil’s in the detail. Trying to understand what’s covered and compare policies can be like herding cats.

There can be exclusions on certain conditions and illnesses, limits on how much you can claim, decreasing cover as your pet ages, rules around pre-existing conditions, and more. So if your dog is as sick as … well, a dog, you might have to pay more than you’d expect.

If you’re on the hunt for the right insurance for your pet, you’ll be barking up the wrong tree with these policies below.

How we rank pet insurance policies

Our experts compare policies from more than 25 insurers, then score them based on their cover and how much you’ll pay out of pocket. 

The ����Vlog Expert Rating is our overall score and is made up of the cover score (which makes up 70%) and the out of pocket score (30%).

When assessing each policy’s cover, we look at 30 different features, including the range of conditions and treatments covered and how easy it is to settle a claim. 

The out of pocket score is based on the maximum annual limit available, as well as the options for how much you can pay as an excess and how much of the bill is covered.

The pet insurance policies to avoid

“The policies in this list are the lowest-scoring ones we’ve reviewed for a range of reasons,” says ����Vlog insurance expert Daniel Graham. “Some have a lot of exclusions or low benefits, while others have sneaky conditions that reduce cover as your pet ages.”

These policies are some of the only ones on the market that will take on animals over 10 years old. For people with older pets looking to switch or get insurance for the first time, these may be the policies of last resort. 

“We suggest you avoid these and look for a policy that ranks highly in our comparison. It’s also worth remembering that pet insurance isn’t always a necessity, and a low-value policy can still leave you significantly out of pocket,” says Daniel.

Another option is to consider self-insurance, if you can afford to keep money aside in a savings account for when you might need it. But if buying a policy is the preferred option, Daniel says to make sure you read the fine print.

“Don’t forget to check the PDS (product disclosure statement) for a policy to make sure you know exactly what you’re covered for. Having a sick or injured pet is stressful enough without having to foot a much larger bill than you thought you would.”

These are the policies that our experts say aren’t the best bet for your pet.

Petcover Economy

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 25%
• Cover score: 24%
• Out of pocket score: 28%

There are two things that make this policy terrible value.

No lifetime cover

The first is the lack of lifetime cover. This is the only policy in our comparison that doesn’t include this.

The PDS describes its cover as: “Illness and Injury is covered for Twelve (12) months, starting from the date during the Policy Year the Injury happened or the Clinical Signs of the Illness first occurred, or until the Maximum Benefit is reached, whichever happens first.”

After this, they won’t pay to treat the same injury or illness, or even the same clinical signs. If you renew, any condition your pet showed symptoms for in the previous year would then be considered a pre-existing condition, and excluded from future cover.

This means:

• Chronic conditions aren’t covered after 12 months from the date your pet first showed symptoms.
• Recurring illnesses aren’t covered if your pet showed clinical signs in a previous policy year.
• Injuries aren’t covered if your pet has sustained that injury in a previous policy year (this works bilaterally: an injury to one knee means the opposite knee is now also excluded).

“Continuity of cover, year after year, is one of those things we expect to be in our insurance policies by default,” says Daniel.

“You wouldn’t buy home insurance from a company that rejects theft claims because your house has been burgled before. You wouldn’t get health insurance from a company that will cover one knee replacement, then turn around and say the other is now an excluded pre-existing condition.

“Forget cover for pre-existing conditions. This policy barely covers your pet’s existing conditions.”

Reduced cover as pet ages

The second thing that makes this policy bad value is the ‘age contribution’, which means the policy pays out less as your pet gets older.

If your pet is under eight years old, the policy will cover 100% of the vet bill. (You’ll just pay the $150 excess.) Once your pet reaches eight (around the age many pets start needing more vet care), that cover drops to 80%. At age 10, it drops to 65%.

For some dog breeds the benefit drops at four and seven years instead. There are approximately 30 breeds that this applies to, including Irish Wolfhounds, Rottweilers, Bulldogs, Newfoundlands and more.

Read the full Petcover Economy review.

PetsOnMe Accident Plan

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 30%
• Cover score: 30%
• Out of pocket score: 29%

“This is a very basic accidental injury plan, with a low annual limit of just $5000, which won’t go far if your pet needs major surgery or has several incidents in the one year,” says Daniel.

“It also doesn’t cover illness, or cruciate ligament injury, which is a fairly common injury in high-energy dog breeds.”

The company’s claims handling process is less than ideal, too. You’ll need to pay the whole vet bill upfront and then the insurer will pay you back once the claim has been processed.

“Some pet insurers have invested in making their claims process as frictionless as possible,” says Daniel. “There are brands that now offer direct-to-vet payments, and in some cases can settle a claim before you leave the vet.”

“With this policy, you’ll need to be able to cover the whole vet bill in the first place, which could leave you in a tricky position if you don’t have the money on hand at the time.”

Read the full PetsOnMe Accident Plan review.

Australian Seniors Basic Cover, Guardian Bronze & Real Insurance Classic

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Cover score: 67%
• Out of pocket score: 19%

These are three identical white label products issued by PetSure, the underwriter that dominates the pet insurance market.

They offer comprehensive cover for illness, but not common optional extras like cover for dental and behavioural conditions.

Injury cover is limited to a list of nine common events such as snake bite toxicity, bone fracture and motor vehicle incident.

“There’s nothing wrong with the list itself, but the market is moving toward comprehensive accidental injury cover, without needing to meet extra criteria about how that injury was sustained,” says Daniel.

These policies have no excess. While that might seem like a good thing at first glance, the downside of this is you can’t increase the excess to reduce your premium, like you can with most other insurance products.

And unfortunately, not having to pay an excess still doesn’t mean you won’t be out of pocket: these policies only cover 60% of eligible vet bills, the lowest reimbursement rate of any policy in our comparison.

The annual limit of $12,000 is on the lower side of pet insurance policies we’ve reviewed, but it’s not the worst. What makes it bad is the ‘per condition’ limit: it will only cover $2000 per condition.

To claim the annual $12,000 limit, your pet would need to be treated for six different illnesses or accidents in a single year, at a cost of at least $20,000 (because you can only claim 60% back).

In this implausible scenario you would be out of pocket $8000, plus the premium. That makes this policy particularly bad value.

Read the full reviews:

• Australian Seniors Basic Cover
• Guardian Bronze
• Real Insurance Classic

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There’s no doubt that we Australians love our pets. There are currently an estimated 31.6 million pets in Australia, with 73% of households having a pet. 

Of course, love isn’t always enough. To care for our pets, we need to set aside money for food, routine treatments, and unfortunately often treatments for injuries and illnesses.

Bills for major surgery and treatment can run into the thousands of dollars, and there’s no Medicare for pets, so you’ll have to foot the bill. And of course you just can’t predict when your pet will get sick or hurt. 

Pet insurance is one way to buffer yourself against unexpected vet bills, so you don’t have to weigh up whether or not to go ahead with surgery or treatment for your four-legged friend. 

It’s hard to imagine losing a pet because you can’t afford to pay the vet bills. But is it worth taking out pet insurance for peace of mind? Here are the key points to consider.

The pros of pet insurance

Pro: Pet insurance can give you peace of mind

Having pet insurance means that if an unexpected accident occurs or if your pet needs treatment, some or most of the financial burden will be covered and you can focus on getting the best care for your pet. 

And you’re less likely to face the awful situation of having to euthanise your pet if you can’t afford expensive treatment – an animal lover’s worst nightmare.

Pro: Claims can be quick and easy

If your vet and insurer are set up for electronic claiming, lodging a claim and being reimbursed can be fuss-free and quick. 

If your vet and insurer are set up for electronic claiming, lodging a claim and being reimbursed can be fuss-free and quick.

“Claiming in the past was horrible – lots of paperwork. It was almost as though they were trying to make claiming hard,” one pet owner told ����Vlog. “It’s much better now that it’s all electronic straight from the vet.”

“It’s getting easier to claim these days,” another pet owner says. “My vet can send everything electronically through to the insurer.”

����Vlog pet insurance expert Daniel Graham says that most insurers have introduced two things to improve the experience.

The first is a quick claims process, where if you make a claim during business hours it can be settled while you’re still at the vet. The second is direct-to-vet payments. 

“Previously – and this is still the case with some insurers – you had to pay the full vet bill upfront, then claim your reimbursement from the insurer later,” says Daniel.

“For people who don’t have thousands of dollars on hand, this would make pet insurance almost useless for expensive treatments.”

“Now insurers are moving toward direct payments, so that you only have to cover the gap, just like using your extras at the dentist.”

These services require the clinic to opt in, so check with your vet if they’re in your insurer’s network.

Pro: You can add on routine care cover

The first year of your puppy or kitten’s life can be expensive. Things like desexing, microchipping and council registration are usually one-off fees that add up pretty quickly. And that’s before you add in routine care vaccinations and worm and flea treatments. 

Routine care cover is an optional add-on that can take some of the sting out of paying all these costs at once. 

“Routine care is an inexpensive extra that covers the cost of items not usually included in your regular policy,” says Daniel.

“It can be good value in the first year of your pet’s life. As an ongoing benefit it can also pay for some preventative care items like blood tests, vaccinations and parasite control.”

The cons of pet insurance

Con: Pet insurance can be expensive

Owning a pet comes with many financial responsibilities. On average, annual vet expenses alone are estimated to cost close to $350 for dogs and around $270 for cats – and that’s before you factor in medications, surgery and emergency treatment. 

With all these potential bills on your pet ownership horizon, pet insurance may seem like a wise choice.

But with pet insurance premiums increasing year on year and many of us already struggling with the cost of living, the extra cost may be too much for already-stretched budgets.

Various factors can affect how much your pet will cost to insure. One of these is your pet’s breed, which can have serious implications on their health, welfare and subsequent medical costs throughout their lifetime, and can make a huge difference price-wise.

“Breed is one of the biggest price factors, especially for dogs,” says Daniel.

“Insurers know which high-risk breeds are going to need expensive treatment over the course of their life, and will set their premiums accordingly.”

Putting aside cash in a separate high-interest bank account specifically for vet expenses may be a better option and can give you more security, as you’ll always have the money available, whereas your insurer could knock back your claim.

Con: Pre-existing conditions can make it tricky to switch

Despite some improvements since 2019, when we gave the whole pet insurance industry a Shonky Award, cover for pre-existing conditions is still a sticking point.

A pre-existing condition is an illness or injury your pet had before you first took out the insurance policy, and they are excluded by default from every policy in our comparison.

You can still get cover, if you meet the insurer’s requirements. Each one has different rules.

Some still don’t cover pre-existing conditions at all. In most policies, a pre-existing condition can be eventually covered if it is “temporary”, meaning it can be resolved with treatment. 

If your pet hasn’t shown noticeable signs or symptoms of the condition in the 18 months before you make a claim, then the insurer won’t treat it as an excluded pre-existing condition. It’s like a waiting period in health insurance, except if your pet does get sick then the waiting period starts again.

Chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes or seasonal allergies can be almost impossible to get cover for as a pre-existing condition. If your cat develops diabetes while insured, your insurer will cover it. But if that insurer starts price gouging at renewal, or changes their policy in a way you don’t like, your options to ditch and switch become very limited. 

“Moving to a new policy usually means accepting that you won’t have cover for your pet’s ongoing medical issues, only their new ones,” says Daniel.

“Pre-existing condition exclusions mean that pet owners can be faced with having to pay a loyalty penalty to the only insurer that will cover them, or go without cover for their chronically ill animals.”

These are some pre-existing health issues that you could be covered for:

• Your dog had gastro as a puppy and develops gastro again a few years later, but for a different reason. 
• Your pet has a new, unrelated injury on a previously broken leg that’s now healed. 
• After a benign (non-cancerous) lump was removed, your pet develops a different type of lump. 

Of course this differs between insurers, so check your insurer’s policies to make sure you know where you stand. For more details on the cover from different underwriters, see our pet insurance buying guide. 

Con: Price increases could make pet insurance unaffordable

The way most policies are structured means that premiums increase as your pet ages.

“Premiums for new policies tend to be lower for younger pets,” says Daniel.

“This is partly because younger animals have fewer medical needs, and partly because the insurer wants to encourage you into insurance as early as possible.” 

“I changed pet insurers in the last 12 months due to my original insurer having significant premium increases,” one pet owner told us.

“I cancelled our policy after five years because the premium went up substantially after each claim,” says another pet parent. “Not worth having.”

Con: You need to buy it when your pet is young

“If you think pet insurance is right for you, you should get cover while your pet is young,” says Daniel.

“The earlier you get insurance, the less likely your pet is to develop a pre-existing condition that will be tricky to find cover for.”

It’s a good idea to take out insurance from when your pet is as young as three months old. (And remember that add-on routine care cover can come in handy in their first year of life.)

Most policies have a maximum age for new business, generally at nine or 10 years. Once your pet hits that age you’ll find it even harder to switch. The pool of available policies will shrink to mostly low-benefit products, running the risk of leaving you significantly out of pocket anyway.

Con: Finding cover for rescue pets can be difficult

One pet owner found out the hard way that insuring a rescue animal can be all but impossible. 

“I am unable to insure my dog as she was a rescue dog. Because she’s of uncertain age and had no medical history I was unable to take out pet insurance,” they told us. 

“Since then she has had an ECG, ultrasound and blood tests every three months for liver problems. Ironically, with my previous dog I didn’t need to access her insurance as she had no health problems!”

Con: Your cover may change

Pet insurance providers currently have no legal obligation to maintain the competitiveness of your policy and can make any changes they like when you renew annually. These changes may include:

• premium increases 
• reduction in coverage percentages
• added exclusions 
• reduced payment limits and sublimits.

This can make it difficult to budget for costs associated with your pets, and means you can’t be sure your pet will be covered for certain conditions or incidents as they age. 

And while premiums increase with age, cover could decrease. 

Some policies have conditions where they’ll pay, for example, 100% of the claim when your pet is young (usually as long as they’re aged below eight, but with some policies and dog breeds, it can be as young as three). 

But as your pet ages, this payment can drop to as low as 65%, and you’ll have to foot the rest of the bill. This isn’t helpful when you consider that your pet is likely to need more vet care as they grow older.

Con: Exclusions, low limits and caps

Most policies in our pet insurance comparison come in one of two types.

The majority  offer comprehensive accident and illness cover. Most of the rest have comprehensive cover for illness, and cover a specified list of accidental injuries (think motor vehicle incident, bone fracture, snake bite).

There is one accident-only policy, and one that broadly covers accidents, but then a very limited list of illnesses.

All policies cover the cost of surgery, hospitalisation and medicines, but things such as dental care, vaccinations, desexing and preventative treatment are usually only covered as optional extras, with extra sublimits. 

You should always check the amount of co-payments, excesses and caps. For example, most policies have a cap of around $300 on veterinary consultation fees (which you’ll spend quite quickly if your pet has a chronic illness).

“Pet insurance is already a complex financial product. Some insurers make it more complex by adding sublimits and claim caps to individual conditions,” says Daniel.

“For example, some policies will say you can only claim for swallowing foreign objects once or twice a year.”

So, your policy may have a $12,000 overall annual limit, but a sublimit of $1000 for things like treatment for tick paralysis, or $2600 for cruciate ligament surgery (and these can be particularly expensive to treat).

Con: Getting insurers to pay up

While some insurers make lodging claims easier with electronic lodgement processes, having that claim accepted can be quite a different matter. 

One pet owner we spoke to spent nearly six months trying to get their insurer to accept a claim, only to have the insurer lose the paperwork and claim that the vet didn’t send the correct documentation for the injury, then claim that the injury was elective surgery. 

“I wrote numerous letters and made numerous phone calls trying to clear the matter up,” they say. “Needless to say, as soon as they finally paid the claim, I cancelled the insurance.

“Then [the insurer] stated that they would continue to debit my account for the remaining premiums for the year (several months’ worth). After further complaints and some intervention, they finally reimbursed me the premiums they had taken from me after I cancelled the policy.”

Another pet owner told us: “They tried to not pay out for an ear infection for our dog as he has a grass allergy on his torso – they claimed it was preexisting. We noted that a skin allergy is different to possible ear mites and they paid up.”

How to decide if pet insurance is for you

While pet insurance has improved, you still need to work out if it’s worth it for your circumstances. To help with the decision, Daniel suggests the following steps:

1. Talk to your vet. Ask what conditions your pet could develop later in life and what the treatment would cost.
2. Get quotes from several insurers. Compare cover, cost, excess, cover percentage and sublimits.
3. Consider whether it would be better to set up a special bank account and save the pet insurance premiums.
4. If you are going to take out insurance, consider doing so early in your pet’s life, before they’ve developed any health conditions.
5. If your new pet still needs council registration, desexing and vaccinations, check if the pet insurer offers optional routine care cover for those. The extra cost may be worth your while, especially for the first year of cover. 

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You’ll be hard pressed to find a cuter and more loving puppy than a labrador. While other breeds of dog move up and down in the popularity stakes, labs are a constant on the top ten list. These goofy, happy, easy-to-train dogs make great companions.

If you’ve been lucky enough to have one of these ever-hungry balls of energy join your family recently and are wondering whether it’s worth buying a pet insurance policy to help with the vet bills, read on. 

Labradors aren’t notorious for expensive illnesses like brachycephalic breeds, but they are predisposed to a few conditions and, given their size and energy level, they definitely have the capacity to get into a bit of trouble.

The last thing you want is to have to choose between your bank account and your dog’s health, so it’s essential to consider how you might cover a large vet bill, should it arise. 

On this page:

• What problems can labradors have?
• Do you need pet insurance for a labrador?
• How much does pet insurance for a labrador cost?
• What is the best pet insurance for labradors?

What problems can labradors have?

Ear infections

A lab’s floppy ears can trap wax and moisture, especially after swimming, leading to ear infections. In 2024, ear infections cost an average of $439 to treat, and roughly 16% of labrador owners made a claim for an ear infection.  

Joint issues

Labradors are about 1.6 times more likely to develop lameness and arthritis than dogs overall. Hip and elbow dysplasia – where the hip or elbow joint doesn’t develop properly – are also common inherited conditions in this breed.

These conditions can lead to arthritis and may require surgery. Joint problems are exacerbated by overweight and obesity, to which these dogs are also prone.

Mass lesions

These dogs have a 50% higher risk of developing mass lesions than other breeds, particularly mast cell tumours.

Mass lesions are abnormal growths or lumps on or under the skin. They can be a number of different things from benign warts, cysts or hematomas to malignant tumours, and their treatment (and its cost) will depend on what it is.

The average cost for the treatment of mass lesions was $961 in 2024 with a maximum claim of over $31,000.

Swallowing things they’re not meant to

Everyone knows that labs love to eat. Unfortunately this can include foods that are toxic to dogs like garlic, chocolate or raisins and even things that aren’t food like poisonous plants, socks, toys – you name it. In 2023, the average cost to treat these mishaps ranged from $1000 without surgery, to $5000 when surgery was required. 

Note that some insurers class this as an accident while others insure it as an illness, so read your PDS to make sure you’re covered. 

Do you need pet insurance for a labrador?

While labradors aren’t a breed that racks up the highest vet costs, a wisely chosen pet insurance policy can give you peace of mind and save you money at the vets. 

If you’re buying insurance for an adult dog, it’s important to be across the rules for pre-existing conditions. Many policies restrict cover for illnesses if your dog has suffered from them previously. So if you have a lab that already has hip issues, allergies or recurrent ear infections, make sure you read the fine print.

And if you’re considering insurance for a young healthy dog, it might be wise to sign up before they experience any issues. Read more about how to choose a pet insurance policy in our buying guide or join ����Vlog to compare all the options in our pet insurance review.  

Be aware that even if you have pet insurance you will often need to pay upfront for treatment before claiming it back from your insurer. This means that you may need thousands of dollars handy if your pet requires complex treatment.

If this is likely to be difficult for you, check with your vet to see whether they have agreements with any insurers that allow you to claim on the spot so you only have to pay the gap. 

What about self-insurance?

Sometimes self-insurance can work out cheaper in the long run – that’s when you save up or invest what you would otherwise pay in insurance premiums and use this to fund your pet’s treatment.

The beauty of self-insurance is that there are zero restrictions on what you can spend these savings on. But this only works out cheaper when your treatment costs are lower than the balance of your savings account.

If you can afford to set aside a decent sum of money each month (probably a little more than standard pet insurance premiums), and you’re reading the PDS and are worried about what you will and won’t be covered for, self-insurance could be for you.

How much does pet insurance for a labrador cost?

On average, premiums for a policy with good coverage for a 3-month-old labrador are $112 per month, and $160 for a 5-year-old. This is about 30% more expensive than insuring a cavoodle on the same policy. 

We obtained quotes for eight pet insurance policies with a ����Vlog Expert Rating of over 80%, and provide over $20,000 of cover per annum and give you at least 80% back per claim. When an insurer offers more than one policy we chose the policy with the closest limit to $20,000.

What is the best pet insurance for labradors?

Below, we reveal the best pet insurance policies for labradors. These policies all include cover for hereditary specific to labradors, orthopedic and joint conditions, as well as some cover for ear infections and swallowing foreign objects, an annual benefit limit of at least $20,000, and a ����Vlog Expert Rating of over 80%. Make sure you read the PDS to understand the ins and outs of the cover on offer before purchasing a policy.

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This page describes how we conduct our pet insurance comparisons, and goes into detail about the scoring process.

• About the ����Vlog pet insurance comparison
• How we choose which insurers to compare
• How we calculate the ����Vlog Expert Rating
• Why we don’t recommend any pet insurance policies

What the ����Vlog pet insurance comparison covers

We’ve compared a broad cross-section of the pet insurance market in Australia. Our comparison covers:

• 7 insurers
• 29 brands
• 74 products
• 381 product feature dimensions measured

����Vlog compares three types of pet insurance:

• combined illness and injury policies
• illness policies
• accidental injury policies

We compare pet insurance every six months to make sure the product information we publish is current. We assign scores for policy coverage (by looking at dozens of different product features) and potential out-of-pocket costs when you make a claim.

These scores are combined to calculate the ����Vlog Expert Rating. This is a score out of 100 that represents a policy’s breadth of cover and value for money (more on this later).

How we choose which insurers to compare

The insurers we compare cover the majority of the pet insurance market in Australia, including established dominant players as well as newer entrants. To be included in a ����Vlog pet insurance comparison, a policy must be available as a standalone product and sold directly to the public.

The following pet insurers are included in our comparison (including the brands they underwrite):

• Auto & General (Budget Direct)
• Guild (Coles, Vets Choice)
• Pacific International (Fetch, Knose, Pet Circle, PetsOnMe, Petsy)
• PetSure (Australian Seniors, Bow Wow Meow, Buddy, Bupa, CBA, Everyday Insurance, Guardian, Guide Dogs, HCF, Kogan, Medibank, Pet Insurance Australia, Petbarn, Petinsurance.com.au, Prime, Real Insurance, RSPCA)
• RACQ (RAC, RACQ)
• Sovereign (Petcover)
• Hollard (Trupanion)

How we calculate the ����Vlog Expert Rating

The ����Vlog Expert Rating is an overall score out of 100. It is made up of the Cover score (70%) and the Out-of-pocket score (30%).

How we collect the product cover data

The terms and conditions of a pet insurance policy are found in several disclosure documents available from the insurer. The main sources of information for product information are:

• Product Disclosure Statements (PDS), plus supplementary PDSs issued when the insurer updates the policy
• the insurer’s website (including quote forms, where undisclosed sublimits are often hidden).

We use a product feature questionnaire to collect a wide range of details about what a policy includes. Our questions focus on cover and limits for particular medical conditions and treatments, but we also collect information about things like claims handling. All up, we have 381 questions.

If an insurer issues a new PDS, our insurance experts compare it to the old one and update the data. Our database processes the new information and produces our comparison table. The information we publish goes past our in-house verification team first, and for larger updates we’ll send a draft of the report to insurers for them to review.

How we calculate the Cover score

The Cover score is based on an assessment of 30 policy features, grouped into six categories:

• Illness (10%)
• Injury (10%)
• Specific conditions (40%)
• Treatments (15%)
• Claiming (10%)
• Additional features (15%)

The full list of individual features within these categories and how they are weighted is shown in the table below.

Component scores

Each individual feature receives several component scores based on either whether the feature is included in the policy, the limits that apply to it, and other conditions of cover.

Feature cover

If a feature is included as part of the standard policy cover, it scores 100%. If it is only available as an optional add-on, it scores 50%.

Sublimits and claim limits

Some features have lower benefit limits (sublimits) or restrictions on how often claims can be made. Where these limits are common across policies, they are included in the scoring. Policies with the highest limit (or no sublimit) score 100%, while policies with the lowest limits score 0%, with others scored proportionally in between.

The scores for each feature are then weighted and combined to produce the final Cover score.

Score penalties

In some circumstances a penalty is applied to a Component score. This penalty reduces the Component score by 5%. If the product sample contains a benefit with no sublimit (i.e. cover is up to the policy annual limit, or the “reasonable cost”), then all the policies that do have a sublimit will have a penalty applied. We do this to reward policies with less complexity: a policy that requires you to be aware of all its various sublimits will find itself penalised across many features.

How we calculate the Out-of-pocket score

The Out-of-pocket score assesses several aspects of the policy related to the cost of making a claim. It does not assess the cost of actually purchasing the policy. Like the Cover score, it is made up of several Components scores, but for the Out-of-pocket score the Component scores are applied to the following features:

• Annual policy limit and per-condition limit: we assess the policy’s overall benefit limit. Policies without an annual limit score 100%, unless they use per-condition limits instead. A policy with per-condition limits imposes a limit for every condition you claim in a year, rather than an overall policy limit. These policies are penalised due to their complexity and poor value.
• Excess: this is the dollar amount you pay to make a claim. We score policies on the range of excess options available to customers, as well as comparing the minimum amounts available for cats and dogs.
• Copayment: sometimes called a “variable excess”, this is the percentage of the vet bill you have to cover. It can range from 0% to 65%; policies with a 0% copayment (where you only pay the excess) score higher. We score policies on the range of copayments available, and we also take into account the copayment charged at various ages. Policies that increase your copayment as your pet ages are penalised.

Many policies offer a choice of policy limit, excess and copayment. We have scored policies using the option that gives them the best score: high annual limit, and low copayment and excess.

Why we don’t recommend any pet insurance policies

We have applied a ����Vlog Expert Rating to policies to help you compare what we consider to be good versus poor cover. However we haven’t attached our usual ‘Recommended’ label to any pet insurance policies.

Why? For two reasons. The first is because we don’t have a reliable source of pricing data. We can compare policies on cover and on what it might cost you to make a claim. But without the missing piece of the puzzle – how much does it cost? – we aren’t ready to give any policy our seal of approval.

The second reason has to do with ease of switching and getting cover for pre-existing conditions. Cover for a pre-existing condition is often at the discretion of the insurer, after serving a lengthy waiting period during which your pet cannot show any related symptoms. These rules make it difficult for people to switch insurers, locking them into policies (or self-insurance) and making them vulnerable to loyalty penalties.

The industry has made some improvements since its 2019 Shonky, but we’re still wary of making recommendations.

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On this page:

• What is a cavoodle
• What health problems do cavoodles have?
• What else to look for in a pet insurance policy?
• Do you need pet insurance for a cavoodle?
• How much does pet insurance for a cavoodle cost?
• What is the best pet insurance for cavoodles?

Cavoodles are the most popular dog breed in Australia. They’re cute, gentle, social and hypoallergenic – and many Australians are welcoming them into their families.  

Pet insurance can give you peace of mind that you’ll be financially protected should your new family member need pricey vet care. We explore whether taking out pet insurance for your cavoodle is a good idea and  crunch the numbers to reveal the best value pet insurance policies for cavoodles.

What is a cavoodle

A cavoodle is a cross between a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle. Although nowadays, they’re so common that they usually have a cavoodle mother and father.

Australians tend to call them cavoodles, but in the US they’re cavapoos. These cute little dogs have a compact face, floppy ears and either a wavy or curly coat, depending on which side of their lineage they take after.

Like most oodles (poodle crosses), cavs are considered hypoallergenic because they hardly shed any fur and produce little dander – although no dog is completely hypoallergenic of course.

What health problems do cavoodles have?

The top three reasons cavoodles visit the vet are skin conditions, ear infections and gastrointestinal illness. 

Skin conditions

These include allergies and infections, and about 12% of cavoodles claimed for skin allergies last year according to insurance underwriter Petsure. The average treatment cost for skin conditions in 1–8 year-old dogs last year was $657.

Ear infections

The spaniel’s floppy ear, combined with excess hair in the ear canal from the poodle, results in a micro-environment with restricted airflow and high humidity, which leaves cavoodle ears more susceptible to infection. The average cost to treat ear infections in 2024 was $444.

Gastrointestinal illness

Cavoodles are prone to gastrointestinal issues and anal sac disorders. These conditions are seen 25% more frequently in these dogs than in other breeds. The average cost for treating gastro conditions for dogs under eight years was $872.

What else to look for in a pet insurance policy?

While coverage for the most common conditions is key, it’s also important to choose a policy that includes some of the more serious (but less common) conditions that could impact your cavoodle.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)

Brachycephalic is the term given to dogs with a flat-faced, or snub-nose appearance. Cavalier King Charles spaniels (the ‘cav’ in cavoodle) are a brachycephalic breed, but are not considered extremely brachycephalic like pugs and French bulldogs. 

Cavoodles aren’t generally considered brachycephalic (the poodle’s longer muzzle tends to balance things out), but dogs with a shorter muzzle, inherited from the cavalier parent, can be susceptible to BOAS. And cover for this condition is often limited in pet insurance policies.

It’s important to find out about the health history of the parents of your dog if you can, particularly whether they’ve had any breathing difficulties. Make sure your pet insurance covers brachycephalic obstructive airway disorder, in case you’re unlucky. 

Mitral valve disease (MVD)

This heart problem is very common in cavalier King Charles spaniels, and is also prevalent in cavoodles, with this breed being twice as likely to develop MVD than other dogs. Early detection is key, and medication is the primary treatment. All the pet insurance policies we looked at included cover for heart conditions. Many limit cover for heart surgery, but this condition is generally treated with medication rather than surgery. The average cost for treating MVD in cavalier King Charles spaniels last year was $242.

Do you need pet insurance for a cavoodle?

Cavoodles don’t tend to be associated with as high vet costs as some other dog breeds, which means that premiums to insure them aren’t as high. If you want to protect yourself against unexpected costs, pet insurance is definitely worth considering. 

If you do choose to purchase pet insurance, it’s important to start paying for insurance before your pup shows symptoms of any serious illness, otherwise that illness might be declared a pre-existing condition, for which cover is often limited or excluded.

Read more about how to choose a pet insurance policy in our buying guide.  

Be aware that in many cases you will need to pay upfront for treatment before claiming it back from your insurer. This means that you may need thousands of dollars handy if your pet requires complex treatment. If this is likely to be difficult for you, check with your vet to see whether they have agreements with any insurers that allow you to claim on the spot so you only have to pay the gap.

What about self-insurance?

Sometimes self-insurance can work out cheaper in the long run – that’s when you save up or invest what you would otherwise pay in insurance premiums and use this to fund your pet’s treatment. The beauty of self insurance is that there are zero restrictions on what you can spend these savings on. Given that this breed doesn’t usually rack up particularly high bills at the vet, this could be a good option. But remember that this only works when your treatment costs are lower than the balance of your savings, so it’s still a risky proposition

How much does pet insurance for a cavoodle cost?

On average, premiums for a 3-month-old cavoodle are $62 per month, and $99 for a 5-year old. 

We analysed 12 different pet insurance policies to find those that provide a good level of cover for cavoodles. 

We look for over $20,000 of cover per annum with at least an 80% benefit and a ����Vlog Expert Rating over 75%. We also make sure these policies include cover for skin conditions, gastrointestinal illness, ear infections, MVD medications and BOAS. When an insurer offers more than one policy, we chose the policy with the closest limit over $20,000.

What is the best pet insurance for cavoodles?

Below, we reveal the best value pet insurance policies for cavoodles. Log in to unlock this members-only content, or join ����Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

These policies include cover for skin and gastrointestinal conditions, ear infections, medications for MVD and BOAS, and an annual benefit limit of at least $20,000, but make sure you read the PDS to understand the limitations of this cover before purchasing a policy.

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You’ve acquired a cute collar, a snazzy food bowl, a comfy pet bed and come up with the perfect name. Your pantry is stocked with the ideal pet food for your new furry friend and you’ve made sure that their vet care is up to date. Your wallet might be lighter after the initial outlay of getting a new pet, but your heart is full. And surely the biggest expenses are behind you, right? Well, maybe not. 

Having a new pet is exciting, but being a pet owner means considering the veterinary costs you’re likely to have in the months and years ahead. While the initial outlay might be relatively small if you adopt a rescue, it can run into the thousands if you’ve purchased from a breeder and, either way, it’s still only a fraction of what you’ll need to spend over the lifetime of your pet. 

According to ASIC’s Moneysmart website, pet owners can expect to pay upwards of $3200 a year to care for a dog and $1715 a year to care for a cat and that doesn’t cover the cost of veterinary bills should your pet be injured or become ill. 

Knowing that veterinary costs can quickly add up, some pet owners choose pet insurance to give them peace of mind should large or unexpected bills arise. However, amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures, many owners may see the high cost of pet insurance premiums as an expense they can do without. In that case, could self-insurance – putting aside savings to cover unexpected costs – be a better way to go?

The pros and cons of pet insurance

Like nearly all insurance products, pet insurance can be complicated, which makes it difficult to figure out whether a policy represents good value.

����Vlog pet insurance expert Daniel Graham says it’s important to understand the limits of any policy you plan to sign up for. 

“Almost all policies have an annual benefit limit, which caps what the insurer will pay for treatment your pet gets over the policy period. Limits range from $5000 to $30,000, but of course with all things insurance it’s never that simple.”

“Most insurers also place limits on how much of each bill they will cover. Some will only rebate you as little as 60% of the bill, although 80% is more common. So if you have a $20,000 limit with 80% cover, you will be at least $4000 out of pocket by the time you’ve claimed the full annual limit,” he says.

What to look for when comparing options

You should also consider what is covered and what features are excluded. Here are some factors to consider.

• Most standard policies won’t cover routine checkups and vaccinations. If you want coverage for these things, make sure you choose a policy that offers this cover and be aware premiums will be higher.
• If you have an older animal it can be hard to get cover – only a handful of policies are available to animals over eight years of age and these will usually only cover accidents, not illness.
• Remember there will be an excess to pay with any policy, so you’ll still be out of pocket if your pet requires veterinary care and many policies have a $300 limit on veterinary costs. 
• Be aware that many policies will only cover a portion of the cost of any vet bills and that percentage may get smaller as your pet ages.

What do pet owners say?

Despite these caveats, many pet owners believe pet insurance to be good value.

For Teresa, whose three-year-old Labrador developed allergies early in life, insurance has more than paid for itself. “It’s definitely helped us afford allergy treatments,” she said.

For Samir and his family, the value of pet insurance became clear when their ageing German Shepherd, Jasper, developed a condition that required regular treatment at a specialised vet. While Jasper was uninsured for his first seven years, the family decided that they wanted to ensure they could cover vet bills as he grew older and were glad they did. 

“We realised how lucky we were to have the insurance. We would not be able to afford the bills without it,” he said.

Other pet owners decided insurance wasn’t such good value. 

Wendy looked at getting insurance for her young cat but decided it wasn’t worth the cost. 

She calculated that for her cats she’d have spent roughly $35,000 on insurance in the 13 years since she first investigated the option, assuming the premiums didn’t rise, which of course they would have. 

“I’ve maybe spent $8k on vet bills over their lives so far and $5k of that was a three-day emergency stay, so at this point I’m significantly ahead.”

Chris, whose cat Adi was already a senior when he adopted him, also believes pet insurance would not have been good value. 

“I’ve never had pet insurance, and have had to pay out a fair bit for various treatments – probably $2500 over the past four years. I suspect I probably wouldn’t have been ahead overall with pet insurance, as he was an old boy when I got him – about 14 years old – and I expect policies would have been limited and premiums high. So I don’t really regret not having insurance,” he says.

‘Financial protection and peace of mind’

According to the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), financial protection and peace of mind are just two of the benefits of pet insurance. Access to advanced care and its use as a budgeting aid are others. 

“Regular premium payments can be easier to manage than sudden large vet bills,” they said. 

����Vlog has been closely monitoring the costs and restrictions of pet insurance over the years and our insurance experts note that there have been improvements to policies in recent years.  

“The pet insurance market has come a fair way since 2019, when we gave the whole sector a Shonky for their uncompetitive rules around pre-existing conditions,” says Daniel.

“You can now get cover for pre-existing conditions after serving a waiting period, but only if the condition doesn’t flare up during that time. That compares poorly to human health insurance, where you just need to serve a waiting period to get cover,” he says.

He also points out that dental illnesses and behavioural conditions are often excluded, or have severe limitations in terms of the conditions and treatments covered. 

In a 2021 survey of pet owners, ����Vlog was told more than once that exclusions were the reason for choosing to discontinue insurance. “It was expensive with unsatisfactory exclusions and limited cover,” one survey respondent told us. “The list of claimable expenses was very short,” said another.

The pros and cons of self-insuring your pet

Before you decide to self-insure, it’s important you understand the pros and cons. 

“In certain situations, self-insuring, or regularly putting money aside to cover potential future veterinary costs, can be a viable alternative to pet insurance,” an AVA spokesperson told us.

The pros of self-insurance

• Access to and control over funds when needed: Regular saving allows access to funds when they’re needed and can help reduce stress.
• Avoiding premiums: If pets remain healthy, some owners find regular saving more cost effective. 

The cons of self-insurance

• Unpredictability: Veterinary emergencies can be unexpected and costly. Without sufficient savings, pet owners might struggle to cover all the expenses required to treat their pet. On this point, bear in mind that even if you have insurance you’re still likely to be hit with upfront and out-of-pocket costs should an emergency arise. 
• Slow savings growth: Building up significant savings takes time. If an emergency occurs early in the initial savings period, saved funds might be insufficient, or might leave owners without enough savings to cover a subsequent unexpected illness or accident. 
• You need to be disciplined: Cost-of-living pressures and other financial emergencies may mean your savings are needed elsewhere and it can be tempting to spend money saved for possible future veterinary bills.

How much do you need to self-insure your pet?

If you do decide to self-insure your pet, a good starting point when thinking about how much to save is to consider regular vet care costs such as annual vaccinations and check-ups. Bear in mind you’ll also need to pay for these services even if you have insurance, as most policies won’t cover them. You’ll also need to set aside funds for emergencies and illnesses. 

Costs of common veterinary treatments

Here are the average costs for some common veterinary treatments according to PetSure’s 2024 Pet Health Monitor report.

• Foreign body ingestion (dogs): $1064 without surgery and $5067 with surgery.
• Foreign body ingestion (cats): $1808 without surgery, $4951 with surgery.  
• Cruciate ligament surgery: $5500.Hip replacement: $12,300 per hip.
• Heart conditions: $1446 in dogs, $1409 in cats.
• Kidney disease: $1589 (cats).
• Cancer in dogs: $1514 without surgery, $2812 with surgery.
• Cancer in cats: $1931 without surgery, $3600 with surgery.*

Again, even if you have insurance there will likely be gaps and excesses to pay. It’s also worth noting that many policies will have maximum benefits of $10,000–20,000, with some paying as little as $5000. This is why it’s imperative to check the limits of a policy before you buy, to ensure it’s right for you. The ����Vlog pet insurance review will tell you this information and help you compare limits on policies. 

����Vlog tip: Our expert comparison of 79 pet insurance policies from 28 insurers will help you decide which insurance is right for you and your pet. You can check what percentage of the vet bill an insurer will pay, what excess payment options each policy has and find out which policies have the highest annual benefits and the biggest range of features.

Average costs just the start

In all of the examples given above, maximum treatment costs can be many times greater than these averages. 

For example, the highest treatment cost for toxin and foreign body ingestion in cats was $19,444 and in dogs it was $41,671. And, as painful as it is to consider, you should also factor in the cost of euthanasia which may be required if your pet’s quality of life deteriorates and treatments aren’t an option. You may also decide you want to factor in burial or cremation costs. These can also cost hundreds of dollars. 

When deciding on whether or not to self-insure, it’s vital that you also factor in the pet’s breed and age. 

Studies have shown that some breeds are more susceptible to certain conditions. In Pet Sure’s 2024 Pet Health Monitor they give the example of Golden Retrievers, who can be prone to eye problems, Miniature Dachshunds, who could suffer spinal disease and German Shepherds, who could experience arthritis and gastrointestinal complaints. Understanding the particular risks your pet might face can help you budget accordingly and your vet should be able to assist with these calculations. 

You should also consider these issues when choosing pet insurance so you can be sure your policy covers the problems your pet might encounter. 

*Source: Petsure Pet Health Monitor 2024

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I’d observed enough people and their dogs to know that puppies require plenty of time and effort. 

After many years saying “not yet”, a serious lobbying campaign from my kids pushed us into the consideration zone. COVID-related changes also meant I was spending a lot more time working at home, so the prospect of a furry companion was pretty appealing. 

A beautiful little labradoodle called Vivienne came into our lives in February 2021. She’s now a fully-grown dog and we’ve definitely learnt a few lessons along the way.

1. You need to be consistent and persistent

The first 12 months of puppy ownership are all about setting up your dog’s daily routine. 

There aren’t really any shortcuts to a well-behaved dog, it’s all about consistency and patience. 

If, like me, you’re not known for doing things consistently, get ready for some life changes.

2. They’ll wake you up at night

Like human babies, puppies take a while to adjust to sleeping at the same time as the other humans in the house. 

It didn’t take many sleep-deprived nights with our new arrival to make me remember why I’d decided not to have more kids. 

Fortunately Viv’s two-hourly waking phase was over in weeks, not years. 

3. Toilet training is unavoidable 

Most pups don’t start toileting consistently until they’re at least four months old, and there are no dog nappies. So it’s best to prepare for accidents. 

Viv arrived during a record-setting month of rain in Sydney. Neither of us was thrilled about standing outside in the rain toilet training. 

Viv would generally wait until I’d given up and taken her back inside, before letting loose. 

Which leads me to the next point…

4. A baby safety gate is a wise investment

We decided to block off access to our bedrooms to keep Viv contained to our living areas, which have more wee-friendly floorboards. That meant the toileting damage was mainly limited to our nostrils. 

We also had a stash of pre-bought puppy training pads, but Viv generally ignored them and toileted everywhere else. I’d skip those in future. 

5. Wait a few weeks before going to puppy school

With limited puppy-parenting skills, I decided to get in early and enrol Viv in a puppy course that started during her first week in our family. In retrospect, that was a bit soon. 

She handled all the basic tasks well, but the guidance on things like toilet training and lead walking was more appropriate for an older puppy. 

The good news was that (unlike kids) it’s perfectly acceptable to encourage your pup to do the right thing with liberal amounts of dog treats. Win.

6. You won’t know how to dog parent straight away

The instant love I felt for Viv also came with a big dose of self doubt. Was she sleeping properly? Why was she barking at everything in the house? Would she ever stop pooing everywhere?! 

Friends and workmates provided plenty of advice on how to tackle these challenges, but their varying approaches left us feeling even more confused. 

In the end we booked two in-home visits from an empathetic local dog trainer. Many of her tips were freely available online, but the one-on-one coaching (and reassurance that we weren’t completely failing as dog parents) was worth it.

7. Vet bills can be unexpectedly expensive

Viv swallowed a tiny grape within an hour of entering our house. A quick Google search revealed that a single grape could make our tiny little pup pretty sick, so off to the emergency vet we went. 

The grape ingestion incident resulted in a $660 bill for an injection to help her vomit up the offending item, and a $330 blood test, plus the option of two days’ observation on a drip (at a cost of about $2000). 

Tough call, but after the initial treatment we decided to take a chance and observe her back at home. And I decided to look into pet insurance.

8. Consider buying pet insurance

For humans, Medicare isn’t perfect, but it generally covers most of our medical needs without the need to fork out for an additional private insurance policy (as long as you’re OK with potentially long waiting lists and not being able to choose your own doctor).

For pet owners, deciding whether to buy insurance isn’t an easy decision. Unfortunately there’s no ‘veticare’ for pets, so there’s always the prospect that you’ll end up with a sizeable bill for your pet’s health care. On the flip side, I know pet insurance comes with plenty of caveats and policy exclusions, so it’s not a failsafe option. 

After a rogue chocolate bunny ingestion incident resulted in another emergency vet visit, I decided to sign Viv up. Because she’s young, has no pre-existing conditions, and is obsessed with consuming anything remotely edible (including Lego), it made sense for us. 

Since then, we’ve been amazingly fortunate not to have any further vet visits outside regular check ups, but the peace of mind is worth it.

9. Get a good vacuum cleaner

Viv is a first-generation shaggy labradoodle, so she didn’t inherit her poodle dad’s shed-free curls.

On the plus side, that shaggy coat means she needs minimal grooming and brushing. The downside of that are the little tumbleweeds of dog fur all over our house, bedding and couches as the weather warms up. 

Our previous vacuum cleaner didn’t do an amazing job sucking up pet fur, so we traded up to a Dyson Ball Animal Origin, one of the vacs that scored well for pet hair removal in our latest lab test.

10. The hard work is worth it

Three years into dog ownership, most of my predictions about time and effort were right. Becoming a puppy parent does mean a lot of cleaning, sleep deprivation, patience and money spent on vet bills. But it’s also been wonderful. 

While I’ll do a few things differently next time if I get another puppy, I’m 100% converted to the joys of dog ownership. 

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In a groundbreaking move, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) imposed stop orders last week that temporarily prevented the sale of 67 pet insurance products issued by PetSure and its owner Hollard insurance, whose brands comprise about 80% of the pet insurance market in Australia.  

The 38 stop orders put the sale of the pet insurance products – from brands including Woolworths, RSPCA, Petbarn, Guide Dogs, Medibank, Bupa and HCF – on hold, though PetSure quickly took steps to address ASIC’s concerns and have the orders lifted. 

ASIC says the orders were issued to “protect consumers from acquiring pet insurance products that may not be consistent with their objectives, financial situation or needs”.    

Improper design and distribution 

ASIC’s concern was that Hollard and PetSure had potentially contravened part of their design and distribution obligations (DDOs), which require businesses to design financial products in a way that meets the needs of their target customers.

To comply with their DDOs, financial firms must create a publicly available target market determination (TMD) document that describes the types of customers its products would be appropriate for.

ASIC said it had found ‘deficiencies’ in Hollard and PetSure TMDs covering the 67 products, in particular their failure to sufficiently take the financial situation of potential customers into account.

The documents “did not appear to properly consider whether the key terms, features and attributes of the products would be consistent with the objectives, financial situation and needs of consumers in the target market,” ASIC said.

Pay first, claim later 

ASIC flagged the fact that the insurance products required policyholders to pay for the medical treatment of their pets upfront, and then file a claim for partial reimbursement from the insurer – a requirement that could come as a surprise to policyholders who haven’t read every word of the respective product disclosure statements.

Having to pay upfront is just one issue customers have with pet insurance products. ����Vlog has heard from a number of pet insurance customers whose policies have become increasingly unaffordable as their pets age and the premiums go up.  

In February this year, the owner of a 14-year-old Pomchi told us that “after a decade of almost no claims, on a 13-year held policy, and paying well over $6000 plus in premiums, the stinkers bung on loadings and excesses for age, knowing full well that one can’t shift insurance providers. Worse, terminating the policy leaves one high and dry and they know that too.”

First stop order case for TMDs 

The pet insurance stop orders were the first time ASIC had used such powers against deficient TMDs. PetSure took swift action to address the issues. 

“PetSure can confirm, after consultation with ASIC, that we have addressed the concerns raised with the target market determination and subsequently, the interim stop order has been lifted,” a PetSure spokesperson told ����Vlog on the same day the orders were issued.  

How many customers bought a PetSure product that was inappropriate for their financial circumstances before the ASIC intervention is unclear. 

“Target market determinations are an important part of ensuring products are only sold to customers who can afford the service, and it’s disappointing that so many pet insurers have failed in this regard,” says ����Vlog head of policy Patrick Veyret. 

“These insurers must make sure their products are only sold to customers who can afford them, rather than emotionally manipulating people’s love for their pets and selling them insurance that will result in financial distress.”

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