7 Reasons to Compare Puppy Insurance Quotes Early On

Why should you compare puppy insurance early?

Getting insurance for your canine while they’re still young brings several benefits across cost and cover for both you and your furry friend. On the other hand, if you adopt an older dog, obtaining insurance as soon as possible is still a better option than having none at all.

Either way the cookie crumbles, when it comes to signing up for puppy and dog insurance, sooner is better. Here’s why:

1. Zoom through waiting periods

When comparing pet insurance quotes, be sure to check out the waiting periods, too. Like most types of insurance, puppy and dog insurance plans usually have waiting periods before they cover certain conditions.

Insuring your puppy as early as possible allows you to start the clock on these waiting periods sooner, with fewer potential health worries.

Waiting periods may vary between insurance providers and can also differ for various health conditions. For example, the waiting period for illness might be X number of days, compared to Y number of days for the pet dental insurance part of the cover to kick in.

2. Lower premiums

As your average dog ages, they are typically more at risk of getting injured and ill, requiring more care.

Conversely, puppies are generally healthier and less prone to medical issues compared to older pets. They are also more likely to recover easily. This lower risk profile for insurance providers often translates to lower premiums.

Insurance providers determine premiums based on the likelihood of a pet needing medical care. This allows them to manage the risk of all the pets they insure in their customer pool and promptly pay out claims to help cover the costs of vet care. It’s yet another reason why it’s worthwhile to compare pet insurance quotes for your puppy while they’re still little and secure them that safeguard of dog insurance.

3. Cover for the both expected and unexpected

A lot of preventative care happens early on when your dog is a puppy. Providing them with pet vaccinations, flea treatments, healthy puppy food, etc., puts them in a good place to stay healthier as they mature and grow.

This means you’re offering your puppy preventative care to stave off those expected dangers. But how will you cover them for unexpected dangers?

When you compare pet insurance quotes and get a pet plan, you’ll cover your puppy for all kinds of emergency vet visits and non-routine visits that you simply can’t anticipate. Illness and injury don’t discriminate! In other words, you’ll be giving them protection on all fronts.

Setting up your puppy with a good quality of life from day one means they’re more likely to age gracefully due to good health. That’s why it’s worth the time it takes to compare pet insurance for your puppy, now.

4. Beat pre-existing conditions

Like humans, dogs tend to experience various aches and pains as they age. Lots of little niggly concerns that seem to wash over puppies like water off a duck’s back can have greater health implications for adult dogs.

From gingivitis and arthritis in dogs to hip dysplasia and other hereditary conditions, the list is long. Recent studies also show that age is a distinct factor in the development of cancer in dogs. What this means for your puppy and your pocket is simple: compare pet insurance quotes and get a plan while your puppy is young.

Why? Pet insurance only covers conditions that happen after you buy your policy. In other words, pre-existing conditions aren’t covered by pet insurance.

5. Compare pet insurance quotes in dog years

You’ve probably heard that every human year is said to be equivalent to seven dog years. While that’s not precisely accurate, it’s close enough. Dogs age much faster than humans, with a far shorter lifespan. They are already considered adults when they turn one year old.

This means your puppy is only a puppy for the first year of their life. They must fit their entire childhood into those 12 meaningful months, which is just another reason why it’s better to get a pet plan early on.

Let’s put it another way – it’s worth comparing pet insurance quotes in dog years because time passes quickly (hence, the sooner, the better).

6. Save money

We’ve already covered that puppy insurance is generally cheaper than pet insurance for older pets.

However, don’t overlook the overall savings of not waiting for your pooch to grow up before investing in their health plan. Not only might you find yourself with all kinds of injury and illness vet bills you can’t afford before you know it, but down the line, your now-grown puppy is more likely to have pre-existing medical conditions that will be excluded from coverage.

Not only could you potentially miss out on wider coverage from having pet insurance earlier on, but you could end up paying big vet bills without any assistance. It’s best to compare pet insurance quotes for your puppy before they grow up.

7. Benefit from third-party liability

Another reason to compare pet insurance quotes for puppy and dog insurance is third-party liability. While you might believe your canine doesn’t need health cover when they’re young, what about the potential damage they could do?

In addition to coverage that helps pay for vet bills, some pet plans include third-party liability cover. This helps pay the costs you’ll be responsible for if your pup causes damage to other people or their belongings.

This damage could occur to a stranger in the park, a friend, or neighbour. It could also involve harm to their pet. Furthermore, it could be damage that your pup causes to someone else’s belongings.

Puppies are often rambunctious and not always within the realms of control. They’re growing fast, expending enormous stores of energy, and still need to be properly trained. It’s the likeliest time they might do something (bite, eat, break, scratch, poop on) they shouldn’t.

What’s the best age to get dog insurance?

What is the best age to get dog insurance? We believe that time is now.

To sum it up, insuring a puppy not only often leads to lower initial premiums and a quick start on waiting periods, but it may also offer them more extensive coverage than if they’d already been injured or ill. Getting pet insurance sooner rather than later (no matter their age) can mean fewer restrictions, not to mention a consistent insurance history for their lifetime.

Keep in mind that while puppy insurance is generally cheaper the insurance for older dogs, the specific cost can vary depending on factors such as the breed, health and the level of cover you choose. It’s always essential to get your puppy a dog insurance plan that matches their current and future health and your budget.

Compare pet insurance providers here!

About the reviewer of this page

This report was reviewed by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.