Nobody knows pet insurance as well as we do – we’re the pet insurance people! That’s why we’ve put together a list of our most common pet insurance claims and how much they could set you back without proper pet insurance.
We’ve been in the pet insurance game for a while now and nothing makes us happier than being able to report back what we have learned so that you can start making smart decisions about looking after your furry friend.
The truth of the matter is this: there will be a time when your pet falls ill. There will be a time when your pet has an injury-inducing accident. There may even be a few times where either of the two happens. That’s just the risk you take when you bring another living being into your home.
So what do you do to make sure you and your pet are protected when these kinds of things happen? Our advice is always simple: you get pet insurance. Why? Because we have seen the claims, we have punched the numbers and we know for a fact that pet healthcare is expensive.
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Before we get into why you need pet insurance, we’ll let the figures and possibilities speak for themselves. Here are the 9 most common claims we see as pet insurers
9 Most Common Pet Insurance Claims & Their Costs
Cruciate ligament repairs
First, off the bat, we have cruciate ligament repairs. This is more common in dogs than in cats. This is an ailment that affects your animal’s stability. There are 2 ligaments in the knee joint that make the knee behave like a hinge. When these ligaments tear or even snap, the joint will be unable to carry any weight and your animal will compensate by leaning onto their other limbs.
It is extremely painful for them and extremely expensive for you. Cruciate ligament repair can cost between R12 000 and R18 000.
Gastroenteritis
If you’re a pet parent, you’re going to have a few messy clean-ups you’ll have to do in your lifetime. If your animal has an upset stomach, it can be completely normal and may pass in a few days. On the other hand, your pet could be suffering from Gastroenteritis and need immediate treatment.
Gastroenteritis causes inflammation in the stomach and in the intestines and in order for it to be diagnosed and treated, you’re in for a hefty bill.
To find out what is causing your dog’s illness, your vet will need to conduct:
- Urinalysis
- Complete blood cell count
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal X-ray
Bear in mind that a urinalysis is approximately R500. Blood tests can range from R300 to R600. X-rays? R2 000. And those are just the numbers to come to a conclusion about the health of your pet. Sheesh. Altogether, you could run up a bill of R3 500 to R7 000 should your pet get gastroenteritis.
Hit by a car
We hate hearing about your furry friends getting into accidents with cars. It all happens so fast and can be hugely traumatic for both you and your pet.
We can’t state the exact price for surgery or treatment that your pet will need if they are hit by a car, that all depends on how much damage has been done. The local vet we contacted estimated that pets who get hit by a car can require surgery that could cost anywhere from R3 000 all the way to R20 000.
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We can state that once you have an insurance policy with Oneplan, accidents are immediately covered. No waiting periods, just instant access to excellent healthcare for your pet.
Cancer
Our hearts always get sore when we find out one of our pet family members is diagnosed with cancer. It’s a mentally and financially draining journey that we believe needs a ton of support.
Lump removals, chemo and radiation are all inevitable costs that will come into your life when your pet is diagnosed with cancer. Treatment for cancer in animals can cost as much as R78 000.
Spinal surgery
Spinal surgeries are very common and can get incredibly expensive. If you have a dog that is predisposed to spinal injuries or deterioration, bear in mind that a spinal surgery could cost you between R15000 and R40 000.
Foreign body removal
What is it with pets and swallowing things that they shouldn’t?? Our team did our research and according to local vets, the cost of a basic foreign body removal surgery can start at R12 000 and go as high as R20 000 or more.
These costs will typically include the surgery costs, blood tests, anaesthesia costs and any other scanning tests or procedures involved.
Patella Luxation repairs (dislocating kneecaps)
Luxating is a phrase that translates to ‘out of place’. A patella that has luxated is a kneecap that has shifted from the normal place in between the thigh bone (femur) and knee (stifle). You will notice that your animal starts skipping around or removing weight completely from the injured leg. To fix a luxated patella, your vet can charge you anywhere between R12000 and R18000.
Bite wounds
It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. When animals get into conflict, it can turn into a very dangerous situation for both you and your pet. Once you have separated the animals or ended the attack, you need to get your pet to the vet immediately.
Depending on the injuries sustained, you could be paying between R3 500 and R10 000. These costs could include injections, surgery and hospital stays.
Fractures
Fractures have a varying price range (R1000 – R20 000) because pets can be treated differently depending on their age and mobility.
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If your puppy has a fractured leg, your vet may be able to bandage the leg, and the bone will heal relatively quickly on its own. For older dogs, a fracture may have to be treated surgically and the insertion of pins into the bone.
To end off
Accidents happen, that’s the fact of the matter. We have seen each of the claims numerous times and each time we are happy that our clients have avoided paying for the costs out of pocket.
To join the Oneplan Pet Insurance Family, you can start by getting a free online pet insurance quote to see which of our plans best suits your pet’s needs and your budget.
Your Pet Insurance Family,
Oneplan
