If your bones are strong and your joints are flexible, you move freely. And that means you can live your life to its’ full. But one in seven people have their movement hindered by musculoskeletal problems - back pain, osteoporosis, arthritis, fracture, or sports trauma. Faced with such painful conditions you may be delighted to pay £4,000 for orthopaedic surgery to get those joints flexible again. But would you be so happy to spend the same money on your pet Dalmation?
Veterinary science has developed quickly over the last ten years and as pets get older they are increasingly likely to suffer illnesses that can be costly and lengthy to treat. For example, take diabetes. This is relatively common in dogs and whilst it can be successfully treated, the treatment will be ongoing and expensive – one vet estimated that treatment cost around £2,500 per year. Eczema is yet another of many other conditions that require extended treatment.
But as with us, your pet could require emergency treatment at any time. According to Mintel, one in three pets make an unplanned visit to the vet every year. There are always scrapes that our pets get into. Your cat may have nine lives but they may well land you with nine vets’ bills! Then there are hereditary health problems. Labradors and Golden Retrievers are prone to progressive retinal atrophy, Boxers and Spaniels are susceptible to dodgy hearts, Alsations can get hip dysplasia and Setters, canine leucocyte adhesion deficiency. With an MRI scan putting you back £1,500 and a series of x-rays costing £400, the case for insurance cover becomes compelling.
In this setting, pet insurance has become the fastest growing form of insurance in the UK. E&L, Animal Friends, PDSA, Petwise, Petplan, Pet Protect, and Marks and Spencer are all names in the market. Indeed, competition for your business is intense with over 220 different policies offered by over 60 different insurers. With so much selection, the task of selecting a pet plan becomes complicated.

So keep things simple. Pet insurance falls into three basic categories. The first and usually the cheapest form, limits the claim per condition to 12 months - suitable for one-off emergencies but no good for diabetes! The second limits the total annual payout whilst the third limits the amount paid per condition.

Faced with this level of choice what features should you look for? Here are the 10 key questions to ask:
· What is the excess you have to, pay per claim? Sometimes it will be a fixed sum, sometimes a percentage of the treatment cost but more often, a combination of both.

· Are claims subject to a maximum annual cost or are they on a “per condition” basis?

· If the insurance is limited “per condition”, there will inevitably be a time limit. What is it?

· Is there a limit on vets’ fees? Yes? What is it?

· Is pet is prone to any hereditary conditions and if so, will the plan payout for their treatment? For cats you’ll get information about hereditary problems at www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/cats-breeds. For dogs you’ll find the answers at www.the-kennel-club.org.uk

· Is your dog insured for third party liabilities? You should be aware that if your dog caused injury or damage you could be liable.

· If you pet needs emergency surgery shortly before you are due to leave for a holiday, will your insurance cover the cost of holiday cancellation?

· If you go into hospital, does the plan cover the cost of cattery or kennel boarding fees? Some plans will payout after the policyholder has been in hospital for a minimum period.

· Does the pet insurance cover a finders’ reward if you pet is lost or stolen or the cost of advertising?

· Does the plan make a payout when your pet dies? If so, how much?
Where can you find the answers to these questions? Perhaps not surprisingly, vets are not particularly well clued up. They often have leaflets for one or two plans in their waiting rooms but they are seldom up to date with what’s available in the market. Perhaps that’s not surprising with all the developments in veterinary care for them to keep abreast of!
Well, you’ve already found the finest source of information – it’s the Internet! Simply search for pet, cat, or dog insurance and you’ll find all the information you’ll need. It might take you an hour or so to finish your research but it will be worth it in the end.