Cocker Spaniel insurance

Cocker Spaniels are happy, energetic, and loyal dogs, making them ideal family pets and one of the most popular breeds in the UK. While they're kind and gentle in the home, cocker spaniels are gun dogs by nature and get very excited when they're outdoors.

They thrive most when they're off lead running free in a field covered in mud, getting themselves into all sorts of mischief. Especially if they pick up a scent!

That's why it's important to find the right pet insurance and make sure your Cocker Spaniel has all the cover they need to be their loveable selves.

How much does pet insurance for a Cocker Spaniel cost?

In 2024, the average cost of pet insurance for a Cocker Spaniel is £12.18 per month¹ but that price won't be the same for everyone.

The cost of insuring your Cocker Spaniel depends on several factors, including:

• The age of your dog

• Your home address

• If it has any pre-existing medical conditions

• What type of cover you're purchasing

• If your dog is neutered or spayed

What are the benefits of having pet insurance?

While it isn't a legal requirement to have pet insurance, it is considered invaluable if you're a dog owner. The main benefit of pet insurance is that it can help cover any unexpected medical expenses if your dog is injured or becomes ill.

Depending on the type of cover you take out, pet insurance has many other benefits including:

• Third-party liability cover: if your Cocker Spaniel injures someone or damages their property

• A lump-sum payment: of the price you paid for your Cocker Spaniel if they're lost, stolen, or they die as a result of an injury or illness before a certain age

• The cost of advertising: if your Cocker Spaniel goes missing and a reward amount if they're found

• Dog boarding cover: pays for the expense of someone watching your Cocker Spaniel if you have to have urgent medical treatment and need to stay in hospital

• Emergency abroad veterinary treatment: if your Cocker Spaniel needs becomes ill or injured if you take them abroad with you

• Holiday cancellation costs: if your holiday is cancelled due to your Cocker Spaniel needing emergency medical treatment close to the date of your departure

It's important to check your policy to see what's included before you commit to purchasing pet insurance. Find out more in our guide 'what pet insurance covers'.

What common health issues in Cocker Spaniels should be covered by insurance?

Due to their breed characteristics, Cocker Spaniels are prone to the following health issues:

• Ear infections

• Hip problems, such as hip dysplasia, where the hip joint doesn't fit together correctly, which can lead to arthritis

• Eye diseases

• Atopy dermatitis, which is an allergic skin condition in dogs that causes itching, redness, fur-loss and damage or rough fur and skin

Some insurance providers will cover you for these conditions, and others may not. If you're unsure, contact the insurance company before taking out pet insurance.

Are there specific insurance companies that offer Cocker Spaniel insurance?

Most pet insurance providers will provide cover for your Cocker Spaniel, especially if they're a healthy age with no pre-existing medical conditions.

If your Cocker Spaniel has any health issues, hereditary conditions, or requires specialist or ongoing care, then you may require a specialised pet insurance to cover pre-existing conditions.

This will most likely be more expensive, and you may be limited on the number of insurers that will provide this type of cover.

Does pet insurance cover genetic conditions?

You may find some insurance providers cover genetic conditions as standard, whereas others require you to pay extra to add on cover for genetic conditions. Some insurers don't offer this type of cover at all.

The type of pet insurance policy you choose will also affect whether you can get cover these conditions. Accident only pet insurance policies, for example, don't cover health problems that aren't related to accidents, so won't cover genetic conditions or illnesses.

In this instance, it's always worth checking with each individual insurer and reading policy documents and terms and conditions.

How can I lower my Cocker Spaniel's insurance premium?

When insuring your Cocker Spaniel, it's important to make sure you're getting the right amount of cover to help protect them against any unforeseen accidents, illnesses or emergencies.

The cheapest option may not always be the best choice for your dog, and can be more costly down the line.

That being said, there are ways you can reduce the cost of your pet insurance premium, including:

Increase your excess

Your excess is the amount of money you agree to contribute to the cost of your pet's treatment before the insurance cover will pay out.

For example, if you take your dog to the vet and any treatment costs more than the excess, your insurance will cover the cost of anything over that threshold. So if your excess is £100 and the treatment costs £150, the insurer will contribute £50.

In general, the excess amount is usually between £50-£200, but this varies insurer to insurer. Some insurers provide zero excess, meaning they will pay the full amount, but your policy will cost more.

If you can afford it, increasing the amount of excess you agree to pay will lower the price of the premium.

Make sure your Cocker Spaniel is microchipped and registered

It is a legal requirement to have your dog microchipped in the UK, and this is one of the first questions you'll be asked when you start a pet insurance quote. If your pet is not microchipped, there may be instances where your insurers may not pay out.

Policies for microchipped pets are often much cheaper than pets without a microchip, as the chances of reuniting with your dog if they're lost or stolen are much greater, and therefore your dog is classed as less of a risk to insurers.

If your Cocker Spaniel is Kennel Club registered, make sure you have registered them correctly and have all the appropriate paperwork.

Spay or neuter your Cocker Spaniel

In some instances, spaying or neutering your dog is a good idea to help prevent them developing various conditions or diseases.

Unless you're planning to breed your dog, most vets will recommend this procedure. A spayed or neutered dog is also cheaper to insure for this reason.

Get multi-pet discounts

If you have more than one Cocker Spaniel or any other breed, most insurers offer a discount of between 5% - 10% discount for insuring multiple dogs on the same policy. You can choose this option even if your dogs are different breeds and you can insure cats and dogs with the same policy.

Take good care of your Cocker Spaniel

One of the best ways to reduce the cost of your pet insurance is to take care of your furry friend from the moment you welcome them into your home, and not wait until things go wrong.

Feed them a good quality diet and offer plenty of exercise to keep your Cocker Spaniel fit and healthy. Make sure you flea and worm your Cocker Spaniel regularly, and keep on top of vaccinations and other routine care appointments, such as grooming.

It's also a good idea to comb their ears, as they can become tangled and cause issues, as well as brushing their teeth or giving them a dental chew daily to help keep their teeth and gums clean.

What age should I insure my Cocker Spaniel?

Most insurance providers offer puppy insurance from eight weeks old, but some even offer insurance for dogs as young as five weeks old.

It is highly recommended that you insure your dog as soon as you bring them home, but bear in mind that some insurers will not cover puppies for pre-existing or hereditary conditions either.

Are there breed-specific exclusions in Cocker Spaniel insurance?

Most insurers are more than happy to insure your Cocker Spaniel, and there aren't any breed-specific exclusions. Just make sure to check your policy details, especially if your Spaniel has any health conditions.

What types of pet insurance can I choose?

There are four main types of pet insurance that you can compare with MoneySuperMarket:

Lifetime policy: this covers your Cocker Spaniel for any injuries or illnesses they develop throughout their life while they're insured. It does have an annual limit for the amount you can claim, but this resets whenever you renew your policy. This is a common option for many dog owners, as it provides the most extensive cover.

Maximum benefit: with this cover, there is a set limit on the amount the insurer will pay out for your dog's injury or illness. Once you've claimed up to this amount, which is typically between £1,000-£7,500, your dog is no longer covered. There is no time limit set, just a financial cap, making it suitable for dogs needing ongoing medication or treatment for chronic conditions.

Time limited: offers a fixed amount you can claim for any one given treatment, often with a time restriction of 12 months. Once this period expires or you hit the price cap, you can't claim for that condition again. This isn't suitable for dogs with pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses.

Accident only: helps assist with the expense of treatment in the event your pet is involved in an accident. This type of policy doesn't extend to any illnesses or diseases, and doesn't have any additional benefits, making it the most basic option of pet insurance, and therefore, cheapest offering.

What factors should I consider when choosing pet insurance?

Here are some things to consider when you're comparing pet insurance policies:

• Excess amount

• Type of policy, e.g. lifetime or maximum benefit

• Any optional add-ons you require such as pet travel insurance

• Any perks or loyalty benefits such as free gift cards or bonus supermarket loyalty points (these shouldn't be the main incentive for choosing insurance but are always worth considering, especially if most policies are similar in price and coverage but one is offering a welcome gift that is relevant to your lifestyle)

Read more about find the right cover in our guide is pet insurance worth it?

Why compare pet insurance with MoneySuperMarket?

At MoneySuperMarket, we take the guesswork out of choosing the right pet insurance for your financial circumstances, and show you a range of options with levels of cover you feel comfortable with from leading UK providers.

Explore your options, compare policies, and choose the insurance that gives you and your Cocker Spaniel the security you both deserve.

¹ _{MoneySuperMarket data April 2024}