Labrador
Pet Insurance
Protect your loveable Lab with an affordable insurance plan designed to cover vet bills for unexpected accidents and medical emergencies
Our Elite Extra Plus Dog Insurance is 5-Star rated by Moneyfacts®
*15% Multi-Pet Discount When You Insure More Than One Pet! T&Cs apply.
Labrador
Let’s talk Labradors
Lifespan, common health issues and insurance
Labradors are what you might call an ‘easy dog’ to own, owing to their intelligent and friendly nature. However, like all pure-bred dogs, they can be prone to certain breed-specific ailments.
The average lifespan for the breed is 12 years, but some owners are lucky to enjoy their Labrador for almost two decades! Chocolate Labradors are slightly more vulnerable to health issues and tend to have shorter average lifespans as a result.
If any of these conditions were to develop early in your dog’s life, they can be expensive to treat over the long term, so it’s always worth weighing up which Labrador insurance policies offer the most comprehensive cover.
Insurance for Labrador puppies from just 4 weeks old with no upper age limit for senior Labradors
Common Labrador Health issues
As dog lovers with over 20 years of pet insurance experience, we have a deep knowledge of the conditions typically associated with Labradors. Our quoting system has been programmed to account for common breed-specific ailments, which allows us to tailor insurance specific to your dog’s needs.
The most common health issues Labradors are prone to are:
Hip dysplasia
A condition that can affect dogs of all ages, hip dysplasia occurs when the hip joint becomes malformed and doesn’t fit precisely into the hip socket. This causes pieces of the joint to painfully rub together, which if left untreated, can result in chronic pain, lameness or osteoarthritis.
Elbow dysplasia
Beginning in puppyhood, elbow dysplasia is a genetic condition which can affect a dog for the rest of its life. Symptoms often begin between 5-18 months, but some dogs may not show signs until later in life, usually in the form of arthritis in their elbows.
Obesity
Obesity dramatically increases a dog’s risk of serious health conditions including heart and liver disease, joint problems and arthritis. Research suggests Labradors are more likely to become obese than other breeds partly because of their genes – they can’t always tell when they’re full and will continue to ask for food.
*Source here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36170267
Progressive retinal atrophy
A group of degenerative diseases that affect photoreceptor cells in a dog’s eyes, PRA causes slowly progressive blindness over a period of months or years. PRA can occur in most breeds but is particularly common in Labrador retrievers.
Why buy Labrador insurance?
Just like their owners, Labradors can get sick or injured – especially when they’re very young or entering their later years. When the worst happens, the last thing you want to worry about is how you’re going to pay for a big vet bill. That’s where pet insurance comes in. With the right policy in place, you can rest assured that your lovable Labrador will get the care they deserve, at the earliest opportunity.
Get cover up to £4,000 per condition with NO LIMIT on the number of conditions you can claim for. T&Cs apply.
Depending on the policy, our Labrador pet insurance plans can also protect against several other eventualities such as:
Death from accidental injury and illness
Processing the death of a much-loved pet is never easy – it’s even tougher when they’ve died from an accidental injury or illness. Our Elite, Elite Extra, Vital, Vital Extra, Essential and Essential Extra policies will pay a contribution towards the original purchase price or donation price up to your policy’s limit, if your Labrador is under 8 years old and dies or is put to sleep by your vet as a result of an illness or accidental injury.
Overseas holiday cover
As a big part of your family, you may want to take your Labrador overseas on holiday. However, you’ll need to make sure they are insured in the event of requiring emergency vet treatment because of an accidental injury or illness when away. Overseas holiday cover is available with all our policies except Accident Only, and applies to qualified countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) listed by the UK Government’s Pet Travel Scheme (“PETS”).
Holiday cancellation
Injury or illness often occurs when we least expect it. If your Labrador requires emergency life-saving treatment within seven days of your holiday departure date, the right cover can ensure you don’t lose all your money should you have to cancel your trip. All but our Accident Only policies provide holiday cancellation cover for the named policyholder for trips of three or more nights booked outside of the UK.
Theft and straying
The thought of your Labrador going astray is one that no pet owner wants to have to consider. You can insure against the unthinkable happening – we will pay expenses for local advertising and rewards for your Labrador’s return up to your policy’s limit. Should your dog still be missing after 45 days (during the period of insurance), we will pay a contribution to the original price you paid for your dog, providing they are under 8 years old at the time of disappearance.
Did you know?
For a larger dog like a Labrador, a basic treatment regime for arthritis is likely to cost around £3 per day. For a more comprehensive treatment regime, costs can rise to around £15-£18 per day without the appropriate insurance in place.
Source here: https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/how-much-does-it-cost-to-treat-and-manage-arthritis-in-dogs.html
We can pay
your vet direct
We can pay your vet directly, giving you one less thing to worry about during what can be an anxious time. If your vet accepts direct payment, we can deposit funds straight into their account, saving you the worry of having to find money to pay large vet bills.
Subject to claim approval
Choosing the best pet insurance for Labradors
When buying pet insurance, it’s important to weigh up the benefits and cover limits provided to ensure you get the best coverage possible for you and your dog.
We offer a range of insurance plans to suit different needs and budgets. Explore our policies and their suitability for your Labrador by clicking on the links below:
Lifetime Cover
You can claim year after year for each illness or accident your pet develops, providing you renew annually with no break in cover.
Max Benefit
Protect your pet against injuries and illness up to a pre-set limit with no time restriction, providing the policy is active.
Accident Only
Insure your pet against injuries and complications arising from accidents only.
Save with multi-pet cover
Got more than one pet? Insure your other dogs and cats at the same time as your Labrador to receive a 15% discount.
*Policies must be purchased direct and at the same time. Public Liability and Accident Only policies are excluded from the multi-pet discount offer.
Labrador insurance FAQs
How much does Labrador insurance cost?
The cost of pet insurance for Labradors is based on several different factors including age, breed associated medical conditions and the cost of vet fees in the area you live. Your premiums will also depend on the level of cover you choose.
How much cover does my Labrador need?
This is very much a personal choice, but you should be careful not to leave yourself in a difficult position. So, when making your mind up on which cover your Labrador needs, bear in mind things like the cost to treat associated ailments, benefit limits and the duration of cover. The last thing you want is to find yourself having to consider your finances should your dog require some essential treatment for an unforeseen condition.
What policy type will cover my Labrador for on-going medical conditions?
Our Reinstatement policies Elite and Elite Extra, also known as Lifetime cover, provide cover for conditions that develop whilst the policy is active. When you renew, these medical conditions will be carried forward and we will continue to cover them up to the policy’s limit.
What policy exclusions should I be aware of?
As with all insurance products, there will be inclusions and exclusions depending on what policy you choose. Which is why it’s important to take some time to read up on what is and isn’t included with your chosen plan; you don’t want to find out you’re not covered for something important just when it matters most. Here are some common exclusions that apply across our pet insurance policies:
● Pre-existing medical conditions and symptoms that existed before a policy is purchased
● Illnesses that occur within 14 days of a policy being taken out
● Accidents that occur with 5 days of a policy being taken out
● Dental or oral treatment (unless a result of an accident)
● Routine treatment such as vaccinations, castration, flea and worming and any treatment because of these not being carried out
● Any complications or treatment relating to pregnancy
What happens if I need to make a claim?
Simply download a claim form from our ‘Make a Claim’ page. Complete and send back to us either by email or post. An excess of £90 per condition per policy year applies to all sections of the policy, except for Public Liability where the excess is £250. This will be stated on your Policy Schedule. The excess amount will be deducted when making a claim as will a co-payment of 15% towards vet bills should your dog be 8 years or older.
A few tips for keeping your Labrador healthy
Although you’ll probably expect your fair share of injuries and illnesses to deal with as a pet owner, the key to ensuring your Labrador is largely problem-free is helping them maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise
Labradors tend to find it harder to burn calories than other dog breeds, so owners should be careful not to overfeed, while also getting them outside for plenty of daily exercise. A healthy, adult Labrador typically requires at least 80 minutes of high-quality exercise per day. But more relaxed dogs will be happy and healthy with a little less.
Diet
As with most other dogs, a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential. How much food you give your Labrador is dependent on their age and level of activity. As they tend to put on weight, you will want to avoid over feeding and indulging on treats. To establish the best meal plan, consult your vet or a dog dietitian, who will take into consideration your dog’s lifestyle and health requirements.