Protect your dog with RSPCA pet insurance

Could you afford the costs of veterinary care if your dog suffered from any of these conditions?

Ongoing and unexpected veterinary treatments for your dog can quickly add up and become a financial burden.

That's why RSPCA dog insurance provides coverage for accidents, illnesses, prescriptions, surgeries, hospitalisation and much more.

Common illnesses experienced by dogs

Ear infection

An ear infection is an ear condition characterised by inflammation of the external ear canal. It is prevalent in dogs with long, floppy ears. Ear infections represent one of the top reasons dogs end up at a vet and may affect up to 20 per cent of dogs.

Chronic Kidney Failure

Chronic Kidney Failure can be a problem in all dog breeds. Digesting the food produces waste products, which are carried by blood to the kidneys to be filtered and excreted in the form of urine. When the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to remove these waste products, and toxins build up in the blood producing a number of signs of kidney disease.

Skin allergy

Allergies are immune reactions to a given substance, which the body recognises as foreign. These reactions occur following initial exposure to the allergen, with subsequent development of a hypersensitivity that causes itching and inflammation upon future exposures.

Laceration

A severe cut or laceration is a wound produced by the tearing of body tissue. Minor trauma may damage the skin only. Major trauma may damage deeper muscles and tendons and have the potential for haemorrhage or infection.

Skin infection

A skin infection is a bacterial infection can cause intense itching leading to discomfort. The underlying cause of the skin infection may also have a negative health impact on the dog, depending on the disease.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is a painful, crippling disease that causes a dog's hip to weaken, deteriorate and become arthritic. It stems from abnormal development of the hip joint in which the head of the femur does not fit properly into the socket. It can be severe and cause crippling arthritis and is most common in large dog breeds.

Cancer / Tumours

Cancer encompasses a broad category of tumours that includes any uncontrolled growth of cells of the skin or associated structures such as glands and organs. Frequently occurs in dogs that are middle-aged to older.

Urinary infection

Urinary infections - inflammation of the urinary bladder - are typically caused by a bacterial infection. Most cases of bacterial cystitis are "ascending," meaning that the offending bacteria arise from the dog's own intestinal tract and "ascend" to the bladder.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the body's ability to metabolise sugar. There are two types of diabetes in dogs. Type I occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin. Type II occurs when enough insulin is produced but something interferes with its ability to be utilised by the body.

Arthritis

Arthritis affects the smooth cartilage of the joint, which is the covering of bone in the joints that is responsible for the smooth, non-painful motion of joints. When it becomes worn, raw bone surfaces become exposed and rub together. It can occur over a lifetime of wear or as a result of injury.

Obesity

Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of body fat. Between 25 and 40 per cent of dogs are considered obese or are likely to become obese. It is the most common nutrition-related health condition in dogs in our society. Dogs that are overweight may experience difficulty breathing or walking or they may be unable to tolerate heat or exercise.

Dental Disease

Dental Disease is the inflammation of the structures that support teeth, the gum tissue, periodontal ligament, alveolus (small cavity) and cementum. It is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world in dogs and is caused by bacteria that make up plaque.

Food allergy

Food allergy is an increasingly common problem in dogs and it can start at any age. A change in diet is not necessary for development of food allergy. About 70 per cent of affected pets develop allergies to food ingredients that they have been fed for a long time, usually more than two years.

Gastroenteritis

Acute vomiting and diarrhoea are characterised by a sudden onset and short duration of less than two to three weeks. An occasional bout of vomiting and diarrhoea is quite common in dogs however, severe, acute vomiting and diarrhoea is not normal, and can be associated with life threatening illnesses.

Epilepsy

Idiopathic Epilepsy is a specific term referring to a seizure disorder that has no identifiable cause. In your pet, the physical manifestation can vary between a far-away look and twitching in one part of the face to your pet falling on his side, barking, gnashing his teeth, urinating, defecating and paddling his limbs.

Stomach Inflammation(Gastritis)

The most common sign associated with Gastritis is vomiting. Although signs may be mild and self-limiting in some cases, they can be debilitating and even life threatening in others, necessitating hospitalisation and intensive supportive care.

Kennel Cough

The cough associated with or Kennel Cough, is a high-pitched, honk-like cough, sometimes followed by retching. Kennel Cough is a highly contagious. The disease is associated most often with dogs housed in a boarding kennel. The infectious agents can be transmitted through the air or by contact with contaminated surfaces.