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What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance can be a valuable tool for helping maintain a pet’s health. Vet bills for unexpected accidents or illnesses can be costly, but pet insurance can help mitigate these expenses for eligible vet bills. Pet insurance can help provide additional peace of mind, letting pet parents feel more secure in knowing their pet is protected.
Why is pet insurance important in Alberta?
Tick-Borne Diseases
Pet parents in Alberta need to be particularly vigilant about ticks and tick-borne diseases. While often associated with warmer climates, ticks are becoming increasingly prevalent in Alberta, posing a risk to both pets and humans.¹ One of the most concerning tick-borne illnesses is Lyme disease, which can infect dogs through a bite from an infected tick. Initially, you might notice a large, round, red rash around the bite site on your dog. However, if left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to severe infections in the skin, joints, muscles, heart, and even the nervous system.²
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Wildlife Encounters
Pet owners in Alberta need to be extra cautious about wildlife encounters. Alberta has the highest number of wildlife attacks per capita in Canada, with a rate of 1 in 1,144 people. In fact, Alberta records more attacks than all other provinces combined.³ While some of these encounters may be minor, many can be aggressive, involving contact with people, pets, or property. This means that keeping your pet leashed and under control during outdoor activities is crucial, especially in areas known for wildlife activity.
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Antifreeze
Pet parents in Alberta need to be extremely cautious with antifreeze, a common household product that poses a serious risk to pets. While antifreeze is effective for de-icing windshields and cooling vehicles, it's incredibly toxic to dogs. Its sweet taste and smell can be alluring to pets, but even a small amount ingested can be fatal.⁴ Therefore, Alberta pet parents should always store antifreeze in tightly sealed containers and keep it well out of reach of curious pets.
Read moreWhy Spot Plans?
With a Spot plan, you can have help getting additional peace of mind knowing your pet is covered for unexpected accidents and illnesses. Choose from four levels of coverage, ranging from accident-only to accident and illness, to find the right balance of protection and affordability for your family.
Spot’s Wellness Riders
Spaying or Neutering: Take a proactive approach to your pet's health with coverage for this important procedure.
Core Vaccines: Help ensure your pet is protected against preventable diseases with coverage for routine vaccinations.
Wellness Exams: Stay on top of your pet's health with regular checkups and screenings, made easier with Spot's optional wellness add-ons.
Sources:
1 “Expect a bump in tick numbers...” CTV News, https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/expect-a-bump-in-tick-numbers-in-alberta-this-summer-experts-1.6838808, Apr. 8, 2024.
2 “Ticks and fleas,” Alberta SPCA, https://www.albertaspca.org/animal-care/companion-animals/caring-for-pets/ticks-fleas/, n.d.
3 “Here’s where you’re most likely to be attacked...” Toronto Star, https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/here-s-where-you-re-most-likely-to-be-attacked-by-a-wild-animal-in/article_39305d7f-57bd-54bf-8880-97d3a452c3ff.html, Jun. 14, 2024.
4“Antifreeze Dangers,” Alberta SPCA, https://www.albertaspca.org/animal-care/companion-animals/caring-for-pets/antifreeze-dangers/, n.d.
Alberta Pet Insurance Information by City
Find city-specific information about Pet Insurance in the state of Alberta.
Pet Insurance FAQs
Have questions about pet insurance and how it works? Let’s dig up an answer.
Do All Vets Take Spot Pet Insurance?
You can visit any licensed veterinarian, specialty clinic, or emergency clinic in the US or Canada. Learn about the costs of emergency vet care here.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Pet insurance can put money back in your pocket for veterinary costs needed to diagnose, treat, and manage an eligible condition. Exams and rechecks, x-rays, ultra-sounds, bloodwork, surgeries, stitches, medication, and prescriptions, and even prescription diets are all examples of costs that can be claimed for if they are used to treat or diagnose a covered condition.
What is a Pre-Existing Condition?
A pet’s illness or accident is considered pre-existing if the condition was onset before the policy coverage effective dates, or during a waiting period. This means if the first signs or symptoms of a condition showed up before coverage started, it would be considered pre-existing to coverage, even if it was not formally diagnosed. The most common reason why an illness or an accident is not covered by any pet insurance provider is if the condition was present before coverage started. For coverage to be available with almost all types of insurance, the problem must be new and unexpected.
For example, if typical symptoms of allergies (itchy skin, ear infections) were present before the coverage was effective or appeared within the waiting period of the policy, the allergies and related conditions, such as itchy paws and pyoderma, would be pre-existing to coverage.
How are My Premiums Calculated?
In general, your premium is based on your pet’s age, your pet’s breed, and where your pet lives. Some other factors that impact your premium are the plan you choose, if you have included preventative care coverage or not, and the discounts for which you are eligible.
What if I Miss a Payment?
When a premium payment does not go through successfully, we will send you an email letting you know. If you know you’ve missed a payment please give us a call at 1-888-501-7768, or log in to your account at https://members.spotpetinsurance.ca/ to update your payment details. Premiums must be kept up to date for your policy to remain active.