Hello! We are travelling to the USA next month with our dog in tow. We currently do not carry pet insurance but are now considering our options. Is it possible to obtain temporary pet travel insurance? Has anyone had an issue filing a claim when travelling out of the country? If I aquired an insurance plan, can it be easily cancelled? I know there are big benefits to having pet insurance, but our dog is a healthy 11yr old and I’m finding the deductibles to be more than they are for our truck! We would really only need coverage for our two weeks of travel... Anyone have experience with this, or have recommendations on who to use?
Sincerely,
Safely trying to take our doggie to see new lands

Check with customs about taking a pretty across the border. There are rules regarding that.

Jan as long as their vaccines are up to date they're fine. We take our dog to the states all the time.

Robin good for you being on top of that.

Yes I’ve already done that part of my planning, thanks

I’m not aware of travel dog insurance, but I would highly recommend getting regular insurance for your pup. We have always used trupanion for ours and have been happy with them. It’s always helpful to have financial help for when a health issue arises. We currently have one girl in emergency care and her bills have racked up over $3000 and all we have paid is our deductible. Definitely worth it to have peace of mind that we can give our pups any care they might ever require.
In terms of traveling to the US, make sure you have a health certificate from your vet and a copy of his rabies certificate. Sometimes they ask, sometimes they don’t. Also, inquire if you are going to an area where you should get heartworm/flea/tick prevention. It’s recommended for southern Cali/AZ (known from experience).

I did not know that about the heart worm, etc and that’s exactly where we are headed, so thank you very much!

Typically vet costs are much less in the USA... I know people who travel to the US for a weekend to get check ups, blood work, dental cleanings done etc because of the cost savings.

Yes!!

Yes, we find this as well. Cheaper vet services in the US.

Great news, thanks!

I'd be tempted to gamble and go without it. At that age, the premium is going to run well over $100 per month, likely closer to $200, and the deductible will still be high.
I have a friend who puts what the pet insurance people would charge away in a separate account each month. If he needs the money it's there. If he doesn't, it will go back in his pocket.
I guess you could get it and then cancel it afterwards, but I'd read the fine print on that. I've never seen travel insurance for pets.

Yes the best quote I’ve gotten, depending on the plan, the premium was $35-$120, with $700 deductible. For $500 the premiums increased $15-$30 again depending on the plan. That’s a good idea tho.. to make a seperate savings! Thanks!

I think paying for a visit if needed would be similar to what we pay here anyways. I wouldn’t even worry about it.

If you don’t have pet insurance in Canada, why are you worried about it when traveling to the US?

We are going on a vacation. If an accident were to happen, I wouldn’t want to be setback and feel insurance could provide some peace of mind while away. Maybe we don’t need it? We’ve never taken our pooch out of the country so it had gotten brought up in conversation.

I have assumed that you don’t have pet insurance now. Why do you need it while traveling? It is different for people as we are insured through the province when in Canada, and lose that insurance when we go to the States. Your pet isn’t covered now, so there isn’t loss of coverage when you go out of the country. Does this make sense?

Knowing that vet rates aren’t any worse there as they are here is reassuring. That’s probably what I should have asked about, but insurance is what got brought up so went with that. It isn’t my first time out of country so am well aware of human insurance needs; we already have that covered. Thanks for the input.

Check with your auto insurance, there is a couple of companies that can add your dog to the policy in case of auto accident. Having had the dog to the vet a few times in the USA, it's been similar pricing but worth while to phone around. The dog we have never had insurance but the cat we had to provide proof of death to cancel.

Very interesting. Thanks!

Seems most vet costs are cheaper there; I wouldn’t bother.

Health insurance for a senior pet would be very expensive, the deductible high and probably wouldn't cover pre-existing conditions. Do take proof of rabies vaccination along with vaccination records for other shots. as for Heart Worm, you will have a window of time to have the dog tested when you get back. If the dog shows positive it can be treated. Fleas and lice are a different story and fleas are not species specific and can jump from host to host. Finally clip the leash on before you open the vehicle door because the dog will be disoriented and there are vehicles in parking lots and rest stops.

If the dog is 11, you’re in a tight spot. He’s of an age where vets may well be needed, and too old for inexpensive insurance. We have always insured them before 6 months, the likelihood of pre-existing conditions is minimal, and the premiums quite low. We had three Pugs and a chihuahua for more than 15 years, all insured as puppies, and in their lifetimes it saved us thous and thousands of dollars. Our Pom is two, has been insured since three months. It’s cost more for premiums than we’ve gained, but one scare and three days hospitalization almost turned that around. He’s a part of our family; I wouldn’t dream of us travelling without insurance, and would never take the dog without it...I can’t imagine having to decide on his survival based on the ability to pay for his care

Yes, anything can happen which is why I’m considering this now. Thankfully for us, the only vet trips we’ve taken in the past 11yrs is for annual check ups and vaccinations. Good tidbit of info tho for future pets; insure early! Witnessing a pooch become ill at the age of three, and seeing the costs associated with keeping him “healthy”, which I then had to take over until his age of 14, is enough for me to provide insurance to any future dog I own. It came down to me being unable to afford his care.. so from experience, having to make that decision, then following thru with it, was yes, absolutely heartbreaking. Thanks for the input.

We take our two, now 13 year old dogs, to Phoenix every winter. Their shots have to be up-to-date (including rabies) - and get a signed Health Certificate from the vet here. You MAY be asked for this paperwork when you cross the border. Why are you thinking you need pet insurance for your trip? I have taken mine for minor issues while we have been in Phoenix and vet fees are reasonable compared to here.

I guess in the event of an accident. Not have taken our dog out of the country before I wasn’t sure if it’s recommended, like for us humans lol
I will touch on the up-to-date vaccines tho; my research has shown only rabies are required to be up to date. My vet said that my dog would be too old for vaccines after his last trip in, in 2016(he was 9). We also had another dog who was 13 at the time, and she did not vaccinate him. She said at that age the vaccines can be too stressful for the pup, so we haven’t been back as his rabies is still active.

Sheena - umm not sure. My dogs are 13 and have had booster shots every year. My vet offered to write the “health certificate” which basically says he has examined them and they are healthy. Then we get the vaccination card updated and a new rabies tag and certificate every three years. I copy everything, put the papers in a plastic sheet protector and tape it to the top of their kennels. We have been flying back and forth with them since 2011 and only once have I had to show the original paperwork ..... and that was bringing them back into Canada. We have never driven across the border with them. My understanding is all shots and rabies have to be up-to-date but check it out. For sure get travel I insurance for you! Even a minor visit to a health clinic costs hundreds of dollars. MediPac Travel Insurance is pretty good - they seem to specialize in Snow Birds.

Us humans in Canada have medical insurance which we lose if we leave the country, which is why we need to get it. If you don’t have pet insurance in Canada, why do you need it in the US?

Thank you for the information folks! I will consider it all and very much appreciate the input! Matthew Crossman

One more thing to consider would be getting the bordetella vaccine for your dog in case you ended up having to kennel him for some unforeseen issue. Safe travels!

We’ve gotten kennel cough in the past, but something to talk to my vet about. Thanks!

Vets are really cheap here and pet insurance is crazy expensive. Travelled all over Mexico, USA and Alaska with 2 golden retrievers and 2 cats