Dog insurance in Ireland: what it covers and what to check

What dog insurance usually covers

The CCPC lists what a pet policy may include, depending on the level of cover (CCPC, checked 9 November 2026):

• Vet fees for illness and injury
• Kennel fees if you are in hospital
• Holiday cancellation if your dog goes to hospital or goes missing
• Advertising and rewards if your dog is lost or stolen
• Death of your dog from illness or accident, and theft
• Third-party liability and legal costs if your dog injures someone or damages property

The CCPC says third-party liability may already be covered by your home insurance. Check your home policy so you do not pay for the same cover twice.

Vet fee limits differ a lot. Petinsurance.ie, which arranges the dog cover sold by AA Ireland, offers limits of €3,000, €5,000 or €7,000. SuperValu Pet Insurance offers €2,000, €4,000 or €6,000 (both insurers' websites, checked 9 November 2026).

The main cover types

The CCPC describes three main types of pet insurance in Ireland. Insurers give them their own product names, so match the policy wording to these descriptions.

Accident only

This "covers treatments after accidental injury (e.g. being hit by a car)", says the CCPC, and it is usually the lowest-priced policy. Illness is not covered. An Post Insurance describes its Essential policy the same way: "There is no cover for illness under this type of cover."

Time-limited or annual cover

The CCPC says this covers illness or injury up to a financial limit per policy year, and "each condition is covered for a maximum time, usually 12 months." When that time runs out, the condition is no longer covered, even if your dog still needs treatment.

Maximum benefit

Some insurers also sell a maximum benefit policy. Petinsurance.ie says it pays a fixed amount for each illness or injury, with no time limit, until that amount is used up (Petinsurance.ie, checked 9 November 2026).

Lifetime cover

The CCPC says lifetime cover pays for illness or injury "up to a financial limit per year for the pet's lifetime." The limit resets each time you renew, so a long-term condition can stay covered as long as you keep the policy going.

Lifetime does not mean unlimited. The Irish Times made this point in July 2026: you are still capped at the yearly vet fee limit.

An Post Insurance gives arthritis and eczema as examples of the chronic or recurring conditions lifetime cover is designed for. On a time-limited policy, cover for a condition like that would stop after 12 months.

Typical exclusions

The CCPC lists what pet insurance usually does not cover (checked 9 November 2026):

• Pre-existing conditions
• Routine treatments: vaccination, neutering, flea and worm control, pregnancy and birth
• Illness or injury that could have been prevented, for example by vaccination
• Third-party liability claims for certain breeds under the Control of Dogs Act and related regulations, or crosses of those breeds
• Other excluded breeds listed in the policy document

Pre-existing conditions

AA Ireland's dog insurance page defines a pre-existing condition as any injury, illness or condition that "started, or first showed symptoms, before your policy began." If your dog has already been treated for something, expect that condition to be excluded.

Waiting periods

The CCPC says most policies will not accept claims made in the first 14 days. Petinsurance.ie and SuperValu Pet Insurance both exclude illnesses that first showed symptoms in the first 14 days, and accidents in the first 2 days (checked 9 November 2026).

Breeds

Citizens Information lists 11 restricted breeds in Ireland, and their crosses. They include the German shepherd, Rottweiler, Dobermann pinscher and Staffordshire bull terrier. A ban on XL Bully dogs began on 1 October 2024 (Citizens Information, checked 9 November 2026).

A restricted breed does not always mean no cover at all. The CCPC lists two separate exclusions: third-party liability claims for certain breeds, and other breeds a policy excludes. AA Ireland's dog page says its restricted list is "not limited to breeds listed under the control of dogs act", so ask for the full list in the policy wording.

Some breeds face age limits too. The CCPC says some breeds may only be insured up to age five. Allianz names a list of "Select Breeds" in its policy, including the Great Dane, Bernese Mountain Dog and Rottweiler, with stricter rules on death from illness (Allianz policy document, checked 9 November 2026).

Excess and co-payment

You pay an excess on each claim. At Petinsurance.ie you choose an excess from €75 to €275, per condition, per policy year. SuperValu Pet Insurance uses a fixed €125 excess (both checked 9 November 2026).

Once a dog is 5 or older, both add a 15% share of the rest of the bill. Our guide to pet insurance for older dogs works through the numbers.

What the published price tells you

AA Ireland's February 2026 guide gives dog insurance from €8.33 a month, based on Essential Cover for a 2-year-old Irish Terrier. Its footnote adds: "Older pets will incur a higher premium."

On the Blue Insurance pet page, the €8.33 Essential Cover for the same profile is described as "Injury Only, Time Limited" (checked 9 November 2026). So a starting price like this buys accident cover, not illness cover. See how much pet insurance costs in Ireland for more example prices.

What to check before you buy

• Illness as well as injury. The CCPC tells you to know which one the policy covers.
• How long each condition is covered. 12 months, up to a set amount, or for as long as you renew.
• The vet fee limit. Is it per year or per condition?
• Excess and co-payment. How much, and at what age the co-payment starts.
• Your breed. Is it on an excluded list for vet fees, or only for third-party liability?
• After-hours emergency care. The CCPC suggests checking it is included.
• Bilateral conditions. These affect both sides of the body, such as both knees. The CCPC says check for restrictions.
• Health check rules. AA Ireland says your dog needs a yearly health check, including a dental check, to keep the cover valid.
• Who the insurer is. AA Ireland, An Post Insurance, SuperValu Pet Insurance and Petinsurance.ie are all arranged by Cover-More Blue Insurance Services and underwritten for the insurer Sava (their websites, checked 9 November 2026). Comparing them may not mean comparing different insurers.

You can cancel free of charge within 14 days of taking out the policy, the CCPC says. The insurer can deduct a pro-rata amount for the time you were covered, plus any administration fee.

When dog insurance may not be worth it

If you could pay a large vet bill from savings without real hardship, you may decide to keep the money instead. The Irish Times described this "self-insure" option in July 2026 and warned that such a fund needs time to build and only works if you leave it untouched.

Accident-only cover may also leave the biggest risk uncovered if your breed is prone to a long-term illness. The CCPC suggests asking your vet which conditions are common for your dog's breed. Read is pet insurance worth it for a fuller look, or go back to our pet insurance guide.

Sources

• CCPC: Pet insurance (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Citizens Information: Dog licences and ownership (accessed 9 November 2026)
• AA Ireland: How Much Is Pet Insurance in Ireland? A Complete 2026 Cost Guide, published 10 February 2026, and AA Ireland dog insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Petinsurance.ie: home page, FAQ and dog insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• SuperValu Pet Insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• An Post Insurance pet insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Blue Insurance pet insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Allianz pet insurance policy document, version 09-26 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• The Irish Times: Pet insurance: can it save you thousands in vet bills?, 17 July 2026 (accessed 9 November 2026)