Dental cover for cats and dogs in pet insurance

Dental cover for pets is similar to dental insurance for humans, it is generally not covered under a standard insurance policy, and there are also no free, or general dental clinic for pets that would cover dental work by a governing body. There are however some options, and dental care has been explicitly advised by the Australian Veterinary Association as an important factor in the health of both cats and dogs, they have advised that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of three have some level of dental disease (Australian Veterinary Association, 2020).

Does pet insurance cover dental?

Most pet insurance policies do not cover dental as standard cover. Some higher-level policies will include dental, and some pet insurers such as us here at Vets Choice offer dental as an add-on cover. This helps to lower the cost of the policies for those that do not want dental cover.

Does pet insurance cover dental teeth cleaning?

Teeth cleaning for pet dental cover is what's called 'routine care'. Generally speaking, basic pet insurance cover does not include dental, or routine care dental. Please check the policy Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to know if the policy does cover dental, and routine care dental.

Some pet insurers offer dental as an add-on. For example here at Vets Choice you can opt for two levels of added cover for dental. See below for more detail.

What are common dental issues for pets?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is one of the most common dental illnesses in both dogs and cats.

For dogs, there are a number of accidents that can occur involving their teeth and gums. Common things that are happening are getting splinters and broken teeth from chewing on sticks, bones, and other random household items are laying around. They are also prone to the same gum disease and plaque build-up as humans if they don't have any regular dental hygiene actions.

When it comes to cats, they are not entirely self-sufficient animals as some people may think, if no consideration for their dental health is taken they are prone to periodontal disease, and Feline Oral Resorptive Lesions (FORLS).

What are some things that can help with my pet dental health?

Over the years there have been a lot of changes in dental practices and preventative dental health care for dogs and cats. You can now get:

dental-specific dry food
dental chew toys
dental treats
water additives to aid in teeth strength and tartar build-up
water additives to aid in gum health
pet-specific toothbrushes and toothpaste

What is covered for dental in pet insurance?

Vets Choice offer two add-ons for dental, with the levels of cover known as Dental and Dental Plus. (Please note you cannot opt for Dental plus without the Dental add-on, but you can have Dental, without Dental Plus)

Having the Dental cover by itself is for treatment of dental injuries and illnesses such as gingivitis, abscesses, restoration or removal of teeth due to fracture, cavities, or dental disease from infection.

Having Dental Plus on top of the Dental add-on covers all the basics such as dental check-ups, teeth clean and polish and certain preventative items such as dental diets, chews and treats, sprays and gels, and toothbrushes (where accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council)