Who? Alfie, a Cockapoo.

How old? Nearly 9 years.

What happened? A freak accident.

Pet Parent Julie.

PitPat Insurance policy type CARE

Cost of treatment £751.80.

PitPat Insurance paid back £500.00.

Alfie is a nearly 9-year-old cockapoo, full of energy, intelligence, and a love for everything that involves his family. He’s always been insured, but until recently, he had never needed to make a claim. His only trips to the vet (which he loves) had been for his routine vaccinations and biannual health check-ups.

Earlier this year, we decided to switch Alfie’s insurance to PitPat in February 2024. His previous insurer had significantly raised the renewal premium, increasing the excess to £250 and adding a 20% contribution to any claims. Given that Alfie had never needed to make a claim before, this seemed excessive.

After running a quote with PitPat, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the premium was £10 cheaper a month while providing even better coverage. Additionally, if Alfie earned 500 PitPat LIFE points each month by staying active, we wouldn’t have to pay any excess on claims. PitPat even included PitPat LIFE membership as a bonus. When I checked with PitPat about insuring Alfie, despite him being nearly 8 at the time, they assured me there would be no issue. Switching was a no-brainer.

A Sudden and Unexpected Injury

At the end of November 2024, I took Alfie for a walk where we met up with my daughter and her Labrador, Elsa. The two dogs were having a great time playing with a ball when, during a chase, Elsa got to the ball first and dropped it for Alfie to pick up. However, the ball bounced off the grass, possibly hitting a stone or a dip, and struck Alfie directly in the mouth.

He didn’t yelp or cry, but he ran back to me with blood pouring from his mouth. My daughter and I checked him, but due to the amount of blood, we couldn’t see what had happened. Alfie was trying to paw at his mouth, clearly distressed. As soon as we got home, I phoned the vet and rushed him in.

Emergency Treatment & Insurance Claim

The vet determined that they needed to put Alfie under anaesthesia to fully assess the damage and perform any necessary treatment. After an agonizing wait, I got the call—Alfie had suffered significant trauma to his teeth and gums. Five teeth had to be removed.

Despite everything, Alfie bounced back quickly. He came home the same evening, a little wobbly but otherwise in good spirits. He was eager for dinner and plenty of cuddles as if nothing had happened.

The following day, when the vet staff asked about Alfie’s insurance, the claims specialist assisted me in submitting the online claim form. Within two hours, I received confirmation that PitPat had received the claim, and later that same day, I got another email notifying me that the claim had been paid.

A Fast & Hassle-Free Experience

The total cost of Alfie’s treatment came to £751. PitPat paid out over £500, deducting only for one tooth removal that wasn’t injury-related—which was completely fair. When I went to pay the remaining amount, the vet staff mentioned they had never seen a claim processed and paid so quickly.

Peace of Mind with PitPat

Alfie’s injury healed quickly, and I’m happy to say he’s still as enthusiastic about chasing a ball as ever. It was a freak accident, but having PitPat’s insurance made the whole experience far less stressful.

Thank you, PitPat, for your brilliant service.

Curious about PitPat Insurance to help protect them if they get sick or hurt in the future? Learn more about our comprehensive lifetime cover today.

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