Pet Health Insurance for Dogs: Which Is the Best?

No, there is no single best pet health insurance: out of 121 dog surgery tariffs tested, Stiftung Warentest rates only one in four as recommendable. This comparison shows which criteria really matter, what cover costs, and whether it is also worthwhile for parrots and small animals.

The honest answer: There is no single best pet health insurance

No, it is simply not possible to name one best pet health insurance across the board. In its issue 5/2025, Stiftung Warentest tested a total of 121 dog surgery tariffs, and only about one in four was rated “good” or “very good” and considered recommendable.^[1][2] Whether taking out a policy is worthwhile for your pet therefore depends not on a test seal, but on species, age, health status and budget.

Why no single tariff fits everyone

A tariff that impresses for a young, small dog at a low premium may be unsuitable for an older animal or a different species. Age at the time of taking out the policy drives the premium, and for older dogs it is hard to still find a good tariff without a deductible: variants without a co-payment set a much stricter maximum entry age than tariffs with a deductible, which still accept older dogs. The breed feeds into the premium via the risk class, and the chosen tariff level determines whether only operations or also outpatient treatments are reimbursed.

• Reimbursement up to which GOT rate — that is, up to which rate of the fee schedule for veterinarians, including the out-of-hours service
• Amount of the deductible, the share you pay yourself per invoice or per year
• Annual maximum limit on reimbursement
• Waiting period, the time between the start of the policy and the first insurance cover
• Exclusions, such as pre-existing conditions and neutering without medical necessity

The most important difference upfront: a pure surgery insurance policy only pays out for operations and is significantly cheaper than full health cover, which also reimburses outpatient treatments. We explain in detail how surgery cover and full cover differ in a separate guide.

What pet health insurance costs

For a young, small dog, owners pay annual premiums of around 160 to almost 550 euros for surgery insurance according to the Verbraucherzentrale (as of January 2025); for larger dogs, the premium rises.^[3] The more comprehensive full health insurance costs roughly three times as much. Small pets are significantly cheaper: the small pet insurance from Cleos Welt starts, according to the provider, at 6.99 euros per month in the Basis tariff.^[4]

Why the premium alone is not decisive

The premium alone says little about the value of a tariff. Dental treatments in small mammals are only covered in the entry-level tariff from Cleos Welt via an optional add-on module that reimburses tooth extractions up to 500 euros and tooth shortenings up to 200 euros.^[4] The provider estimates a dental correction for a small pet at 400 to 1,200 euros, so a single procedure can amount to several annual premiums.^[4] What remains decisive is how much the tariff actually reimburses in an emergency: the GOT rate, the deductible and the annual limit determine that.

• Age of the animal when the contract is taken out: the older, the more expensive
• Breed, size and weight
• Chosen deductible: a higher own share lowers the premium
• Scope of cover: pure surgery insurance or full health cover

Our premium comparison shows how premiums differ specifically between dogs, cats and rabbits.

Who benefits from pet health insurance

The rule of thumb from the Verbraucherzentrale is: only owners who insure their healthy animal as early as possible pay low premiums. In principle, only healthy animals are insurable; for pre-existing conditions, some insurers require a veterinary report or decline cover, and for dogs from around seven years of age the choice of offers becomes limited.

• For illnesses, a waiting period of three months usually applies; treatments during this period are not paid by the insurer
• For accidents, the waiting period does not apply; cover takes effect immediately
• Standard services such as vaccinations or neutering without medical necessity are often not included
• Alternative: those who build up a reserve fund for emergencies can also do without the policy entirely

The cost background: since the GOT was revised in November 2022, the costs of veterinary treatments have risen by around a third on average according to the Bundestierärztekammer, as NDR reported in September 2025.^[5] The Vereinigung Deutscher Tierhalter presented bills there, including dental surgery on a cat that cost around 450 euros before the reform and almost 4,000 euros afterwards.^[5]

Whether the insurance is worth it for your animal therefore depends on the risk: for small pets with expensive, typical procedures such as dental corrections, the financial risk weighs more heavily than for an animal with low treatment needs. There is no general answer, which is why the Verbraucherzentrale expressly recommends comparing the terms and conditions before taking out a policy.

The comparison criteria: GOT rate, deductible, maximum limits

The GOT, the fee schedule for veterinarians (Gebührenordnung für Tierärzte), is a federal legal ordinance that has been in force since 22 November 2022. It sets a fee framework from one to three times the standard rate; in emergency service, billing up to four times the rate is permitted. However, many insurers only reimburse twice the rate, while practices usually bill three times.^[4] You pay the difference.^[3]

• Pre-existing conditions and ongoing treatments at the time of taking out the policy
• Neutering or spaying without medical necessity
• Vaccinations, preventive care and microchipping
• Dental services for small mammals, unless dental add-on cover has been agreed^[4]

Pet health insurance for parrots, rabbits and other small animals

Yes, parrots can be insured, but not under a dog or cat tariff — instead through special small-animal insurance for small mammals, birds and reptiles. Such a policy is a pet health insurance for the animal named in the policy and protects you from the financial consequences of illness costs resulting from an insured event. Which husbandry and reporting obligations additionally apply to your animal, we summarise in a separate guide.

Dental and beak treatments are included for birds and reptiles in all tariffs at no extra cost; for small mammals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, a dental add-on cover can be booked on top.^[4] For reptiles and other exotic animals, it is also worth taking a look at exotic animal insurance.

Two restrictions deserve attention: special conditions such as egg binding (an egg gets stuck in the oviduct, relevant for female birds and reptiles) and malocclusion (a misalignment of the jaw bite, common in rabbits and guinea pigs) are subject to a six-month waiting period, while the general waiting period is 30 days; for accidents, cover applies from day one.^[4] For rabbits, the disease EC (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) is only covered if a negative test no more than one year old is available; without a test, EC-related treatments are excluded.^[4]

Conclusion and next step: start your tariff comparison

The general rule is: there is no single best tariff, only the one that fits. The deciding factor is the distinction by species, age, state of health and budget, because it is precisely from these that the GOT rate, deductible, waiting period and exclusions that matter in your case are derived.

Whether your animal will be accepted with an existing special condition, or which tariff level suits your risk, a general article cannot answer. That depends on the health declaration and the insurer's acceptance decision.

This is exactly where nextsure comes in: as a marketplace and independent broker, we compare tariffs, advise independently and broker the contract. Via the pet health insurance page you can access the tariff comparison. The small-animal insurance reimburses surgery, treatment and aftercare for small mammals, birds and reptiles up to the agreed maximum GOT rate, including special conditions such as egg binding and malocclusion.^[4]

Check now which tariff suits your animal: start the tariff comparison.