Pre-existing conditions and dog insurance

Updated September 25, 2026. Prices are BreedSure estimates; each insurer's policy documents control.

What counts as pre-existing

A pre-existing condition? is any illness or injury your dog was diagnosed with, treated for, or showed signs of before the policy started or during its waiting period. It does not need a formal diagnosis: a limp or an itchy ear noted in the vet record counts.

How the insurer finds out

Insurers usually ask for your dog's medical records, often when you file the first claim. They read the vet's notes for any earlier sign of the condition you are claiming for. This is why the timing of the first vet visit matters so much.

Curable versus incurable

Some insurers split pre-existing conditions in two:

• Curable?: things that resolve, like a urinary infection or an ear infection. Some insurers cover them again after a symptom-free period, often around twelve months. Among the insurers we compare, Embrace does this.
• Incurable: lifelong conditions like diabetes, allergies or hip dysplasia. These stay excluded for the life of the policy.

Both-sides conditions

For conditions that can affect both sides of the body, such as cruciate ligament tears or patellar luxation, many insurers exclude the second side too if the first showed signs before enrollment. A dog that tears one cruciate ligament often tears the other later, so this exclusion can be expensive.

What to do about it

• Insure early. A puppy has nothing pre-existing. Every year you wait adds vet records an insurer can read.
• Know your breed's risks. If your breed is prone to a condition, get covered before the first symptom. See conditions by breed.
• A policy still helps an older dog. New accidents and unrelated illnesses are covered even when an old condition is excluded.
• Ask before you buy. Most insurers will tell you how they would treat a specific past issue.