As vet fees are usually the primary reason for taking out a pet insurance policy, it's important to know how far your insurer will go to help you out with the associated costs. When you compare pet insurance policies, look into whether the insurer covers consultations, examinations, scans, tests, medications, surgery or hospitalisation as part of the policy.

You may find yourself in hot water if your dog causes damage to someone else's property, or worse still, damage to someone else. As Rover doesn't have a savings account, you as the owner could be considered responsible for costs to replace or repair a damaged item. If he hurts somebody, you could face a day in front of a judge for his actions.

Sure, it's hard to think about! However, some insurers offer a level of cover in the event that your pet should die from illness or an accident. Typically, a policy will cover the price you paid for your pet or their current market value, which may be particularly important if you paid a large sum of money for a highly sought-after breed or pedigree.