Eight pedigree dogs (working, not bred for looks) have cost me less than £5k in 29 years in vet bills, including (sadly) the inevitable cremation costs. All insurance is basically betting and I have been lucky. However, I have always been in a position to cover bills and if it's the choice between my dogs or virtually anything else, the dogs come first.
The problem is if large bills come in the early years, on the basis that the sensible option is to put money aside into savings rather than into a policy. I've learned this the hard way...
Eight pedigree dogs (working, not bred for looks) have cost me less than £5k in 29 years in vet bills, including (sadly) the inevitable cremation costs. All insurance is basically betting and I have been lucky. However, I have always been in a position to cover bills and if it's the choice between my dogs or virtually anything else, the dogs come first.