Fetch By The Dodo Pet Insurance Review 2024

Fetch By The Dodo offers coverage on future accidents and illnesses, including:

• Prescription medications and supplements
• Emergency vet visits
• Virtual, in-home and office visits
• Hospital stays (up to $1,000 per year)
• Physical therapy
• Allergies
• Surgery
• Imaging including X-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds
• Blood tests and laboratory testing
• Breed-specific issues, including hip dysplasia
• Sick-visit exam fees (excluding routine exams)
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Hereditary and congenital issues
• Swallowed objects and toxins
• Tooth, baby and adult (excluding teeth cleanings)
• Gum disease
• Diabetes and insulin
• Cancer treatment
• Acupuncture and chiropractic care
• Behavioural therapy, including treatment for aggression and separation anxiety
• Advertising and reward (up to $1,000 per year)
• Boarding fees due to owner medical emergency (up to $1,000 per year)
• Loss due to theft or straying (up to $1,000)
• Death from illness or injury (up to $1,000), except for a pre-existing condition
• Vacation cancellation (up to $1,000 per year)

Fetch By The Dodo offers three tiers of routine and preventative coverage with the Fetch Wellness add-on.

The Essentials plan includes:

• Annual exam ($30 benefit)
• Canine Bordetella ($10 benefit)
• Canine DHLPP ($10 benefit)
• Canine rabies ($10 benefit)
• Canine Lyme ($10 benefit)
• Heartworm, flea and tick prevention ($30 benefit)
• Heartworm tests ($10 benefit)
• Dental cleaning ($75 benefit)
• Spaying or neutering ($100 benefit, once per lifetime)
• Blood test ($10 benefit)
• Urinalysis ($10 benefit)
• Fecal test ($10 benefit)

Using the example of the five-year-old Labrador Retriever in Toronto (below), the Essentials plan costs an additional $13.97 per month, saving you up to $315 in benefits annually.

The Advantage plan includes all of the benefits of the Essentials plan with higher limits as well as additional benefits:

• Annual exam ($50 benefit)
• Canine Bordetella ($20 benefit)
• Canine DHLPP ($20 benefit)
• Canine rabies ($20 benefit)
• Canine Lyme ($20 benefit)
• Heartworm, flea and tick prevention ($50 benefit)
• Heartworm tests ($25 benefit)
• Dental cleaning ($100 benefit)
• Spaying or neutering ($100 benefit, once per lifetime)
• Blood test ($25 benefit)
• Urinalysis ($25 benefit)
• Fecal test ($25 benefit)
• Microchipping ($20 benefit, once per lifetime)
• Anal gland expression ($20 benefit)

Using the example of the five-year-old Labrador Retriever in Toronto (below), the Advantage plan costs an additional $25.32 per month, saving you up to $520 in benefits annually.

The Prime plan includes all of the benefits of the Essentials plan with higher limits as well as additional benefits:

• Annual exam ($50 benefit)
• Canine Bordetella ($25 benefit)
• Canine DHLPP ($25 benefit)
• Canine rabies ($25 benefit)
• Canine Lyme ($25 benefit)
• Heartworm, flea and tick prevention ($60 benefit)
• Heartworm tests ($30 benefit)
• Dental cleaning ($125 benefit)
• Spaying or neutering ($125 benefit, once per lifetime)
• Blood test ($30 benefit)
• Urinalysis ($30 benefit)
• Fecal test ($30 benefit)
• Microchipping ($30 benefit, once per lifetime)
• Anal gland expression ($20 benefit)
• Behavioural exam ($25 benefit)
• Health certificate ($30 benefit)
• Activity monitor ($50 benefit, once per lifetime)

Using the example of the five-year-old Labrador Retriever in Toronto (below), the Prime plan costs an additional $39.77 per month, saving you up to $735 in benefits annually.

Like all pet insurance companies, Fetch By The Dodo does not cover pre-existing conditions, defined by the company as “anything that happens before you enroll or during the waiting period.”

In addition, Fetch By The Dodo does not cover:

• Routine care including annual visits, vaccinations or wellness.
• Preventative care, such as spaying/neutering, dental cleaning, flea treatments, heartworm medication.
• Prescription food.
• Grooming, elective and cosmetic procedures, such as tail docking or declawing.

Pet insurance companies have what’s called a waiting period, which is the amount of time before your policy is effective and you can be reimbursed for claims.

With a Fetch By The Dodo policy, there is a 15-day waiting period between enrollment and when coverage for new injuries and illnesses begins. There’s also a six-month waiting period before hip and knee injuries (such as hip dysplasia and patellar luxation) are covered. However, if you have your pet examined in the first 30 days of the policy and your veterinarian determines there are no relevant pre-existing conditions or issues with the knees and/or hips, you can waive this waiting period.

There is no waiting period for the wellness plan add-ons.

Maximum annual limit options

• $5,000
• $10,000
• $15,000

Deductible options

• $300
• $500
• $700

Reimbursement options

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%

You can customize your payments by choosing a $500 or $700 annual deductible and/or a 70% or 90% annual reimbursement. For example, the $111.86 monthly premium for $5,000 at 80% reimbursement with a $300 deductible increases to $138.32 at 90% reimbursement and decreases to $101.28 with a 70% reimbursement.

There are a few ways to save money with this insurance provider. First, you can save $25 or more on your payment plan by choosing quarterly or annual billing. You also get rewarded for keeping your pet in good shape: If your pet stays healthy in the first year of enrollment, you can save up to 15% on your monthly premium with the Healthy Pet Credit. After two years without getting sick or hurt (or not reaching your deductible), you’ll save up to 30%. If you need to file a claim, you can requalify for the Healthy Pet Credit in future years. Fetch also offers veterans and active military personnel a discount of up to 10% every month.

Formerly known as Petplan, Fetch By The Dodo rebranded itself in 2022, combining Fetch’s “superior coverage” and the “brand strength and massive community” of the digital media platform The Dodo. Headquartered in New York City, with offices in King of Prussia, PA and Winnipeg, MB, Fetch By The Dodo provides coverage for over 282,000 pets.

Several no-kill animal shelters in North America have partnered with Fetch By The Dodo as their pet insurance provider, including the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society–the first and only partner in Canada.

To find the best pet insurance we reviewed each company’s policy wording and used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following:

Pet insurance rates: 40% of score. We calculated average rates for plans with $5,000 or unlimited coverage, a $100 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available. 

Special waiting period: 10% of score. Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that had no waiting period, a waiting period of six months or less, or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher.

Direct payment to vet: 10% of score. Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points.

24/7 vet health line: 10% of score. Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line scored in this category.

Routine wellness plans: 10% of score. Insurers that offer wellness plans, either included with a plan or as a rider, earned points.

Dental coverage for illness: 10% of score. While most insurers cover dental accidents, not all insurers cover dental illnesses, such as gum disease or cleanings. Plans with more extensive dental coverage scored higher.

Pet ownership assistance: 5% of score. Insurers that include coverage for pet owner expenses, such as advertising and reward for lost pets, boarding for medical emergencies, end of life expenses and/or vacation cancellation, scored in this category.

Any discount: 5% of score. Insurers that offer any kind of discount, including a multi-pet discount, healthy pet discount, loyalty discount, etc., earned points.