247 Expat Insurance specialises in health insurance for people moving to or living in Spain. We no longer arrange pet insurance; this page is a general information guide.
English-speaking dog insurance support across Spain. Vet bills, accidents, illness, emergency care and civil liability — explained clearly, in plain English, before you commit.
Pet insurance in Spain matters, and dogs are part of expat life in Spain — on the beach, in the village square, in a finca garden or on the daily walk around the urbanisation. They are also one of the parts of expat life where Spanish rules and Spanish vet costs catch new arrivals off-guard. Dog insurance is the layer that keeps a surprise vet bill, an accident or a third-party incident from becoming a serious financial problem.
247 Expat Insurance is the English-speaking adviser many expat dog owners come to for exactly this reason: we explain the Spanish policy wording, we explain civil liability, and we help you choose suitable cover for your dog, your lifestyle and your location. There is no pressure to buy.
Spanish vet care is almost entirely private. A routine consultation is affordable; a diagnostic workup, surgery or an out-of-hours emergency is not. Without cover, those costs come out of your pocket in full, and they often hit at the worst possible moment.
Dogs in Spain face conditions that owners arriving from cooler climates are not always prepared for — heat and dehydration in summer, ticks and parasites year-round, processionary caterpillars in early spring, leishmaniasis in many regions, grass seeds that lodge in paws and ears, and traffic in the busier coastal towns. None of these are reasons to avoid having a dog in Spain; they are reasons to insure properly.
And then there is liability. If your dog injures someone, bites another animal, causes damage in a community area or is involved in an incident in a public place, you can be on the receiving end of a third-party claim. That is exactly what civil liability cover is for.
Depending on the insurer and the policy selected, dog insurance in Spain can include the following. Not every policy includes every item, and reimbursement percentages and annual limits vary — we will check what each option covers before you proceed.
Routine and unscheduled vet visits, depending on policy reimbursement rules.
Cuts, fractures, road accidents, falls, bites and the cost of treatment, where included.
Diagnosis and treatment of illness, subject to terms, exclusions and age limits.
Out-of-hours and emergency treatment — often the largest bill an owner faces.
Operations linked to a covered condition or accident, where the policy provides for it.
Overnight stays and in-clinic care as part of a covered treatment.
X-rays, scans, ultrasound and blood work, where included by the policy.
Prescribed medication linked to a covered treatment.
A preventive consultation each year, where the insurer provides for it.
Third-party damage, injury or claims arising from your dog — covered in many policies but not all.
Legal support if a liability claim is brought against you, depending on the policy.
Emergency vet care while travelling in the EU, where included.
Under Spain's animal welfare framework, dog owners should treat civil liability cover as a key part of responsible ownership. Rules, limits and practical requirements can vary depending on the policy, location and type of dog, so it is important to check the wording before assuming you are protected. We will help you check the right cover before you proceed.
Civil liability protects you against third-party claims arising from your dog's actions. The classic examples are a dog that bites someone, a dog that injures another animal, a dog involved in a road incident, or a dog that damages property — in a neighbour's garden, in a community area or in a rental.
Liability claims, when they come, can be far larger than vet bills. They typically include medical costs for the injured party, loss of earnings, sometimes legal fees, and in serious cases ongoing care. A liability policy with an adequate limit and proper legal defence is the layer that protects you from that exposure.
Spanish dog insurance policies are written for the Spanish market — in Spanish, with Spanish terminology, and with Spanish claim processes. Subtle wording around copago (co-payment), carencia (waiting period), límite anual (annual limit), franquicia (excess) and exclusiones (exclusions) changes what you are actually entitled to. We translate those terms into clear English so you know exactly what you are buying.
It also matters at claim time. When something goes wrong with your dog, you do not want to be debating policy clauses in Spanish over email at 9 pm. We act as your English-speaking point of contact for claims, mid-term changes and renewals.
Arrange cover early. Pre-existing conditions are typically excluded, and you want the policy in place before vet questions start. We can write cover from a UK or other foreign address provided the dog is moving to Spain on a known date.
The most common reason to buy — vet bills and liability without the cushion of a working salary. Worth checking renewal age limits so the policy still works as your dog ages.
Children, dogs and outdoor life lead to bumps, bites and emergency vet trips. Liability matters more in family-and-friends-at-the-house scenarios.
If the dog spends part of the year here, you typically need a Spanish-registered policy. We can also look at travel and EU emergency cover.
Higher injury exposure and higher liability exposure. Policy limits and breed acceptance matter more.
Unknown history is the issue — we will explain how pre-existing condition rules apply to rescues and how to apply honestly without invalidating cover.
247 Expat Insurance arranges Sanitas Salud Mascotas. The terms below are the ones Sanitas publishes for the product, checked on the review date at the foot of this page. They are the insurer’s terms and the insurer can change them, so confirm the current position before you arrange cover.
Dogs kept as companion animals. Sanitas excludes animals used commercially or professionally, and those kept for security, hunting, breeding, racing or fighting, as well as guide and rescue dogs.
From 3 months to 9 years inclusive. Once the policy is in force, Sanitas states that cover continues for life, including after your dog turns ten.
80% of covered veterinary costs, up to €2,500 a year, plus one preventive consultation a year up to €50.
30 days before general veterinary assistance can be used. 12 months for euthanasia and for castration or sterilisation.
Pre-existing conditions are assessed, not ignored. Sanitas asks you to declare prior illnesses, symptoms, injuries and surgeries on a health questionnaire when you apply, and reviews them before accepting the risk. Declaring honestly at the outset is what protects a later claim.
Tell us about your dog — age, breed and where in Spain you live — and we will come back with a clear quote in English, including civil liability. There is no pressure to buy.
Product terms — eligible animals, minimum and maximum age at contracting, reimbursement percentage and annual limit, preventive consultation, waiting periods and the pre-existing conditions questionnaire: Sanitas, Seguro para Mascotas — Sanitas Salud Mascotas, sanitas.es, retrieved 6 October 2026. These are the insurer’s terms and can change; they are not a permanent guarantee.
247 Expat Insurance is a registered insurance distributor, DGSFP registration C0320Y2155969D. We arrange the cover; the policy is issued by the insurer.
Reviewed 6 October 2026.
