We’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your friends.” At Knose, we like to say, “You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your pets — and what’s best for them.”
Maybe your miniature dog wears an extra-small, name-engraved collar. Maybe you’ve curated your picky cat’s diet according to what they like to eat.
Or maybe your senior dog naps in luxury on a comfortable memory-foam bed. Each pet is unique and an important part of the family.
That’s why we believe pet insurance shouldn’t be “one-size-fits-all” either.
- What Are the Optional Benefits?
- Real Case of Kublai the Yorkie-Maltese Mix
- Why Flexible Pet Insurance Matters
- Knose’s Simple, Transparent, Customisable Policies
- How to Get Started with Knose
Many responsible pet owners know that bespoke care for their companion animals is crucial including their insurance policies.
Knose offers a uniquely flexible core policy with the option (for eligible pets) of adding extra benefits for your pet’s health risks, breed quirks, and lifestyle.
What Are the Knose Optional Benefits?
Knose understands that every pet is different. That’s why it offers optional benefits that you can add on top of your base policy (for eligible pets).
These additions allow you to create a plan that reflects your pet’s health history, breed tendencies, and lifestyle.
1. Dental Illness
Dental disease is one of the most common but often overlooked health problems in pets.
Australian vets have found that four out of five dogs and cats over the age of three show signs of dental disease. Left untreated, it can lead to pain, systemic infections, and organ damage.
What’s covered:
- Gingivitis
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth extractions related to illness
- Other medically necessary dental illness treatments
Breeds That Benefit Most:
- Flat-faced cat breeds such as Persians often struggle with misaligned teeth because of their shortened jaws.
- Greyhounds have thin gums and face a high risk of oral disease due to tartar accumulation.
2. Specialised Therapies
These therapies go beyond conventional treatments and are especially useful for pets managing chronic pain or recovering from injury.
Active pets involved in hiking or agility training often benefit from specialised therapies.
What’s covered:
- Acupuncture
- Physiotherapy
- Hydrotherapy
Breeds That Benefit Most:
- Scottish Folds may suffer from osteochondrodysplasia (cartilage abnormality) leading to joint problems.
- Labradors are prone to arthritis due to their larger body size.
💡 Hydrotherapy sessions can burn up to 400 calories while being gentle on joints—an excellent low-impact workout for dogs with mobility issues.
Behavioural Conditions
Behavioural conditions aren’t just about obedience. They often signal deeper emotional or neurological stress.
This add-on supports the cost of diagnosing and treating behavioural health conditions when recommended by a vet. Treating these conditions can improve both pet wellbeing and human-animal bonds.
What’s covered:
- Anxiety
- Excessive licking or chewing
- Destructive behaviours
- Obsessive behaviours (e.g. pacing, fur pulling, tail chasing)
Breeds That Benefit Most:
- Bengal cats can exhibit destructive behaviours when bored due to their high energy and intelligence.
- Staffordshire Bull Terriers are prone to separation anxiety due to their strong need for human interaction.
Case Study: How Optional Benefits Make a Difference
Not all conditions are common or immediately visible, further highlighting the need to be prepared.
Some breeds, like Yorkshire Terriers and Maltese, are more predisposed to a rare condition called a liver shunt, making pet insurance coverage especially relevant for mixed breeds.
Meet Kublai, a Yorkie-Maltese mix that was diagnosed with a rare condition at over one year old.
Kublai’s owners first noticed symptoms such as stunted growth, disorientation, and excessive drooling, which are subtle signs that are often misattributed to puppy teething or fussiness.
After multiple vet visits and diagnostic tests, the vet confirmed that Kublai had a serious condition called a portosystemic shunt (also called a liver shunt).
Since liver shunt symptoms often appear subtly and develop over time, they can be mistaken for something less serious.
Being covered before symptoms show can make a significant difference in what’s eligible for claims later. If symptoms appear before your cover begins or during the exclusion period, conditions like liver shunt may be classified as pre-existing symptom and condition and not eligible for reimbursement.
Along with the comprehensive veterinary tests, intensive treatment, and maintenance medications and food, Kublai also needed dental treatment.
His puppy teeth did not fall and gave way to his adult teeth so he had to undergo dental surgery twice to remove them.
Looking at the average costs in Australia for Kublai’s dental procedures:
- Initial dental consultation and examination, which is required for all treatments, would cost about $350.
- Dental scaling and polishing would range from $550 to $1,200 depending on the condition of the dog’s teeth.
- Dental extractions pricing depends on the size of the dog and the dental intervention. This would average about $1,500.
- Anaesthesia and Critical Care Support may be added for major dental surgeries and cost $500 per hour.
Despite all of his health issues, Kublai’s owners want to continue giving him the best quality of life. He still has routine check-ups and a special diet, but he is living an active, happy, and healthful life at 6 years old!
In Kublai’s case, the addition of optional benefits including cover for behavioural assessments and dental illness could have eased the financial burden during his long and complex treatment journey.
While standard pet insurance can help with illness or injury, optional extras can ensure you’re better prepared for unexpected or breed-related conditions that require ongoing or specialised care.
This case is a reminder that choosing the right cover early and reviewing it regularly can make a meaningful difference in how we care for our pets.
Knose allows pet parents to customise their policy based on their pet’s growing needs and focus on what matters most: giving them a well-balanced and happy life, no matter what comes their way.
💡 What is a liver shunt?
A liver shunt (portosystemic shunt) is an abnormal blood vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver and prevents toxins from being properly filtered.
It’s most often a congenital problem and, if left untreated, can be fatal.
Why Flexible Pet Insurance Matters
1. Rising Vet Costs in Australia
Veterinary expenses are climbing steadily in Australia. This can place a heavy burden on pet owners.
According to HCF research, 80% of pet owners report anxiety over these rising costs, with dog owners spending on average $3,218 per year, while cat owners spend around $1,715 per year.
Vet costs have become one of the largest expenses for pet parents, and a sudden complex illness or emergency surgery can be costly without prior notice.
In this financial landscape, cost-effective and flexible pet insurance coverage can make the difference between accessing care and facing impossible decisions.
2. Adaptability is Key
Just like us, our pet’s healthcare needs to evolve. Kittens may only need minimal intervention, while adult cats may develop behavioural issues or mobility-related conditions.
A health plan that suits your six-month-old kitten may no longer meet their needs by the time they turn five.
Many pet insurance policies lock you into rigid tiers—so you might end up paying for things you don’t need or missing out on essential cover.
A flexible structure, like Knose’s, lets you take up optional benefits at renewal, if your pet is under the age of three at the time of the renewal*.
🚨 *It is important to note that Pre-Existing Symptoms and Conditions are not covered under the Policy .
3. Diverse Health and Chronic Conditions
Different breeds face different health predispositions, and as pets age, they also face possibility of escalating chronic health conditions. Even though your puppy may come from a healthy litter, they can still develop common genetic disorders.
Breeds like German Shepherds or Labrador Retrievers are especially prone to hip dysplasia, while Chihuahuas and other toy breeds tend to develop a collapsing trachea.
As pets live longer, age-related conditions like arthritis and dental disease are increasingly common.
Knose’s Simple, Transparent, Customisable Policies
When it comes to pet insurance, clarity is key. Knose offers a straightforward policy that forms the foundation of your pet’s protection.
This core policy helps cover a wide range of eligible veterinary costs related to unexpected illnesses and accidental injuries.
What’s Included in the Knose Policy
- You choose a Benefit Percentage of 70%, 80%, or 90% of eligible Vet Costs
- Treatment cover for unexpected illnesses and injuries* including:
- Surgery
- Hospitalisation
- Diagnostic tests (e.g. x-rays, bloodwork)
- Medications
- Other necessary eligible vet treatments
- No sub-limits, just your chosen annual limit
💡 You can visit any licensed vet in Australia. Knose has no network restrictions.
What’s Not Included in the Knose Policy
Main exclusions include:
- Routine and preventative care like vaccinations, check-ups, flea/tick treatments, and desexing. This may be supported separately through the Knose Pet Care Plan.
- Elective procedures such as declawing or cosmetic surgery.
- Pre-existing Symptoms and Conditions observed before your policy start date or within exclusion periods.
Please see the Product Disclosure Statement for more details about exclusions.
What Sets Knose Apart
- Customisable annual limits and benefit percentages to match your budget and coverage needs.
- One of the shortest exclusion periods for illness, compared to other pet insurance companies.
- Access to a 24/7 pet health hotline for medical advice.
- No sub-limits so you claim up to your chosen annual limit on eligible treatments.
- Optional benefits which let you add extra benefits to your policy.
How Your Knose Policy Grows With Your Pet
One of Knose’s standout features is how Knose policy can accommodate our pet’s changing needs over time. Puppies may not require dental or behavioural coverage at first, but these needs often arise as they age.
With Knose, you’re not locked into your original policy choices forever. You can review and update your optional benefits at renewal each year (until your pet turns three years old).
Scenario 1
You adopt a Maine Coon cat from a rescue centre and at your next renewal, you can choose to add optional benefits which includes Behavioural Conditions, before your pet turns 3 years old.
If the exclusion period is served and the condition isn’t pre-existing, Knose helps cover the cost of vet recommended treatment.
Scenario 2
When you first created your policy, you added optional benefits which included Dental Illness. After a couple of years, your dog had to undergo dental surgery.
After a successful intervention and recovery, you remove the optional benefits (including Dental Illness) the next year, knowing you may not be able to add the optional benefits back to your policy as these are only available for pets younger than 3 years old at renewal time.
This level of adaptability is a major advantage for long-term pet owners.
How to Get Started with Knose
Getting started with Knose is a simple process designed for ease and transparency.
- Request a quote using the Knose Quote Tool where you’ll enter a few details about your pet and yourself to generate a personalised plan.
- Select your preferred Benefit Percentage among 70%, 80%, or 90%. This depends on your financial comfort level and preferences.
- Add Optional Benefits (for eligible pets below 3 years old) based on your pet’s breed, lifestyle, and risk factors. Whether you want to include Dental Cover, Behavioural Support, and Specialised Therapies, the platform makes it easy to tailor your plan.
- Choose to pair your insurance policy with the Knose Pet Care Plan. This helps manage routine care like vet check-ups, vaccinations, and parasite control.
- Review your plan and complete your sign up. You are able to review your pet insurance policy annually and add Optional Benefits if your pet is younger than 3 years old at the time of renewal.
Pet insurance should do more than manage costs, it should support a pet’s quality of life through each phase. With Knose, you’re not getting a rigid policy, you’re building a customisable pet insurance coverage.
Knose can help you cover relevant health risks and empower you to make the best choices for your loved ones.
No Hidden Surprises — Just Straightforward Protection for Your Pet’s Well-Being
Coverage for unexpected injuries, emergencies, diagnosing and treatment of a wide range of health conditions – with no cap on sub-limits. ⓘ
Claim up to 90% of approved costs for care provided by a licensed veterinary professionals.
Include optional add-ons (for eligible policies) – Dental Illnesses, Behavioural Conditions, and Specialised Therapies.
Get rates for your pet
Enjoy 2 months FREE when you sign-up today!
🚨 Disclaimer: Coverage for illnesses and injuries is subject to your selected plan, Knose Pet Insurance terms and conditions, and only applies where the condition is not a Pre-Existing Symptom or Condition and is outside any applicable Exclusion Periods. See the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details.
Post by Knose Pet Insurance in collaboration with Marie Boncan
Marie grew up surrounded by animals, but caring for Kublai, her Yorkie-Maltese mix with a liver shunt, sparked a deeper commitment to pet health. Drawing from her experience with a pet who has special needs and her strength in academic writing, she creates insightful content that shines a light on key pet care topics for Knose Pet Insurance as a freelancer.
