Looking for dog insurance in Spain? Sanitas Salud Mascotas helps dog owners protect against unexpected veterinary costs, with 80% reimbursement of eligible treatment costs up to €2,500 per year, free choice of veterinarian, and cover for illness, accident and emergency care. Whether you have moved to Spain with your dog, adopted locally, or just want peace of mind against rising vet bills, this guide explains what dog insurance covers, how reimbursement works, and how to request a quote in English.
Sanitas is part of the Bupa group and offers Salud Mascotas — veterinary assistance insurance for companion dogs (and cats) in Spain. The policy reimburses 80% of eligible veterinary costs up to €2,500/year, with free choice of vet, illness and accident cover, emergencies, hospitalisation, surgery and an annual preventive consultation. Cover applies throughout Spain, with emergency cover in the EU.
Dog insurance for expats
Spain is a dog-loving country, but veterinary treatment for dogs can still become expensive quickly. A routine consultation may be manageable — but unexpected illness, surgery, diagnostic tests, emergency care or hospitalisation can create a much larger bill.
Dog insurance gives owners a way to reduce the financial shock of unexpected veterinary costs. Instead of paying every eligible cost completely out of pocket, you can recover part of the cost through reimbursement, subject to the policy terms and limits.
For expats, dog insurance can be especially useful because you may not yet know which vets are best in your area, how Spanish veterinary pricing works, or what to do if your dog becomes ill outside normal clinic hours.
Product overview
Sanitas Salud Mascotas is Sanitas' veterinary assistance insurance for companion dogs and cats. On this page we focus on how it works for dog owners.
It is designed to help cover unexpected veterinary costs caused by illness or accident, while giving you the freedom to choose your own veterinarian. Unlike some fixed-network products, Sanitas describes this as a reimbursement-style pet insurance product with free choice of vet.
The core benefit is simple: you pay your dog's vet, submit the eligible bill, and Sanitas reimburses 80% of covered veterinary expenses up to €2,500 per year — subject to policy terms, limits and exclusions.
Veterinary assistance insurance for companion dogs
You pay your dog's vet, submit the eligible bill, and Sanitas reimburses 80% of covered veterinary expenses up to €2,500 per year — subject to policy terms, limits and exclusions. Cover applies throughout Spain, with emergency cover in the European Union.
What's covered
Sanitas Salud Mascotas is designed to cover veterinary assistance for illness, accident and preventive care. For dogs, cover can include:
Sanitas' corporate product information says the policy includes general and specialist consultations, hospitalisation, surgical interventions and specific treatments such as rehabilitation or dental care following an accident. Exact cover, sublimits and exclusions should always be checked in the current policy documents before buying.
Key benefits
Six headline reasons Sanitas Salud Mascotas is the dog insurance we recommend for expats in Spain.
Sanitas Salud Mascotas reimburses 80% of eligible veterinary costs for your dog, up to the annual limit of €2,500. A major difference if your dog needs surgery, diagnostic tests or unexpected treatment.
Use your trusted local vet — or any veterinarian in Spain. Sanitas describes the policy as libre elección de veterinario, so you keep control of where your dog is treated.
The policy is designed to help with veterinary costs arising from illness or accident — the bills dog owners most fear.
Includes emergency veterinary care, which can be some of the most stressful and expensive costs of dog ownership.
Includes an annual preventive consultation, helping you stay on top of your dog's health before problems become serious.
Sanitas Salud Mascotas is designed for perros y gatos cuya función sea de compañía — companion dogs and cats. Working, breeding or commercial dogs are not the target of this product.
Health vs liability
Important: dog HEALTH insurance and dog LIABILITY insurance are completely different products. Many owners confuse them.
Helps cover veterinary costs if your dog becomes ill, has an accident or needs emergency treatment. Reimbursement of 80% of eligible costs up to €2,500/year.
What it covers: illness, accident, emergency, hospitalisation, surgery, rehabilitation, dental after accident, annual preventive consultation.
This page is about: dog health insurance for veterinary costs.
Helps cover damage or injury your dog causes to third parties (other people, animals or property). It's a legal/financial protection product, not a healthcare product.
What it covers: bites, accidents involving others, property damage, legal defence costs depending on the policy.
This is separate from: dog civil liability insurance. Requirements can depend on national, regional and local interpretation — check current rules in your area.
Why dog owners
Dog owners face a wide range of possible veterinary costs. The most common reasons dog owners choose insurance:
A good policy helps you avoid making healthcare decisions for your dog based only on cost.
Life stages
Dog insurance is not one-size-fits-all. Your dog's life stage and background often affect what's possible, and what's most useful.
Puppies are accident-prone — chewing, swallowed objects, infections and slips can all lead to vet trips. Starting cover when your dog is young is one of the best ways to avoid issues later becoming “pre-existing”.
Eligibility may depend on the puppy's minimum age and vaccination status. Request a quote to confirm what is possible for your dog.
Older dogs often need more frequent care — joint issues, chronic conditions and diagnostic tests can all build up. Cover for older dogs depends on the dog's age, breed and existing health history.
Many owners only think about insurance once a problem appears, by which point the condition may already be considered pre-existing. The earlier you ask, the more options you tend to have.
Rescue dogs can usually be insured. You may be asked to declare any known history; the rescue centre will often already have shared medical and vaccination information with you.
Cover can be especially reassuring for rescues whose full background is uncertain, helping you afford treatment if hidden conditions appear later.
Breeds
Breed can affect both the kinds of health issues a dog faces and the cost of insurance. The vet history of your individual dog still matters most, but breed-specific patterns are common.
Prone to joint issues, ear infections and weight-related conditions.
Breathing issues, skin folds and heat sensitivity are common.
Hip dysplasia, joint problems and digestive sensitivity.
Ear infections, eye conditions and skin issues.
Dental issues, fragile joints and trachea problems.
Often hardy but still face age, accident and illness risks.
Higher activity = higher accident and joint risk over time.
Flat-faced dogs especially struggle in Spain's heat.
Bigger dogs tend to develop joint, heart and weight conditions earlier.
Mixed-breed dogs are often more resilient overall, but still face age, accident and illness risks. Brachycephalic (flat-faced) and large breeds are particularly worth thinking about insuring early.
Cover area
Sanitas states that Sanitas Salud Mascotas provides cover throughout Spain and emergency cover in the European Union (subject to policy terms).
This is helpful if you travel between regions in Spain with your dog, or take occasional trips into other EU countries.
How claims work
Sanitas Salud Mascotas is a reimbursement-style dog insurance policy. The headline reimbursement is 80% up to €2,500 per year, but sublimits and exclusions may apply depending on the treatment. This is different from a direct-payment system where the insurer pays the clinic directly.
You pick your veterinarian — Sanitas Salud Mascotas offers free choice of vet, so your dog can keep seeing the clinic they already know.
Pay the vet directly at the time of treatment. This is a reimbursement-style policy, not a direct-pay policy.
Keep the original invoice and supporting medical documents — diagnosis, lab results, imaging and treatment notes.
Submit your claim to Sanitas with the supporting documents using the claim process Sanitas provides.
The insurer reviews the claim against your policy cover, limits and exclusions.
Sanitas reimburses 80% of eligible veterinary costs, up to the annual limit of €2,500/year. Sublimits and exclusions may apply depending on treatment type.
What's NOT covered
Dog insurance is not designed to cover everything. Before buying, check the exclusions carefully. Possible exclusions or limitations may include:
The exact exclusions depend on the policy wording, so do not rely only on the summary.
Cost
Dog insurance prices depend on the dog, insurer and policy selected. The final premium may depend on:
Sanitas Salud Mascotas is based around an 80% reimbursement up to €2,500/year — but your exact premium should be confirmed with a personalised quote.
Quote info
To request a dog insurance quote, you may need:
If you have recently moved to Spain with your dog, provide any available veterinary records, vaccination history and pet passport information.
Tell us about your dog and we'll help you check whether Sanitas Salud Mascotas is suitable. Confirmed price, English-speaking support, fast response.
Free, no-obligation advice from our English-speaking team. Puppies, rescues, multiple dogs — we'll talk you through it.
Common questions about Sanitas dog insurance for expats in Spain.