Does Pet Insurance Cover Poisoning?

An accidental pet poisoning can be scary, and time is critical when it comes to getting vet care. If you can’t reach your emergency vet, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Both hotlines are available 24/7 and may charge a consultation fee, but can be incredibly helpful in an emergency.

MetLife Pet Insurance can help you with the vet bill and offers coverage for costs related to accidental pet poisoning, with reimbursements up to 90%.¹ Let’s explore how our coverage works.

MetLife Pet Offers Coverage for Poisoning Costs

A pet insurance policy through MetLife Pet could help you cover treatment costs if your pet accidentally comes into contact with a toxic substance or is poisoned.

Pet poisons can be found around the house and outdoors, with common items such as certain plants, cleaning products, paints, antifreeze, and insecticides. Depending on your pet and the toxin, effects and symptoms can range from gastrointestinal upsets, tremors, and respiratory distress to seizures, organ damage, and even death.²

Treatment depends on your pet’s condition and the poison involved — it can include stomach pumping, induced vomiting, surgery, washing the skin of external poisons, supportive care, and administering activated charcoal or known antidotes.³ Pet insurance could help you reduce the financial stress of emergency vet bills and allow your focus to stay on your pet when it matters most.

What Types of Pet Poisoning Expenses Can Be Covered?

Poisoning-related expenses that you could have coverage for under MetLife Pet’s standard accident and illness policy typically include:

Hospitalization and emergency care

Vet visit exam fees

Diagnostics (including X-rays and blood tests)

Surgeries or vet specialist treatments

Prescribed medications

Follow-up vet visits

The poison must be metabolized and eliminated before your pet is in the clear, which could require hospitalization, monitoring, and continued supportive care to help them recover.³ MetLife Pet’s coverage of these kinds of expenses can help you turn a high-cost vet bill into something more financially accessible.

What toxins can be covered?

Many things found in your home can be poisonous to pets. A MetLife Pet policy could help you cover costs related to accidental poisonings from:^1,4

• Foods like chocolate, onions, grapes, xylitol, or coffee
• Medications such as human and vet prescriptions, and over-the-counter (OTC) meds like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen
• Household products and chemicals like antifreeze, cleaners, pesticides, rodenticides, batteries, or detergents
• Plants such as lilies, sago palms, oleander, azaleas, foxglove, and tulips

Some wildlife and insects can also be toxic to cats and dogs — such as certain spiders, toads, snakes, and scorpions, as well as bees, wasps, and fire ants. Poison could be injected into your pet by a sting or fang, or it could happen through contact, like licking a marine toad.⁵ If your pet encounters a toxic foe, a MetLife Pet policy could help you cover the cost of vet care.

Exclusions to Poisoning Coverage

A pet insurance policy likely won’t reimburse you for vet bills related to pet poisoning if:

Your pet displayed symptoms of poisoning or was treated for it before your coverage began or during any applicable waiting periods. It would be considered a pre-existing condition.

An insurer classifies any expenses related to the poisoning as an illness, instead of an accident, and you have an accident-only plan.

The poisoning was concluded to be intentional or due to negligence.

Make sure you’re doing your part as a responsible pet owner to keep potentially poisonous products and items away or out of your pet’s reach. Most poisonings are classified as an accident, not an illness, but your exact policy details the coverage you might have. If you’re unsure, contact your provider.

MetLife Pet Members Who Saved on Poisoning Costs

Treating a poisoning case could get expensive, especially if your pet needs to be hospitalized, have surgery, or requires emergency care. These MetLife Pet policyholders had coverage for their pets’ vet bills when they needed treatment for poisoning:⁶

• Chow, the puppy, was brought to the vet after he ate an oleander plant. He received supportive care to treat his tremors, vomiting, and rapid heart rate. Chow’s owners got almost $2,600 back on the nearly $2,900 bill.
• A puppy named Sully accidentally ate some of his pet parent’s calming supplements and needed to be hospitalized. The vet visit and emergency care cost nearly $1,950, and his family was reimbursed over $1,500.
• Snap, the kitten, was brought to the vet for vomiting and lethargy. The vet determined she had eaten part of a toxic plant, and she was treated for her symptoms. Snap’s family was reimbursed more than $350 on the over $500 vet bill.

Don’t give the cost a second thought. Prioritize emergency veterinary care with the help of a MetLife Pet plan, so you and your pet can get back to the good life, together.

Get MetLife Pet for Poisoning Coverage

MetLife Pet can reimburse you up to 90% of covered vet bills related to accidental pet poisonings.¹ This can make a huge difference when it comes to emergency care — especially when that vet bill could reach $5,000 or more.⁷

You shouldn’t have to choose between your finances and your pet’s well-being. Pet insurance can provide a financial safety net that helps you say yes to crucial care. Explore your policy options and get a free, personalized quote today.