No, standard pet insurance policies in Australia do not cover grooming services. Grooming is generally considered a routine or preventative care service, which falls outside the scope of typical accident or illness coverage. However, some insurers offer optional wellness or routine care plans that may include grooming as an add-on benefit.
Pet Insurance Grooming Coverage Australia: What You Really Need to Know
As pet parents across Australia become increasingly savvy about protecting their furry companions, many ask the same pressing question: “Are grooming services covered by pet insurance in Australia?”
Let’s cut to the chase—grooming services are almost never included in standard pet insurance policies. That means haircuts, bathing, nail trims, and ear cleaning usually come out of your own pocket unless you’ve chosen a special wellness plan that offers routine care perks.
But there’s a lot more nuance to this than a simple yes or no. In this guide, Careers Collectiv walks you through what’s covered, what’s not, and what your options are if you want help covering grooming expenses.
Understanding Pet Insurance in Australia
Before we dig into grooming, it’s important to understand how pet insurance works in Australia. Not all policies are built the same.
Common Types of Pet Insurance
- Accident-Only: Covers injuries from events like car accidents, bites, or fractures. No illness or routine coverage.
- Accident & Illness: Adds protection for diseases or infections but still no coverage for grooming or routine services.
- Comprehensive: Includes accident, illness, and sometimes optional routine care as an add-on.
Typical Inclusions
- Emergency surgery
- Hospitalisation
- Specialist care
- Diagnostics and testing
- Prescription medication
Typical Exclusions
- Routine checkups
- Vaccinations
- Dental cleaning (unless due to an accident)
- Grooming services
- Pre-existing conditions
Bottom line: Unless you’re paying extra for a wellness add-on, grooming costs are not covered.
What Grooming Services Actually Include
Grooming isn’t just about making your dog look good. It’s a vital part of responsible pet care that impacts your pet’s health and wellbeing.
What Falls Under Grooming Services?
- Bathing and blow drying
- Coat trimming or clipping
- Nail clipping
- Anal gland expression
- Ear cleaning
- De-matting and brushing
Why Grooming Matters
- Hygiene: Prevents infections, matting, and parasite buildup
- Comfort: Especially for long-haired or double-coated breeds
- Health monitoring: Groomers often notice skin issues or lumps before owners do
- Breed-specific needs: Some dogs require frequent grooming to stay healthy
Do all dog breeds need professional grooming? Not all, but many benefit from it — especially those with high-maintenance coats or specific hygiene needs.
Note: While these services are beneficial, they’re generally viewed as elective, which is why most insurers don’t cover them.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Grooming? Not Usually.
Let’s get specific. Grooming is almost never included in standard pet insurance coverage—whether you’re insured through Pet Insurance Australia, Bow Wow Meow, or another top provider.
Why Grooming Isn’t Covered
- Seen as preventative, not medically necessary
- Considered part of day-to-day pet maintenance
- Often falls under routine care, which is typically excluded
The Exception: Wellness Add-Ons
Some insurers offer Routine Care or Wellness Plans as optional extras.
These might include partial or full reimbursements for:
- Annual checkups
- Flea, tick, and worm treatments
- Vaccinations
- Occasionally, grooming
But it varies dramatically by provider.
Pet Insurance Comparison Australia: Who Offers What?
Let’s look at how some top pet insurers in Australia handle grooming coverage.
Provider | Grooming Covered? | Requires Wellness Add-On? | Notes |
Pet Insurance Australia | Sometimes | Yes | Only with higher-tier Routine Care plans |
Bow Wow Meow | Rarely | Yes | Covers limited grooming via optional routine cover |
Petsy | No | N/A | Grooming not offered under any plan |
Medibank Pet Insurance | No | N/A | Focused only on accidents and illnesses |
Petbarn Insurance | No | N/A | Offers separate memberships for routine care |
Knose | Customizable | Optional | May include grooming if selected in flexible plans |
Tip: Always read the fine print or speak directly to a rep before assuming grooming is included.
Best Pet Insurance With Grooming Coverage in Australia
If grooming coverage is a dealbreaker for you, here’s what to look for in a policy:
- Routine Care Add-On: Ensure the plan explicitly lists grooming.
- Dollar Limits: Some plans cap reimbursement amounts (e.g., $50/year for grooming).
- Breed Relevance: If your dog is high-maintenance, look for plans tailored for their breed.
You might want to consider:
- Healthy Paws Wellness Plans (via Pet Insurance Australia): Offers routine care with grooming as a claimable item.
- Knose Custom Plans: Allows you to include grooming in a personalized care bundle.
- Petbarn Healthy Pets Plus (Not insurance): Membership includes grooming discounts and free vet consults.
Are Dog Grooming Services Covered by Pet Insurance in Australia?
Short answer? Not under standard policies.
But if you:
- Add a routine care benefit
- Join a pet health membership
- Choose an insurer with flexible inclusions
Then grooming may be partially covered or discounted.
Always check:
- Coverage caps
- Claimable services
- Waiting periods
- Breed-specific exclusions
Alternatives to Insurance for Grooming Costs
Grooming can be expensive, especially for long-haired breeds or dogs with skin conditions. But there are other ways to manage the cost.
Pet Care Memberships
- Petbarn Healthy Pets Plus: Includes grooming discounts and routine checkups
- Greencross Vets Wellness Packages: Yearly subscriptions with grooming options
- Independent groomer subscriptions: Some local groomers offer loyalty packages
DIY Grooming Tips
For pet parents willing to roll up their sleeves:
- Invest in clippers and brushes
- Learn basic nail trimming and ear cleaning
- Take online grooming courses
- Groom in between professional visits to stretch time between appointments
Can you use human clippers to groom my dog at home? It’s not recommended. Dog clippers are specifically designed for pet hair and skin sensitivity. Using human clippers can cause discomfort or injury.
This won’t replace professional care entirely but can significantly reduce costs.
Choosing Pet Insurance: What to Consider Beyond Grooming
Grooming isn’t the only factor when choosing pet insurance. Here’s what else you should weigh:
Your Pet’s Breed
- Long-haired or curly-coated breeds (e.g., Poodles, Shih Tzus) need frequent grooming
- These breeds benefit more from wellness add-ons that cover grooming
Age and Health
- Older pets may need more medical attention, making accident & illness coverage more crucial than grooming reimbursements
- Puppies may benefit from wellness plans that include desexing and microchipping, sometimes bundled with grooming
Your Budget
- Weigh monthly premiums vs. expected out-of-pocket grooming expenses
- Ask yourself: would I spend more on premiums than I’d save on grooming?
Routine Care Coverage and Why It Matters
While grooming is important, routine care coverage often includes much more than just haircuts.
Covered services may include:
- Dental cleaning
- Vaccinations
- Desexing
- Deworming
- Microchipping
- And yes—sometimes grooming
Adding this coverage usually increases your monthly premium, but could offer long-term savings.
Note: Coverage and costs vary between providers.
Wellness Plans for Pets: A Smarter Way to Pay?
Instead of traditional insurance, some pet owners are choosing wellness plans or membership programs.
Why?
- Predictable monthly costs
- Discounts on regular grooming and vet services
- Often includes health checkups, parasite control, and training support
These aren’t a substitute for accident and illness insurance, but they fill the gap that standard pet insurance leaves—especially for grooming.
