Is Pet Insurance Required in Canada? What to Know

If you rent a home, most landlords require you to have renters insurance. If you drive a car, most places require you to carry auto insurance. And if you live in certain states or territories, you’re required to have health insurance. But what about when it comes to dogs and cats? Are you required to have pet insurance for dogs and cats?

Unlike many other forms of insurance, pet insurance is not a legal requirement in Canada, or the United States for that matter. However, there are some important distinctions worth making here, and there may be some situations where you are expected to insure your pet. Likewise, you may still want to protect your pet with insurance for various reasons. Let’s take a closer look.

Defining pet insurance

The term “pet insurance” can be a bit confusing, especially when comparing it to other forms of insurance that are required. When we talk about pet insurance, we’re referring to medical insurance for pets, also commonly known as “pet health insurance” or simply “dog insurance” or “cat insurance.”

Although pet insurance may seem like human health insurance, it functions more similarly to auto insurance. Instead of routine checkups, pet insurance is there to help pay for new and unexpected illnesses and accidents, which often come with steep veterinary bills. Also, like auto and many other forms of insurance coverage, most pet insurers require members to pay for their pet’s treatment upfront and then submit a claim and wait for reimbursement. The exception to this process is Trupanion, who can pay vets directly at time of checkout from your pet’s appointment. Of course, unlike auto insurance, pet insurance is not legally required anywhere in North America.

Learn more about how pet insurance works.

Pet health insurance vs pet liability insurance

In some circumstances — like having a pet on a lease or having certain breeds on a jobsite or covered under homeowners insures — you may be required by a contract to get pet liability insurance. While this obvious sounds very similar in name, it is not the same thing as pet medical insurance (pet insurance). Instead, pet insurance and pet liability insurance are two different types of coverage related to pets.

Here’s what sets them apart:

1. Pet insurance

• Covers veterinary expenses for illnesses, injuries, and sometimes routine care.
• Similar to human health insurance, it helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for medical treatments.
• Policies vary but can be accident-only or include illness, and wellness plans.

2. Pet liability insurance

• Covers damages or injuries your pet may cause to other people, animals, or property.
• Commonly applies to dog bites or property damage caused by pets.
• Sometimes included in homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, but specific policies exist for high-risk breeds or additional coverage.

Obviously, if you’re concerned about your pet’s health and being able to pay for surprise injuries and illnesses, pet insurance is the way to go. If you're concerned about potential damage or injury your pet might cause, pet liability insurance is there for that (and, again, may be required in some instances). Some pet owners actually carry both for complete coverage.

Do I need pet insurance to see a vet?

You don’t need pet insurance to see a vet. Anyone can take their dog or cat to their local veterinary clinic and pay the treatment bill out of pocket. That said, pet insurance can help manage the cost of unexpected illnesses or injuries, which — and this can’t be stressed enough — can be quite expensive and add up quickly (especially if your pet needs ongoing treatment).

Some veterinarians also have their own in-house wellness plans, which you may want to utilize to help pay for routine care. They are like pet insurance, but they are set up a bit differently and will not cover big-ticket items like surprise injuries and illnesses. Like pet insurance, these wellness plans are also not a legal requirement, nor do veterinarians require their clients to sign up for them.

Local legal requirements for pets

As of 2025, pet insurance is not required by law anywhere in the United States or Canada, nor in any other country for that matter. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other laws that affect pet ownership. Every pet parent, regardless of your pet’s age or breed, should be well-versed in what national and local laws are in place regarding domestic animals (i.e. pets).

To learn more, look for or ask about “Animal Codes” regulations with your local municipality.

Pet owner laws may be subject to change

Even though there are no pet insurance laws on the books mandating dog and cat owners to have coverage, that doesn’t mean this won’t ever change in the future. Not only have pet laws in general evolved over time, but so have laws around human health insurance and other forms of insurance. The point is, it’s a part of responsible pet parenting to stay on top of any legal changes, especially when they may affect the health and well-being of your four-legged family members.

Is pet insurance still necessary?

Whether or not pet insurance is necessary is subjective, up to the individual pet owner. Even though pet insurance is not mandatory under the law, you may still want to consider it. Veterinary care costs have risen significantly over the years, both due to economic inflation and advances in medical care and new treatments becoming available for pet health. So while the good news is that there are now more options than ever to treat illnesses and injuries in dogs and cats, it can come at a high cost.

While you can plan ahead for the routine parts of your pet’s health, like vaccinations, check-ups, and monthly parasite prevention, it’s impossible to know when and where an accident or surprise health condition will come up. In fact, many veterinarians now recommend investing in a good pet insurance plan to make sure dogs and cats can get the treatment they need.

Having a good health insurance plan in place helps protect against the high costs of veterinary care, especially when it comes to emergencies. It’s telling that 6 million pets are protected by a pet insurance plan as of 2025, a number that has grown steadily in recent decades. So, even though it’s not a legal requirement, pet insurance is still viewed by many as a worthwhile investment.

Learn more about the benefits of pet insurance.