# Mitral valve disease (MVD) — clause matrix across NZ pet insurers > Most common cardiac condition in small-breed dogs. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are particularly affected and develop MVD earlier than other breeds. **Why it matters:** Cavaliers are one of the most insurance-sensitive breeds in NZ. The hereditary-cover clause + breed-specific exclusions decide whether MVD is covered at all. **Vertical:** pet · **Condition:** mitral-valve-disease · **Species:** dog · **Snapshot:** 2026-05-18T08:27:31.134Z **Source:** Each product's policy wording PDF (linked per row). License: CC BY 4.0 — attribute https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz. --- ## AA Pet Insurance — AA Pet Insurance Policy **Wording version:** 2025-04-05 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions will not be considered a pre-existing condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the commencement date of the first policy period or during any applicable waiting period. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/aa-pet/pet-policy/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.aa.co.nz/content/dam/nzaa/02-services/insurance/pet-insurance/documents/AAPetInsurancePolicyDocument.pdf --- ## Cove Pet Insurance — Cove Pet Insurance **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions will not be considered a pre-existing condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the commencement date of the first policy period or within an applicable waiting period. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/cove-pet/pet-insurance/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.coveinsurance.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Pet-Insurance-Policy-CovePet012022.pdf --- ## Petcover (Petplan NZ) — Petcover Catastrophe Plan **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > Not explicitly described as a named category of exclusion or inclusion. Select Breeds (a defined list of large/giant and brachycephalic-related breeds) are eligible for cover only from age 8 weeks and before their 5th birthday. Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) and related conditions are excluded for the first 365 days of cover. Cruciate ligament, patella luxation, hip dysplasia and OCD are explicitly stated not to be considered Accidents and have a 180-day waiting period with sub-limits. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/petcover/catastrophe/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.petcovergroup.com/nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/12/PCNZ-PDS_SOV-SN_Catastrophe-v14112022.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — AcciPet (Accident-only) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `exclusions` > Pre-existing conditions; Transport and boarding (such as in a kennel or cattery); Cages, equipment, and devices, except dog or cat cones (Elizabethan collars); Voluntary euthanasia of your pet (where you choose to have your pet put down for non-medical reasons or due to behavioural or psychological conditions), or euthanasia due to any pandemic disease; Disposal, post-mortem, burial or cremation; Alternative treatment (acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy, osteopathy or treatments of a similar nature); Behavioural or psychological conditions (anxiety disorders, depression, aggression, excessive barking) and related treatment; Complications from treatment we don't cover; Vet consultation fees (unless consult care extra is added); Cosmetic treatment (tail docking, ear cropping, tattooing, dewclaw removal except where required due to accidental injury); Degenerative injuries, such as injuries caused by arthritis or osteoporosis; Dental care (except where caused by accidental injury, and excluding dental injury from eating or chewing an object); Extended hospitalisation beyond what is medically necessary; Extra vet fees for policy administration, information, postage or couriers; Failure to protect your pet from accidental injury or worsening of a treated accidental injury; Fighting costs if your pet has a history of fighting before the policy start date; Illness, sickness or disease, including degenerative disease; International treatment (treatment received outside New Zealand); Medication covering a period more than 40 days after your policy ends; Parasites inside or outside your pet (worms, ticks, fleas, skin mites); Prescription pet foods and supplements; Organ transplant surgery; Joint replacements; Cell replacement therapies, including stem-cell therapy; Artificial limbs, implants, and prosthetics; Treatment provided by the owner (unless the owner is a vet or registered vet nurse); Treatment of an undiagnosed health condition that is similar to an excluded health condition where treatment is consistent with typical treatment of an excluded condition; Pig hunting dogs; Cruciate ligament and patella luxation accidental injuries occurring within the 90-day stand down period **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/accipet/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/AcciPet-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — FreeCover (Trial) **Wording version:** 2025-09-01 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > We don't cover congenital conditions. A congenital condition is an anomaly or developmental defect that is present in your pet at birth, even though signs or symptoms may not appear until later in life. Common congenital conditions for puppies and kittens are things like: brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, cleft palates, neurological defects such as wobbler syndrome, spina bifida, umbilical hernias, undescended testes. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/freecover/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/freecover-policy-Doc.pdf --- ## Southern Cross Pet Insurance — PetCare (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2023-12-01 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > Congenital conditions are excluded. A congenital condition is an anomaly or developmental defect that is present in your pet at birth, even though signs or symptoms may not appear until later in life. We maintain a list of conditions that we consider to be congenital conditions. However, this is not a complete list of all congenital conditions. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/southern-cross-pet/petcare/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.southerncross.co.nz/society/-/media/Southern-Cross-Pet-Insurance/Member-collateral/Plan-documents/Policy-docs/PetCare-Policy-Doc.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — Big Stuff Cover **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > Hereditary Conditions and congenital Conditions will not be considered a Pre-existing Condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or during any applicable Waiting Period. They are listed as examples of Illnesses Covered under Illness Cover (excluding those hereditary and congenital Conditions that fall within the definition of a Pre-existing Condition). **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/big-stuff/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-big-stuff-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## SPCA Pet Insurance — The Works (Comprehensive) **Wording version:** 2026-05-17 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > Hereditary Conditions and congenital Conditions will not be considered a Pre-existing Condition if they have not shown noticeable signs, symptoms or an abnormality at any time before the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period or during any applicable Waiting Period. Hereditary and congenital Conditions are listed as examples of Illnesses Covered under Illness Cover, excluding those hereditary and congenital Conditions that fall within the definition of a Pre-existing Condition. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/spca-pet/the-works/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.spcapetinsurance.co.nz/documents/spca-pet-insurance-the-works-cover-policy-document.pdf --- ## Tower Pet Insurance — Pet Comprehensive + Essentials **Wording version:** 2026-05-18 · **Confidence:** verified · **Key:** `hereditary_congenital_rules` > Hereditary conditions which first manifest before your pet's 2nd birthday are excluded. Congenital conditions are excluded entirely. Hereditary condition means a genetic condition which is passed down through your pet's bloodline, and which is commonly breed specific. Congenital condition means a congenital anomaly or developmental defect which is present at birth but may not manifest until later in your pet's life. **Endpoints:** - Structured facts: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/facts.json - Full wording: https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/api/product/tower-pet/pet-comprehensive-essentials/wording.md - Source PDF: https://www.tower.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Pet_Comprehensive_Essentials.pdf --- **9** of 11 indexed products have on-file cover language for this condition. **Canonical URL:** https://petinsurancecomparison.co.nz/conditions/mitral-valve-disease/