Pet Insurance

Many of Britain's 14.5 million cats and dogs will have tucked into hot cross buns, chocolate eggs and other irresistible treats over the Easter holidays, and will be looking forward to more treats over the Spring Bank Holiday too, but the stark warning from specialist insurer RIAS is that regularly indulging pets with highly calorific foods like these could be storing up trouble for the future.

Following the announcement by the RSPCA that it has seen a 23% rise in abandoned pets compared with last year, Sainsbury's Finance believes that some pets may be being abandoned because their owners have underestimated the real cost of owning a pet.

Over 1 million UK residents believe that they have had a pet cat or dog stolen over the past five years, according to Sainsbury’s Finance.

The South East is the most expensive part of the country for pet owners who may have to take their animals to the vet, according to Saga Pet Insurance. The average vet bill in the South East is £98.64 (30%) more expensive than in the cheapest region, Wales.

Each year, many dogs and cats fall sick from illnesses that could have been prevented with vaccinations, such as canine flu, kennel cough and other respiratory diseases.

The cost of routine visits to the vet has shot up in the last five years meaning owners are having to fork out more to keep their pet healthy. Figures from the Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons show that since 2002, the price of regular treatment has soared over 20%.

Saga Pet Insurance has revealed that 1 in 7 (14%) claims are a result of clumsy pets. The analysis looked at the number of ‘clumsy’ claims, rather than those for illness or disease, made for both cats and dogs in each region.

Some of the simple winter motoring precautions we take could pose serious problems for pets according to leading pet insurance provider Petplan.

Melvin Everest, from leading pet insurer MORE TH>N comments on the NHS statistics released, showing a rise in the number of people treated for dog bites:

The Post Office has announced the launch of its new pet insurance policy, designed to meet the real needs faced by cat and dog owners.

There are 1.8 million pet insurance claims made for veterinary treatment for cats and dogs each year, according to a recent survey.

Sainsbury’s Finance estimates that around 1.8 million pet insurance claims for veterinary treatment for dogs and cats are made every year.

LV= is launching two new pet insurance policies, Essential and Premier, both available for cats and dogs from aged eight weeks, with no upper age limit. Prices start from around £5 per month for cats and £7 per month for dogs.

Keeping a dog is an expensive business; most of the costs – food, kennels, injections – are entirely predictable, but others, such as unexpected visits to the vet, are not. Almost half of all households in the UK (47 per cent) own a pet, and 5.2 million of them have at least one dog.

For those who found a puppy or a kitten under the tree this Christmas, it is important to remember that pets are for life, not just for Christmas, and getting pet insurance could ensure that the new member of the family gets the care it needs, urges Fair Investment Company.

In its new report into the Pet Insurance Market, Defaqto raises the concern that the rate of provider churn could have a detrimental effect on the market unless adequate arrangements are put in place to protect existing policyholders.

Anyone tempted to buy a pet or who received one for Christmas should not forget that a key part of having a cat or dog is making sure it can be properly looked after when it is ill, says Defaqto in its most recent report, Pet Insurance in the UK 2007.

Slimming clubs and doctors’ surgeries experience some of their longest queues after the excesses of Christmas and New Year, but new research suggests that Britain’s surgeries are also feeling the strain as the nation’s podgy pets pig out on a range of festive foods.

Chocolate ornaments dangling on a Christmas tree are a naughty lure to humans but for any nosy pooch it could be a fatal temptation. Large quantities can bring on epileptic seizures and in the worst cases death.

M&S Money is making changes to its pet insurance to provide customers with more choice and a wider range of services.

As Christmas approaches, rural insurer NFU Mutual, is offering a timely reminder that pets should be remembered over the festive period too.

Sainsbury’s urges consumers to check their pet insurance polices carefully to ensure that they have adequate cover for the treatment of conditions lasting longer than 12 months.

Sainsbury’s is offering 30-days free Pet Insurance cover to those applying before 27th November 2007. In addition to this, those applying online before 29th December 2007 will receive a 10% discount.

UK pet insurance provider has produced a free guide which will help the nation’s pet owners reduce the injuries, distress and long term behavioural problems caused by loud fireworks to their terrified pets.

Recent news that dogs suffer depression in winter months may have been a surprise to non pet owners, but to domestic animal lovers it might not seem so out of the ordinary.

In the run up to this year’s fireworks extravaganza, moneysupermarket.com warns pet owners to consider their animals’ welfare.

One in five dog owners who have taken their dog to a vet have raided their savings to meet the rising costs of vet fees, according to research from Direct Line Pet Insurance.

British couples who own a pet are finding that the animal is literally coming between them according to research from Halifax Pet Insurance.

Marks & Spencer Pet Insurance is a best buy in the August issue of Which? for performing consistently well in all categories and offering the highest level of cover at a reasonable price for both cats and dogs.

New research from Sainsbury’s Bank indicates that obesity is a serious problem affecting over a third (34%) of the UK’s combined cat and dog population. Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance estimates that around 2.72 million dogs and 2.87 million cats are suffering from obesity.

Brits may claim to be a nation of pet lovers, but new research from pet insurer MORE TH> N reveals that millions of people are putting their animals at risk of serious health problems by regularly smoking around them.

Pet worshipping Britons have spent £2.6 billion purchasing pet cats and dogs in the last five years, (that’s £520 million each year) according to new research from Halifax Pet Insurance.

Unnecessary vet visits cost pet owners £118 million a year in vet fees, wasted miles and lost working time, according to research from pet insurer MORE TH>N. Such trips also cost British businesses £19 million a year from staff who take time off work as compassionate leave, or lie about their whereabouts to take their pets to the vets.

British businesses are losing out to the tune of £19 million a year as workers take time off for unnecessary emergency vet visits.

Protecting your pedigree dog or cat with adequate pet insurance is now even more important, warns Sainsbury's Bank, after new findings show that the cost of owning a pedigree pet can be up to 34% more expensive than a cross-breed.

Over one third (37%) of Britain’s pet cats and dogs are overweight according to a survey of veterinarians commissioned by Halifax Pet Insurance.

In its latest report, Pet Insurance in the UK – 2006, Defaqto identifies how changing social patterns are affecting dog ownership and consequently sales of pet insurance policies.