UK dog owners forced to take drastic action
6 October 2005
Rising vet costs are forcing British dog owners to take drastic action leaving seven per cent with no option but to put down their sick dog according to new research from Direct Line Pet Insurance.
Twenty two per cent of dog owners said that they would consider this drastic step if faced with treatment that they couldn't afford.
Britain's dog owners spend over £800 million on vet fees each year, with the average cost of treatment standing at £154 a year. As a result almost one in four (22 per cent) struggle to pay vets' fees.
More than half of British dog owners (58 per cent) said they suspect some vets inflate their fees by recommending non-essential treatments.
A third of dog owners (34 per cent) believe that vet bills for the same treatment have increased over a five-year period with more than a quarter (27 per cent) believing they've increased by up to 50%.
However, many are risking their long-term financial security to avoid this. One in 10 have put off paying bills, while six per cent have got into difficulties by borrowing money. Fifteen per cent have raided their life savings in order to fund essential treatment for their dog.
Dog owners also frequently sacrifice luxuries to meet the escalating cost of treatment. A fifth have forgone purchases including clothes and DVDs, and five per cent have cancelled or decided not to book holidays. Chris Price, Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, said: "With no NHS for animals, dog owners make great financial sacrifices to protect the health of their pets. As vets rarely display prices, many dog owners don't know the full cost of treatment until after it has been carried out, which can cause real problems, particularly for more than 85 per cent of pet owners who are not insured. We are calling on all vets to be transparent with their pricing to prevent owners suffering this unnecessary financial anxiety."
Worryingly, bills may be set to increase further if a controversial new EU directive is approved. Article 66 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005 could mean that vets will have to record the date, product, quantity, manufacturer's batch number, expiry date and client details of all drugs that they dispense. This will result in more paperwork, which could lead to an increase in prices.
