Pet insurance more crucial than ever for pet owners

Having pet insurance is more crucial than ever in the current economic climate with more than a quarter (26 per cent) of pet owners polled struggling to find the money to pay unexpected vet bills.

According to research from esure pet insurance, almost a fifth of dog owners have had to use their credit card to pay for veterinary treatment and another 14 per cent have been forced to dip into their savings. Alarmingly, four per cent have even missed payments on their mortgage or utility bills because they had to unexpectedly dig into their wallets to pay for their poorly pooch instead.

esure's research also shows that English Setters are the mostly costly breed of dog, forcing their owners to shell out a huge £6,955 on vet bills, including injections, surgery and emergency treatments, in a lifetime.

Despite the potential of massive bills, just a third (31 per cent) of pet owners have pet insurance and almost a quarter (24 per cent) of those with cover admitted they were considering cancelling it to save money during the current credit crunch.

Many dog owners may be choosing to cancel or not even buy pet insurance because they are significantly underestimating the cost of treating common ailments and injuries. Over a quarter (29 per cent) of pet owners surveyed1 think that the average vet bill for a dog with diabetes would be under £200 but it is actually a massive £1146, including ongoing treatment. To repair a dog's broken leg, one in ten (11 per cent) pet owners think that the average vet bill would be less than £100 but it is actually more than five times that amount at £560.

Mike Pickard, Head of esure pet insurance, which carried out the poll said: "Sickness, injury and long-term illness can affect any breed of dog, at any time, which is why it's crucial for pet owners to have insurance or ample savings to cover an unexpected vet bill of any size. With many pet owners underestimating the cost of treatment for common ailments, a hefty vet bill may stretch household finances to the limit - especially in the current credit crunch. Pet owners should plan ahead for all eventualities when it comes to their dog’s health."