Dachshund is the most expensive dog to treat
Dachshund is the most expensive dog to treat, according to research by Sainsbury's Finance. Claims for this breed in 2009 were 61% above the average claim and 210% higher than the lowest average claim for any breed covered by Sainsbury's Pet Insurance.
The average cost of a Sainsbury's Pet Insurance claim for a Dachshund was around £543 in 2009, whilst the average claim across all pedigree dogs was around £337. The lowest average claim of any breed covered by the Sainsbury's Pet Insurance was around £175.
Sainsbury's Finance is urging pet owners to ensure that they have quality cover to help pay for any treatment their pet may need, as veterinary costs are rising; the average value of a claim received for a dog in 2009 was over 14% higher than 2008.
Sadly, research by Sainsbury's Finance from the end of last year revealed that 56% of vets interviewed claimed that over the past five years, they have had to put down cats and/or dogs because their owners could not afford the treatment costs. Similarly, an alarming 88% of vets said that they have experienced situations where owners have rejected a recommended course of treatment or operation because they could not afford to pay for it.
Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury's Pet Insurance Manager commented: "For most of us it would be unimaginable to take the decision not to go ahead with a course of treatment or worse still to end a much beloved pet's life. Unfortunately though, finding ourselves in a position where we might struggle to pay for treatment doesn't take much imagination. The only way to ensure peace of mind and to be better able to deal with un-expected vet bills is to purchase good quality pet insurance."
Sainsbury's Pet Insurance provides one of the highest levels of vet fee cover per condition at £7,500, which means that you can be rest assured you have protection should your animal fall victim to a number of un-related ailments or accidents.
Sainsbury's Finance rewards customers investing in the upper level of cover of its Pet Insurance with double Nectar points on all Sainsbury's shopping in store, online and at petrol filling stations for two years. Customers who spend £50 a week with Sainsbury's and have Sainsbury's Pet Insurance as well as a Nectar card could receive up to £52 worth of Nectar points a year.
Quality pet insurance does not need to be expensive; good cover at a competitive price can be found by shopping around for the best deal, and it is essential to compare policies on a like-for-like basis - comparing on price alone could be disastrous. Sainsbury's Pet Insurance offers an extensive range of benefits at a competitive price. For further information, visit sainsburysfinance.co.uk or pick up a leaflet in a Sainsbury's supermarket.