What Could Catch You Out When You Are Looking for Pet Insurance

Those looking for insurance of any kind of always told to shop around and to make sure that they are aware of the small-print, whether it is car insurance, bike insurance or life insurance, and this applies to pet insurance too. After all, it is well documented that an ill pet can be a major drain on the savings if there is no pet insurance policy in place, with vet bills often running into many hundreds of pounds. So finding a pet insurance policy that is right for you is paramount. read more »

What Costs, Including Pet Insurance, Are Connected with Owning a Dog?

There are many ways in which we can try to save money, but if we have a dog we could easily spend up to £30,000 on the canine during its lifetime, according to a press release from helpucover (helpucover.co.uk). They have released figures relating to the way in which dog owners can save money whilst looking after their pet and this includes taking out an adequate pet insurance policy (after all, the average vet bill, whether it is a medical condition, or accident, amounts to hundreds of pounds). read more »

Some Good Reasons to Have Pet Insurance Cover

We’ve all heard good reasons over the years as to why people should have pet insurance, not least because of the lack of an animal NHS to pay for treatment. It is an area that receives a lot of attention and those that do have insurance are able to sleep a little easier knowing that their beloved animal can get the treatment he or she might need. read more »

With Pockets still Tight over the Holidays, Owners still Treating their Pets to a Gift

Many of us might have been concerned over the outcome of this Christmas, with the credit crunch forcing everyone to spend a little wiser in an attempt to stay afloat. read more »

Vets Concerned About Overfed Pets in the Festive Season

It’s something we’re all guilty of during the Christmas period – overindulging on food and reaping the consequences over the New Year, with Christmas Dinner and all the leftovers to contend with over the holiday season. read more »

Sainsbury’s Insurance Continues to Highlight the Need for Pet Insurance with Such Companions

Last month, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance highlighted the need for Pet Insurance to cover so-called ‘Handbag Dogs’ sported by the likes of Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton or Britney Spears. They pointed out that such small breeds are in fact pedigrees that need a high level of protection to keep them safe, including Pet Insurance.

Now a new study, which looks at claims data for Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance, has discovered that on the whole, 48% of insured pedigree dog owners make a claim on their insurance.

The research looks at the first six months of 2009, compiling the ten most popular breeds of Pedigree Dogs (based on their pet insurance rankings). It found that of the most popular form of pedigree dog – the Labrador – 51% of those insured made a claim during the early half of the year. If is followed by Cocker Spaniels, in which 32% of those insured made a claim with 61% of Retriever owners with insurance making a claim during the same period.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance points out how vulnerable pedigree dogs can be, with various conditions that could affect them.

“Some pedigree breeds can be prone to certain hereditary conditions which in some circumstances can require long-term treatment,” said Lucy Hunter, the Pet Insurance Manager for the leading insurer, “Indeed, more than 350 inherited diseases have been identified in pedigree dogs [according to the Animal Health Trust]”.

The rest of the top ten also contained many animals for which owners made a claim in 2009. German Shephards, at number of 4, saw 57% of those insured making a claim, followed by 50% of those insured making a claim for King Charles Spaniels. 34% of Insured Staffordshire Bull Terrier owners made a claim, whilst 41% of insured Border Collie Owners also made a claim. The Top Ten was then rounded out with West Highland White Terriers (67%), English Springer Spaniels (56%) and Yorkshire Terriers (37%).

It shows the necessity of having adequate pet insurance to cover the various hereditary conditions that pedigree dogs might face. Due to the way in which the animals have been bred to be more desirable, they are more susceptible to certain conditions that other dogs might not be, meaning the possibility of more trips to the vet.

Source: Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Press Release Dec 2009

Many People Planning Holidays and Other Activities with their Dogs

It has already been reported on that British pet owners are taking their animal friends into account when they book a holiday, with Tesco Pet Insurance highlighting figures that 1 in 4 dog owners are staying the UK so they can take their canine companion for the ride.

However, according to research revealed by the RAC, not enough consideration is going into the safety of pets when they are inside the car.

The Tesco report highlighted the growing ease with which pet owners can take their pets to foreign destinations, with a pet passport possible for travelling within the European Union, however many people are still choosing to drive to their holiday destination with their dog in the car.

44% of those surveyed by the RAC said that they would stay in the UK for their holidays. This was in a study of 2,000 British pet owners carried out by 7-point in August 2009, which also revealed the reasons behind this trend.

The obvious reason that might come to mind when considering people’s reasons for staying the UK is the cost of paying for a kennel. However, only 1 in 7 people cited this as their reason, with 35% of dog owners considering their canine friend as a good travel companion for their holiday. In some cases, people prefer the company of their pet to the company of their loved ones, such as partners and extended family. But people should factor the journey to their destination into account.

“There is no legal requirement for owners to secure their pets when travelling,” Phil Ryan, of RAC patrols, points out, “however this should be considered given that, at 30mph for example, an unrestrained 50lb border collie would be thrown forward with a force equivalent to almost nine 12 stone men [According to RoSPA, ‘Carrying Pets Safely' 2006] and also considering the high regard that owners give their dogs – no longer ‘pets’ but ‘partners’”.

The results also highlighted how pet owners would choose their place of accommodation based on their pets, choosing pet-friendly hotels and as little as 1 in 5 opting for camping trips or similar outdoor activities.

Source: Aviva Press Release Aug 2009

International Insurance Group offers new Pet Insurance Package

One of the largest UK insurers, Aviva, has launched a new three tier pet insurance scheme which will offer three layers of protection for pet owners seeking to obtain cover for their animal.

The three levels of cover echoes similar insurance policies from other providers, with the levels split into Silver, Gold and Platinum, with the range of choice meaning that more pet owners will be able to find the insurance policy that suits their needs.

All of the covers will come with various support help lines, with services ranging from legal advice, healthcare whilst out of the home and counselling. On top of these, Aviva is also offering access to a pet minder service.

The first level, the Silver policy, covers various situations such as protection when travelling overseas in scenarios such as holidays, problems with behaviour, burial & cremation costs, third party liability and of course veterinary fee (up to £1,500).

Those opting for Gold cover will receive the policies offered by Silver (with veterinary fees of up to £3,500). In addition they also receive cover for pets that have been stolen or gone astray – offering to cover costs of recovering the pets, including advertising and reward money, fees incurred by placing the pet in a kennel, the death of the animal through an accident or illness, and pet illness-related holiday cancellation up to £1,000.

In addition to both of these levels of cover, Aviva also offers its Platinum level of cover, which is its premium Pet Insurance policy. Those with such a policy will receive the cover outlined above with veterinary fees covered up to £6,500 and pet illness-related holiday cancellation covered up to £2,000.

The Marketing and Product Manager of Aviva, Wayne Ewing, commented on the new policy: “Veterinary bills can run into hundreds of pounds and given the current economic climate no one wants to face a large unexpected bill.  Having pet insurance gives you peace of mind so that you know that you – and your pet – are protected.

“Aviva’s pet insurance policy, offers three different levels of cover – Silver, Gold and Platinum to enable you to choose the level of insurance cover that is right for your pet and your purse.”

Pet Insurance is advised for all pet owners who would otherwise be left out of pocket or unable to cover veterinary costs in the event of an emergency.

Sources: VIPloan.co.uk and Aviva Press Release

Keep Your Pets Safe This Christmas

It is not uncommon to hear warnings for pet owners at particular times of the year. In the summer, owners are encouraged to protect their pets against dangers in the sun, such as summer sports and barbeques. On bonfire night, pet owners are encouraged to keep their pets away from the fireworks celebrations, with many animals becoming distressed at the sounds of loud explosions.

Now, with Christmas on the way, AnimalFriends.org is urging pet owners to protect their animal companions during the festive celebrations.

So unless pet owners wish to make a claim on their pet insurance this Christmas, they should avoid letting their pets get too close to Christmas decorations, which could cause ill health to them if they decide to eat them.

The Pet Insurance provider cites a writer for the Charleston Post and Courier who warns pet owners to watch out for their pets playing with items such as tinsel, with cats in particularly quite likely to have fun with it whilst attempting to eat it.

Likewise, dogs could be at risk if they manage to smell the contents of certain gifts – particularly chocolate or other treats within the confines of wrapping paper. So they might eat, not only the paper, but food that is not good for them in the first place.

Christmas could see a rise in a number of insurance policy holders making claims, with various sources citing risks such as drink driving causing car accidents. It is a time of year that separates itself from other parts of the year and although it is supposed to be a time of good cheer, it can lead to misery if people are not careful.

But it will not end at Christmas and the advice given to pet owners on Bonfire Night is likely to come in handy on New Year’s Eve as fireworks celebrations sweep across the UK. Whilst us humans find them enjoyable and pretty to look at, animals can become frightened during such festivities as they do not know what they are. Therefore pet owners are urged to keep their pets indoors and to take preventative measures to ensure they do not injure themselves during the night, leading to a claim on pet insurance.

Source: AnimalFriends.org.uk

New Urge for Dog Owners to Obtain Cover for their Pets

It is an image we might see regularly in the pages of celebrity gossip magazines; a famous figure such as Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton or Britney Spears shopping whilst wearing the latest fashions, with a small dog appearing out of their handbags.

So called ‘handbag’ dogs are reportedly being pursued around the world, with many hoping to emulate their favourite celebs, but Sainsbury’s Finance are warning owners of such animals to make sure they have adequate pet insurance to cover them.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance has reported on surprising figures that demonstrate that around 45% of the animals it currently insures falls into the category of ‘handbag dogs’, according to figures for the first half of 2009.

“Seeing so many celebrities with small pedigree dogs has certainly fuelled demand for these pets” says Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, “between 2006 and 2008 the number of these animals insured by Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance increased by 41.3%.  This included a 417% increase in the number of Chihuahuas covered and a 248% increase in the number of West Highland White Terriers.”

She goes on to point out that as these animals are pedigrees they can become ill due to certain hereditary medical problems. Pedigree dogs have been bred in a certain way, making it all the more important to seek pet insurance for these animals to keep them safe. The consequence of not following this advice could be high veterinary bills that the owner cannot pay.

The figures from Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance highlight the percentage of claims made by small pedigree dog owners in the first half of 2009,with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel the most popular small dog insured by their pet insurance policy. The percentage of these dogs insured by Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance is 50%, followed by a West Highland White Terrier at 67%.

The top ten list of small dogs insured by the pet insurance provider also included a Yorkshire Terrier, Border Terrier, Shih Tzu, Miniature Schnauzers, Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Pug and a Poodle.

Pet Insurance can be obtained from a wide range of providers, all offering their own levels of cover at varying prices so it is not necessarily the case that pet insurance has to be expensive. This is why customers are urged to shop around for the best deal for them.