A Large Amount of Dogs Becoming Problematic from being left in the Home

Sainsbury’s Finance has released the results of a study that found that a growing number of dogs are beginning to gain behavioural problems from being left at home.

Across a normal week, their study showed that 2.4 million people are leaving their dogs alone for five hours or more each day, with an additional million owners admitting to leaving their canine pet alone for even longer.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance warns that this can be detrimental to the wellbeing of the animal, causing separation anxiety – which is a form of behavioural problem linked to being without human company for an extended period of time.

From 2008 to 2009, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance claims to have seen a 28% rise in the number of people making a claim on their pet insurance due to associated behavioural problems. It suggests a correlation between the amount of time the animal is left alone and the increased chance of making a claim.

However, it is not all bad news for dogs. The results showed the despite over 2 million dog owners leaving their dogs along for five hours or more, 76 % of dog owners actually leave them for 4 hours or less with each day. This breaks down to 25 % of people never leaving their pet alone, 12 % leaving their pet alone for 1 hour and a further 39 % leaving their pet alone for 2 to 4 hours.

However, 800,000 dogs in the UK are still being left alone for more than 8 hours a day, a trend that Sainbury’s Pet Insurance finds worrying.

Joanne Mallon, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager commented, “Dogs are highly sociable animals who crave the affection of their owners and can find being home alone distressing. Owners struggling to provide sufficient company themselves should consider dog walking and dog-sitting services or call on assistance from family or neighbours.”

The results suggest that the lifestyle of the owner should be taken into account when thinking of buying a pet, with Mallon continuing: “Those thinking about purchasing a dog really need to factor this into their decision.”

Of course Pet Insurance is one of the steps to take in dealing with the problems pets might face, but preventative measures are always preferable.

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release and Compareandsave.com (June 2009)

Pet Insurance Can Help Cover Costs And Make Life Easier

It is regularly reported that pet insurance can cover the costs of veterinary treatment and that this can make life easier for the pet owner.

In fact, having pet insurance can make all of the difference in some cases, with daunting veterinary costs arising if the owner is not covered in case of an emergency or unforeseen circumstances.

MoneySupermarket.com points to figures released by the RSPCA to back up long held claims of pet insurance meaning life or death for pets in certain situations, drawing attention to results showing a rise in abandoned pets in 2008.

It cites owners struggling to cover the costs associated with veterinary bills as well as food costs which can cause pet owners to abandoning their pets, allowing them to spend money elsewhere.

However, it is not just the RSPCA and MoneySupermarket that are drawing attention to such claims. In December 2008 it was reported by the Times that the financial crisis was leading to an increase in stray dogs as pet owners struggled to make ends meet.

Prior to Christmas it claimed that Battersea Dogs and Cats Home was nearing full capacity for the first time in its history. It seemed that as budgets began to tighten, the most costly features of the household were first to be abandoned. This is now backed up by RSPCA results showing that a 57% rise in abandonment of pets took place in 2008 from the year before.

The Times argued that by taking out pet insurance policies, pet owners would not necessarily be faced with an inability to pay for unexpected veterinary bills.

The recent RSPCA results show that half of pets in the United Kingdom will be faced with veterinary treatment at some point in 2009 and as vets’ costs rise this is becoming worrisome. But not all pet insurance policies are out of people’s price ranges, so by shopping around and finding a policy that not only meets the needs, but also covers the areas required, pet owners will avoid certain unnecessary situations.

Pet insurance is offered by various providers, with varying levels of cover and costs, so owners should always read the small print.

Source: TimesOnline and MoneySupermarket

Sainsburys Finance Figures for 2009 showing increase in pet insurance claims

Sainsbury’s Finance has released figures for the first half of 2009, showing a surprisingly large amount of Pet Insurance claims between the period of January to July.

Around 200,000 insurance claims were made by UK pet owners for their cats or dogs during this period, with a total of £77 million paid out to cat or dog owners as a result.

For dogs, these payouts were largely to treat conditions such as skin tumours, lameness, vomiting, lacerations and gastroenteritis. These top five ailments accounted for almost £12 million worth of payouts.

On the other hand, cats are more likely to have suffered a road accident before a pet insurance claim has been made, the reports suggest, with 2,200 claims for such problems in the first 6 months of the year.

However the results, whilst suggesting that there are people out there with pet insurance who are more than willing to make a claim, show that only 26 % of pet owners have insurance.  It means that a further 74 % of pet owners are facing rising veterinary bills without pet insurance cover. If the condition is lameness, which received 7,730 claims earlier in the year, the average value of a claim was £602.56, which would have to be paid by the pet owner alone if no pet insurance is in place.

Speaking about the results, Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager commented, “Our research earlier in the year suggested that many people were looking to cut back on insurance cover generally and pet insurance in particular. However, these new findings from our pet insurance claims index, indicate just how valuable good quality cover can be.”

In total, around 420 different incidents were accounted for by the results, with 240 of them applying to dogs.

Hunter also commented: “The sheer volume of claims made should belie the idea that pet insurance is a luxury. With vet fees rising, the potential cost of treatment for those pet owners doing without cover is considerable and it’s a genuine concern that cats and dogs may be missing out on necessary treatment”.

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release (Nov 2009)

Should Pet Owners Be Learning Doglish?

Pet Owners are regularly given advice by pet insurance providers in an effort to keep their pets safe. This usually ranges from keeping them well protected during fireworks celebrations to ensuring that they are safe from theft or going missing.

However, one professor has been issuing a different form of advice for pet owners, one that might have some people scratching their heads.

According to sites such as AnimalFriends.org.uk and the Calgary Herald, Dr Stanley Coren – the psychology professor of the University of British Columbia – has been encouraging dog owners to learn ‘Doglish’.

Dr Coren has authored many books on the subject, which aim to bridge the gap between pet and owner, allowing the owner to better understand the needs of their pet so that they can take better care of them.

There are many ways of understanding our pets, according to the professor, such as observing the speed in which it wags it tail, with a slow wag meaning that the dog does not want to be approached, whilst a muzzle nudge implies the dog wishes for acknowledgement from its leader.

However, due to the amount of communication skills dogs exhibit from their tails and ears, those with docked forms of these features are less able to communicate clearly.

But Dr Coren is not the only one encouraging ‘Doglish’ in the United States. According to the Los Angeles Magazine, a new US show presented by former KGB and Red Army dog trainer Vladislav Roytapel is appearing on American screens this year. In it, Roytapel communicates with dogs with the same language, having learnt it from his many years training dogs in Russia. However, it is yet to be seen whether he will follow in the footsteps of Caesar Millan, also known as the Dog Whisperer.

Though ‘Doglish’ sounds strange, there are many benefits of understanding our pets. Many owners fear their dogs are unfriendly and surrender them to shelters as a result, when the dog might have given ample (yet misunderstood) warnings that it wanted to be left alone at a certain time. By understanding our pets we could manage their behaviour better, meaning less claims on our pet insurance policies.

Sources: AnimalFriends.org.uk, Calgary Herald and Los Angeles Magazine

The Annual Festivities bring with them warnings of distress caused to Animals.

Bonfire Night may have already passed us by, but the message to pet owners is always relevant, particularly as fireworks celebrations can often appear all year round, particularly on New Year.

Fireworks night is an enjoyable occasion for most people, with bonfires warming an eager crowd and light shows brightening up a dark autumn sky, but each year Pet Insurance firms are eager to encourage pet owners to think of their beloved animals on the night in question.

Whilst us humans enjoy fireworks night, aware of the events we are hearing and witnessing, cats and dogs can find the occasion very stressful. Pets are not aware that the noises and illuminations are harmless, meaning that the sounds of explosions can cause them great distress and in some cases physical injury.

So if pet owners want to avoid a hefty veterinary bill after any occasion involving fireworks, then they should be quick to take preventative steps. It means that pet owners can avoid having a night of celebration turning into an expensive aftermath.

A report in 2009 by Opinium, which surveyed over 2,000 people in their research, found that annual preventative steps are being taken by pet owners, with Saga Pet Insurance stating that 60% of dog and cat owners were to stay in with their pets on the night in question.

Another option that pet owners can choose is leaving music and televisions on in the house to drown out the sounds and making sure that dogs are walked well in advance of festivities. In 2009, 35% were reported to be planning on doing just that, with further owners saying that they will walk them in advance, not only to get it out of the way, but also to tire them out.

Other options that Saga and Opinium discovered to be under consideration for pet owners to deal with bonfire night included giving the pets treats (18% of those surveyed) and providing them with holistic remedies such as massages and aromatherapy (5%).

In addition to these steps, pet owners are also encouraged to have pet insurance to cover the costs of veterinary bills that could be incurred on any evening with fireworks displays.

Source: SAGA Pet Insurance Press Release and compreandsave.com

M&S Insurance Highlights the Spending Habits of Pet Owners in the UK

Pet owners love to ensure that they have done their best to care for their pets and this is something that is feeding down into their food buying habits.

According to figures released by Mintel Reports, £1.7 billion was spent on pet food in 2008, accounting for the 14.5 million cats and dogs that are owned by the British public. It highlights the sheer amount of food that is bought and consumed in the UK.

But M&S highlights another study in their press release, one that suggests that not only are British pet owners spending more, they are also more conscious of the food that they place in their bowl. This was part of a survey by the Pet Food Manufacturers Association.

The results are published as M&S Insurance announces a competition to win a year’s worth of pet food with M&S Pet Insurance.

The figures highlight one of many ways in which UK pet owners are looking after their pets, with various pet insurance providers encourages dog and cat owners to take better care of their pets to avoid a hefty veterinary bill. After all, a healthier pet that eats healthier food might not need treatment for obesity and as a result, will avoid their owner paying out on their pet insurance.

The study demonstrated that as much as 90% of pet owners are aware of what goes into their pet’s bowls, ensuring that they purchase the best quality food that will not be detrimental to their health.

Charles Sweeney of BestPet Pharmacy commented on the relation of pet food and the health of the nation’s pets: “Obesity is an increasing problem among cats and dogs. Pets that carry too much weight can suffer from heart complaints, diabetes and arthritis.

“Responsible pet owners who ensure their cats and dogs have a healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce expensive vet bills in the future.”

Of course some ailments are unavoidable and so even if someone owns the healthiest pet alive, they would still be encouraged to take out an adequate pet insurance policy that will protect them in case of an unforeseen illness or accident. Whilst pet insurance cannot ensure that a pet’s life can be saved, it can take steps to ensure that they receive the help that they require.

Source: M&S Press Release October 2009

Tesco Pet Insurance Points to rise in Women Claiming their Pet as a Companion

Over the years, pets (in this case dogs in particular) have carried out many role in society and as a result they have earned themselves the name of ‘man’s best friend’ – a phrase that transcends social, cultural and language barriers.

However, a Tesco Pet Insurance-commissioned study has found that 1 in 3 women consider their pet to be their best friend, which compares to 1 in 5 of men. Of the women consulted, they also found that 76% talk to their pets as though they were a human companion and 34% would prefer their pet’s company as opposed to a fellow human being.

Perhaps it should be made clearer that dogs are in fact ‘mankind’s best friend’ rather than simply ‘man’s best friend’? After all, the results suggest that fewer men actually consider their pet to be their closest companion.

The Press Release from Tesco Pet Insurance does not indicate the reasons as to why these results might have presented themselves. As such it can only be speculated as to why more women prefer the company of their pets.

However, one thing is certain – if people are feeling closer to their pets than ever, then perhaps they should ensure they have adequate pet insurance to cover the costs of emergencies.

They are thoughts echoed by Rachel Cutler, head of Tesco Pet Insurance: “Owning a pet can be a very rewarding experience – many people consider their cat or dog to be part of the family and even, as our research shows, their best friend. We also understand that it can be a costly experience.

“To enable pet owners to manage the costs of their pet insurance, our policies start from £4.50 a month for cats and £8.00 per month for dogs and we don’t change policy conditions as a customer’s pet gets older.”

Customers are, of course, urged to shop around for adequate cover. With many different pet insurance policies on the market, there are various different levels of cover available, all at differing prices. It means that research can make all of the difference in finding a pet insurance policy that suits the needs of the pet owner.

Source: Tesco Pet Insurance Press Release 2009

Some Safety Tips from the Pet Insurance Provider

By providing Pet Insurance, companies such as Sainsbury’s Finance are able to monitor the habits of claims made by members of the British public, analysing data to look at current trends and statistics.

One thing that Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance has discovered is that a large number of people are making claims on their pet insurance because of injuries and illness incurred by dogs and their owners taking unnecessary risks.

As a result, the policy provider is issuing warnings to pet owners – in particularly warning against dogs catching sticks in their mouths and swimming in ponds. This is because catching sticks in the mouth can cause lacerations, with the damage to the skin through scratches and cuts causing septicaemia. In total, nearly 26,000 pet insurance claims have been made every year in relation to such injuries (which can also be caused by swimming in ponds if the contents of the pond cannot be seen). Such claims carry a total worth of around £4.92 million.

However, swimming in ponds carries with it further risks, with poisonous algae found in many waters. Such poisonous algae carries warnings on signs next to canals, but can be found in various places, causing vomiting and diarrhoea for the canines. It means that in addition to the £4.92 million paid out for lacerations caused by catching sticks, pet insurance providers paid out £9.30 million in relation to illnesses caused by ponds.

As a result, pet owners are also highly encouraged to have pet insurance to cover the costs of veterinary treatment, being careful to shop around for the right offers and for packages that offer an adequate level of cover. As a result, an unforeseen visit to the vet as a result of accidents outlined above can be dealt with effectively.

Speaking about the findings, Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager pointed out that she is aware that pets enjoy such pass times but their safety must come first, “dogs do need to be able to run around, but simple steps can be taken to reduce the chances of them being injured or picking up an illness. 

“For example, keep them away from pond water and use a rubber stick or toy as opposed to a stick when playing “catch”.”

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release September 2009

Tesco Pet Insurance Finds a Quarter of Pet Owners Take Their Pets into Holiday Consideration

Tesco Pet Insurance carried out a poll in May 2009 that found a quarter of British holidaymakers are taking their pets into consideration when heading away on their holiday breaks.

In particular, 1 in 4 dog owners are known to stay at home in the UK rather than head to a foreign destination, meaning that their canine companion can travel with them.

However, Tesco points out that in some cases, this might not be necessary as certain schemes allow pets to travel with owners throughout the EU.

The Pet Travel Scheme allowed over 46,000 pets to travel across the continent in 2008, with EU passports being administered to vets by the government.

Wherever dog owners plan to take their holiday, 83% of dog owners said leaving their pet behind in a kennel was out of the question, with 12% of those polled by Tesco Pet Insurance planning to take their pets with them.

The survey was conducted with One Poll towards the end of May 2009 with 4,000 British pet owners consulted as part of the poll.

Commenting on the results, the head of Tesco Pet Insurance Rachel Cutler said “As a nation of animal lovers, it is telling that a quarter of us organise our holidays around our pets.

“We’ve provided cover because our customers have told us they would like to share their holiday experience with their pets.”

However, pet owners thinking of taking advantage of rules allowing them to take their cats or dogs abroad must take certain steps. These include getting blood tests, treatment for ticks and tapeworms, vaccinations against rabies (and other conditions) and micro chipped. Owners must also ensure they have a PETS passport and have checked foreign import requirements for the location at hand.

“It may seem a daunting prospect, with health checks and a flight,” says Gillian Lewis of Airpets, “but more than a million pets fly safely world-wide each year. Pets travel comfortably in the livestock hold of direct passenger flights in kennels large enough for them to lie, stand and turn around in.

“Pet owners can pick up their pets after clearing customs.”

The study links to a recent Sainsbury’s Finance survey that found a large number of pet owners were leaving their pets at home for extended periods of time, causing behavioural problems. However, this study suggests that when taking holidays, British pet owners are taking care of their pets.

Source: Tesco Pet Insurance Press Release June 2009

Sainsbury’s Finance Outlines Growing Trends Concerning the Problems Pet Owners are Facing with their Cats and Dogs

A study carried out by Sainsbury’s Finance has shown that around 3.35 million cat and dog owners around the United Kingdom have been experiencing problems with their pets’ behaviour between July 2008 and July 2009.

There are various theories as to why pets are acting out in certain ways, but a similar study recently brought attention to the growing number of pets that are being left at home on their own for extended periods of time. Though dogs left alone for 4 hours or less a day is not frowned upon, some owners have been known to leave them for 8 hours or more, which Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance warns could cause behavioural problems.

Many of the behavioural conditions that Sainsbury’s Finance has witnessed in regards to the study were moodiness (accounting for 5%), aggression (at 2%), loss of appetite (at 2%) and depression (at 1%). There are also significant numbers of cats and dog acting out by causing destruction to furniture, with 1.3 million pet owners accounting for this, whilst 915,000 acted with nervousness or timidity.

Naturally, this means that many pets are requiring veterinary treatments for a variety of reasons, which is why people are highly encouraged to seek an adequate Pet Insurance policy to cover the costs. Whilst some pet owners are put off by high prices, there are pet insurance policies out there that suit various needs and do not have to be expensive to cover adequate ground.

The study highlighted the area of the UK most affected with behavioural problems as Yorkshire and Humberside, with the Eastern region of the UK least affected.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, Joanne Mallon, commented on the results: “The current economic climate is placing a lot of people under increased stress, and unfortunately this anxiety can have an adverse effect on the household’s pets. 

“Cats and dogs can be very sensitive to their owner’s feelings and behaviour so changes in mood such as irritability, distress or remoteness could be sensed and leave the animal themselves, agitated or depressed.”  

Source: Sainsbury’s Finance Press Release July 2009