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 »

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.

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

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

Summer Months can bring pain to Pets

Two studies into the care of the nation’s pets have highlighted the times of year in which pets are at particular risk showcasing the dangers faced by pets, specifically during the summer months, some of which can naturally apply all year round.

During summer, there are many things that people like to do, but many might not take the risks faced to their pets into account. In a study carried out by PetPlan, they found that a quarter of people surveyed reported that their pet had come in harm’s way as a result of their barbeque. Further animals may become injured due to swingballs and paddling pools.

Similar results were found in a study carried out by M&S Insurance, which found that one dog had been injured as a result of running into a washing line whilst holding a Frisbee in their mouth. There were also problems with the items that dogs might have eaten, leading to illness, such as cases where dogs had eaten uncooked sausages, walnuts and a large frog.

It is therefore advisable for certain precautions, some of which apply all year round, to ensure that people do not have to make a large pay out on their pet insurance as a result of injuries incurred by their animals. Whilst pet insurance is a useful tool in keeping our animals safe, it is only second best to keeping them out of harm’s way in the first place.

PetPlan says that one such precaution is to ensure the perimeter around the home is fully secure, meaning that the dog is not able to escape and land in trouble. This also avoids adding to the large numbers of cats and dogs that are going missing in the UK, with only certain types of pet insurance policies covering the costs associated with finding lost pets.

Other precautions relate solely to the summer months, such as taking water on walks, being gentle during games, making sure there is shade in the garden and being careful in the amount of exercise given to older dogs.

M&S highlights the ways in which advice can be obtained, particularly calling a qualified veterinary expert at any time. Many insurance providers offer a phone line to customers concerned.

So it is always best to be prepared for anything, whatever the season, by taking precautions and taking out an adequate pet insurance policy.

Sources: M&S Press Release and Petplan Press Release