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 »

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.

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

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

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