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 »

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

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

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