Sainsbury’s Finance has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it is to publish a code of conduct for cat and dog owners in the UK. Recent research by the Bank has revealed that pet obesity in particular is a real issue in the UK with more than four in 10 (43%)(1) of the cats and dogs seen by Britain’s vets considered to be overweight.

Sainsbury’s Finance warns that many medical conditions suffered by our cats and dogs are linked to or worsened by being overweight, and that allowing your pet to become overweight could put a strain on the purse strings because of the extra vet fees and medication costs. Furthermore, the Bank advises that those with pet insurance could be risking invalidating their claim as they could be found to have not taken proper care of their pet dog or cat.

The findings, which come from a survey of veterinary surgeons across the country(1), reveal that they are seeing more overweight dogs than cats, with almost half (47%) of all dogs seen by vets being described as overweight. More than one in four (26%) dogs were considered obese, with 21% being described as slightly overweight. There is also a weight problem amongst cats however, with 19% of them being classified as obese, and 20% considered slightly overweight, giving a total of 39% who are overweight.

Neal Devine, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager said: “A code of conduct may seem daft to some, but we and the vets we interviewed for our research are seeing the effects of poor pet care first hand. A worryingly high proportion of cats and dogs are being taken to the vet because of issues linked to their weight. People often think they are being kind to their pet by giving it treats, but being overweight can influence and worsen many medical conditions in pets, such as osteoarthritis and respiratory disorders.”

In addition to the issue of obesity, over the last year, Sainsbury’s Finance has seen a 28%(2) increase in the number of claims linked to behavioural problems, which it believes may be in part due to owners not paying enough attention to the specific needs of their pets, such as how much attention they require or whether they are happy being exposed to other animals.

Sainsbury’s Finance’s Pet Insurance includes up to £250 a year for treatment of behavioural problems.

(1) Based on independent telephone market research of 100 veterinary surgeons in July 2008
(2) Based on analysis of Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance data