Analysis by Saga Pet Insurance* has revealed that the South East is the most expensive part of the country for pet owners who may have to take their animals to the vet - the average vet bill in the South East is £98.64 (30%) more expensive than in the cheapest region, Wales.

Whatever the reason your pet goes to the vet, many owners could be unprepared for the medical expenses. According to Saga, the average bill, per condition, is £258.16 for a cat and £320.92 for a dog, a much higher fee than most pet owners may expect to pay for their little companions’ injuries and ailments.

Regionally, the South East (£347.89) is the most expensive area to be a dog owner and the North West for a cat owner (£321.36). In contrast Wales (£227.24) has the cheapest vet fees for a dog and the South West (£209.14) for a cat.

With ever more sophisticated technology and procedures being used to treat our pets, the costs have considerably increased, meaning owners are sometimes having to dig deep to come to their pet’s rescue. Owners can expect to pay up to £4,000* if their pet fractures a bone and up to £10,000* over several years if their pet has a more complicated condition like a tumour or spinal disorder. Therefore, where you live could dramatically affect the amount you pay.

Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive, Saga Group Ltd, said: “Every pet owner knows how important it is that their pet receives medical treatment if and when they need it. Without appropriate pet insurance in place, owners could be faced with the nightmare prospect of having to withhold care because it’s simply too expensive.”

Saga Pet Insurance have also put together a free booklet which focuses on aspects of keeping your cat or dog in good health, providing information on preventing illness and the requirements of food, exercise and healthcare.

*Analysis of actual Saga Pet Insurance claims from April 2006 to July 2007.

Each year, many dogs and cats fall sick from illnesses that could have been prevented with vaccinations, such as canine flu, kennel cough and other respiratory diseases. Yet research* for Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals that many pet owners are putting their pets at risk as one in 10 (11 per cent) admit their dog or cat’s jabs are not up-to-date.

For many, cost is an issue and a trip to the vet doesn’t come cheap - dog owners alone spend a staggering £1.5 billion** on vet fees each year. However, according to Direct Line, 62 per cent of dog owners don’t have insurance in place to cover costs so they have to resort to other measures to pay for their pet’s treatment. Worryingly, 17 per cent have delayed treatment for their pet in an attempt to avoid the costs.

Chris Price, Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, said: “Our research shows that one in ten owners admit their dog’s vaccinations are not up-to-date. However, regular vaccinations can play a major role in disease prevention in dogs and cats and help to ensure that they remain in the best of health.

“Direct Line Pet Insurance is aware that the costs of vaccinations can be a daunting prospect for pet owners and so we are offering our new customers £20 towards that cost to help them immunise their pets***.”

Victoria Stilwell – Celebrity Dog training Expert from Channel 4’s ‘It’s Me or the Dog!’ comments: “Providing your dog or cat with good health care is paramount to being a responsible owner. Vaccination prevents many debilitating and sometimes fatal diseases that would need veterinary intervention and ensures that your pet lives a longer, healthier life.”

Direct Line Pet Insurance offers:

• Insure more than one pet with Direct Line and customers receive a discount
• Direct Line can pay the vet direct
• A pet is covered per condition, so there’s no restriction on the number of times a customer can claim
• There is a fixed one-off excess for each condition
• If a policyholder is hospitalised, Direct Line will pay up to £1000 for the pet’s boarding costs

* Research conducted by YouGov for Direct Line Pet Insurance amongst 1,136 GB dog owners. Fieldwork was undertaken between 12th and 17th January 2007. The survey was carried out online. The figures have not been weighted.

** Source: Defra, 2006 quote that 24% of British people own a dog. 24% of 45,731,000 (GB population from ONS) is 10,975,440 dog owners in Britain. YouGov research shows dog owners spend an average £144.53 a year on vet fees so £144.53 x 10,975,440 is 1,586,280,343

*** Direct Line Pet Insurance is offering £20 towards the cost of vaccinationsfor policyholders that insure their pets with Direct Line before 30^th June 2008. If the price is less than £20, Direct Line will cover the actual cost. Customers can redeem the £20 offer within the first 12 months from the start date of their policy.

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The cost of routine visits to the vet has shot up in the last five years meaning owners are having to fork out more to keep their pet healthy. Figures from the Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons show that since 2002, the price of regular treatment has soared over 20%*.

Tesco Pet Insurance is offering a 40% discount to new customers buying cover online (20% over the phone) from 6th March until 2nd April 2008.

Allan Burns, head of Tesco Pet Insurance, comments, “Vets fees are becoming more expensive and it is important to know that in the event of an accident or unexpected illness your pet’s medical treatment can be paid for. We are offering a special discount to encourage pet owners to ensure their cat or dog is protected. Pet owners are responsible for ensuring their pets are kept healthy and happy and that includes picking up expensive vets fees if they’ve no insurance“.

According to research by Mintel, just over one third of pet owners (38%) feel they cannot easily afford all the veterinary costs for their pet(s). Perhaps now they can. Prices start from as little as £5.73 per month for dogs and £3.24 for cats.

*Information from Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons. Analysis of vets fees between 2002 and 2007.

A leading provider of pet health insurance, announced today that health insurance for pets in the United Kingdom is growing at a record rate.

CEO, Russell Smith stated, “According to Mintel, a leading analyst firm whose U.K. research spans more than three decades, the pet health insurance market in the U.K. is worth more than GBP 245 million, or over $495 million. There are currently over 1.85 million pet health insurance policies in place, and approximately 50 pet health insurance providers in the country.”

He continued, “U.K. Pet Health Insurance providers include: TESCO, a major online grocery store, Blue Cross, an international leader in healthcare insurance services, Pedigree, Pet Plan (an Allianz company whose gross premium income exceeds GBP 1,634 million), The Kennel Club, Equine & Livestock and AXA Insurance (a company that serves more than 50 million customers with more than GBP 1,091 billion in assets).

“Providers of health insurance for pets in the United Kingdom understand the importance of sophisticated pet health insurance programs that provide ‘lifetime coverage’ and other important benefits. At ensurApet, we understand this need, which is why our plans are currently the only program in the United States to offer lifetime coverage along with other critical benefits desired by pet owners. As the market grows for pet health insurance in the United States, we are confident that our plans will set the standard for excellence in the industry.”

The Post Office is planning to launch a comprehensive pet insurance product following research which showed that just 20% of pet owners have pet insurance cover.

With rising healthcare costs for dogs and cats, the new insurance will offer “a comprehensive range” of cover for cats and dogs and will cover veterinary bills up to a maximum of £5,000 per condition.

Having researched the market place, the Post Office found that 96.5% of claims on pet insurance policies are less than £5,000. By keeping a limit on how much a pet owner can claim, means that the actual costs of the insurance can be kept low.

The policy will cover pets of all ages and payouts on claims will also continue for more than 12 months after the initial treatment. This is unlike many policies, which can set a time limit on a claim.

Sainsbury’s Finance estimates⁽¹⁾ that around 1.8 million pet insurance claims for veterinary treatment for dogs and cats are made every year. A further 18,000 claims are also made for other reasons including when the animal is lost or stolen. However, Sainsbury’s warns that as many as 75% of cats and dogs are not insured⁽²⁾, and it estimates that owners have to pay for some 5.5 million veterinary treatments a year because of this.

According to Sainsbury Finance, the most common pet insurance claim is for skin tumours, followed by general poor health where the cat or dog is said to be “just not his/herself”.

Claire Moyles, Pet Insurance Manager, Sainsbury’s said: “The pet insurance industry not only deals with a huge volume of cat and dog claims every year, it deals with a staggering breadth of ailments and problems. Quality pet insurance will cover a wide range of treatments and services from dental accidents and behavioural treatments to advertising for lost pets. In 2007 alone we had claims covering well over 200 different categories.

“Our analysis demonstrates that pet insurance isn’t just a nice to have product. Events in which you may find yourself needing to claim are more common than you may wish to consider.”

Sainsbury’s Finance estimates⁽³⁾ that the lifetime cost of owning a cat and dog today is around £7,200 and £9,000 respectively. Furthermore, it estimates that some 19% of the annual spend on dogs is attributable to vet fees and the corresponding figure for cats is 21%.

Notes

(1) Based on analysis of Sainsbury’s Finance pet insurance data, 2007.
(2) Defaqto.
(3) Based on research undertaken by YouGov between 29th - 31st January 2007. 2,446 people were interviewed of which 693 were dog/cat owners. The survey was carried out online; the figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

To benefit from the reassurance of MORE TH>N pet insurance, get a quote and receive 15% off when you buy online. Cover includes alternative therapies. Get more info online.

MORE TH>N Pet Insurance offers:

• 15% Discount when you buy online

• 15% Discount off each additional pet insured

• Up to £7,000 vets fees cover for each and every new injury and illness

• 24-hour access to our free phone service, Vetfone - unlimited expert advice day or night from a qualified veterinary nurse about the health and welfare of your pet

• No maximum age limit

• Up to £2 million liability insurance if your dog causes an accident or damages someone’s property

• Up to £600 towards advertising and a reward should your pet go missing

• Up to £600 in kennel or cattery fees if you are ill or injured and you spend over 4 days in hospital.

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Plenty to wag your tail about…

We all love our pets. Muddy paws. Hair all over the sofa. They’re part of the family. Wouldn’t be without them. But what happens if they get ill, get lost, have an accident or cause one? Who’ll take care of them then? Who’ll foot the bill?

The answer should be a well-trained and obedient owner with good pet insurance. And if you insure with Marks & Spencer, you’ll be wagging your tail when you discover that it can cost you a lot less than you’d think.

• Save 5% if you apply online
• Available for dogs and cats aged 8 weeks and over with no upper age limit
• Vet’s bills covered up to £7000 a year, with treatment as long as it’s needed provided you keep your policy renewed
• Save 10% for each additional pet you insure
• Lifetime cover for cats and dogs
• Up to £7,000 veterinary fees each year (An excess of £40 to £80 and 15% of claim may apply depending on pet and location.)
• Pay a small additional premium to remove your policy excess for pets aged 8 and under
• Up to £750 for complementary treatments
• Up to £2m third party liability
• Up to £1,500 for accidental death
• Up to £1,000 for death by illness
• Up to £1,500 theft or straying
• Up to £1,000 for advertising costs
• Up to £500 reward costs
• Up to £750 for emergency kennels or cattery fees
• Up to £2,500 holiday cancellation
• Free pet travel cover
• Free Helplines
• Reduce your premiums with these extra discounts
• 5% off if you apply online (not available with the multi-pet discount, or on that part of the premium you pay to remove the policy excess)
• Save 7.5% when you agree an additional £10 excess
• Save 15% when you agree an additional £20 excess
• Save 10% on the policy of your second and subsequent pets

Get a Free Marks and Spencer Pet Insurance Quote

Research from Tesco Pet Insurance has revealed how cats and dogs can suffer from health conditions normally associated with humans.

Not only can dogs suffer from depression in the Winter, but insurance claim figures from the company show that anorexia was prevalent in 737 cats and 428 dogs; 11 cats and 56 dogs had behavioural problems; while 18 dogs had treatment for OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

Other conditions you’d be more used to seeing in a Doctor’s surgery as opposed to a Veterinary surgery include heart murmurs (1118 dogs); ear infections (3661 dogs); allergies (267 cats; 954 dogs) and cystitis (1363 feline cases).