Why exotic pet insurance is important for your pet
Many owners of the more ‘unusual’ pets such as rats, ferrets, llamas, birds of prey and reptiles are unaware that they can now get insurance specific to their pet. It’s just as well too, with the cost of veterinary treatment on the increase.
Pet insurance is without a doubt the fastest growing part of the insurance sector, yet, research from Mintel in 2005 showed that 97% of the pet insurance policies held were for dogs and cats with just 3% being accountable to rabbits, other small furries and birds.
And while rabbit insurance is now soon to be almost as common place as dog and cat insurance, for many the thought of insuring their rat or buzzard may have been a pipe dream. Certainly, the more ‘unusual’ the animal, the more their veterinary bills can cost. With smaller or more ‘unusual’ pets, the risks are often higher and the surgery more complicated – meaning that a vet can charge higher fees.
And it’s not just operations that can cost the earth. For example, research from small animal rescue CavyRescue shows that it costs around £330 a year for medication to treat a rat with ongoing respiratory disease (sadly a common illness in rats).
The argument against exotic pet insurance from sceptics is that for the price of the monthly premium, you could just go out and buy a new animal. However, the bond between a mouse and its owner can be just as strong – even stronger- than the bond between a cat and its owner. And if that mouse is ill, the owner will do as much as they can in order to get them well again.
And that is where exotic pet insurance comes in. Anyone who owns a pet has a moral responsibility to ensure he or she gets the best of care should they fall ill, whether it is a mouse, rabbit, dog, pot bellied pig or a horse.
By insuring their pet’s health, they have the peace of mind that
should their pet get ill or be involved in an accident, they will get
the very best of veterinary care.