Understanding pet insurance

If your pet is ill or injured, the vet’s bills could cost you thousands. As a pet owner, you want the best treatment for your dog or cat, and with no NHS for animals, we believe insurance is a necessity, not a luxury.

Charitable organizations like the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) and the Blue Cross only provide free veterinary treatment for pet owners on means-tested social security benefits and fail to cover the monetary aspect of pet care.

Apart from the normal repairs and routine maintenance (like vaccinations, dental check ups, whelping), chronic medical conditions like arthritis, heart disorders and diabetes can easily cost over £900 a year, and easily running into thousands of pounds.

The Risks

While the main purpose of pet insurance is to cover direct veterinary costs, there are additional contingencies that can be covered:

• Death by virtue of illness or accident
• Loss due to straying or theft
• Advertising and rewards in the event of straying or theft
• Third party liability covering damage caused to a person or the property of another
• Emergency boarding if, say, the owner becomes ill or has to go away at short notice
• Holiday cancellation in the event that your pet becomes ill

As vet fees get more expensive, pet insurance seems like a sensible option to make sure that your pet gets the treatment it needs. It is very likely that you will be able to save hundreds of pounds in veterinary fees if your pet becomes ill just by paying a small monthly fee or premium.