Owners urged to take out pet insurance for life

Posted : 02-02-2006

As St. Valentine's Day approaches and romance is in the air, lovers across the country are looking forward to treating one another. But pet owners are being urged not to forget that loved ones of the furry kind need looking after too.

New research has shown that only one in five of the 6.5 million British households with dogs take out pet insurance for them. And with the average cost of treating a dog involved in a road accident standing at £379, owners could be left with potentially massive vets bills.

Underlining the significance of pet insurance, Monica McCormack of Tesco Pet Insurance said that one in three of its policy holders had to make a claim in 2005.

But Martin Ring at Pinnacle Pet Insurance has emphasised that it is not just basic pet insurance that is crucial, but also the extent of the cover that is provided.

An average cat will live for 14 to 15 years and can cost as much as £9,500 to care for over its lifetime. A dog on the other hand lives for around 13 years and can cost between £500 to £1,000 a year on average.

However, not all providers offer cover for life.

Mr Ring added: "This means that if your dog's condition requires treatment for more than a year, or beyond a certain financial amount, then cover ceases. If the premium is cheap, then cover is probably restricted."

Pet owners looking for pet insurance are encouraged to check online as intensifying competition is driving down premiums.


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