Pet insurance "an integral part of ownership"

Posted : 09-02-2005

One on five British pet owners claim to have made no financial provision for the cost of unexpected veterinary treatment, a new survey claims.

Research conducted by RSPCA Pet Insurance found that a quarter of owners would rely on their savings to cover vet bills, while a further quarter would use credit cards, despite potentially high interest charges.

Nearly a fifth of pet owners (18 per cent) made no provision for unexpected vet bills, and did not know how they would cover the cost.

The RSPCA found that although almost three quarters (72 per cent) considered pet insurance essential or at least very important in the event of their pet becoming ill or injured, less than a third (27 per cent) had taken out protection.

Steve Cheetham, the RSPCA's chief veterinary officer, commented: "With around two visits to the vet a year on average, keeping an animal can become expensive. We believe pet health insurance is an integral part of responsible pet ownership."

The RSPCA research also revealed a lack of knowledge among pet owners about the cost of treating pets. When asked how much it would cost to treat a cat for a broken leg, only a third of owners guessed within £50 of the correct answer of £300.

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