Sainsburys Bank has conducted a study into the cost of pet ownership to tie in with the pet insurance they offer. Findings show that owning a dog can take up around GBP9,000.
The figure quoted is the lifetime cost of ownership which includes the initial purchase of the dog as well as food, accessories vet bills and pet insurance. Sainsburys Bank also looked at the cost of owning a cat, which came in slightly lower at just over GBP7,000.
The survey also showed that pet insurance can actually reduce the overall cost of keeping a pet, since the survey included those without it who had to pay all vet bills themselves. Sainsburys Bank want all pet owners to consider the cost aspect of keeping an animal before going ahead to ensure both pet and owner have a long and pleasant relationship.
A spokesperson from Hastings Direct has been talking about the importance of buying a quality pet insurance policy that focuses on the level of cover provided for injury and illness, and not the cheapest priced deal. Pet owners should try and buy the very best cover they can afford for their pet. Not all pet insurance policies are the same and they do offer vet treatment cover per incident at a capped fee or a lifetime policy that offers treatment for the rest of the pets life. Life time pet insurance is more expensive but provides better level of cover. It must be stated that regular health checks for your pet is not included in most pet insurance policies. Without insurance for your pet you run the risk of expensive medical bills if your pet becomes injured or ill and it needs medical treatment. There is no NHS for dogs and cats so consider getting an insurance policy to protect you financially if the worst should happen. See our pet insurance comparison table for the latest offers. Plus, reading our guides and tips pages can offer consumers more detailed information and money saving hints.
Churchill Insurance are asking all pet owners to make sure they have suitable pet insurance in place to ensure the animal can receive the best care should it be needed.
As a Churchill Insurance spokesman pointed out, the cost of the premium will be insignificant compared with the cost of a vet bill, never mind the emotional costs if there is no pet insurance in place and the vet then proves too expensive. Even though all pet owners think their own animal will remain healthy the fact is that a third of pet owners claim on their insurance each year, pretty much all of whom would never have thought they would need to.
With the cost of veterinary treatment going up by about 12 percent each year it is imperative that pet insurance is in place continued the Churchill Insurance spokesman.
