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.
The common idea that pet insurance is needed more for when an animal gets older is a perspective Churchill Insurance would like to change.
The head of Churchill Insurance pet division has suggested that the need for protection is something pets of all ages can benefit from. We never know when something is going to happen that may need vet care so it is better to have the peace of mind that pet insurance provides.
Financially he felt it would probably work out cheaper too since most pet insurance providers will only offer cover for animals under the age of 8, for dogs, and 10 for cats. Whether it is with Churchill Insurance or a different company the important thing is to get that insurance in place.
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.