Pets Having To Be Put Down As Owners Cannot Afford Vet Bills

Research by Sainsbury’s Finance shows that sadly many vets have to put down loved pets, including dogs and cats, as owners cannot afford vet bills for treatment.

Very sadly too some 88% of vets who took part in the research said that they have experienced situations where owners have rejected a recommended course of treatment or operation because they could not afford to pay for it – they don’t have the cash and don’t have pet insurance to turn to.

Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager commented: “For most of us it would be unimaginable to take the decision not to go ahead with a course of treatment or worse still to end a much beloved pet’s life.

Unfortunately though, finding ourselves in a position where we might struggle to pay for treatment doesn’t take much imagination. The only way to ensure peace of mind and to be better able to deal with un-expected vet bills is to purchase good quality pet insurance.”

The Dachshund is revealed as the most expensive dog to treat. Claims for this breed in 2009 were 61% above the average claim and 210% higher than the lowest average claim for any breed covered by Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance.

The average cost for a Dachshund was around £543 in 2009, whilst the average claim across all pedigree dogs was around £337. The lowest average claim of any breed was for the Whippet at around £175.

Pet owners are being urged to ensure that they have quality cover to help pay for any treatment their pet may need, as veterinary costs are rising.

Quality pet insurance does not need to be expensive; good cover at a competitive price can be found by shopping around for the best deal, and it is essential to compare policies on a like-for-like basis – comparing on price alone could be disastrous.

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance offers an extensive range of benefits at a competitive price.

There are other pet insurance providers too, such as Direct Line or some of the major retailers and supermarkets, such as Tesco.