Practice News
Owning a pet doesn't have to break the bank....Thursday 16th August, 2007
Britain is a nation of animal lovers but how many pet owners truly stop and think what the total outlay and responsibility is in caring for that pet for the whole of its life ?
Springer Spaniel
life expectancy 12yrs
cost to buy £300
food £398
essential vet fees £301
boarding kennels £157
pet minders £123
grooming £131
insurance £111
accessories £192
total per year £1,827
total lifetime costs £22,224
obviously there are areas where you can make big savings -he will be just as happy with a tennis ball rather than fancy toy and he won't think as much of that diamonte bling collar as you do! Always consider buying in bulk -you'll find it cheaper to buy a years supply of flea and worm treatments -and they generally have long shelf lives.
The best way to protect yourself against the big costs associated with having a pet is to take out insurance. This doesn't need to be expensive and covers for a lot more than just vets fees. Policy features may include third party liability (should your pet cause an accident or bite someone) death cover, holiday cancellation, emergency kennel fees, advertising and reward fees if your pet is lost and even bereavement counselling.
Generally cover does not extend to routine preventative health care such as wormers and vaccinations. There are 3 main types of policy -read the small print and know what you are buying;
"Lifetime" policies -these will pay out on all conditions including chronic diseases such as arthritis or skin disease for the life of the pet upto a maximum limit (can be £8000/year or higher).
A second type is a "12 month " policy which will pay out on a single condition for a 12 month period then that condition is excluded from the policy and further claims -in our experience these should be avoided if possible. A third type places a monetary limit on the amount that is paid for a each treatment and does not guarantee long term cover for a pet suffering from a recurring problem.
Always check the policy carefully and don't just pick one on price -a cheaper premium can mean compromised cover -also check what your excess will be in the event of a claim. Take a policy out as soon as possible as premiums will increase with age and many companies wont take pets on over the age of 7 years.
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