UK Pet Insurance News

Thursday, October 06, 2005

 

Rising vet bills force UK dog owners to take drastic action

Rising vet fees are forcing UK dog owners to take drastic action leaving 7% with no option but to put down their sick dog.

According to new research from Direct Line Pet Insurance, 22% of dog owners said that they would consider this drastic step if faced with treatment that they couldn't afford.

Britain's dog owners spend over £800 million on vet fees each year, with the average cost of treatment standing at £154 a year. As a result almost one in four (22%) struggle to pay vet bills. More than half of British dog owners (58%) said they suspect some vets inflate their fees by recommending non-essential treatment.

A third of dog owners (34%) believe that vet bills for the same treatment have increased over a five-year period with more than a quarter (27%) believing they've increased by up to 50%.

However, many are risking their long-term financial security to avoid this. One in 10 have put off paying bills, while six per cent have got into difficulties by borrowing money. 15% have raided their life savings in order to fund essential treatment for their pet.

UK dog owners also regularly sacrifice luxuries to meet the escalating cost of treatment. A fifth have forgone purchases including clothes and DVDs, and 5% have cancelled or decided not to book holidays. Head of Direct Line Pet Insurance, Chris Price, said: "With no NHS for animals, dog owners make great financial sacrifices to protect the health of their pets. As vets rarely display prices, many dog owners don't know the full cost of treatment until after it has been carried out, which can cause real problems, particularly for more than 85% of pet owners who are not insured. We are calling on all vets to be transparent with their pricing to prevent owners suffering this unnecessary financial anxiety."

posted by UK Insurance Index  @ 10:50 PM

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