Pet Purgatory in North of Scotland


Less money per dog spent on food than anywhere in UK
Owners are least likely in the UK to offer a significant reward for a missing pet
Pets least likely to be micro-chipped and insured
Pets least likely to enjoy hand-cooked food
Deceased pets least likely to be 'formally' buried
TV Vet Scott Miller, Petplan's Veterinary Consultant, comments: The age old perception of the 'soft south' and the 'tough north' certainly seems to hold true for pet owners in the UK. Pets certainly do seem to have it better down south.

One surprising conundrum leaped out at me though: a higher proportion of owners in the North of Scotland have taken their dog to a vet for tooth or gum work in the last year than any other group in the UK. Yet the proportion of pets in the North of Scotland which have health insurance to cover vet visits is the lowest in the country.

You'd think the canny Scots would have cottoned on to the fact that they could be saving money at the vet if they had some insurance in place!" false UK Insurance Index 2005-10-06T22:50:00+01:00 2005-11-05T11:21:13Z 2005-10-21T21:52:02Z tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18090194.post-112993152224533166
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 has 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 has 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."
false UK Insurance Index 2005-08-26T23:15:00+01:00 2005-11-03T22:48:03Z 2005-10-21T22:20:07Z tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18090194.post-112993320789931735
UK vets have raised concerns over how many cats and dogs are being left at home on their own, according to research by MORE TH>N pet insurance. This could be due to a number of reasons such as longer working hours and lengthy commuting times in the UK.

According to the survey, which interviewed 350 vets and 1,700 pet owners nationwide, eight out of ten vets have seen cases of pets with behavioral problems because they have been left home alone, despite the fact 70% of pet owners wanted their animal for companionship. Nearly one in five pet owners also admits to changes in their pets behavior from leaving them alone.

Pet health experts have highlighted an increase in conditions that are often associated with humans such as stress and depression: just over a quarter of pets have suffered from some form of behavioral problem. The main reason for these problems highlighted in the survey was people leaving pets alone followed by, new baby entering the household, the loss of a family member and separation of owners.

Sophie de Pelet, Veterinary Advisor for MORE TH>N, comments: Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that mans best friend is often left alone for long periods of time when pet owners go out to work: it can be extremely stressful for animals, especially dogs who like company. Typical symptoms that show signs of stress in cats and dogs are destructive behavior and excessive barking or yowling. More worryingly, persistent anxiety can contribute to long-term illness.

It is not always practical to spend lots of time at home with your pets, so I would suggest that owners spend quality time with them before they go to work and visit at lunch time if possible. Dogs should ideally not be left alone for longer than 4-5 hours. With cats it is more difficult to specify a time period but beware, if they are not getting companionship at home they may well up-root and move in elsewhere!

MORE TH>N has produced a guide to responsible pet ownership titled Pets Home Alone so that owners can ensure their pets do not suffer when they are out of the house.

Brendan Humphrey, Managing Director of Petpals, one of the UKs leading professional pet and home care services companies, comments: There has been a huge increase in demand for the services we provide such as home pet visits, dog walking and pet sitting. Many of our customers are people with busy lives that cannot spend the time that they would like with their pets.

MORE TH>N research shows that 95% of vets believe that pet insurance is a responsible thing for owners to have. Insurance provides peace of mind that they can afford vets bills should their animal become ill.
false UK Insurance Index 2005-07-27T22:48:00+01:00 2005-11-05T11:12:56Z 2005-10-21T21:50:37Z tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18090194.post-112993143737592278
Many British dog owners fear for the safety of their pets after a recent spate of dog napping.

Research from Direct Line Pet Insurance reveals that almost one in 20 dog owners who have lost their pet (4%) believe it was deliberately stolen and more than 39% say they are worried that their dog will be snatched.

The public's awareness of this pet crime is at an all time high, particularly following the recent suspected theft of Liz Hurley's puppy, Emily, and Engelbert Humperdink's German Shepherd, Charnie.

A result, just under half (48%) of those surveyed have fitted their dog with a microchip to make sure they can keep track of their movements. Others are taking more traditional precautions, with a quarter of owners (22%) admitting they never let their dog off the lead for fear of them being snatched and 13% never venturing out with their pets after dark.

Should the worst happen, it would seem that money is no object when it comes to dog's safe return. Dog owners are prepared to offer an average reward of over 450 to get their dog back. Londoners would stump up the most at a massive 714, with people from Wales prepared to pay the least, at just 203.

Some dog owners would go to more extreme lengths to retrieve their pet. 95% would take the matter to the police and close to one in 20 (4%) say they would hire a private detective to hunt for their favorite pet.

Business Manager at Direct Line Pet Insurance, Chris Price, said: ''There have been a few cases of dog napping reported recently and this type of crime appears to be on the increase. We would strongly advise all dog owners to have their pets micro chipped obviously this won't prevent them being stolen but it will help owners track them down. In the event of a suspected theft they should contact the police immediately and alert their insurance company. They may be eligible for money to help them track down their pets and to go towards a reward incentive."

The lengths dog owners would go to reflect the bond they have with their four-legged companions. Over two thirds (68%) said they would be devastated if they didn't have their pet, with 61% comparing the loss to losing a friend. A quarter (28%) revealed they could not imagine life without their beloved pet.
False

I am beginning to learn as each year passes that the cost of owning a pet is astronomical in price. I wrote an article several months ago agreeing with a member who wrote about pet insurance. I had been meaning to get back to her article to get the name of the company. About a month later I was told by a couple who are friends of mine that Veterinary Pet Insurance is the way to go as they offer a 5% discount on 2 pets and pay pretty quickly. This couple has the same vet I have and was quite satisfied with the new pet insurance they had for their dogs.

I was apprehensive about the fact that my pet was somewhat older than theirs and maybe she wouldn't qualify. I visited their web site and each link I went to explained that there are two plans, the Gold and the Advantage and a deductible on both. I read about current health conditions which are pre-existing. That part said that the pet would be accepted only if the problem had been considered cured had not been treated for six months. A few times I read "regardless of age" so I took down the toll-free number and after going through the many links on their web site, I called them.

The person I spoke to was very courteous. She first asked me which state I was from and I told her. Then I asked her why she had to ask that. She said that some states have not updated their policies through the Department of Insurance. She told me that the Gold Plan is 2 a year and 5 for The Advantage Plan and it would be in effect in 14 days. She stressed the fact that skin allergies are a permanent exclusion.

I asked about the age of my dog and if she was still qualified. She said that any pet 10 and older would have to have a battery of tests done such as blood cell count, chemistry analysis, urinalysis, thyroid and a few others. Also past medical records would have to be reviewed. She said that no hereditary problem is covered either. I told her that on the web site it states that no prior medical exam is needed and she explained that one part of the web site is under construction.

To make a long story short, in my opinion my pet does not qualify due to a pre-existing condition which is really an hereditary problem which is cataracts and also the fact that my breed of pet is prone to skin allergies caused by anything and everything. She did say that I could still be under the plan and covered for anything that is not related to my dog's condition and anything that is not common in that particular breed. At this point I just told her goodbye and hung up.

It is ironic when you haven't heard from someone in a while and then start thinking of them and the phone rings; you pick it up and hear the voice of that person. It was my friend with the insurance coverage. I began telling her about how I had just picked up my dog from the vet after having 5 teeth removed and the remainder of her teeth cleaned and polished and how high the bill was but extended it into monthly payments. I also told her I had called Veterinary Pet Insurance after this last surgery and she interrupted me saying she no longer had them and cancelled the policy after a year.

Her reason for this was that her dog, which is a mixed breed, had been treated too many times for an ear infection and it was the insurance's determination that since the dog had fur covering her ears that the problem is hereditary and therefore refused to pay. Also, her dog developed Epilepsy and the payments for those visits were never reimbursed either due to dominance of a certain breed in the dog which is prone to this illness.

Another reason is that the vet we both go to is a tad bit more expensive than other vets but she is an excellent doctor and we both place our wholehearted trust in her. She also accepts fair payment plans so a bill doesn't have to be paid all at once. Even if one cannot afford an office visit, a pre-dated check will due.

This insurance company only reimburses the amount they think is fair as to what a veterinary doctor should charge. Should pets have insurance coverage? I really think so but I don't think Veterinary Pet Insurance is the one.

Perhaps if one starts off with them when the pet is a pup and has a good clean bill of health and isn't a breed that would be prone to hereditary problems and doesn't suddenly develop Epilepsy or some other illness and you have a veterinarian who charges 1980's prices and keeps telling you at each visit that your pet is fine, then maybe this one would be for you. Whew! That was a mouthful of a sentence!

Basically, the common reasons for visiting the vet cannot be insured against.

Pet Insurance Whats The Point

I have had pets my entire life.

Where they easy to deal with? With cats it is more difficult to specify a time period but beware, if they are not getting companionship at home they may well up-root and move in elsewhere! Better pet care means higher costs, and that presents a problem. West Country's Pampered Pets 1 in 5 owners 'love pets as much as their children' West Country pet owners are the most likely in UK to consider a pet-related pre-nuptial agreement Most likely to prepare hand-cooked, organic food Most likely to give pets Christmas and birthday presents Most likely to give pets a specially designed bed Most likely to buy a family car to suit the pet Most likely to pay a month's wages in rewards for lost pets More than 25% have pet insurance One in five of the West Country's pet owners say that they love their four-legged friends 'as much as their children'. You have to decide for yourself, which pet insurance company is the right one for you, and if it is worth it for you to pay the premiums in the event that something could go wrong. Lifetime cover is vital if your pet develops a long-term condition such as arthritis or eczema, yet many policies stop paying out after the first 12 months of treatment.