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News in Pet Insurance
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BGT winning dog could be insured for £1m
Britain's Got Talent winning dog Pudsey could be insured for up to £1 million, according to its owner.
The Sun reported that 17-year-old Ashleigh Butler could make sure that her in-demand pet is protected for the rest of its life as the clamour around the BGT winner reaches fever pitch.
Ms Butler told the newspaper that Pudsey was "priceless" to her but believed that his increased television exposure and media excitement may require her to take out some extra pet insurance for her beloved dog. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Thu 17 May 2012
Owners of dangerous dogs could face jail
The owners of dogs who attack and injure animals or humans could face a spell behind bars under new guidelines. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Wed 16 May 2012
Pet obesity cause for concern
Treating a dog or cat is one of the enjoyable factors of being a pet owner but as their beloved furry friend piles on the pounds it is becoming a concern for many vets.
Owners are being urged to take out pet insurance to help safeguard against any eventualities that may happen to their animal should it become obese and need urgent veterinary treatment.
The charity PDSA has warned that letting dogs gorge on sweet treats could become an epidemic as it estimates that one in three canines are either overweight or obese and it has officials to set up the Pet Fit Club.
Its latest inductee Skippy, a springer spaniel from Pontyclun in Wales, currently weighs 31.8 kg and has been put on a series of exercises and specially designed diet to help him get down to the ideal weight of 22 kg.
Sean Wensley, the PDSA's senior veterinary surgeon, said: "Excess pounds can contribute to a number of serious health conditions and, sadly, it does reduce life expectancy." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Mon 30 Apr 2012
RSPA: People choosing the sun over their pet
Dogs and cats can provide a companion for life for some owners but others are choosing a sunny getaway over their furry friend.
Research by the RSPA has found that some people regard topping up their tan as more important than the wellbeing of their pet. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Wed 25 Apr 2012
Fat dogs given a lift
Overweight dogs are to be given a helping hand as More Than unveils a prototype for a "doggy stair lift".
Britain is a nation of canine lovers but research by the company has revealed that nearly half of dogs (52 per cent) in the UK could be obese by the year 2022.
While many vets have warned owners not to feed their pooch sweet treats that could be high in fat, many are still carrying a few extra pounds.
It has lead to some dogs being unable to carry out the most basic tasks like walking up a flight of stairs. The "Stair of the Dog 2022", designed by More Than, is the doggy version of a stair lift and has been designed to be canine-friendly.
The device has a comfy basket for the dog to sit in whilst being elevated and is activated via a "paw recognition" button.
John Ellenger, head of the company's pet insurance, said: "We take it for granted that our dogs can retrieve balls and climb a set of stairs without putting their health at risk but this might not always be the case." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Tue 27 Mar 2012
Reading pets in more car accidents than any other UK city
Pet owners in Reading, Berkshire, are more likely to make a claim on their animal being involved in a road accident than anywhere else in the UK.
Research by Direct Line has found that pet road accident claims exceed £750,000 a year, with 25 per cent of all incidents happening in just ten hotspots across the country.
The Berkshire town was named as the epicentre of these claims as more pets are injured in this area than anywhere else. Others places such as Redhill, Surrey and Bristol were also amongst the top ten.
Whilst many animals can be involved in these accidents, people have been urged to check that their cover is the correct one for their pet as vet bills may not be covered in some protection plans and could prove to be very costly should their animal get sick.
Adam Whiteley, head of Direct Line pet insurance, said: "Having the right insurance policy in place can provide them with additional peace of mind should their pet require treatment following a road accident." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Fri 16 Mar 2012
Chocolate named top risk to pets
Owners have been warned that feeding their pets chocolate could end up poisoning them.
Research by Embrace Pet Insurance has named the sweet treat as the main cause of animal poisoning beating other foods such as raisins and mushrooms. Dogs traditionally have to be given specific "dog chocolate" as normal bars do not agree with their internal systems.
Last year, in the US alone, there were 100,000 cases of animals being accidently poisoned after eating chocolate or another food type only consumed by humans.
Depending on how much is ingested conditions can vary from gastrointestinal and neurological problems to comas and even death. Embrace aims to educate owners better to avoid these conditions.
Laura Bennett, chief executive of the company, said: "You can further decrease the opportunity of food related problems by removing all visible fat, including the skin on poultry and ensuring that there are no bones in meat before you give it to your dog." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Fri 2 Mar 2012
Owners urged to take out the correct pet insurance
Pet owners are being urged to take out the correct comprehensive policy for their animal.
Research by Hastings Direct found that most owners make a claim on their protection plan within the first year of having a pet and the right scheme will significantly help should their beloved animal get injured.
Comprehensive cover will benefit people buying puppies or kittens despite some companies not providing insurance for animals under eight weeks old.
Buying protection within the first 12 months is imperative as a puppy will need many visits to the vets during the first year of its life. It will also have a positive effect should the policy need to be changed later down the line.
A study by Friend's Life Group recently found that 14 per cent of people took out pet insurance before they bought critical illness cover.
Dec Fisher, head of ancillaries at Hastings Direct, said: "A comprehensive pet insurance policy should offer good cover limits for accidents, injury or illness. However, insurance will not reimburse you for routine health checks at the vets." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Thu 23 Feb 2012
Donkey from Shrek named favourite movie animal
Eddie Murphy's lovable 'Donkey' character in Dreamworks' Shrek has been named as nation's favourite animal movie star of all time.
With new creature flicks such as Warhorse and the Academy-nominated The Artist, which features 'Uggie' the dog, receiving critical acclaim from industry experts the Co-operative banking group compiled the top 25 most-loved animal characters.
Shrek's wise-cracking sidekick scooped the top prize whilst more classical figures such as Black Beauty and the labrador from Marley and Me had to settle for second and third respectively.
Whilst men and women agreed on the top two they differed on third spot with men opting for the "terrifying" shark from Jaws.
Following the success of the four Shrek films the franchise moved to the stage, hosting musicals in the UK and the US.
Lee Mooney, head of pet insurance at The Co-operative Insurance, said: "As pet owners already know, animals have a unique way of raising a smile with their entertaining antics and they certainly play a big part in the film industry, where they often steal the show with their performances." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Wed 22 Feb 2012
Pets lavished with £41m of Valentine's Day gifts
Pet owners are paying out a whopping £41 million on Valentine's Day gifts for their four-legged friends.
Research by the Co-operative pet insurance found that the average owner spends £15.82 on their animal.
However, in regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber people can splash out up to £30.50 compared to spending an average of £26.91 on their partner.
The most popular gift for a dog or cat is a bunch of flowers followed closely by a food treat. The survey also revealed that men are twice as likely to buy a Valentine's gift for their pet with 14 per cent of males buying a romantic gift for their pooch.
A recent survey by UrbanPup.com revealed that 70 per cent of owners treat their dog to a "favourite walk" in the countryside or along the beach on the "most romantic day of the year".
Lee Mooney, head of pet insurance at the Co-operative Insurance, said: "The survey has clearly shown that pets are going to be extremely spoiled this Valentine's Day and in some cases have more spent on them than their owner's significant other." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Tue 14 Feb 2012
Owners shower their pets with Valentine's Day gifts
Whilst many are scrambling around looking for the best flowers and chocolates for their beloved on Valentine's Day, a number of pet owners are looking for doggy toys.
A survey by UrbanPup.com found that 23 per cent of canines in the UK will receive a treat on February 14th. Along with showering their dog with gifts, 70 per cent of owners will take their furry friend on a "favourite walk" in the countryside, along a reservoir or by the beach.
Women are more susceptible to treating their dog, with research by petnet360.co.uk finding that 60 per cent of females talk about their pet more than they do about their partner with 70 per cent regarding it as "one of the family".
The most popular gifts included a special doggy spa treatment day or a new, luxury lead and collar.
Ryan O'Meara, editor of K9 Magazine, said: "This may be a special day when we make an extra special effort to show our loved ones just how much they mean to us and this research shows that pets aren't excluded from our thinking." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Fri 10 Feb 2012
Half of pets have fish and chips each week
Owners are putting the health of their beloved animals at risk by feeding them fast food. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Mon 6 Feb 2012
Brits favour pets and phones over their own life
Brits would rather take out pet insurance and cover for their phone than protecting their own life.
A study by the Friends Life Group revealed that finding cover for their four-legged friend was more important than safeguarding themselves should the worst happen. The survey revealed that 14 per cent of people had pet insurance whilst only ten per cent had critical illness cover.
People were more likely to get mobile phone protection with nine per cent automatically taking out cover. Direct Line recently revealed that 33 per cent of dog owners would treat their pet to desserts and sweets suggesting they valued their canine more than themselves.
Steve Casey, head of marketing at Friends Life, said: "It is a fact of life that we seem to prioritise insuring things like our mobile phone or our pet over insuring our income. But the consequences of us being unable to work for a prolonged period, for example because of illness, can be severe." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Wed 1 Feb 2012
Owners told to keep pets fit
After the over-indulgent Christmas period many people will be hitting the gym to burn off the excess pounds amassed over the festive season.
Whilst people feel the urge to get fit, pet owners are being advised to make sure that their animal is also in top shape. Research by Direct Line pet insurance found that 33 per cent of dog owners admitted to treating their canine pal to sweet treats.
Nearly half of owners (49 per cent) also confessed to preparing a special Christmas dinner for their pooch. However, Direct Line is advising dog lovers not to forget their pet whilst they are attempting to get fit.
Dogs such as Dalmations and Springer Spaniels are known as "high-maintenance" animals and need to be walked on a regular basis.
Adam Whiteley, head of Direct Line pet insurance, said: "A dog's health can be damaged by obesity just like a human's can. It is important that owners realise that pets may need more exercise to burn off their festive indulgences."
Human chocolate can potentially be toxic to dogs as substances such as theobromine contained with cocoa can increase a pet's heart rate and even result in death. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Wed 25 Jan 2012
Pet owners urged to check policy when taking out insurance
Pet owners are being urged to be extra careful and read the small print when taking out an insurance policy for their animal.
Many companies offer a host of different level cover plans with a varying amount of protection. It means that some insurance schemes do not guard the owner against costly operations which can incur a large bill.
It was recently revealed by Gocompare.com that a large number of pet owners in the UK had not taken out insurance for their animal. The survey found that only 56 per cent of dog or cat owners had taken out protection.
The BBC reported that Carrie Daniel took out a policy for her mini dachshund Rufus but when the dog suffered a ruptured disc her insurance did not cover the £4,500 needed for an MRI scan as it had a cap of £2,500 per injury.
It meant Ms Daniel had to pay the remaining £2,000 herself.
She told the source: "I was absolutely devastated. I had to use all my savings; I just had to do it for Rufus." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Tue 17 Jan 2012
Bella top name for dogs and cats
Bella has been revealed as the most popular name for dogs and cats in 2011, according to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (VPI).
Inspired by the popular Twilight film series the name of the franchises' lead character has topped the pet name charts since 2009. The country's oldest pet cover provider surveyed 485,000 pet owners and compiled a top ten list of the most popular names.
The VPI found that there was a tendency for owners to give their pet more human names as former popular names such as Fido and Spot came in at 13th and 17th respectively.
Bird owners named Charlie as the top name whereas people who had feline pets went for more traditional names such as Tiger or Tigger. The dog category was dominated by female names such as Maggie, Sophie and Lucy.
It was recently revealed that pet dogs cause three arguments between families every week, according to new research by pet insurance company esure.
Nikki Sellers, head of pet insurance at the company, said: ''Owning a dog is not dissimilar to having a baby." More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Fri 13 Jan 2012
Dogs cause 3 arguments a week
Pet dogs cause three arguments between families every week, according to new research by pet insurance company esure.
Whilst they are regarded as "man's best friend" a dog can trigger 2,000 disputes for their owners in its lifetime. Arguments can range from treating the dog too harshly or deciding what to do with them when the family goes on holiday.
One-fifth of families frequently argue whose turn it is to clean up the mess in the garden, while one in ten disagree who should clear up the carpets should they be soiled.
Some arguments can get so bad that 17 per cent of disputes result in one member of the family ending up sleeping in the spare room.
Nikki Sellers, head of pet insurance at esure, said: ''Owning a dog is not dissimilar to having a baby. Round the clock care and responsibility throughout a dog's life can become tiresome for any pet owner but should never be overlooked."
It was recently found by Gocompare.com that only 56 per cent of people have taken out pet insurance to ensure the safety of their dog or cat. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Wed 11 Jan 2012
Tinsel nearly kills dog
A bunch of Christmas tree tinsel nearly killed a family dog when it ate a foot of the decoration and had to be rushed to hospital. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Fri 30 Dec 2011
Cats double the risk of contracting allergies
While they may look cute and are an attractive proposition for many pet insurance holders, cats can double the risk of contracting allergies. More »
By Marianne Straker, Pet Insurance - Thu 29 Dec 2011
