Owning a pet is a great responsibility; pets are totally dependent on you for their welfare and as such, animal charities consider pet insurance to be an integral part of responsible pet ownership. The RSPCA estimates that 40% of the cost of owning a dog or a cat is in unforeseen vets' fees.
Ensuring your pet is happy and healthy will mean that at some stage in their life you pet will need to visit the vet. Medical advances have enabled vets to prolong an animal's life but this comes at a financial cost to the owner. Adequate planning will ensure your bills do not spiral out of control and that you offer your pet the life they deserve.
Pet insurance does not have to cost a fortune and there are usually a variety of schemes available to suit your budget. However, as with insurance for humans cost is dependent on age so the older your pet, the higher the cost.
The good news is that you can significantly reduce your premium if you insure your pet from a young age. Dependent on your insurer, one key benefit of this route is that once your pet has had a condition for which they have been successfully treated your pet will be covered for life as long as you renew your policy with the same insurer each year. In addition to this, the new premium should not be affected by the claim you have made, so the cost of your pet insurance should not rise year on year.
A good pet insurance policy will not only enable the owner to cover the cost of vets' fees but will provide cover against your pet being lost, stolen or killed. It will also ensure that your liability to other people is covered along with any personal injury you may sustain from your pet.
