Don’t let sick puppies break the bank
Vet costs make pet cover a smart move, writes Anthony Keane
Charlotte Thomas and Jack Batty are looking to buy pet insurance for their golden retriever-poodle cross, Trooper.
“My aunty is a vet and has urged me to get it,” Ms Thomas said. Taking action early and obtaining pet insurance before any potential genetic problems were revealed was a good idea, Ms Thomas’s aunt said.
The Australian Veterinary Association says we have one of the highest rates of pet ownership on the planet, with animals in 5.7 million of the nation’s 9.2 million households — about 62 per cent of all homes.
However, only 26 per cent of households with dogs and 19 per cent with cats have pet insurance, it says.
Key reasons for ignoring it have been cost, lack of perceived value, or simply not thinking about it, the AVA says.
Like all forms of insurance, pet cover is something most people hope to never use.
But veterinary costs have surged more than 20 per cent in the past five years, and common operations can now cost thousands of dollars, which means a single claim can make pet insurance worthwhile.
Premiums vary depending on breeds and ages, but a typical policy for a large dog can cost about $15 a week.
“It flies under the radar of a lot of pet owners and is not the first thing you would consider,” Ms Thomas said.
But when you look at the other things people insure, “it seems like a sensible thing to do,” she said.