PD Insurance has shared its most common claims for cats and dogs to help educate New Zealanders on the value of pet insurance.
A recent survey by the insurer found that 39% of respondents with pet insurance said they bought cover because they can’t afford the vet bill in case of serious illness or injury to their pet. Forty-two per cent said they didn’t want to have to decide between money and their pet’s life.
According to PD Insurance, the top 10 claims for pet dogs and cats 2021 were:
PD Insurance noted an uptick in parvovirus cases, which can cause severe and potentially fatal illness in dogs, especially those that are unvaccinated. The virus attacks the gastrointestinal tract and occasionally the heart, and a severely infected puppy may need to spend five to seven days in a full-service veterinary hospital, the insurer said.
In one case, the owner of an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier owner made a claim for parvovirus-related vet bills totalling over $4,000.
“While New Zealand’s health system covers medical costs for our human babies, our fur babies can suffer similar health issues, but their expenses are not covered,” PD Insurance said. “Vet bills can run into the thousands, which is a strain for most people to afford. Animals are curious, cheeky and unpredictable, which means accidents and illnesses often can’t be prevented. It's very likely they will need medical attention at some time in their lives.”
