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It seems pets get into all sorts of trouble – from eating all kinds of unhealthy and inappropriate stuff like cockroaches and small action figures, to getting caught and injured in a myriad of strange and compromising positions.
One pet insurer has revealed the top claims it received in 2016, another reminder why looking after a furry friend is a huge – and costly – responsibility.
Southern Cross Pet Insurance (SCPI) data revealed that a third of pet owners struggle to pay for pet bills, and that more than 50% of owners said they could only afford to spend $1,000 for their pet’s veterinary bills.
SCPI head Anthony McPhail said some pet owners still get surprised by the cost of keeping their pets safe and healthy.
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“While often you’ll hear about the strange and bizarre ways pets can get injured, the reality is that a lot of people are shocked at veterinary bills for relatively common treatments,” he said.
“Things like skin conditions, which can be congenital, as well as bites, wounds, and tendon problems can often cost much more than most pet owners would expect – and require more than one trip to the vet.”
In the 2016 financial year, SCPI paid out $4.57 million for over 13,500 claims. Tumours topped the list of last year’s costliest claims for cats and dogs at $9,975.00. Also making it to the top five SCPI claims were abscesses ($9,543.61), pancreatitis ($9,358.35), spinal column disorder ($8,886.60), and cancer ($8,000.23).
The SCPI also listed the most common claims for 2016. These include otitis (ear infection), cat bite abscess, hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorder, wound, lameness, bite injury, mass lesion, conjunctivitis, traumatic injury, and arthritis.
“As an owner, you owe it to your pet to provide them with medical care when they need it,” said McPhail.
“Our research in previous years showed that a lot of pet owners would do almost anything to keep their pets healthy, but often the financial reality when your pet is injured or unwell is quite different. This is why we encourage all owners to either set aside money for your pet’s health, or look into pet insurance.”
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