Pet owners should make sure that they have taken out insurance for their animal, even if it doesn’t have any medical problems, says Churchill .
Chris Price, head of pet insurance at the company, said: “The cost of a premium would pale into insignificance against a potential bill if a pet should be stolen or hit by a car .” He added that in some cases where owners could not afford medical treatment, their pets had to be euthanised. He also noted that some animals are prone to hereditary diseases, such as ear problems in spaniels .
According to Animal Friends Insurance, a third of pet owners claim from their insurer each year. Also, vet bills are rising by about 12 per cent each year.
Research by Defaqto in December 2007 found that Britain has an estimated ten million cats and seven million dogs . However, only 17 per cent of cats and 32 per cent of dogs are insured.