Pet insurers are paying more than £1.2 million every day to dog and cat owners.
Figures released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have shown that firms paid out more than £452 million in veterinary bills in 2012 and between 2007 and 2012, the average claim rose by 52 per cent.
The ABI states around 33 per cent of pets need treatment from vets each year – something the practices are keen to take advantage of with increasing prices – some treatments cost as much as £10,000.
Examples of expensive procedures included £1,500 for a dog who swallowed a marker pen, £1,800 for a cat that fractured a jaw after being hit by a car and a canine swallowing a snooker ball, which cost £1,000.
Linsey White, ABI spokeswoman, said: “Owning a pet can be rewarding, but also expensive – especially if they need medical treatment. There is no NHS for our pets and even minor medical treatment can cost hundreds of pounds.”