Owners who choose not to insure their pets might think differently if they understood the likely cost of veterinary treatment, says insurance firm Scratch & Patch.
The company’s survey of 2,000 owners revealed that they were unaware of the bills they might face for common conditions. For example treatment for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, a common condition in flat-nosed dogs, would be around £1,686 – almost twice as much as pet-owners predicted (£889).
The survey also showed that more than one in five (22%) have pets with medical conditions, but 76% of those conditions are excluded from cover. And a further 10% don’t know if they are or not.
Scratch & Patch said: “Until recently if you made a claim to treat a pet’s condition, you would be forced to stick with an existing provider regardless of premium hikes or have that condition excluded from another policy.
“Scratch & Patch now uses medical risk-rating technology, similar to the systems used in travel insurance, which means you can buy cover for pets’ pre-existing medical conditions.”
