Some Interesting Pet Facts

Have you ever thought your pet is your best friend? You are not alone here are some interesting pet facts that may surprise you.

According to a poll by Harris Interactive in 2009, 88% of pet owners regard their pet as a member of their family……….

…….But do Pet Owners like their pet more than their partners?  Well you decide, according to research carried out on behalf of Directline Insurance in the UK

• 90 per cent of dog owners take more pictures of their pet than their partners
• 86 per cent of dog owners prefer to have their pet as their screen saver
• 45 per cent of dog owners always use a picture of their pet as their social media profile

Speaking of interesting stuff from the UK check out these dancing dogs at www.dothepetstep.com

Australians also prefer the company of their pets with 83% women and 64% of men saying they would not enter into a relationship with someone who did not like their pet, according to research carried out on behalf of Pet Care.

A study by www.nsalamerica.org found that more than half of pet owners would rather be stranded on a desert island with their pet than another person.

Pets are also good for our health

·         Pet owners are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than non-pet owners (ava.com).

·         Dog owners are more likely to interact with others while out walking their dog (sciencekids.co.nz).

 Interesting Pet Stats

The total number of household pets in Australia is 33 million.  Of these 3.41million are dogs, 2.35 million are cats and the remainders are other types of pets – ie rabbits, fish, guinea pigs, birds etc. (ava.com).

Australians spend around $1500 per year on their pet, (source: Ibisworld.com)

The average life span of a cat is 12-15 years (source: tips for cats.com)

Like human babies all kittens are born with blue eyes (source: tipsforcats.com)

Pet Health Facts and Statistics

Australians spent $12.2bn on vet bills in 2009 (ratecity.com.au)

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) 52% of dogs and 58,3% of cats in the US are considered overweight or obese,

Cancer is the number one cause of natural death in older pets. Source: Veterinary Oncology & Haematology Centre

Pet Insurance Statistics

The first pet insurance policy ever written in the United States was by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) for the famous television dog Lassie in 1982 (source: Wikipedia)

A quarter of pet owners in Great Britain have pet insurance this compares to less than 10% of Australian pet owners.

In Great Britain, roughly 25% of pet owners have pet insurance. In Sweden, nearly 50% of pet owners insure their pets.

How to Choose Pet Insurance

Australians love their pets almost as much as the rest of their family. This is why when their pet is injured or falls ill they will often take out a loan to cover the cost of making their pet well again.   But what happens to those that have no savings and can’t afford to take out a loan to pay treatment?   Often pet owners have to make the decision to have their pet euthanized rather than treated.     I have been in that position, which lead me to taking out pet insurance to cover future issues.  I have put together this blog to document my journey of shopping for pet insurance to help you choose the right insurance for you.

When you choose the right plan, you need not worry about the vet bills as it covers most of those expenses. There are two types of pet insurance policies available, Comprehensive cover and Accident only cover. The former covers the surgical and medical expenses if your pet falls ill or gets injured accidently while the later covers only those expenses incurred when your pet gets injured accidentally.

 There are a number of different policies available, each offering different benefits.  Therefore it is necessary to shop around and check each policy carefully by reading the fine print to know which policy offers what.

When you are choosing a particular pet insurance policy, you need to consider these few things to make the right choice:

1.     Find out if there are any limitations:  This often means reading the fine print thoroughly so you know exactly what is and isn’t covered... Generally, there are some breeds of cats and dogs that are prone to illness , so check if your insurer offers cover for such breeds.

2.    What is the proportion of the rebate?   For example you may only get 75% to 80% of the vet charges back.   

3.    Find out if there is an excess payable – Some insurers will only cover a certain proportion of the bill while others will charge an excess.  Then there are those that will charge both.

4.    Are there any other exclusions? -  Know which breeds the policy will cover. There are some policies that don’t cover some breeds or certain illnesses like hip dysplasia.

5.    The maximum amount that you can claim each year? Some insurers will only allow you to claim a particular amount each year, usually between $6000 and $15000.  Some also set a maximum amount that you can claim on certain illness (sub limits). For example you may only be able to claim $100 per year for tick paralysis treatment.

6.    How are premiums recalculated?:  - Most insurers increase the premium every year with the increase in your pets age, or with the number of times you claim.

7.    Do they pay for some specialist treatments? -  Know if you pet is insured for specialist treatments or referrals.

8.    Some insurers cover for the prescriptions too, know if the one you choose also covers for the prescriptions given by the vet.

While reading the fine print, you are free to call the company in case there are some terms that aren’t clear. You have many options out there, so shop around to choose the best one.  For more questions to ask insurers read my other post.