Dogs - Puppies - Pets

Compare Pet Insurance at Pets4Homes

Three Steps To Better Pet Care

Most pet owners would do anything for their furred or feathered friends, but there may be some elements of care they have overlooked. From pet insurance, to home boarding and selecting the right pet food, here we offer our three steps to help your pet stay fit, happy and healthy.

Step one: Consider pet insurance

Veterinary practices now have access to sophisticated equipment that can make once fatal conditions treatable. However, this can come at a price – and so pet insurance is there to help you cover the expenses of vet bills.

There are many differences between pet insurance policies. For example, there are three types of pet insurance to choose from:

A policy with a set time period: This will provide cover until the policy ends, usually for 12 months, meaning that once this period ends the pet will no longer be covered for treatments.

A policy with a cover limit per condition: This provides cover up to a set amount towards a condition meaning that you may not get complete cover in the event that your pet has an ongoing illness.

A full lifetime policy: This will usually have a cover limit per condition, per year which renews in line with the renewal of the policy. Crucially this means that your pet will be covered for ongoing treatments throughout its lifetime as long as the policy remains active.

There are also significant differences between the levels of cover available. Some of the policy options to look out for include:

Veterinary bills: Check to see if there is a cover limit per condition and whether there are any time constraints. Also look for exclusions – circumstances in which a pet may not be covered. For example, many policies will only cover dental treatments that are needed as a result of an accident, and not routine dental care.

Death benefit: Some policies pay out if a pet dies as a result of a specified illness or accident.

Third party liability: You may be covered against liability from any damage or injury caused by your dog (cats are not covered in this way as they are considered ‘free spirits’ and so an owner is not liable for their actions).

Missing pet cover: Help with the costs of advertising and rewards to find a missing pet.

Boarding fees: If you require emergency hospital treatment, some pet insurance policies will cover the cost of boarding for your pet.

Overseas cover: Some pet insurance policies will extend their cover overseas if you plan to take your pet abroad.

Another crucial difference between policies is the excess level – this is the amount you must pay towards a claim. Be careful to only select an excess you can comfortably afford.

Finally, remember to compare premiums using a comparison website as there could be substantial savings to be made by shopping around for cover.

Step two: Make sure your pet eats the right food

Many pet owners are guilty of giving their pets titbits from the table or choosing pet food that’s inappropriate for the breed or age.

What your pet can or can’t eat depends largely on the breed and size, and you should consult a handbook, available from most pet stores, to establish what’s good for the pet you own. However, there are some foods that are not good for any dog – including chocolate and grapes, both of which can cause severe health issues.

Obesity is an increasing problem with dogs and cats and can lead to health issues including heart complaints, diabetes and arthritis. So responsible pet owners should ensure their pet has a good diet and plenty of exercise to keep their weight in check.

According to Marks & Spencer research in 2009, Brits spend more than £1.7million on dog and cat food each year with Bestpet, an online pet pharmacy and shop reporting a 30 per cent increase in premium cat and dog food sales. If your dog requires a special diet it could be worth considering an online retailer with costs potentially 50 per cent cheaper than buying at the vets.

Step three: Consider home boarding

No responsible dog owner wants to put their best friend through any unnecessary stress or strain. Yet when we go on holiday many pet owners who don’t have a neighbour or friend to rely on use temporary boarding homes, such as kennels, many of which leave a pet in a strange environment with hours on their own.

A potential solution is home boarding, which allows the pet to stay in its home environment with comforts such as its toys, blankets and bones. With home boarding you supply the food so any diets can be maintained and there is no worry about upset stomachs caused by potential changes in food.

As your pet is never left alone for long periods you can go away with peace of mind knowing that the loved one you’re leaving at home will be well looked after until you return.