Best lifetime pet insurance for dogs

One of the first decisions a new dog owner will have to take is whether to buy pet insurance. The good news is that it is possible to pick up a policy offering a decent amount of cover for a puppy from as little as £10 a month – although there are many people paying much more than that. And cover can become a lot more pricey as dogs get older. The basics Pet insurance is primarily designed to cover the cost of vet fees for the treatment of illness and injury. Other policy benefits can include cover for loss and theft (some will pay towards the cost of advertising or meet the cost of a reward), payouts for death by accident or illness and paying for things such as looking after your animal if you have to go into hospital. The average pet insurance payout last year was £822, according to the industry body the Association of British Insurers (ABI), and it is fair to say that claims can sometimes run into the thousands. That said, some people will decide not to bother with … [Read more...] about Pet insurance: how to get the best-value policy for your dog

Warnings over the obesity crisis in pets are being ignored – and around half of cats and dogs are clinically overweight. This comes at a cost. Vets today are ­reporting that 60 per cent of insurance claims are obesity related. Catrin George, from Animal Friends Pet Insurance, said: “Having an ­overweight pet might seem harmless but extra weight can cause ­damage to organs, bones and joints that can never be fixed. We really shouldn’t be giving in to their cute charms.” During the past three years, deadly conditions linked to pet obesity have rocketed, including high blood ­pressure and heart and kidney disease. Pet insurance claims for diabetes and heart disease in cats and dogs have shot up by around a half. And claims for osteoarthritis are up two thirds. The UK already holds the title of the obesity capital of western Europe – one in four adults. Now animals are taking after their owners, with 40 per cent of pooches and 50per cent of cats carrying too much weight. Animal … [Read more...] about Is your cat clinically OBESE? How to tell if your pet moggy is overweight

WHETHER you gained a canine companion during lockdown or have had a dog for many years, going on holiday can be much harder with one. Thankfully, with staycation holidays looking the most likely to go ahead this year, this means your pet can come along too. There are dog-friendly places to stay across the UK, from caravans to cottages, lodges and even boats. Some of the best deals are: Hoseasons dog-friendly boat holidays from £50 a night - find here Park Holidays dog-friendly breaks from £29 a night - find here Haven dog-friendly breaks from £45 a night - find here Cottages.com dog-friendly breaks from £41 a night - find here Breakfree Holidays dog-friendly Cornwall breaks from £23 a night - find here Snaptrip dog-friendly breaks from £39 a night - find here Sykes Cottages dog-friendly breaks from £25 a night - find here Holiday Cottages dog-friendly breaks from £35 a night - find here Shorefield Holidays dog-friendly breaks from £66 a … [Read more...] about The best dog-friendly holidays in the UK including cottages & caravans from £23 a night

Valentine's Day may look a little different this year thanks to coronavirus restrictions. But that doesn't mean you can't show someone how much they mean to you. Aside from chocolate, flowers are one of the most popular gifts to give on February 14. But when picking out a bouquet to give to a loved one, you should always consider any pets they have and be aware of what types of flowers to keep away from them as they have the potential to be very dangerous for cats and dogs. Experts at GoCompare have compiled a list of the most harmful flowers, as well as tips on how to keep your pets safe and avoid sickness this Valentine's Day . Here's a look at the top 10 flowers you should be careful of... Roses with thorns Roses are the most common Valentine's Day flower choice. Despite not being toxic, roses are a hazard for pets, as ingesting thorns can cause abrasions and punctures internally which can lead to serious problems. Lily Lilies can be extremely poisonous … [Read more...] about Valentine’s Day flowers to avoid giving your partner if they have pets – including roses

Archaeologists have unearthed what they believe could be the oldest ever remains of a domesticated pet dog. It is thought the remains could be between 14,000 and 20,000 years old, spanning back to the very dawn of the special relationship between humans and canines. While dogs are known as man's best friend and one of the most domesticated animals on Earth, the origin of this dynamic is still a relative mystery. Researchers from the University of Siena in Italy hope their discovery can shed light on how dogs made the change from wild carnivores to loving companions. Scroll down for video The difference between dog remains found at the prehistoric cave of Grotta Paglicci (the smaller one) and the same anatomic element from a current wolf This jaw bone comes from the cave of Grotta Paglicci shows how the teeth of what could be Europe's earliest domesticated dogs One theory is that wolves became scavengers out of necessity due to a lack of food, and … [Read more...] about World’s oldest pet dog? Remains of a domesticated canine that ‘lived alongside humans’ up to 20,000 years ago are unearthed in Italy