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
Lifetime pet insurance for dogs
Is your cat clinically OBESE? How to tell if your pet moggy is overweight
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
Shocking moment dog is lifted off the ground by lead around its neck THREE times before being pulled into metal railings as RSPCA launch appeal to find owner
The RSPCA are trying to track down cruel pet owners who yanked their dog off the ground by a lead tied around it's neck - before flinging the terrified hound into metal railings. CCTV footage captured a man and woman with a dog - believed to be a young husky or retriever - on a pavement in Bury, Greater Manchester. The owners appear to hold the dog back by grabbing its collar at first - but when lead is extended the excitable pup runs forward. The man holding the lead responds by violently yanking the dog back by with such force the hound's legs are lifted off the ground. He does this repeatedly until the animal is slammed into nearby metal railing - causing it to writhe around on the tarmac. RSPCA inspector Danni Jennings blasted their behaviour as 'totally unacceptable' and said it likely left the dog 'terrified and hurt'. The RSPCA are trying to track down cruel pet owners who yanked their dog off the ground by a lead tied around it's neck … [Read more...] about Shocking moment dog is lifted off the ground by lead around its neck THREE times before being pulled into metal railings as RSPCA launch appeal to find owner
Valentine’s Day flowers to avoid giving your partner if they have pets – including roses
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
From ball launchers to activity trackers: the new breed of pet tech
Technology for pets is increasingly popular, with gadgets entering the market that promise to keep our dogs and cats in trim, healthy and occupied, and we pet owners in sync with their needs. The increasing humanisation of pets means more and more of us are treating them as fluffy family members. Spending on cats and dogs has increased hand in hand with this trend. Total spending on pets in the UK reached a record high of £6.9bn in 2019, an increase of about £3.5bn since 2009, according to the Office for National Statistics. Many gadgets that started out as human tech, such as activity trackers, have made the transition to the pet market. The excellent PitPat dog activity tracker has been designed in collaboration with vets. It clips on to collars and measures the time (rather than steps) your dog devotes to play, rest and activities such as running or walking. It also clocks the pet’s weight, if you are looking for him or her to shed the pounds, and you can even add … [Read more...] about From ball launchers to activity trackers: the new breed of pet tech