Furry friends need trip to the dentist

At least one million cats and dogs in the UK could be suffering from bad teeth and gums, a new study warns.

Sainsbury's Bank found that eight per cent of cat and dog owners surveyed admitted that their pets suffered from dental problems and is now urging pet owners to check that the dental cover provided by their pet insurance policy covers for both illness and accident-related dental problems.

The bank warns that people could be left facing expensive dental bills if they fail to check their cover and reveals that the problem could be more widespread.

A poll of vets revealed that 63 per cent of the dogs and cats they treat needing their teeth cleaned and 29 per cent requiring more extensive treatment.

Sainsbury's Bank estimates that only around one in three policies provides cover for dental treatment caused by an accident or illness for up to the full value of the vet fees.

David Pickett, Sainsbury's Bank pet insurance manager, said: "As pets get older the majority of dental treatment required will be as a result of illness rather than injury. This means that those policy holders without dental cover for illness will have to pay for the treatment themselves."

Sainsbury?s Bank believes dental problems are among the top ten most common conditions that pets suffer from and warns that some dental conditions can indicate and be linked to more serious medical issues such as kidney problems, making some claims very expensive.