Pet owners need to insure stressed dogs

More than one in four British dog owners worry that their pets suffer from stress, according to new research.

Around 53 per cent of 1,000 dog owners surveyed said they believe that their own stressful lifestyle is affecting their hound, the Direct Line Pet Insurance survey found.

Symptoms of canine stress cited by the respondents included vomiting (32 per cent), diarrhoea (34 per cent), loss of weight/ appetite (12 per cent), lethargy (nine per cent) and loss of fur (ten per cent).

Internationally renowned pet behaviourist Dr Roger Mugford blamed loneliness for the high proportion of canine stress, due to a lack of quality time between owner and pet.

Dr Mugford said: "I estimate that nine out of ten dogs I treat nowadays do not have enough contact with people. The number of people living alone increased greatly over the last 20 years and we are working ever-longer hours. This is leaving the nation's dogs without human contact for greater periods of time.

"Dogs are social creatures who need the contact of humans or other animals, and this is having a negative impact on their psychological well being."

However, 23 per cent of respondents rated their dog more highly than their job, and 15 per cent are upset that they are not able to spend more time with their pets.

Chris Price, business manager at Direct Line Pet Insurance advised: "With the average annual cost of conventional treatment coming in at £350, treating a dog for stress and its symptoms can be expensive. For peace of mind and to avoid large veterinary bills, pet owners should consider taking out insurance."

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