Pet insurance 'should be an essential consideration'

Failing to get pet plan insurance could turn out to be a "false economy" for animal owners.

The need for pet plan cover could be highlighted as new research shows a significant number of animals have had to be put down due to money problems.

Figures from Sainsbury's Pet Insurance reveal 56 per cent of vets have had to put down dogs and cats as their owner has been unable to afford the cost of medical treatment.

Vet fees are rising by 12 per cent each year and with more than a third of cats deemed to be overweight, now could be an ideal time to seek out cover to meet the cost of procedures that an animal may require.

Joanne Mallon, manager of Sainsbury's Pet Insurance, claims obtaining cover "should be an essential item on a prospective owner's list when weighing up whether to purchase an animal or not".

She adds a failure to take out pet plan insurance is "simply [a] false economy".

Now could be an ideal time to obtain cover as M&S Pet Insurance recently claimed plants such as daffodils and rhubarb - which are set to blossom in the coming weeks - can pose a threat to dogs' health.

By Emma North