Pet insurer esure has released the results of a survey of vets bills, carried out amongst 3000 pet owners.

Whilst the intent behind surveys like these may be laudable (i.e. to encourage more pet owners to insure their pets), they do the profession no favours, emphasising the high perceived costs of veterinary care rather than the good value that it generally represents. 

This survey highlighted that: 

• One in 14 pet owners have paid a vet bill of over £1000. When asked what the highest bill was for a particular illness or injury, the average response was £406.
• 26% of pet owners polled struggled to find the money to pay unexpected vet bills.
• Almost a fifth of dog owners have had to use their credit card to pay for veterinary treatment and another 14 per cent have been forced to dip into their savings.
• Alarmingly, four per cent have even missed payments on their mortgage or utility bills because they had to unexpectedly dig into their wallets to pay for their pet instead.

esure's research showed that English Setters are the mostly costly breed of dog, forcing their owners to shell out £6,955 on vet bills, including injections, surgery and emergency treatments, in a lifetime.

Despite the potential for big bills, just a third (31 per cent) of pet owners have pet insurance and almost a quarter of those with cover admitted they were considering cancelling it to save money during the current credit crunch.

According to esure, many dog owners may be choosing to cancel or not even buy pet insurance because they are significantly underestimating the cost of treating common ailments and injuries. 29 per cent of pet owners surveyed think that the average vet bill for a dog with diabetes would be under £200, when it is actually £1146 including ongoing treatment*. To repair a dog's broken leg, 11 per cent of pet owners think that the average vet bill would be less than £100. It is actually more than five times that amount at £560*.

Mike Pickard, Head of esure pet insurance said: "Sickness, injury and long-term illness can affect any breed of dog, at any time, which is why it's crucial for pet owners to have insurance or ample savings to cover an unexpected vet bill of any size.  With many pet owners underestimating the cost of treatment for common ailments, a hefty vet bill may stretch household finances to the limit - especially in the current credit crunch. Pet owners should plan ahead for all eventualities when it comes to their dog's health."

VET BILLS FOR THE TOP 10 MOST POORLY DOG BREEDS:

* Based on all claims received by pet insurance specialist, Thornside in 2008. http://www.bdml.co.uk/about-thornside.html

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vets.