Dog owners in England and Wales are facing new legislation that would enforce third-party insurance covering against possible attacks by ‘man’s best friend’. The government has grown increasingly concerned about dangerous breeds with more than 100 people each week being admitted to hospital after dog attacks, according to the BBC.

It is thought that illegal dog breeds are being used both as status symbols and weapons by many of their owners. The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act banned ownership of the pit bull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and the fila Brasileiro. Police were also granted additional powers, enabling them to take whatever action necessary to deal with any breed of dangerous dog if it loses control in a public place.

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As an increasing number of pet owners consider cutting back on pet insurance during the recession, Sainsbury’s Finance has warned that veterinary fees have “risen sharply” over the last few years. Pet owners who fail to insure their animal could face some hefty bills in the coming year, the insurer said.

Joanne Mallon, manager of Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance highlighted the sharp rise in vet fees in recent years. However, research from the firm shows that almost 500,000 people have cancelled their pet insurance policies to save money during the financial downturn. Ms Mallon said that these customers were “leaving themselves exposed to some very large bills”.

Rival insurer More Than also highlighted the expense of sending pets to the vet in a report released last month. According to the firm’s research, the average cost of keeping a medium-size dog healthy throughout its life is £10,039. This figure does not include unplanned trips to the vet.

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Our pets are among the first things to be neglected as the recession puts pressure on consumers’ finances, according to a new study.

Research for insurance provider More Than found that 69% of pet owners would not give up luxuries such as meals out or short breaks in order to stump up for unexpected visits to the vet. According to the study, only 31% of pet owners have taken out pet insurance, while the majority trust that their animal will continue in good health.

10% of pet owners said they would prefer to self-diagnose and administer human medicine to their cat or dog, rather than paying a qualified vet to offer a diagnosis.

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Sending you pets to the vet for regular health checks could reduce your insurance premiums, according to a leading insurer.

As well as keeping your pet in good health, regular trips to the vet also mean that potentially nasty conditions can be nipped in the bud at an early stage, this avoiding expensive treatment claims, M&S Money has said.

For example, a single treatment which lowers the chances of animals catching fleas cost as little as £4, but treating a serious case of fleas could set you back by up to £2,000. This is because a flea infestation tends to weaken an animal’s immune system, leaving it more susceptible to diseases such as tapeworm. The fleas themselves can trigger an allergic reaction in animals.

Judith Roberts, Insurance Manager at M&S Money, said, “Responsible pet owners know that regular treatments can help to reduce the likelihood of their pets suffering from common conditions.”

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Sainsbury’s is offering a 15% discount on their pet insurance if you order online, and they’ll also give you three months free on renewal. What is more, if you insure more than one pet whith Sainsbury’s you will receive a further 5% discount. The offer applies until 23rd February.

With Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance you can choose from two levels of cost: Option 1 covers the cost of vet’s fees up to £3,000 for a maximum of 12 months, whilst Option 2 covers vet’s fees up to £7,500 per condition. For more information, look at our pet insurance page.

All owners will be aware of the costs of feeding, grooming and generally looking after their pets – and that’s before vets fees have been taken into consideration. That vets fees are to continue to rise wont be news to owners, who have managed to save small fortunes by taking out the right pet insurance plan for their four legged friends. However, what isn’t common knowledge to some owners is that premiums for pet insurance traditionally rise over the summer.

This is because the number of potential accidents that can happen involving a pet are generally higher – kids are back from school for the holidays, and rising temperatures will see pets wanting to spend more time outside, and so are more likely to be involved in road accidents.

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