Is pet insurance worth it? Why you should get pet insurance and how to protect your pets

You can't beat pets for bringing joy and fun to your life. Nothing compares to the love they give you, whether it’s your dog bounding up to you when you come home, or your cat curling up on your lap for a cuddle.

When you welcome a furry friend into your family, you make an unspoken promise to feed, groom, exercise and play with them in return for unending affection. The trouble is, although there are steps you can take to keep your pet as safe as possible, you can’t protect them from everything.

Why pet insurance is important

Even if your pet is young, fit and healthy, they will need a trip to the vet every now and again. And, as we all know, accidents can happen even when your pet is supervised.

Emergency treatment does not come cheap and even non-emergency visits can be costly. With a consultation starting at £35, blood tests around £100 and X-rays coming in at around £300, having pet insurance is the easiest way to make sure you can give your pet the treatment it needs without creating a nasty hole in your finances.

Check out Petplan's Pet Insurance, which has Covered For Life® policies that provide ongoing cover right into the old age of your pet - giving you peace of mind. Here are some more steps you can take to keep your animals safe.

How to protect your pet

Vaccinations

To protect your pets against diseases, make sure you take them for the recommended vaccinations. If you're getting a young pet, you should know that puppies need to be vaccinated at eight and 10 weeks, kittens at nine and 12 weeks and bunnies from 5 weeks. Then they need to be given a booster after 12 months. Immunity can decline with age, so speak to your vet about routine vaccinations for older pets too.

Microchipping

If your pet does go missing, one way to assist their safe return to you is to implant them with a painless microchip so they can be located on a national database. It is now compulsory under UK law to for pet dogs to microchipped, but it is a great idea for cats too.

Collars and tags

As an extra precaution, wearing a collar tagged with their ID and your contact details will speed up your pet’s reunion with you.

Keep your dog safe

If you are walking your dog by a road or an unfamiliar place, make sure you keep them on a lead. No matter how well-behaved they usually are, strange noises and places can spook dogs easily and cause them to bolt. With the lead, you can keep your dog close to you and comfort them if they get scared.

Some dogs are partial to rummaging through your kitchen bin for some extra snacks they shouldn't be eating. If this is the case with your pooch, then make sure you dispose of any food waste every evening so that they are not left with the temptation overnight.

Lungworm is a serious illness that dogs can get from eating slugs or snails, so keep an eye on them in the garden and don’t leave pet bowls out as they will attract these garden pests.

Keep your cat safe

Prevent any rival moggies from getting in by installing a smart cat flap that opens only for your cat. You can get one that has a key they can wear on their collar, or even better, one that responds to their microchip – so they can safely come and go as they please.

If your kitty gets into a cat fight then make sure you take them to the vet right away. It's likely that your cat will soldier on, but they need some medical attention just in case they have wounds that could get infected. Most cat fights occur when the sun goes down so consider keeping your cat in the house overnight.

Keep your bunny warm over winter

Rabbits can't complain like cats and dogs, so you'll need to make sure they're snug in their hutch or bring them indoors. Covering the hutch with cardboard, blankets and a tarpaulin will help to keep them warm and dry.

For more safety tips and to find the best insurance policy for your pet, visit Petplan's Pet Insurance.