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‘Human’ treatments for man’s best friend is costly
27 June 2016
For the Love of Dog – Chemotherapy,
brain surgery and gallstone removal
The growing trend of
‘human’ treatments for man’s best friend is costly
There is a growing trend of pet owners forking out for treatments that have traditionally been associated with humans, and pet ownership can break the bank.
Southern Cross Pet Insurance head Anthony McPhail says most people underestimate how much it costs to look after a pet, and when disaster strikes Kiwis want to do anything to help their animals when they are unwell.
“Nearly a quarter of pet owners expect to pay $1,000 or less for health-related costs during their pet’s life, but our claims data suggests something quite different.
“It’s not uncommon for people to pay more than $10,000 during their pet’s life on healthcare. Without a public health system for animals, owners need to pay for all medical costs and if your animal is diabetic or has another chronic condition, the costs can start off small, but add up over time.
“Last year our largest standalone claim was for nearly $15,000 for an 11 year old Boxer with a brain tumour, and this year we’ve already paid a claim for $9,000 for a 7 year old Miniature Schnauzer with pancreatitis,” says McPhail.
Other claims
include:
• $10,800 for an eight year old Golden
Retriever with cancer
• $8,600 to remove a
gallstone for an eight year old Bull Terrier
•
$3,900 for treatment to a 6 year old Griffon that had an
allergic reaction from swimming in a pond
Despite
being known for having nine lives, Cats are in no way immune
from needing high cost treatments. Some of the top claims
Southern Cross Pet Insurance has paid recently
include:
• $17,000 for surgical removal of
lymphoma, plus chemotherapy treatment
• $6,900
to pay for treatment for renal failure
• Two
claims of just over $6,800 to treat Peritonitis, which is
inflammation in the abdomen
• $6,300 to treat a
broken leg
• $5,900 to amputate one front leg
after a dog attack
• $5,600 to cure
Mycobacterial infection after the cat was bitten by a
rat.
“We often don’t think about budgeting when looking at getting a pet. But when you tally up all the basic costs related to owning a cat or dog, you realise it’s quite significant. Throw in an unexpected injury or illness and your budget can be blown,” says McPhail.
Research below from Southern Cross Pet Insurance shows:
| What dog owners estimate they spend each year | What pet owners
expect to pay for health over their pets life | What pet owners will pay before considering euthanasia | |||||
| $100 or less | 9% | $1,000 or less | 22% | $500 | 18% | ||
| $101 to $250 | 15% | $1,001 to $2,000 | 13% | $1,000 | 16% | ||
| $251 to $500 | 17% | $2,001 to $3,000 | 10% | $2,000 | 13% | ||
| $501 to $1,000 | 26% | $3,001 to $4,000 | 7% | $5,000 | 7% | ||
| $1,001 to $3,000 | 13% | $4,001 to $5,000 | 7% | $10,000 | 1% | ||
| $3,001 or more | 3% | $5,001 or more | 10% | No limit to what I’d pay | 18% | ||
| Not sure | 17% | Not sure | 29% | Not sure | 28% |
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