Pet owners are trying to be DIY animal medics to avoid average vet bills that have rocketed to nearly £600 a year, a study has found. Nearly two-thirds f Brits are putting their pet’s lives at risk and have put off visiting the vet as they are worried about the cost.
The research by Snoots Vet found that the exact average for Brits bills at the vets is £572.90. Over half have said their pet insurance premiums have increased in the last year too, but the level of cover is unchanged and 39% say theirs has increased and they haven’t made a claim in the last 12 months.
This is causing nearly two in five to self-diagnose their furry family member. One in three pet owners (32%) also say they have given their pet over-the-counter human medicine such as aspirin or paracetamol to save on vet bills, which could be harmful to their pet.
Two in five people are cutting back on their personal spending, 27% are eating cheaper food to feed their pet and one in four are waiting a few days to see if their pet recovers on their own before booking a vet appointment rather than going straight away.
Founder of Snoots Vet, Jonathan Moyal, said: “Pets are part of our family, but British pet owners are putting their furry family members lives at risk to save on costs, which could end up leading to more expensive treatment costs down the line.
“It’s why we have launched a new model for veterinary care, offering a flat fee to cover all the day to day care your pet needs, from vaccinations and x-rays through to neutering and travel paperwork, to ensure pets are kept healthy, spot anything before it’s too late and so people can be confident they aren’t going to be hit with a massive bill.”
