Isabella Verona<\/span>Northamptonshire<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n A pet owner says she has “sleepless nights” worrying about how she will cover the costs if her pets fall ill.<\/p>\n Alison from Northamptonshire has two dogs, seven rabbits and three guinea pigs, which collectively costs her up to \u00a3500 per month, not including vet bills.<\/p>\n She spends the majority of her salary on her pets and is “financially unable to insure all of them”.<\/p>\n She said: “We don’t have the holidays we used to have. Things like meals out and fun family things… we just can’t do anymore.<\/p>\n “The monthly costs would easily double if we insured them all.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n An insurance policy for one of her dogs, which had cancer and required treatment and surgery, eventually expired and had to be renewed. The new premium was \u00a3135 a month, which she found too expensive.<\/p>\n Alison said she is “constantly worrying” that she would be unable to afford any future treatments, which would result in putting the dog to sleep.<\/p>\n “The insurance cost out-prices the normal person,” she added. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The cost of pet insurance increased by 20% in March 2024 compared to the previous year, according to Dr Paul Manktelow, a spokesperson for Blue Cross. This rise aligns with the decrease in the number of pets being insured last year.<\/p>\n “We’ve seen a rise in vet fees across the board. It’s come at a time where people have less money,” he said. <\/p>\n Dr Manktelow believes the cost of veterinary care is the “single biggest cost” of pet ownership.<\/p>\n “It doesn’t look like it’s going to go down any time soon either,” he added<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Rabbit vaccines are about \u00a320 to \u00a330 more expensive than the ones for dogs, states Alison. Four of Alison’s rabbits require vaccines this month. She says that a vaccine costs \u00a375 for each rabbit.<\/p>\n Rabbits are considered an ‘exotic pet’, which means vet bills can be higher than other animals.<\/p>\n As a result, Alison is forced to “think twice” about taking her rabbits to the vet and she treats them at home if she can. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alison has to make personal sacrifices in order to be able to accommodate their needs because owning a pet is a “lifelong commitment”.<\/p>\n “I will always go without so my animals don’t have to,” she added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dr Manktelow believes that pet owners not being able to cover vet bills is taking a “huge toll” on the rehoming services at Blue Cross. <\/p>\n He explained that it also has a “huge effect” on veterinary services because owners are delaying visiting them and then eventually presenting animals with worsened conditions. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), believes that an ill pet can create real financial pressure, particularly alongside other cost of living concerns. <\/p>\n She said: “It’s really important that people get clear information and pricing to help them make the right choices.”<\/p>\n CMA recommends comparing prices for treatment and services across different practices as well as looking into payment plans to help spread the cost. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Alison](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/acb2\/live\/e67aa080-8d58-11f0-89c5-f9c523ebae74.jpg.webp\")
Alison<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘Personal sacrifices’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Alison](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9d67\/live\/e923d970-8d56-11f0-89c5-f9c523ebae74.jpg.webp\")
Alison<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n