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New record of pet insurance claims in 2021
In 2021, 1,029,000 claims were notified, 764,000 for dogs, 225,000 for cats and 40,000 for other animals.
ABI reveals £2.4 million processed per day last year.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced that UK pet insurers processed a record £872 million in claims in 2021.

A record 1.03 million claims were also handled by insurers in 2021, surpassing the previous 2017 record of 1.02 million claims. 

Data from the ABI revealed that pet insurers processed a whopping £2.4 million per day over the course of the year.

An increase was also identified in the number of people purchasing pet insurance, which rose 4.5 per cent to 3.7 million. This is the highest number of purchases since 2017 - unsurprising given that 3.2 million British households got a new pet over the pandemic, according to data from the PFMA.

With the rising cost of veterinary care, the ABI's data has revealed that the average pet insurance claim rose by almost four per cent in 2021, with the average claim value rising from £817 in 2020 to £848 in 2021. 

Jonathan Purvis, policy adviser in general insurance at the ABI, addressed pet owners: “Whether they’re curious cats, playful puppies or even a timid tortoise, our pets are members of the family. 

“They might offer us a great deal of happiness, but there’s no doubt they can keep us on our toes with their adventurous ways.

“With no NHS for pets, insurers are there to protect you and your furry friend when they get into mishaps or fall ill. 

“As the cost of living crisis starts to bite, insurance can give you the peace of mind that, should your pet need medical care, the costs won’t leave you feeling sick as a parrot.”

Reiterating the importance of pet insurance, the ABI revealed recent examples of the average cost of pet care, including feline respiratory conditions (£726), epilepsy in dogs (£3,300), soft tissue sarcoma treatment for cats (over £12,200) and treatment for canine diabetes (over £1,200).

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.