Allianz Animal Health highlights lack of insurance for older animals

Allianz Animal Health's Petplan has revealed animal owners across the UK may not be taking out adequate insurance cover for older pets.

The latest Petplan Health Census revealed that while 31 per cent of cats and 27 per cent of dogs are taken to the vet at least once a month in the first six months of their lives, animals aged more than ten years old do not attend a veterinary session more than once every two years.

Furthermore, cats and dogs have been found to be living longer, with some reaching the ripe old age of 120 in animal years – 24 for cats and 26 for dogs in human years.

"We all know that we view pets as part of the family, however it would appear that some pet owners are unable to visit a vet as their pet gets older because they don't have enough cover," commented Isabella von Mesterhazy, Petplan's head of marketing.

Earlier this month, the British Veterinary Association advised pet owners across the UK affected by Halifax and Lloyds TSB's recent decision to pull out of the insurance market to contact their vet in order to discuss alternative cover for their animals.