Pets Put to Sleep Unnecessarily

51% of vets have put down a pet cat or dog in the past five years because the owners couldn't afford to treat them - said pet insurer Sainsbury's Bank Pet Insurance, today. Or.. 97% of vets reported that a lack of funds had led to pet owners choosing euthanasia over treatment - said pet insurer Petplan, ..today.

The two companies agree that as households start to feel the financial pinch of the credit crunch, fewer animals are receiving recommended veterinary treatments because their owners simply cannot afford the costs. Sainsbury's reports that 80% of vets have encountered this problem over the past five years.

The company puts this down to rising vets fees outstripping inflation at around 12%, and the fact that about 55% of cats and dogs are still not insured.

Meanwhile Petplan's Annual Pet Census says vets have been reporting a rise in diseases that are related to obesity in companion animals for some time. UK veterinary practices are reporting that more than one third (36%) of all dogs and one quarter (29%) of cats they treat are obese, says Petplan. It adds that more than half (53%) of vets are reporting increased cases of cat and dog diabetes.

Petplan also reports that the number of pets with behavioural problems is also on the rise, with more than half of vets (55%) reporting an increase.

Sainsbury's has offered a regional breakdown of past and present pet owners who have had to have a dog or cat put down in last 5 years because they couldn't afford treatment:

The East of England apparently has the highest percentage at 12.1%. This is closely followed by the West Midlands (11.3%) and the South East (8.8%)..

.. and in more detail:

East 12.1%
West Midlands 11.3%
South East 8.8%
South West 6.7%
East Midlands 5.1%
London 4.9%
Scotland 4.9%
Wales 4.2%
North East 3.3%
Yorks & Humber 3.2%
North West 2.0%

(Source: Sainsbury's Pet Insurance, July 2008)