Australia’s pet pampering trend prompts dire warning this Easter as vet insurance claims double

Medibank and other pet insurers experience a spike during Easter – with some payments breaching $3500. Here’s how Australia’s pet pampering trend is potentially killing animals.

Pet insurance claims spike during Easter with the cost of treating chocolate toxicity in animals spiralling up to more than $3500.

There may be no resurrection for dogs and cats this weekend if they eat chocolate and hot cross buns, vets and health insurers warn.

The line between what is for a pet and what is for human consumption is becoming increasingly blurred as pet pampering explodes into a $10bn industry – a shift that is not going unnoticed as companies including Bunnings, Woolworths and Qantas pivot to cash in.

But new data from Medibank has revealed a spike in pet insurance claims during the Easter weekend as Australians share chocolate and hot cross buns with their dogs and cats.

What can seem like an innocuous treat is extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. The cost of treating chocolate toxicity in animals can spiral to more than $3500 – a condition that causes vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures.

Medibank group executive, customer portfolios, Milosh Milisavljevic.

Medibank group executive Milosh Milisavljevic said even diligent owners slipped up when dogs accidentally gobbled chocolate on Easter egg hunts.

“If you’re planning an Easter egg hunt, try to keep your pets away and make sure you collect all the chocolate after you’ve finished,” Mr Milisavljevic said.

“We see a sharp spike of claims for chocolate toxicity every Easter, so it’s a good reminder to keep your chocolates away from your furry friends. Dogs can develop upset stomachs and even pancreatitis as a result of sneaking some chocolate, and may require treatment from a vet.”

Australians will spend almost $1.7bn on Easter foods, including specialist eggs and hot cross buns – a 14.5 per cent increase on 2022, according to the Australian Retailers Association.

ASX-listed veterinary group Apiam, which owns the Fur Life network of clinics, said hot cross buns are also toxic to pets – with grapes and their dried variations causing vomiting, kidney failure and potentially death.

On average, customers pay $350 to have their dog treated for chocolate toxicity with some claims breaching $3500, according to Medibank. Most pet owners are often surprised at the cost of hospital stays for animals, which can cost at least $1000 a night before any medication and treatment.

Chocolate poisoning claims tend to double around the Easter month, says Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia.

“We’ve seen cases where this type of toxicity can leave a pet owner out of pocket upwards of $3000,” Ms Crighton said. “In many cases, pets are lucky to survive, and the seriousness of chocolate poisoning seems to be underestimated until the worst occurs.”

Bupa has chocolate as the No. 1 toxic food for pets, saying the higher the cocoa content – i.e. dark chocolate – the more dangerous it is and warns caffeine can also cause toxicosis.

Bupa General Insurance general manager Shannon Orbons said: “Our biggest claim last year we paid out was around $12,000 for a dog that ate something it shouldn’t”.

“Dog owners need to be mindful of what was lying around the house as foods like chocolate and items containing artificial sweeteners are toxic for dogs and can result in death if enough is consumed.”

Fortunately, more Australians are taking out pet insurance policies, putting their furry friends in the same category as cars and jewellery. Overall, the pet industry in Australia is now worth about $13bn, with Medibank writing 70 per cent new pet insurance policies last financial year.

It comes as the pet industry has been the biggest beneficiary from the Covid-19 pandemic, as people looked to buy animals during lockdowns, sending the price of dogs and cats soaring.

Pet ownership in Australia has surged from 61 to 69 per cent of households in the past two years, with companies from Woolworths and Blackmores to global food giants Mars and Nestle moving to cash in on a market, estimated to be worth $10bn and growing.

Owners are increasingly turning to human medications, including antidepressants and cannabis, to treat various illnesses in their animals, with spending on pet pampering so far proving resilient as household budgets are crunched from the RBA’s aggressive interest rate hikes.

The humanisation of pets has prompted Woolworths to acquire a controlling stake of Petspiration – owner of PETstock – for $586m, representing a multiple of 11-times EV/EBITDA.

Bunnings is also responding to this trend by opening up bigger pet sections in its stores, while Qantas has struck a new partnership with PETstock, but the airline’s pet-friendly move will not extend to dogs and cats in the cabin.

Originally published as Australia’s pet pampering trend prompts dire warning this Easter as vet insurance claims double