Sick as a dog as vet bills soar by 500 per cent

PET owners have been slugged with a 500 per cent hike in vet fees in two years.

Vet bills

How much do do you love your pet and how much would you be willing to pay to save their life?

Veterinary bills for cats and dogs have blown out by as much as 500 per cent in the past two years because of medical advances, reported the Herald Sun.

A review by consumer watchdog Choice reveals owners are being charged more than $25,000 for some treatments to save their four-legged friends.

Australian Companion Animal Council president Dr Kersti Seksel said rising costs were partly to blame for declining pet ownership.

Choice spokeswoman Ingrid Just said some fees to fix sick animals were skyrocketing because of technological developments and wider treatment options.

A Choice pet insurance comparison uncovered highest claims of $25,700 for cancer, $16,865 for diabetes, $11,035 for a snake bite and $8760 for an ear infection.

Ms Just said insurance was worth considering for some owners.

Annual premiums averaged $400 a year for cats and $570 for most dogs. Breeds considered "high risk", such as bulldogs, cost $100-$200 more.

"Overall, pet insurance can provide value, but if it doesn't suit your budget, consider putting money aside in a special account to save for the bigger bills," Ms Just said.

"The most important thing is to have a financial plan to cover expenses."

Victorian Judi Bilkey had to choose between putting pooch Dexter to sleep and paying $3000 to have a painful lump removed from his abdomen. She chose to save his life.

"The first thing I thought was, 'Oh my God, that's a lot of money'," she said.

"But he's a member of the family - you just do it for a member of the family."

The pet industry is forecast to turn over $8 billion this financial year.

Melbourne vet Rod Sharpin started PawfectDeals.com.au, which uses bulk-buying power to get discounts on pet products and services, after his I Love Pets Facebook group was inundated with complaints about costs.

According to ACAC, the average number of dogs per 100 people dropped from 20 to 16 from 1998 to 2009. Cats declined from 14 to 11.

PET INSURANCE TIPS

* Take your pet for a check-up before taking out insurance. This helps avoids complications if you make a claim.
* Once your pet turns nine, no new insurer will provide cover. Before age nine, any previous illness becomes excluded as a pre-existing condition unless you have it waived by a vet.
* Pet insurance will not cover your pet for illnesses that can be avoided by vaccination, so have these up to date.
* If you have more than one pet, find a provider giving a discount for extra animals.
* Most providers require a co-payment on any claims. The lower your co-payment, the better the value in many cases.

Source: choice.com.au