It is essential that animal owners insure their pets against potential problems in the future in order to avoid massive vet bills, it has been announced. According to the RSPCA, insurance can help with both veterinary fees and the overall cost of looking after a creature. The spokesperson noted that simple health checks cost money meaning that it is “really important” for people to take out insurance.”It’s something that people often don’t think about when they get their cute new pet – they don’t really think about all the things that can go wrong,” she added.

The comment follows an RSPCA report that 17 per cent of dogs and 11 per cent of cats are covered by pet insurance. Meanwhile, those looking to travel abroad with their pets should check whether their travel insurance covers their pet and any holiday cancellations that could occur in the event of the pet’s illness.