Sick as a dog: Using annual leave to care for a pet

Half of animal-loving Brits have taken annual leave to look after a sick kitty or poorly pooch.

How much we love our pets

We’re known as a nation of animal lovers but we can reveal just how much we love our pets. New research by Admiral Pet Insurance shows half of dog and cat owners have taken annual leave to look after a sick pet.

Admitting they want to take time off for their dog or cat is too awkward for many pet owners. We’ve found that almost one in four have lied about the reason they’re not in work, with the most common excuses being they’re looking after a sick family member or that they’ve been sick themselves.

One in 10 have even made up a poorly child. And it’s men who are more likely to make up an excuse for looking after their pet, 42% of male pet owners have done it compared with 32% of women.

Pet-ernity leave: welcoming home a new pet

But it’s not just when our animals are unwell that we feel the need to stay at home with them. Six out of 10 pet owners told us they took time off work when they first brought their dog or cat home with one in seven taking more than a week.

So with this in mind, we also asked pet owners if they think UK employers should be more accommodating and offer pet-ernity leave for new pet owners.

Half of those questioned are in favour of this, while slightly more (57%) want employers to allow time off to look after their paw-ly pets.

So if you’re thinking of getting a new pet, it might be useful to know which popular breeds of cats and dogs are the most expensive breeds to insure and which ones are top for the cost of treatment. We can also reveal the places in the UK that make the most claims and the most expensive claims for their pets.

Data from Admiral Pet Insurance 1 January 2018 - 31 December 2018

Which poorly pets could prove most expensive?

Top 10 most expensive dog breeds for cost of treatment

1. Cocker Spaniel
2. A medium crossbreed (10 - 20kg)
3. A small crossbreed (up to 10kg)
4. Border collie
5. Beagle
6. Golden Retriever
7. Shih Tzu
8. Jack Russell Terrier
9. Miniature Schnauzers
10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Top 10 most expensive dog breeds for monthly insurance premium

1. Leonberger
2. Berenese Mountain Dog
3. Newfoundland
4. Pyrenean Mountain Dog
5. Saint Bernard
6. Dogue de Bordeaux
7. Lagotto Romagnolo (Imp)
8. Spaniel (English Springer)
9. Sussex Spaniel
10. Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund

Top 10 dog breeds for number of claims

1. Cocker Spaniel
2. A Medium Crossbreed (10 - 20kg)
3. A Small Crossbreed (Up To 10kg)
4. Shih Tzu
5. English Pointer
6. A Large Crossbreed (Over 20kg)
7. Beagle
8. Yorkshire Terrier
9. Miniature Schnauzers
10. Golden Retriever

Which poorly pets could prove most expensive?

Top 10 most expensive cat breeds for cost of treatment

1. Moggie
2. Mixed Breed Cat
3. Domestic Shorthair
4. Ragdoll
5. Non-pedigree Shorthair
6. Bengal
7. Oriental
8. Scottish Fold
9. Domestic Longhair
10. Exotic Shorthair

Top 10 most expensive cat breeds for monthly insurance premium

1. Ragdoll
2. Domestic Shorthair
3. Moggie
4. Bombay
5. Domestic Longhair
6. Persian Cross
7. Burmese
8. Scottish Fold
9. Snowshoe
10. Bengal

Top 10 cat breeds for number of claims

1. Moggie
2. Mixed Breed Cat
3. Domestic Shorthair
4. Bengal
5. Non-pedigree Shorthair
6. Ragdoll
7. Oriental
8. Persian
9. Domestic Longhair
10. Scottish Fold

Which poorly pets could prove most expensive?

Top 10 postcode areas for number of pet insurance claims

Top 10 postcode areas for cost of pet insurance claim

Useful guides

Getting a pet

Getting a pet

Avoid unnecessary costs and get one for the right reasons.

Read more
Lifetime pet insurance

Lifetime pet insurance

Learn more about this type of cover.

Read more
Is a pet right for you?

Is a pet right for you?

Check your home, budget and spare time

Read more

Pet Insurance

Provided by Insurance Factory Ltd


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