Three dog lovers are contenders for making the highest amount of claims with us with each making claims of more than $14,000 over the past year.
The unfortunate canines include an English Springer with an autoimmune condition that required treatment over several months, a German Wire-Haired Pointer Cross which ate a sock requiring surgery and ongoing care and a Beagle with thyroid cancer.
Together, the unlucky trio’s owners claimed more than $47,000 with us to get their pet’s tails wagging again.
But it wasn’t just dogs receiving a hefty vet bill. Three cat owners made total claims of over $8,000 each. The top claiming cat was a two-year-old Domestic Short Hair which was attacked by a dog and received medical treatment worth almost $12,000. He was followed by another two-year-old Domestic Short Hair which was hit by a car and his vet bills came to almost $9,000.
The cases were revealed when we released our most expensive claims for pooches and moggies for the financial year ended 30 June 2020.
The Companion Animals in New Zealand survey, 1 released last month, confirmed Kiwis are a nation of pet lovers with the research revealing 41 percent of households have a cat while 34 percent own a dog.
The survey also found that 88 percent of cat and dog owners believe taking injured or sick animals to the vet is a very important part of pet ownership which, as our claims statistics demonstrate, can be expensive.
Anthony McPhail, the Southern Cross Pet General Manager, said the number of pets the organisation provides insurance cover for has increased over 20 percent on the previous year.
“Companion animals can suffer a broad range of health problems arising from illnesses or accidents. Much like humans, it can be an expensive business restoring the patient to health. Knowing your pet is covered can be a comfort to pet owners when their furry family member needs medical treatment,” he said.
In the 12 months to 30 June 2020, we looked after the health of more than 43,000 Kiwi pets and paid out $11.41 million in claims.
| Most expensive individual claimer-dogs* |
| English Springer Spaniel (three-years-old) – autoimmune disease, thrombocytopenia, poisoning | $18,015 |
| German Wire-Haired Pointer Cross (four-years-old) – ingested foreign body, urinary tract infection | $15,278 |
| Beagle (10-years-old) – carcinoma, dog fight injuries | $14,631 |
| Beagle (12-years-old) – spinal disorder, cancer, skin infection, skin disorder, mass lesion | $12,552 |
| Boxer (nine-years-old) – Facial neuropathy/nerve paralysis, Gastroenteritis, Lethargy, Renal (kidney) disorder | $12,401 |
| Most expensive individual claimer-cats* |
| Domestic Short Hair (two- years-old) – traumatic injury, skin disease | $11,902 |
| Devon Rex (one-year-old) – feline lower urinary tract disease & skin infections | $9,471 |
| Domestic Short Hair (two- years-old) – traumatic injury, diaphragmatic rupture | $8,705 |
| Domestic Short Hair (six- years-old) – traumatic injury | $7,902 |
| Burmese (16-years-old) - diabetes | $7,500 |
*Based on total claims (including GST) made to Southern Cross Pet Insurance in the year to 30 June 2020.
1 Companion Animals in New Zealand 2020, published by Companion Animals New Zealand Inc, September 2020
FAQs
Three cat owners made total claims of over $8,000 each. The top claiming cat was a two-year-old Domestic Short Hair which was attacked by a dog and received medical treatment worth almost $12,000. He was followed by another two-year-old Domestic Short Hair which was hit by a car and his vet bills came to almost $9,000.
What is the most expensive pet to take care of? ›
Key Takeaways. Dogs are the most expensive pet to own per year – but when we rank pets by lifetime expenses, parrots take the top spot due to their average lifespan of 50 years! Owning a dog will cost you almost double per year what it costs to own a cat – and almost 10 times the cost of owning a fish!
Is it worth claiming on pet insurance? ›
It's usually not too difficult to know when you should claim, and you can always check your policy documents or speak to your insurance provider if you're not sure. The only time it might not be worth claiming is if your policy excess – that's the amount you pay to make a claim – is more than the cost of the treatment.
How can I get the most out of my pet insurance? ›
How To Use Pet Health Insurance Like A Pro
- Pay Upfront Treatment Costs On A Credit Card, And Pay It Off With Your Reimbursem*nt. ...
- Make Sure Your Vet Knows About Your Pet Insurance Coverage. ...
- Make Sure Your Policy Makes Sense For Your Breed, Location, Age, And Any Pre-Existing Conditions.
What are the three biggest expenses of dog ownership? The three biggest routine expenses are food, veterinary care and supplies like treats and poop bags.
What is the most expensive treatment? ›
Hemgenix, CSL Behring, hemophilia B
After the FDA approved the first gene therapy for adults with hemophilia B last year, it quickly became the world's most expensive drug, priced at $3.5 million per dose.
What dog cost 12 000 dollars? ›
Löwchen – $12,000
Also known as the “l*ttle lion dog,”-the Löwchen has been popular among Europeans for more than 500 years, as it originated in France.
What to do if dog surgery is too expensive? ›
Many grants and funding opportunities are available specifically for pet surgeries in life-threatening situations. In addition, research grants can provide financial assistance for pet care, as many organizations are willing to help with expensive procedures and give funding to families in need.
Why would pet insurance deny a claim? ›
The records allow the insurer to assess whether treatment is related to a pre-existing condition; if it is, the claim will typically be denied, although there may be exceptions (check the coverage details for the pet insurance policy).
How long does it take for pet insurance to pay out? ›
Processing a pet insurance claim is usually straightforward and your payout should take between seven and 10 working days. If you'd like an estimated date for the payout, call your insurance provider. Depending on who you're with, you may be able to track your claim's progress online.
Most pet insurance companies will be able to pay your vet directly, but not all vets accept direct payments from all pet insurance companies. That's why it's best to go with a trusted and recognised insurance provider, not the cheapest one.
Can you negotiate your pet insurance? ›
Pet insurance, like most consumer insurances, is price-inflexible. While you may be able to reduce the price by removing elements of cover (so in effect, you're buying less insurance), you're unlikely to be able to negotiate the price for the coverage chosen. 1)Research Multiple Providers and compare the quoted prices.
Is it normal for pet insurance to increase every year? ›
Your pet insurance premium is based on a long list of factors, some of which can change from year to year. If your pet insurance premium has increased, one of these factors may be in play. Age: As your pet gets older, they're more likely to have an expensive-to-cover illness or age-related injury.
Is lemonade pet insurance good? ›
Overall, we rated Lemonade Pet Insurance 4.8 out of 5 stars. The company is our top overall pick for pet insurance due to its comprehensive coverage and affordable rates.
What dog cost 8 000 dollars? ›
A pure bred Samoyed can cost anywhere between $8,000 and $10,000.
