Pets are EXPENSIVE!

In 2020, the annual cost of caring for a dog in Canada was about $3,500, with the highest expenses being veterinary and dental care. If you multiply that by 12 years, you’ve spent $42,000 on your pet. Pet insurance is about 1/10 of that cost, which saves you over $35,000!

 

Pet ownership in Canada has increased about 18% during the pandemic, so we can bet the cost of owning a pet is also increasing. Yet, as of this year, only 1.2% of Canadians have pet insurance. That’s far behind the UK, with 31% of pet owners having insurance. In Sweden it’s even greater, where 48% of pet owners have insurance. Check out the Newbie Guide to Sweden’s page discussing the popularity of pet insurance in Sweden.

 

Why such a big difference? Many non-insured pet owners may not be aware of how much money pet insurance can save you. And knowing your pet is covered = priceless.  

 

The first year of pet ownership is by far the most expensive, with a great deal of one-time expenses. The first year not only accounts for stocking up on supplies, but also when pets get vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped. With all the new pet owners out there, pet insurance can save a lot of money for a lot of people. After veterinary fees, the biggest expenses are food, training, licenses, and finally… insurance. In the grand scheme of things, pet insurance can cost next to nothing.

We all live busy lives, and often don’t have time to think about what could happen down the road, ESPECIALLY as our pets age. Luckily, pet insurance does the hard work for you. With a Pet Shield policy, you can be reimbursed for up to 80% of veterinary bills. And you can have peace of mind without having to plan and budget for pet care. Imagine how much money you could save in a year, let alone 10 years.

 

There’s no way to anticipate what will happen in the future. That’s why we insure our homes and cars – they’re incredibly valuable. Our pets are also extremely valuable, and pet owners must be financially equipped to take on the role. Pet insurance makes it easy to be a responsible pet parent. And you can guarantee that at some point in your pet’s life, they will need to take a trip to the vet.

 

Pet Insurance is also recommended by most veterinarians! They know just how costly a vet trip can be. Even minor veterinary trips like routine checkups can cost nearly $200. The same goes for spaying/neutering. Pawlicy Advisor lists the average costs of specific veterinary expenses.  

At the end of the day, we love our pets, and pet insurance helps us care for them without financial burden. The real question is… why WOULDN’T I get pet insurance?!

 

Visit our Plans & Coverages page, as well as our Pet Shield Differentiators page, to learn more about Pet Shield’s wide range of coverage.