Dog and cat insurance is boom, all you need to know - Lifestyle

When the cat is sick and the veterinarian's expenses for tests and drugs are high;

when fido does damage to people (bites and scratches can happen, even involuntarily) or when we entrust him to third parties such as a dog sitter and we do not know how he will react.

Also, when we decide to take our beloved pets on vacation with us and we want to avoid extra expenses in case of insect bites or injuries.

Finally, if they get lost, if they need a diet dictated by the nutritionist and so on.

has existed for a while but from this year we are witnessing a boom in membership with a significant increase

and not just the health aspect.

Pet and pet policies are becoming so popular that

.

The offer grows from month to month and insuring a dog or cat for civil liability alone costs an average of 75 euros a year even if the costs change according to the items to be included and the breed, when it comes to credit.

Here is a valuable list of tips and options to choose the most suitable policy for your 'extended' family thanks to the presence of a dog or cat, of every breed and age, born from the monitoring of the offer by the site team insurance comparison in Italy Facile.it for ANSA LIFESTYLE.

It is a necessary condition for the insurance for your beloved animals to be valid that the dog or cat is registered, equipped with a microchip (or tattoo), a health booklet and regularly vaccinated.

Naturally, any damage caused or suffered by the animal in case of use in activities prohibited by law as well as for professional activities are not covered.

The item 'civil liability' is among the most used with an average cost of 75 euros per year.

It concerns the reimbursement of damages caused by the animal to third parties, be they people, other animals or goods, even when Fido is entrusted to a person outside the family, such as a dog sitter.

"From the North to the South, the national news reports an escalation of canine aggressions, in the lead even serious bites", explains Anmvi, the national association of Italian veterinarians, in a note.

Speaking of which and "despite several studies show that there are no more dangerous breeds than others but that the level of aggression of the dogs is directly correlated with the education of their masters", Anmvi emphasized in a note on public safety. from dog attacks, different companies may apply different conditions for some specific breeds, such as Pitbull, Rottweiler and Argentine Dogo, applying higher deductibles or even deciding not to insure the animal.

Another discriminating factor could be the age of the animal: some companies only insure animals older than 2 months and less than 10 years, although the extremes may vary.

In addition to civil liability, it is possible to protect your pet with a veterinary policy, which allows you to obtain reimbursement of expenses incurred for medical treatment and surgical interventions necessary as a result of accidents or illnesses.

For this coverage, the average cost starts at around 100 euros per year.

In some cases, drug reimbursement is also provided.

A new phenomenon is also to ensure other items and assistance services, ranging from telephone advice from a veterinarian to the consultation of a specialized nutritionist, from the sending of foodstuffs or basic necessities for the care of your pet up to the intervention. of a dog sitter in cases where the owner, following an injury or illness, found it impossible to look after his four-legged companion.

This year more than 11 million Italians will leave for the summer break in the company of their pet.

As expected, dogs and cats will travel with their owners, but there are still many, about 4.7 million according to the monitoring of Facile.it, who will do so without adequate insurance coverage that protects the owner, but above all the friend. on all fours, from the potential dangers that can be run during a vacation.

The companies also offer specific dog and cat policies for those who are about to embark on a journey with their four-legged companion.

There are those who provide owners with an operations center specialized in organizing holidays tailored to "dog and cat", with support ranging from the search for the most suitable structure, to the beach or pet-friendly restaurant.

Others, on the other hand, offer the guarantee of cancellation of the trip if, before departure, the animal needs to undergo an urgent surgery.

During the holidays, some policies offer dog and cat owners extra services, such as remote telephone veterinary assistance and advice, reporting of specialized centers and clinics closest to the holiday resort and reimbursement of any expenses incurred for examinations and treatment at the animal.

In some, they also include the home delivery of necessary medicines and the reimbursement of extra accommodation costs incurred if the owner were to extend the stay due to the state of health of the animal.

What if a cat or dog inadvertently strays from the holiday resort?

Even in the event of loss, insurance coverage can help: some bear the costs of organized expeditions to look for the four-legged friend, others provide a dedicated telephone line for collecting sighting reports.

Or they reimburse any transport tickets necessary to reach the place of discovery or the costs of the kennel / cattery that hosted their beloved four-legged friend.

Some companies offer a real "pet box", a black box to attach to the pet's collar, useful for tracing our four-legged friend in case of loss of

But what happens if our pet gets injured in a road accident?

Easy.it analysts reply: “if it is a faulty claim, the animal is not protected by the owner's car liability insurance.

To remedy the problem, there are some insurance companies that offer an optional guarantee dedicated to four-legged friends, or you can take out a policy that protects the animal from any injuries suffered during the trip.

Be careful, however, because these covers are valid only if the animal is transported according to the rules of the Highway Code ".