Most pet insurance policies do not include dental care - which could leave owners facing a hefty bill, according to an insurance firm.
Pet owners should make sure that dental care is covered in their pet cover, otherwise they could end up paying out thousands of pounds, Sainsbury's pet insurance has warned.
According to the Mintel Pet Insurance report 2007, nearly two thirds of pet insurance policies do not provide dental work for illness and injury. With treatment for mouth diseases costing between £150 and £250 and fractured jaw work priced at up to £2,000 the costs could be considerable, Sainsbury's said, especially as these conditions are among the most claimed for on the company's pet policies.
The firm's pet insurance manager Neal Devine advised: "Some policies will say that dental treatment is covered but it's important to watch out for those who really only provide dental cover resulting from accidents. As pets get older the majority of dental treatment required is more likely to be as a result of illness rather than injury."
However, the problem is exacerbated by the fact that nearly three quarters of cats and dogs have no insurance at all, according to the Mintel report. Sainsbury's estimates that this means roughly 100,000 treatments a year, totalling £21 million, are being paid for directly by owners.
Mr Devine said he was worried that this problem could become worse, with the economic downturn continuing to force people into reviewing their spending habits.
