There are approximately 3 million vegetarians in the UK, and many of them are pet owners. However many continue to support the meat industry they loathe, by feeding their pets meat-based food. Some believe it’s one of the most blatant acts of hypocrisy in the movement, while others argue their pet’s needs should come before their beliefs. So it begs the question: can cats and dogs maintain a vegetarian lifestyle?

The short answer, is yes. Many pets are able to live a meat-free lifestyle, often dictated by a vegetarian pet owner. However, a high level of care and consideration needs to be taken when introducing such dramatic changes.

Vital Nutrition for Cats and Dogs

Or are they really, dramatic changes? Experts believe dogs and cats need meat for their high levels of nutrition. One of the main gains for cats in meat-based pet food is the maintained levels of taurine, because a deficiency in this vital amino acid can lead to feline blindness and even death. On the flipside, there are a number of taurine supplements available on the market for cats, including popular chewy tablets.

It’s widely believed that it’s easier for our dogs to maintain a vegetarian diet than it is for cats. This stems from the fact that dogs in the wild live an omnivorous lifestyle (plants and meat), whereas wild cats almost always live an obligate carnivorous life (meat only).

The naysayers argue that it’s just not natural for our pets to live without meat, and that we shouldn’t be enforcing human-beliefs into the animal world. Meanwhile, supporters believe that the majority of pet food isn’t ‘natural’, and that processing removes much of the nutritional value of the meat content, before being boosted with supplements, which some believe can be easily used as a stand alone.

Vegetarian Pet Food

There are already a number of vegetarian pet food options freely available on the market (Ami, Benevo, Yarrah and Wackidog) and demand is on the rise. With many of the same ethical arguments about origin of ingredients and sustainable production methods being used against our own foodstuffs, now being squarely levelled at the pet food industry.

We’d like to remind readers that Simply Pet Insurance advises all pet owners to consult their local vet or animal expert about individual pets, before committing to any changes to their diet or medication.

While we fully believe that a vegetarian lifestyle is achievable we do remind readers that such decisions should not be taken lightly. Gather all the information, consult all the right people and move forward with an informed decision.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue of vegetarian dogs and cats? Do you believe the facts outweigh the ethics? Are you a vegetarian, and if so, would you consider a vegetarian diet for your dog or cat? Consider sharing your thoughts below.

Britain’s best-loved agony aunt, Denise Robertson has confronted one of pet owners most feared subjects: death of a pet. In a loving show of support, the ITV This Morning stalwart spoke out amid reports that more and more people want to be buried with their pets.

“Pets come into our lives and become part of the family, which makes their death so difficult to accept,” says Denise, a devoted dog lover for over 30 years and owner of rescue dogs Max, Tess and Primmie.

“Having a lasting reminder of a pet can be a huge comfort and a way of keeping good memories alive. In some ways that loving companion is still alongside you every day.” Denise’s comforting words came at the time of release for some emotional findings during a recent survey by the UK’s leading veterinary charity and providers of great value pet insurance, PDSA.

In a remarkably survey, PDSA questioned 472 pet owners and former pet owners about the way they would prefer to immortalise their deceased pets.

Of those surveyed: 27% said they planted a rose bush in the garden usually on their pet’s favourite sleeping spot; 15% displayed a photograph of the animal in pride of place in their home; and 12% said a plaque or headstone bearing a personal inscription was the way they wanted their pet to be remembered.

Others preferred to keep the pet’s ashes in an urn on the hearth or in their pet’s bed. Private family services to commemorate their pets are also popular, although there seems to be no limit to a pet owner’s imagination.

In response to the findings, the PDSA has created a paw-shaped garden where up to 2,000 personalised tribute tags can be displayed in the Paws Forever Pet Tribute Garden in Ilford, London and personal tributes can be viewed on-line via the PDSA website.

Gill White, who manages requests for the Paws Forever Pet Tribute Tags, says the survey revealed the profound feelings people have for their pets: “Losing a pet can be as heartbreaking as losing a friend or relative. It’s no surprise that the way they choose to remember that animal is so special.”

As Britain becomes more green-fingered, it’s becoming apparent that the light-fingered brigade is getting away scot-free. Insurance companies may be meeting the needs of the core pet insurance market; dogs and cats. However, when it comes to chickens, there seems to be a gap in the fence, and we’re egg-stremely surprised that British pet insurance providers are falling fowl of the nations initiative.

With the recent economic downturn, there has been a worthy increase in the number of Briton’s turning to sustainable living methods. Over a million Briton’s now actively grow their own fruit and vegetables, and many are expanding their lots to include the affable chicken, and it appears to be a shrewd move.

Britain consumes a staggering 30 million eggs per day, and a dozen free-range eggs typically costs approximately £3.00 in a British supermarket.

Some home insurance policies do cover damage caused by the birds to third-party property, but if you’re a victim of theft, or your chickens become sick then you won’t be insured for any costs incurred and this has chicken owners across the country pecking around for a pet insurance policy, which seemingly doesn’t exist.

Are you a smallholder? What’s your experience of British insurance companies attitude towards insuring your livestock?

When you’re first looking for expert dog grooming tips, it can seem incredibly daunting. “Cut here. Scrub there. Clip under there.” Trust us when we say, don’t worry! It’s really hard to go wrong when grooming your dog; but if it does, it’s going to grow back. They will forgive you. (Eventually.)

First thing’s first. Relax. Think about the positive reasons about why you’re grooming your dog.

It provides a great period of bonding for you and your dog, plus grooming is important for our dogs’ health. Just brushing your dog removes dead hair, and dirt, which causes matting. It also stimulates the blood supply providing a nice glossy coat, while providing a suitable opportunity for you to check your dog’s coat for fleas and flea-dirt.

By regularly revisiting our dog grooming tips you’ll quickly build a routine, and your dog will begin to think of it as an extra-special alternative to petting.

The basic dog grooming tips are the same for every breed, however some breeds may require extra attention in certain areas, and the more you groom your dog, the more you’ll learn about their specific needs.

The best time to groom your dog is when they’re nice and relaxed. If your dog is new to the home, get them comfortable with being touched and handled, by making a habit of petting every single part of your dog, including such potentially sensitive areas as the ears, tail, belly, back and feet.

·      Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

It’s a good idea to check your dog’s ears weekly, especially if your dog has droop ears that are especially susceptible to fungus, waxy ears, and ear mites. You should look for special ear wash for pets to complete this simple task.

·       Clipping Your Dog’s Nails

You should clip your dog’s nails every two to three weeks, and it’s a good idea to get your dog used to having her feet touched before you attempt a nail trim.

Dogs have what’s called ‘a quick’ (the soft, tender flesh below the growing part of a nail) and in the unlikely event that you clip too short, this can cause them pain so we recommend several small cuts to avoid this.

·       Brushing Your Dog’s Hair

We all like a good hairbrush, and our dogs are no different. Always brush against the layer of the coat (don’t forget their tail) to bring out the shine and keep them looking their best.

Most breeds can be brushed weekly, however if your dog has a long, luxurious coat, such as that of a Yorkshire terrier, they’ll need daily attention.

·       Bathing Your Dog

By far the messiest part of the dog grooming schedule — bath time! You should bath your dog at least once every 3 months. If it’s warm enough for you both, then bathing your dog outdoors is recommended for obvious reasons.

After a good gentle hose down, use a mild dog shampoo and start bathing the dog’s body and legs. The dog’s head should be shampooed last, paying particular care to ensure that no shampoo gets into his eyes, ears, and nose.

The most important part in bathing dogs is remembering to rinse off all the shampoo. Towel dry your dog by blotting with a towel and give them a good combing-over to ensure there are no tangles or mats.

After you’ve groomed your dog, remember to heap on the praise. Laud them with love, and perhaps their favourite treat.

Britain’s cat owners are being advised to spay or neuter their kittens, before spring warms their sensitive side. Meteorologists are predicting an early spring in Europe, triggering a countrywide warning from animal experts, especially to those considering taking out cat insurance.

The warmer weather of spring is an annual catalyst for our female cats’ breeding season (often referred to as kitten season) according to the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter who point out: “A female cat’s breeding season is determined by the number of hours of daylight.”

Owners who choose to spay their cats while in heat (sexual receptivity) run the risk of complications, sparking veterinary experts to remind owners to spay their pets before their first heat; thus avoiding accidental pregnancy or reproductive diseases later in life.

British cat owners planning to spay their cats while in heat, run the risk of bleeding during surgery and other complications due to engorged vessels and swelling of the reproductive tract tissue.

This has led many in the industry to highlight the value of pet insurance in the UK. The already high cost of cat surgery soars while the animal is in heat (or pregnant) due to the increased risk.

Cat owners are now being advised to spay and neuter their cats in advance of them entering the season, or to keep them indoors and isolated should they show signs of being in season.

Cats in heat — also known as Queens — will show signs of heightened sensitivity, with an increase in affection and agitation.

The premium risk management method employed by UK pet owners against veterinary costs, is dedicated pet insurance and once again the veterinary sector are recommending cat owners insure their pets, and take sensible steps to avoiding unnecessary costs.

Is your cat showing signs of being in heat, or pregnant? What steps have you taken to quell high veterinary costs this summer?

Every so often here at Simply Pet Insurance, we paws [sic] thinking about cat insurance. Since last month, our Apple iPhone’s have been pussy-tively buzzing with the new CatPaint application from third-party developer Davander Mobile, which allows us boring old pet insurers, to compare funny cat photos.

The latest version of the application is gaining cult status with UK iPhone and iPod Touch users, who are lapping up the £0.59 bargain, and cat-apulting the Apple app up the rankings.

Brian X. Chen reviewed the application for Condé Nast’s award-winning technology website, Wired.com: “There are eight cats you can choose from; a slider bar enlarges or decreases their size, and with a quick shake you can clear the screen and start over. It’s a feline party in your pocket!”

It’s not just cat owners who are taken with the application; some cats are appearing to like the cat-only policy too. A YouTube videos showing cats magnetised by the application has scored nearly 95,000 views, while users of the popular video-sharing website are insuring its longevity, one user claiming: “I don’t have an iPhone yet, but I’m sorely tempted, after viewing this!!!”

How do we think it compares to cheap pet insurance? We think it’s a purr-fect match.

Just a week after the British government proposed forcing dog-owners to buy compulsory third-party dog insurance, they have backed down and abandoned the proposal in what the opposition are calling a “humiliating U-turn”.

Dog-owners across England and Wales were outraged by the move to compel pet owners to insure against their pet attacking someone, under a Labour crackdown on dangerous breeds.

The plan was squarely aimed at a reported rise in levels of dog fighting and illegal ownership, particularly by gangs who are use dangerous dogs as a status symbol.

Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn confirmed, “We would still be interested in views on whether third-party pet insurance could be a requirement of a dog control notice (i.e. if a dog is causing a problem).”

Recent figures highlight that more than 100 people a week are admitted to hospital after dog attacks.

The announcement this week caused some pet owners to start to compare pet insurance, while British dog-owners were quick to compare dog insurance with the multi-million pound car insurance industry.

When consumers compare pet insurance policies, it’s made clear that while third party cover for dog owners does cover some breeds, they do not cover dangerous dogs as defined under The Dangerous Dogs Act, and other specified breeds.

Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance and Health, of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), responded “While we understand the desire to reduce the number of attacks by dogs, making pet insurance compulsory for all dog owners is much more difficult than it looks.

There is currently no stand alone third-party dog insurance cover for the owners of dangerous dogs, and no desire by insurers to provide cover against this very high risk.

With a general election looming, some analysts are seeing this as advance notice for both consumers, and pet insurance providers to prepare for more talks.

We talk a lot here at Simply Pet Insurance about vet bill increases but it seems as if our warnings are being backed up by research from around the pet insurance world with yet another insurer suggesting that average bills are now reaching almost £600 a year!

Data from Saga Pet Insurance reveals that the average annual vet bill is now £598, double that of 2006 and increasing at twice the rate of inflation since 2008.

And even worse is the news that the prices can be even worth if you live in the North of the UK, with vet bills then reaching almost £650 a year on average.

The findings by Simply Pet partner Saga back up similar findings by Sainsbury Pet Insurance, who went on to say that some pet owners are being forced to put their beloved dogs and cats down because of a lack of money to pay for operations.

Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of Saga, said: “As vet bills are vastly surpassing inflation, pet insurance is therefore a vital tool to help owners budget for unforeseen costs of care for their cat or dog that may arise in the future.

“Especially for those aged over 50, whose income is already being squeezed at both ends in the current climate.”

Vet fees were said to be rising by more than 12 per cent every year.

To compare cat insurance or compare dog insurance follow these links now.

Compulsory third party dog insurance looks like becoming a reality if plans unveiled by the UK government today get the nod Simply Pet Insurance can reveal.

Measures set out by Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, will make microchipping of dangerous dogs and third party dog insurance the law in a bid to protect us from the growing menace of so called ‘status dogs’.

According to official figures dog attacks have risen 12 fold in the past five years and the government is keen to stamp them out.

Speaking about the dog insurance plans he said: “Britain is a nation of animal lovers, but people have a fundamental right to feel safe on the streets and in their homes.’

“The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but there is no doubt that some people breed and keep dogs for the sole purpose of intimidating others.”

The package of measures will also include compulsory dog insurance for all to ensure that anyone attacked by a dog receives compensation.

Any owner not taking out such cover through a site like Simply Pet Insurance would receive a fine.

Much of the legal framework stems from the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, which used to be held up as an example of the poor quality of legislation passed by MPs in haste but has actually proved a resilient and useful law over the past 19 years.

If you are a dog owner and have a view on the story then please leave your comment below this article, or to find the best third party dog insurance for your pet follow this link to our compare dog insurance tool.

It may seem like a very unlikely occurance but incredibly a poll of vets has revealed that 56% of them have had to put pets down because their owners could not afford the vets bills to save them, a new survery has found.

Furthermore, a staggering 88 per cent of vets claim that they have experienced situations where owners have rejected a recommended course of treatment or operation because they could not afford to pay for it.

Speaking about the findings, commissioned by Sainsbury pet Insurance their manager Joanne Mallon said: “It should be an essential item on a prospective owner’s list when weighing up whether to purchase an animal or not. Doing without insurance is simply false economy and worse still could result in some heart breaking family decisions being made later down the line.

“Advances in veterinary science mean that our pets can get the best treatment possible these days, but these improvements including everything from more sophisticated scans to cancer treatments come at higher costs and the financial burden is being felt by pet owners. Despite this, the vast majority of our pets are not insured so their owners have no protection against large veterinary bills.

“Vet fees are increasing by around 12% a year, and as a result of this we may see more animals needlessly being put down because their owners cannot afford it.”

The research from Sainsbury’s Finance revealed that 63 per cent of vets believe that the cost of treating a skin tumour on a cat or dog has increased over the past year alone.  Vets were found to report increases in the cost of treatment for a number of other conditions also. These include dental trauma, for which 53 per cent of vets report an increase in the cost of treatment, gastroenteritis (65%), lameness (61%) and diabetes (57%).

As well as taking out pet insurance to ensure there is help to pay for any surprise veterinary bills, the findings reveal that some owners could also be doing more to improve the overall health of their pets.  The vets surveyed said that nearly one in ten (9 per cent) of the cats they see are obese and an additional 29 per cent are slightly overweight.  The corresponding figures for dogs are 12 per cent and 33 per cent.