Thousands of pets across the UK are being put down every year as owners cannot afford essential medical treatment, new research has uncovered.
According to a study by Sainsbury's Finance, 1.6 million people have had to put down at least one pet dog or cat during the past five years due to expensive medical fees.
The survey found that 80 per cent of vets have had the owners of a dog or cat which does not have
pet insurance decline a course of treatment because they could not afford it.
Neal Devine, Sainsbury's Pet Insurance manager, said: "Our findings are very disturbing but also frustrating because in many cases if the owners had taken out good quality pet insurance they would have been able to treat their pet without any problems."
A recent study by Saga found that the average vet bill for a dog in the UK totals £320.92.
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pet insurance cover for those looking to protect their animals.