Veterinary healthcare in the UK is equal in terms of quality to that found in America, it has been suggested.
According to the British Veterinary Association (BVA), complex medical procedures are becoming increasingly common in Britain, with
pet insurance premiums commonly covering the additional cost to the consumer.
John Bower, practicing vet and past president of the BVA, said: "We're on a par with America these days. It's not uncommon for dogs to have replacement hips if they need them, or for animals with peculiar behavioural aspects to have MRI scans."
He added that there is currently a debate surrounding whether top-end treatments should be paid for as an add-on to pet cover policies to avoid an overall rise in insurance premiums.
A Datamonitor report has found premiums for pet cover rose 17 per cent during 2005, an increase largely attributable to continued claims inflation.
The animals most commonly covered are cats and dogs, the study found.
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