Pet insurance

With only 15% – 20% of pets insured in New Zealand (NZ), it is part of our duty of care within veterinary teams to encourage our clients to consider their options (Money Hub, 2025).

Companion Animals New Zealand recently reported that an estimated 63% of households share their home with a companion animal. There are over 1.26 million cats, making cats the most popular companion animal with 40% of NZ households sharing their home with at least one cat. The second most popular companion animal are dogs; there are an estimated 830,000 dogs currently in NZ, with 31% of NZ households sharing their home with at least one dog (CANZ Data Report, 2024).

The Joy and Responsibility of Pet Ownership

Pet ownership is one of the most rewarding companionships we can have the pleasure of experiencing. It brings much joy and fulfilment to our day-to-day lives but it is also a luxury to have this kind of companionship, and we have to plan accordingly, not just hope they will get through their short lives with no health conditions.

Our cats and dogs lives are short compared to us humans; with cats living between 6-14 years and dogs 5-12 years, depending on breed (St-Esprit, 2023). However, we are seeing cats and dogs live longer with the advancement in veterinary medicine which really is equatable to human-grade medicine. It is also important to raise awareness of day-to-day wellbeing and preventative care needs in the form of vaccines, worm and flea treatments, nutrition, enrichment, and frequent health checks. These routine wellness checks can have a positive impact on the life expectancy of our pets.

And then there are unexpected events we cannot foresee such as injury, infection and chronic health conditions. These cases all require specialised veterinary expertise. Veterinary clinics are comparable to human private healthcare facilities. Providing this high standard of care involves significant costs, both for routine operations during business hours and for 24/7 emergency services in our communities.

As humans are often covered by Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) or publicly funded healthcare, the true cost of medical care is unknown to many.

Unusual Pet Insurance Claims

Our pets can be curious and get into trouble at home or when we take them away on adventures. Southern Cross Pet Insurance (SCPI) released 10 unusual claims, which is a good example of when you just don’t know you will need your local vet team (Insurance Business, 2024).

1. A puppy required surgery to remove a large cleaning cloth after vomiting up a sock.
2. A dog ingested a potentially toxic dose of calf feed containing ionophore.
3. A cat underwent surgery twice after jumping onto a palm tree.
4. A Labrador needed extensive treatment after consuming a spool of cotton, a needle, and other items.
5. A dog required surgery to remove carpet underlay and other materials from his stomach.
6. A dog ingested dental floss, necessitating multiple surgeries.
7. A dog swallowed magnets, resulting in a procedure.
8. A dog suffered a hip dislocation after being struck by a falling tree.
9. A cat fell into a paint can, requiring sedation and shaving.
10. A dog swallowed a sewing needle, resulting in a veterinary procedure.

The cost of caring for our pets

SCPI also carried out a series of research to educate the profession and public on the expected cost of procedures (Image 1). As humans are often covered by Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) or publicly funded healthcare, the true cost of medical care is unknown to many.

The importance of pet insurance is growing, and we encourage all pet owners to factor this into the cost of their pets’ care.  There are many options available, with various premiums and co-payment options to meet you, your pet, and your lifestyle needs. Covering day-to-day care or accident cover.

If you have a new puppy or kitten and need more time to do your research make sure you take out any complimentary trial cover options available whilst your new pet is busy exploring their new environment and you are doing your research.

References:

Companion Animals in New Zealand  NZ Pet Data Report (p. 48). (2024). Companion Animals NZ. https://www.companionanimals.nz/2024-nz-pet-data-report

Pet Insurance | Compare, Quote and Save. (2025, March). MoneyHub NZ. https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/pet-insurance.html

Southern Cross reveals 10 unusual pet insurance claims in New Zealand. (2024). https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/nz/news/claims/southern-cross-reveals-10-unusual-pet-insurance-claims-in-new-zealand-504071.aspx

St-Esprit, M. (2023). Are dogs and cats living longer? VIN.Com. https://www.vin.com/doc/?id=4235063