Saving Private Fido

Most pet owners tend to spend lots of money on their pets. Perhaps driven by love, perhaps driven by marketing - who knows? But when it's time to tighten up our purse strings, considerations also need to be taken regarding our furry little friends.

I would never suggest that you jeopardise the health of your pet regardless of the cost, but I must stress that this an often overlooked expense that something can be done about. For example, it is vital that your pet is properly vaccinated if they spend a lot of time outdoors getting up to all sorts of animal things.

Pet insurance is also a necessity. When it comes to pet insurance there's more than one way to skin a cat. Unfortunately there is no obvious 'best buy' as the premiums depend on a range of variables such as the location of your residence, type of pet or species and age of the animal. Yet there are some simple rules that you can follow.

Think about how much your pets will cost you, the likely impact of vets' fees and how you would react if they got ill and in the worst case scenario, were forced to pay medical fees or have them put down.

Vets' fees are rising, so be aware of the real potential costs. Fixing a cat's broken leg, for example, can cost 825. Surgery for a dog that has eaten something dangerous can cost 1,500.

As well as vet bills, pet insurance covers all sorts of weird and wonderful eventualities; for instance, if your cat is stolen, some providers stump up the cost of advertising and a reward, or even cover the cost of your holiday if you can't go because your pet's not well.

What is not obvious however is that the veterinary prices can vary considerably from one vet to another? This is more than likely more than one vet, possibly even half a dozen within the vicinity that you live and so it makes sense to check out each of them for an idea of value for money.

While vaccination is a good start, unfortunate things can happen to your beloved pooch, kitten or even gold fish and as such, pet insurance is another no-luxury that you should shop around for.

With vet bills raising at a steady rate, this is something that is reflected in the range of pet insurance policies available. Additionally, many pet illnesses can now be treated, but treatment is often expensive.

Owning is a pet is becoming increasingly expensive. So unless you are prepared to pay for any treatments yourself, taking out pet insurance may be a sensible option, but do shop around for the most affordable vet before you need them.