Shopping for UK vet pet insurance can be confusing and worrying, as no one likes to think about their favourite pet falling ill or suffering from an accident. Vet pet insurance may seem like an annoying extra cost, but if you want to keep a pet it is only fair that you look out for their health.

Whereas the rest of your family can rely on the NHS, your pet should be able to rely on a vet pet insurance UK policy to cover all his or her veterinary needs. We have put together a list of ten reasons to invest in a policy, to ease your mind and reassure you that you really are doing the right thing! As with all insurance policies, you should check the details of your cover (including the excess details) and make sure it is suited to your (or your pet’s) requirements.

10 reasons to invest in a policy include:

1. Many of the plants in your own garden may be poisonous to your cat or dog – if you are keeping foliage that poses a threat to your pet’s health, it seems only fair that you should pay for their vet bills.

2. Vet bills can be surprisingly costly. If your cat seriously damaged its teeth the dentistry bills could be hundreds of pounds. A vet pet insurance policy would cover this immediately.

3. Exotic or unusual pets are more expensive to buy, feed and house, so it is unsurprising that their vet bills tend to be higher too. If your cockatoo needed an operation could you afford to pay for it?

4 If you don’t have veterinary pet insurance less people will be willing to take the pet to the vet – no one wants to fork out for a huge bill.

5. Diagnosing a pet is as complex as diagnosing a human. A simple blood test could cost £20 – wouldn’t it be simpler to invest in veterinary pet insurance rather than fork out lots of cash at once?

6. Most pets contract the flu and other viral illnesses at Christmas – the most expensive time of the year.

7. Does your pet like watching the world go by? Vets receive hundreds of so-called ‘high rise syndrome’ victims – pets that have fallen or jumped out of the window. Don’t find your self faced with a bill for several hundreds of pounds when you can pay less than £10 a month for vet pet insurance UK.

8. Two out of every three pets will experience major medical problems.

9. If you get the right policy pet insurance covers everything – from diagnosis to post-operation care.

10. Having insurance will make you feel more generous – if your pet looks sad, take him for a check up! - Although check the excess on your policy details and also make sure what you are actually covered for.