MiPet Cover is on a mission.

They want to see more of the UK’s pets insured.

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) 2020 pet insurance research, they reported that only 25% of dogs and 13% of cats currently have a pet insurance policy in place in case of unexpected illness or injury.

With average claims rising to a staggering £822 last year (source: ABI, 2020), it’s always a good time to consider if you have adequate pet cover in place.

Let’s get #morepetsinsured.

There’s no NHS for pets

With no free national health service for our pets, it’s important we give them the opportunity to access the clinical veterinary care they deserve, exactly when they need it.

By having a pet insurance policy in place, you’ll have peace of mind that your veterinary fees are taken care of in case of unexpected illness or injury.

Did you know that, during 2019…

• The average claim to treat a pet with diabetes for one year was £1,406.8
• Traffic accidents involving cats and dogs have resulted in owners claiming £991.57 on average
• Canine companions requiring cruciate ligament surgery averaged claims of £1,546.07
• 59% of claims were for younger pets aged 0-2, showing how important it is to set your pet off on the right paw with four weeks free WalkawayCover.
  (Source: MiPet Cover claims data, 2019).

Could you afford to pay your vet’s bills if your furry friend needed treatment?

Lifetime cover is best for your pets

Our veterinary professionals will always recommend that a lifetime policy is best for you and your pet.

These policies typically offer a far more comprehensive level of cover and a fixed veterinary fee amount that you can access when needed. This amount will be replenished each policy year, so long as you remain with the same provider, your premiums are paid up to date, your insurer invites renewals and you continue to renew your cover every year.

Lifetime cover will ensure that your pet can receive lifelong treatment should they develop an ongoing condition such as diabetes or arthritis.

It might be a good idea to do some research on the illnesses and ailments your breed of dog or cat may be prone to so you can ensure you have the right amount of veterinary fee cover in place in the event of you needing to claim.

Are you still not convinced that pet insurance is right for you?

MiPet Cover are here to help your canine companions and feline friends.

Last year…

• One in five MiPet Cover policyholders needed to make a claim (2019 claims data
• 96% of MiPet Cover claims were paid without quibble (includes only ‘pre-existing’ and ‘within waiting period’ declinatures
• Gastric problems were the conditions most commonly claimed for.

Check out MiPet Cover’s online Guide to Pet Insurance:

MiPet Cover – Pet Insurance Policy Brochure

About MiPet Cover

MiPet Cover want to make sure that every four-legged family member enjoys the healthiest, longest and happiest life possible. They want you to enjoy spending time with your pet, not worrying about unexpected vet fees.

Their policies are designed so you and your pet can enjoy life with complete peace of mind. MiPet Cover wasn’t just founded on the principles of good medical and healthcare. They’re animal lovers to the core and it’s their mission to care for your pets, no matter what.

To get a pet insurance quote, please visit mipetcover.co.uk.

Rest assured we are working safely and will continue to care for your pets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to protect you and our colleagues we are working safely and whilst clients are not currently permitted to enter the practice premises, our team are still there to help with telephone consultations with the vet, pre-booked appointments in practice, or to order and pick up repeat medicines.

To help us with our new ways of working and to keep us all safe. Please don’t attend the practice unless you have called us first and booked an appointment. Many thanks.

We are here to help if you need us

As pet owners, we understand that you may be worried about your pets at this time.
If you are concerned about the health or welfare of your pet, please contact us.

If we invite you to attend the practice, we’ll explain what you need to do, where your pet can be seen and we’ll make arrangements with you to safely collect your pet outside the premises, maintaining social distancing. We’ll contact you by phone to discuss the consultation and take payment.

In order to safely provide 24-hour emergency care for your pets at this time, the way you access emergency healthcare for your pet may not always be at your usual branch.

Flea and worm treatment and repeat medication

If you are due your next supply of flea and wormer treatment or repeat medication you can also request this via the website repeat prescription form.

Prior to dispensing your treatment, a member of our team will call you to take payment where applicable and arrange safe collection or postage options.

Advice on vaccinations during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Your pet’s vaccination may be postponed temporarily to minimise human travel and inter-person contact, therefore reducing transmission of Coronavirus (COVID-19) within the human population.

To ensure the ongoing safety of our staff, clients and patients, a limited number of vaccinations are being performed – prioritising those animals most at risk or most in need, whilst maintaining stringent biosecurity protocols. If your pet is already registered with us and receives reminders, we will contact you to arrange their vaccination.

If you have a new puppy or kitten or have a specific query, our vets can give you advice regarding vaccinations and keeping your pet safe and happy. Please contact the practice and we will agree the best course of action.

Please be aware, the ability to safely vaccinate your pet is one of the many important factors to contemplate if you are thinking of getting a puppy or kitten during this period.

• Consider this advice from the RSPCA if you are thinking of getting a puppy: Thinking of getting a puppy while we’re on lockdown?
• Socialisation will be a little trickier during the COVID pandemic, but some helpful advice is given here: RSPCA_socialising a puppy during COVID advice; RSPCA_socialising a kitten during COVID advice.

The “Sounds Sociable” recorded sounds mentioned in this guidance are available for free from the Dogs Trust: Dogs Trust Sound Therapy

Frequently asked questions:

Dogs

My dog is due their annual vaccination, what should I do?

If your dog has had regular vaccinations as recommended by your vet, it is likely that they will keep a safe level of immunity for at least three months beyond their vaccination due date. After this time, a restart of their primary course may be recommended. Current government advice on social distancing, minimal travel and time spent outdoors will also reduce the risk your dog will encounter disease. Until your dog has received their vaccination, you can reduce risk further by avoiding contact with dogs of unknown vaccination status, access to stagnant water and contact with rodents. Therefore, your vet may consider it safe to temporarily postpone the annual vaccination.

If you usually receive reminders from us, we will contact you as soon as conditions allow, to arrange to see your dog for their vaccination.

My puppy is due their vaccination, what should I do?

If your puppy has not received a full vaccination course yet, we would advise keeping them in your enclosed garden only and do not allow contact with any unvaccinated dogs.

If your puppy has had the first part of their vaccination course, evidence suggests that up to 6 weeks can elapse between the first and second vaccines. If this interval is exceeded, we may need to restart their vaccination course.

Can my dog receive their kennel cough vaccination?

The kennel cough vaccination is not considered a core vaccination.  In light of the social distancing measures that are currently in place, your dog is significantly less likely to contract this disease. Therefore, it is generally considered safe to postpone kennel cough vaccination at this time.

If you need to board your dog during this period, please contact us to discuss if whether a kennel cough vaccination would be beneficial.

If you usually receive reminders from us, we will contact you as soon as conditions allow, to arrange to see your pet for their kennel cough vaccination.

Can my dog receive their rabies vaccination?

Rabies is not present in the UK and therefore this is not considered a core vaccination for dogs that reside here.

If you usually receive reminders from us, we will contact you as soon as conditions allow to arrange to see your pet for their rabies vaccination.

Current pet travel requirements are that a rabies vaccination must be administered at least 21 days prior to the date of travel if the vaccine has lapsed, so please bear in mind this 21 day ‘wait’ period if your pet’s vaccine is postponed beyond the ‘valid until’ date in their passport.  The advice regarding rabies vaccination and pet travel may also change after January 2021.

Cats

My cat is due their annual vaccination, what should I do?

If your cat has had regular vaccinations as recommended by your vet, it is likely that they will keep a safe level of immunity for at least three months beyond their vaccination due date. After this time, a restart of their primary course may be recommended. Until your cat has received their vaccination, you can reduce risk of contracting disease, by keeping your cat indoors. Therefore, your vet may consider it safe to temporarily postpone the annual vaccination.

If you usually receive reminders from us, we will contact you as soon as conditions allow to arrange to see your cat for their vaccinations.

My kitten is due their vaccination, what should I do?

If your kitten has not received a full vaccination course yet, we would advise that you do not let them outside and avoid bringing any new unvaccinated cats into the household.

If your kitten has had the first part of its vaccination course, evidence suggests that up to 6 weeks can elapse between the first and second vaccines. If this interval is exceeded, we may need to restart their vaccination course.

Rabbits

My rabbit is due their vaccination, what should I do?

If your rabbit’s vaccination has lapsed, we would recommend for you to move your rabbit(s) indoors to prevent contact from wild rabbits and continue to monitor them closely as change can be stressful for rabbits too.

We recommend using appropriate insecticides/repellents to prevent disease transmission through biting insects; we can prescribe appropriate products and post these to you. You can also consider covering the hutch with a fine mesh to prevent biting insect access.

If you usually receive reminders from us, we will contact you as soon as conditions allow to arrange to see your rabbit for their vaccinations.

 

Your veterinary team is here and able to support you with telephone consultations and urgent and emergency appointments where applicable.

Please contact us if you have any specific questions or pet health concerns.

As the situation may change over time, we may issue further updates in due course.

We recognise that there are questions around animal transmission of Coronavirus Covid19.

The World Organisation for Animal Health states that “There is no evidence that companion animals, such as dogs, play a role in the spread of this human disease or that they become sick.”

If you are diagnosed with Covid-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you restrict contact with your pets as a precautionary animal health measure, until more information is known about the virus. If you must care for your pet while sick, it is recommended that you wash your hands before and after any interaction with your pet and wear a facemask, just as a precaution.

In the very unlikely event that your pet shows clinical signs, please do not bring it in to the practice; please ring us for further advice. Visit our “Contact us” page for all our contact details.

We are delighted to announce a new SignVideo service for our deaf clients who use British Sign Language (BSL).

The free SignVideo service for deaf clients who use British Sign Language (BSL) works using video calls connected to fully qualified BSL interpreters and enables deaf clients to communicate through SignVideo either by calling the practice from home or when they attend the practice with their pet, for consultations, to pick up food, medication or for advice etc.

A client will need their own smartphone, computer or device with video and sound and their own data to use the service. The service is accessed by clicking on the SignVideo practice link from the practice contact us page on the website or using the SignVideo app.

You don’t need to go to the Horse Health Programme practice finder referred to in the video if you are already viewing this video from our practice website, you can access the Sign Video link from the Contact us Page on our website.

More information

To find out more about this service including the equipment you need, and to view the terms, click on the Deaf BSL Service page on our website.

The new service is available from 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays. Please note that this service may not cover all our opening hours, which you can check on our website.

To contact us now, using the new SignVideo service, click on the direct practice SignVideo link on our Contact Us page on the website.

The Cinnamon Trust is our charity of choice for 2020.

The charity provides support and peace of mind for elderly, hospitalised and terminally ill pet owners and their pets. The Trust’s primary objective is to respect and preserve the treasured relationship between owners and their pets.

What does The Cinnamon Trust do?

The Trust operates a national network of over 15,000 community service volunteers providing practical help when any aspect of day to day care poses a problem – for example, walking the dog for a housebound owner.

There is a national fostering service for pets whose owners face a spell in hospital – volunteers take pets into their own homes and care for them until owner and pet can be reunited.

The Trust also provides long term care for pets whose owners have died or moved to residential accommodation which will not accept pets.

When a pet is in the Trust’s care because the owner is in care, where possible the owner is kept in touch with visits or regular photos and letters.

How we can help The Cinnamon Trust?

In addition to the financial support that we can give through fundraising throughout the year, we all have the opportunity to make a positive difference for Cinnamon Trust by raising awareness of the work that they do throughout the UK.

The Trust is always on the lookout for volunteers who can help with dog walking or offering short term foster care for pets. Their website includes a map indicating the areas where they have the most urgent need for volunteer support. This is updated weekly.

The more volunteers they have the more people and pets they can help.

If you want to help, view the real time map and download a volunteer registration form.

The Cinnamon Trust regularly post heart-warming news and valuable information on their Facebook page, be sure to give them a like to stay updated.

They are also happy to accept personal donations via their Facebook page as Facebook does not not charge a fee for this service.