Pet insurance specialist, Animal Friends, has released data from 260,000 claims made last year to help potential dog owners make an informed decision on the breed they choose to purchase.
It comes as puppy purchases have risen dramatically both during and after lockdown. The group has warned that if decisions on breeds are made quickly, new owners may not understand the details of their chosen breed, or contemplate the health support it may need in the future.
With certain health problems more commonly associated with certain breeds, the group has shared its claims data to help owners learn more about the care involved in the top 20 most popular dog breeds.
The group has used data claims from last year to create the The Breed Health Guide, a series of online guides for the public to view.
It features breed-specific guides showing the conditions each breed is more likely to make a claim for, and the exact details of those conditions. The guides also examine the average costs per condition, enabling prospective to compare the potential vet care costs between the most popular breeds.
As well as being able to discover the top 20 breeds which make the most claims, owners can access professional veterinary advice from Animal Friends Insurance partner Joii Pet Care, which provides a guide on how to prevent and treat conditions affecting the breeds highlighted.
Wes Pearson, managing director for Animal Friends Insurance, said: “We’re on a mission to help potential dog owners make an informed decision when it comes to choosing a breed of dog, whether you take home a new puppy or rescue a dog from a shelter.
“As an organisation which has donated over £4 million to animal charities, we wanted to do our part to help anyone considering a dog to access thorough research on a breed at the click of a button.”
He added: “There is so much information online and it can be difficult to know who to trust, but we hope by releasing our data it’s now easier than ever to see at a glance, the types of health conditions dog breeds can be affected by and the potential costs involved.
“We’ve also gone one step further, using our partnership with the vets at Joii Pet Care to share ways in which these conditions can be managed and prevented, to help keep dogs and their owners living happy and fulfilled lives together.”
