Cost of pet ownership vastly underestimated
According to the PDSA's estimates, owning a dog costs on average £16,000-£31,000.
Client understanding of the cost of ownership is the top concern for vets, according to the PDSA's latest PAW report.
Speaking at the BSAVA Congress in Birmingham today, Nicola Martin from the PDSA revealed only five per cent of pet owners were able to correctly estimate the average cost of ownership as more than £10,000 during the lifetime of the pet.
Nearly a fifth of the owners who responded to the survey estimated the cost as being between £501-£1000, while 16 per cent thought costs would only be up to £500.
However, according to the PDSA's estimates, owning a dog costs on average £16,000-£31,000, while the cost for cats is £17,000 and for rabbits, £9,000.
Second on the list of concerns for vets is knowledge of the five welfare needs, which PDSA research suggests is declining. In 2011, 45 per cent of people who responded to the PAW report were aware of them, which fell to just 36 per cent last year.
Pre-purchase research by prospective pet owners was another issue highlighted during the discussion. A worrying 5 million pet owners did no research at all before buying their pet. Among those who did research, the majority (26 per cent) did so using the internet, while only six per cent sought the advice of a vet.
Nonetheless, the report does highlight some positives. In the past four years, the number of rabbits being fed a muesli-based diet has fallen by nearly a quarter, while 42 per cent are now being offered sufficient hay daily, compared to only 27 per cent in 2011.
Companionship remains a huge concern however, with over 60 per cent of owners who took part in the survey saying their rabbit lives alone.
Vaccinations, neutering and microchipping, however, have all increased in the past four years.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
