It is no secret that Britons are regarded as the most pet loving nation in the world, almost half of the homes in the UK harbour some sort of pet and according to recent research they may be harbouring other forms of life they will not be so keen on having.

Can I cover against pet damage?

A recent report by researchers at Bristol University revealed that Britain’s best loved pets, in the shape of dogs, were carrying far greater levels of pest infestation than was previously thought. Of course that also means that households across the UK will be home to the uninvited guests. In the past few years there has been a glowing clamour for household insurance companies to provide policies that cover pet owners from damage caused by pets, this latest report may well put paid to the chances of this happening.

Visitors from overseas

To make matters worse the researchers discovered that one of the ticks found on the pests was an invader from abroad. The foreigner was found to be prevalent in South East England and West Wales and is said to be a well known transporter of a number of diseases that can affect humans including Lyme’s Disease.

15% not up to scratch

The research involved the testing of over 3,500 dogs by over 170 veterinary surgeons, other interesting facts to emerge included that at any given time in the UK approximately 1 in 6 dogs were affected by ticks and fleas and that, unsurprisingly long haired dogs were more susceptible to infestation. Dogs in the South-West, East Anglia and parts of Scotland were worst affected by the pests but no region was “clean”.

Check with home insurance provider

Pet loving homeowners will know that there are many sprays and tablets on the market that promise to get rid of fleas and ticks on dogs, and that many sprays can be used around the house to stop the pests breeding. It is however, important that homeowners read carefully the instructions on the can and check with their home insurance broker on how it can affect their policy before going ahead and using it. The sprays can discolour carpets and furniture and may also leave an unpleasant odour in the atmosphere for a short time.