A leading veterinary charity has revealed the cost of providing care to sick and injured pets for an extra day this leap year.
The UK’s largest vet charity, PDSA, has revealed that it is predicting additional costs of around £216,000 on 29 February, as it expects to provide its veterinary services to over 4,800 pets across its 48 Pet Hospitals – 249 of which are predicted to be emergency cases.
Each year, the charity prevents the unnecessary suffering of over 430,000 pets by providing free and low-cost treatment – equating to 10 pets every minute.
To understand the full extent of the costs involved this leap day, the charity – which receives no government funding – has revealed the average costs involved in emergency cases. One road traffic accident involving a cat can cost the charity on average £1,470, while emergency treatment for a seizure has an average cost of £335, and a blocked bladder an average of £680.
PDSA Vet Nurse, Shauna Walsh, said: “This leap year, the doors to our Pet Hospitals will open for an extra day, meaning we’ll help to protect the bond between even more pets and their loving owners. To help us continue our support, we’re calling on the generosity of pet lovers to do something special this leap year and help us raise funds to save pets’ lives.
“Every day, our veterinary teams in our PDSA Pet Hospitals work hard to keep the nation’s pets happy and healthy. From carrying out routine consultations to performing life-saving operations, we provide compassionate veterinary treatment for the sick and injured pets of people who otherwise could struggle to afford to pay.
“The reality is that helping more poorly pets this leap year will come at a price. We know times are hard for many people, so greatly appreciate any donations to ensure we can continue to provide our valuable services.”
