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, the PDSA, has revealed that it is forecasting additional costs of around £216,000 on February 29, as it expects to provide its veterinary services to more than 4,800 pets across its 48 Pet Hospitals – 249 of these are predicted to be emergencies. case.
Each year, the charity prevents the unnecessary suffering of over 430,000 pets by providing free and low-cost treatment – the equivalent of 10 pets every minute.
To understand the full extent of the costs involved in this leap day, the charity – which does not receive government funding – has revealed the typical costs involved in emergency cases. A road traffic accident involving a cat can cost the charity an average of £1,470, while emergency treatment for a seizure costs an average of £335, and a blocked bladder in average £680.
PDSA Vet Nurse, Shauna Walsh, said: “This leap year, the doors to our Pet Hospitals will be open for an extra day, meaning we’ll be helping to protect the bond between more pets and their loving owner. 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 at our PDSA Pet Hospitals work hard to keep the nation’s pets happy and healthy. From performing routine consultations to performing life-saving surgeries, we provide compassionate veterinary treatment for people’s sick and injured pets who would otherwise struggle to pay.
“The truth is that helping poorer pets this leap year pays off. We know times are tough for many people, so we would greatly appreciate any donations to ensure we can continue to provide our vital services.”
