Consumers urged to protect against debt

Property and pet owners have been urged to cover themselves against unexpected costs that may lead to debt this week.

Asda Financial Services has reminded people of the potential cost of pet emergencies after a Great Dane swallowed a two-foot-long stick recently, running up a predicted vets` bill of around £2,000.

The average cost of emergency surgery on a family dog is £1,312 said Asda, citing WhatPrice.co.uk.

Sums such as this could lead to pet owners facing debt problems, as they can cause "a massive dent in family finances", according to the supermarket.

Meanwhile, the AA has been recommending people with holiday homes to ensure they have sufficient contents insurance, after research from Zurich found one in ten owners of second properties are not properly insured.

"When you`re taking out insurance and you`re looking at contents, it`s important to make sure you`ve got sufficient cover for everything and that you do include everything," said Ian Crowder of the company.

Zurich Private Clients said the average holiday home contains £15,200 worth of valuables.