A bearded dragon with an abscess, and a Burmese python with anorexia were among a record number of pets treated in the UK under insurance policies last year.
The bearded dragon, a kind of lizard, had its sore jaw treated at a cost of 410 pounds.
The food-resistant python proved even more expensive, costing 790 pounds to treat, the BBC reported.
They were both among 932,000 pet insurance claims made in 2016, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
The total amount paid out to policy-holders was 706 million pounds, a seven per cent increase on 2015 and also a record high.
The average cost of a claim is now 757 pounds, a five per cent rise on 2015.
"There is no NHS for pets, and the cost of getting quality veterinary treatment can quickly run into thousands of pounds, particularly with rising veterinary costs and a greater range of medical treatments for pets now available," said Rebecca Hollingsworth, general insurance policy adviser at the ABI.
However most pet owners do not bother with insurance. Only 30 per cent of dog owners and 16 per cent of cat owners pay for an annual policy, the report said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
