PET owners in the South West spend an average of £29 on Christmas presents for their animals, research has found.

A OnePoll survey commissioned by Totally Money has revealed Northern Ireland spoils its pets the most over the festive period, with the average owner spending £56.

The research also found 10 per cent of pet owners will spend more on their furry friend than their partner, with more than half of dogs in the country receiving a Christmas present.

And some pampered pooches are even treated to a special Christmas lunch, with 30 per cent indulging their dogs with festive fare.

The survey also highlighted the average cost of pets over their lifetime, lending credence to the saying that ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’.

The perceived cost of a dog over its lifetime is around £6,300 – however, the actual cost is more than £20,000.

Cat owners estimate spending around £5,500 on their felines over their lifetime, but the real cost is around £12,000, according to OnePoll.

In calculating the real cost of pets, factors including food, toys, insurance, healthcare, and grooming were taken into account.

Fish, hamsters and lizards are perceived to be the cheapest pets to own – but reptiles have been shown to be 14 times more expensive to keep than owners think.