Vets Reveal top 10 Reasons Pets Need Treatment

Many Common Conditions Linked to a Pet’s Diet or Allergies

There’s no way around it: sometimes Fluffy gets stuffy and even cats can end up sick as a dog. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently analyzed its medical claims received in 2007 to determine the top 10 most commonly claimed conditions for dogs and cats. For both canines and felines, the top 10 conditions accounted for about 25 percent of all medical claims received last year.

Canine                          Feline
1.  Ear Infections                     1.  Urinary Tract Infections
2.  Skin Allergies                     2.  Gastritis/Vomiting
3.  Pyoderma/Hot Spots        3.  Chronic Renal Failure
4.  Gastritis/Vomiting            4.  Enteritis/Diarrhea
5.  Enteritis/Diarrhea             5.  Diabetes Mellitus
6.  Urinary Tract Infections   6.  Skin Allergies
7.  Benign Skin Tumors          7.  Colitis/Constipation
8.  Eye Inflammation              8.  Ear Infections
9.  Osteoarthritis                     9.  Respiratory Infections
10. Hypothyroidism               10. Hyperthyroidism

“Some pet owners may be surprised by what’s not on the list,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “Falling just short of the top 10 are the major injuries that often motivate pet owners to purchase pet insurance — broken bones, poisonings or trauma from car accidents or animal attacks. While many people purchase pet insurance with a primary concern for injuries and accidents, they are often relieved to find that their policy is just as useful for the common conditions that are the more likely reasons to bring a pet to the veterinarian.”

Of the most common canine maladies, the only condition not on last year’s list, hypothyroidism, rose from No. 11 in 2006 to No. 10 in 2007, bumping sprains to No. 13. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, which is responsible for regulating the metabolism. Dogs with hypothyroidism may appear lethargic and gain weight despite a strict diet and exercise.

The most dramatic change on either list was the rise of feline enteritis from No. 16 in 2006 to No. 4 in 2007. Feline enteritis, which is characterized by dark, watery diarrhea, can be triggered by anything from stress, a change in diet, infection, or intestinal blockage.

Nearly a third of all the common conditions could be related to or exacerbated by diet, diet changes, or dietary indiscretions. These gastrointestinal problems typically result in vomiting or diarrhea. The most effective way to reduce common dietary conditions is to ask your veterinarian to recommend a quality pet food tailored to your pet’s dietary needs and to feed that food consistently.

“Gastrointestinal claims are common each year we publish our top 10 list, but our 2007 numbers indicate that pet owners took their pets’ gastrointestinal and dietary difficulties more seriously this past year, perhaps due to the pet food recall,” said McConnell.

Allergies were another influencing factor for several of VPI’s top conditions in 2007. Pet allergies usually manifest in continual itching or chewing of the skin, especially the skin around paws, ears and eyes. The top three conditions for dogs each involve inflammation or infection of the skin, commonly resulting from an allergic condition.

Some of the top 10 conditions can be associated with age-related changes in a pet, such as osteoarthritis and renal failure. However, most of the top 10 conditions can occur at any age to any pet — purebred or mixed, those kept inside or outside. No matter what age or breed of pet, pet owners should familiarize themselves with their pets’ daily routine in order to identify abnormal behaviors that might indicate an illness. In addition, regular semiannual physical exams can help prevent and identify certain conditions before they become chronic and costly.

If left untreated, any of the top 10 conditions could result in serious health problems and cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to treat. In 2007, the most expensive of the common canine conditions was benign skin tumors, with an average submitted claim fee of $327. For cats, the most expensive common condition was renal failure, with an average submitted claim fee of $279.

“The cost to treat pet illnesses may catch some pet owners off guard, especially if additional testing or ongoing medication is required,” said McConnell. “It is important for pet owners to plan for their pet’s unexpected health care expenses just as they do for pet food or grooming expenses. A VPI Pet Insurance policy provides an easy, affordable way to help take the sting out of pet health care expenses.”

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