Columbus, Ohio — For veterinarians, treating canine and feline conditions such as dermatitis, otitis externa, and gastropathy is part of daily practice, but these common conditions can be unexpected and costly in the eyes of pet owners.
“When we talk about protecting pets from the unexpected, many families may envision things like traumatic injuries, poisoning, or the ingestion of foreign objects,” he said. Dr. Jules BensonNationwide Vice President, Pet Health and Chief Veterinarian. “While these are certainly situations where it would be beneficial to have pet health insurance, our data actually shows that the majority of claims come from very common situations.”
in 2022, nationally Pet health insurance members have filed more than 1.43 million claims for treatment related to the 10 most common medical conditions affecting dogs and cats. The nation’s pet health protection leader analyzed his database of more than 1.2 million pets to identify the top medical conditions that prompted veterinary visits for dogs and cats last year:
|
dog |
the cats |
| 1. Atopic or allergic dermatitis | 1. Chronic kidney disease |
| 2. Otitis externa | 2. Cystitis |
| 3. Enteropathy | 3. Gastropathy |
| 4. Gastropathy | 4. Enteropathy |
| 5. Pyoderma | 5. Hyperthyroidism |
| 6. Inflammation of the anal gland vesicles | 6. Dental disease (tooth infection, cavity, abscess) |
| 7. Arthritis | 7. Diabetes |
| 8. Benign skin tumors | 8. Atopic or allergic dermatitis |
| 9. Cystitis | 9. Upper respiratory infection |
| 10. Dental disease (tooth infection, cavity, abscess) | 10. Otitis externa |
“Year after year, we see that ear infections, urinary and gastrointestinal conditions, and skin allergies account for large portions of the claims Nationwide receives for cats and dogs,” says Dr. Benson. As doctors know, all conditions can start small but become serious, even chronic, if left untreated. Having a solution to protect pets can make a huge difference in whether pet parents seek veterinary care early, and then in which diagnoses and treatments are applicable for them.”
Among insured dogs nationwide:
- For the 11th year in a row, skin allergy was the most common health issue, with more than 373,000 individual claims received (up from 335,000 in 2021).
- For a single dog, the highest cost for a skin allergy diagnosis came to just over $9,480, from a dog in New York with multiple chronic diseases. He receives monthly Cytopoint injections, as well as daily oral Atopica injections and weekly home allergy shots.
Among the nationally insured cats:
- Chronic kidney disease regained the top spot as the most common medical condition, with more than 18,400 individual claims received.
- For a single cat, the highest cost of any of the top 10 conditions came in at more than $19,821 A cat from Georgia had a severe diabetic attack. He was admitted to a veterinary emergency center but declined so quickly that he was transferred to a specialized 24-hour center under the care of a certified veterinary vet. This team managed to stabilize him and get him back on his feet. He is now receiving insulin to control his diabetes and he is doing well at home.
With Nationwide Pet Health Insurance, many veterinary expenses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of these common conditions are eligible for reimbursement based on the coverage the member chooses. To explore pet health insurance coverage for dogs, cats, and many birds or exotic pets, visit petinsurance.com.
About nationwide pet insurance
With more than 1.2 million pets insured, Nationwide is the number one and largest provider of pet health insurance in the United States. Nationwide pet health insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets for many medical problems and conditions related to accidents, illnesses, and injuries. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Products sourced by Pet Veterinary Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH; National Casualty Corporation (all other states), Columbus, Ohio. Recording Agency: DVM Insurance Agency. All are subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Pet owners can find nationwide pet insurance Facebook or continue Twitter. For more information on nationwide pet insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.