Study Data from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Update Understanding of Veterinary Research (Pet insurance uptake is associated with dog and owner demographics and health status based on Dog Aging Project survey data): Veterinary Medicine – Veterinary Research

2026 MAY 25 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Daily Veterinary News -- New research on Veterinary Medicine - Veterinary Research is the subject of a report. According to news reporting out of Blacksburg, Virginia, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “To describe the demographics of dog owners and dogs with pet insurance enrolled in the Dog Aging Project (DAP), a large population of dogs in the US, and examine the impact of pet insurance on owners’ perception of their dog’s health. In this cross-sectional study, 47,444 dog owners’ responses from the DAP initial enrollment survey, the Health and Life Experience Survey, were analyzed from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2023.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, “Dog and dog owner demographic data were collected and compared using descriptive statistics. Owner-perceived health status of their dog was compared between insured and uninsured dogs using a ch2 test of significance. 10,127 of 47,444 DAP participants (21%) have a pet insurance policy. Insured dog owners were 25 to 44 years old, non-White, and professional degree earners compared to the overall DAP population. Insured dogs were young, single-breed dogs obtained from breeders for purposes other than companionship compared to the overall DAP population. Five thousand, five hundred and fourteen of 10,127 insured dogs (54%) and 17,979 of 37,317 uninsured dogs (48%) are perceived to be in excellent health, a statistically significant difference. This study illustrates that certain demographic factors are more common among insured dogs and dog owners. The health status of dogs with pet insurance is statistically different compared to those without it. Further investigation of this association is warranted.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “This information can inform veterinary discussions with pet owners about pet insurance.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Pet insurance uptake is associated with dog and owner demographics and health status based on Dog Aging Project survey data. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2026:1-9. American Journal of Veterinary Research can be contacted at: Amer Veterinary Medical Assoc, 1931 N Meacham Rd Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360, USA.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Janice S. O’Brien, Dept. of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. Additional authors for this research include Aliya W. McCullough, Courtney Sexton and Audrey Ruple.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.26.02.0065. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Publisher contact information for the American Journal of Veterinary Research is: Amer Veterinary Medical Assoc, 1931 N Meacham Rd Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360, USA.

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