Top 10 Most Common Dog and Cat Ailments Revealed

BREA, Calif., March 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet owners spent more than $15 billion dollars* on veterinary care last year, and much of that cost was used to treat minor ailments. Pets require routine medical attention just like their human counterparts, and while common issues such as ear infections and skin allergies are rarely life-threatening, they can be unexpected and expensive. Nationwide, the nation's first and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently sorted through its database of more than 550,000 insured pets to determine the top medical conditions that prompted veterinary visits for dogs and cats in 2015. Below are the results:

Dogs	Cats
1.   Skin Allergies	1.    Bladder or Urinary Tract Disease
2.   Ear Infection	2.    Periodontitis/Dental Disease
3.   Non-cancerous Skin Mass	3.    Chronic Kidney Disease
4.   Skin Infection	4.    Vomiting/Upset Stomach
5.   Arthritis	5.    Excessive Thyroid Hormone
6.   Periodontitis/Dental Disease	6.    Diarrhea/Intestinal Upset
7.   Vomiting/Upset Stomach	7.    Diabetes
8.   Diarrhea/ Intestinal Upset	8.    Upper Respiratory Infection
9.   Bladder or Urinary Tract Infection	9.    Skin Allergies
10. Soft Tissue Trauma (Bruise or Contusion)	10.  Inflammatory Bowel Disease

"We encourage pet owners to schedule regular medical checkups as recommended by their veterinarians to prevent many common, yet problematic medical conditions," said Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for Nationwide. "It's also important for pet owners to get familiar with their pet's daily habits to help identify oddities in their routine. The majority of top 10 conditions can be managed with the help of a veterinarian, and early detection can prevent many of these issues from becoming severe, limiting the cost of treatment."

Last year, Nationwide members spent more than $77 million to treat the 10 most common medical conditions affecting their pets. Last year, skin allergies were the most common health issue among Nationwide insured canines with more than 80,000 individual claims at an average cost of $210 per dog. Bladder or urinary tract diseases accounted for the most common medical condition amongst Nationwide insured felines with more than 4,700 claims received at an average cost of $441 per cat.

Non-cancerous skin masses accounted for the most costly canine medical condition on the list with an average cost of $347 per dog. The most expensive feline medical condition on the list was diabetes, which carries a significantly higher cost of $862 per cat. 

*According to the American Pet Products Association

About Nationwide pet insurance
With more than 550,000 insured pets, pet insurance from Nationwide, formerly known as Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), is the first and largest pet health insurance provider in the United States. Since 1982, Nationwide has helped provide pet owners with peace of mind and is committed to being the trusted choice of America's pet lovers.

Nationwide plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Wellness coverage for routine care is available for an additional premium. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, one in three Fortune 500 companies offers pet insurance from Nationwide as an employee benefit.

Insurance plans are offered and administered by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and DVM Insurance Agency in all other states. Underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Brea, CA, an A.M. Best A rated company (2013); National Casualty Company (all other states), Madison, WI, an A.M. Best A+ rated company (2014). Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide Is On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2016 Nationwide. Pet owners can find Nationwide pet insurance on Facebook or follow on Twitter. For more information about Nationwide pet insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.

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SOURCE Nationwide