ar infections were the top reason dogs were taken to the veterinarian in 2007, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif. The company analyzed its medical claims to determine the most commonly claimed conditions for dogs and cats. The top reason cats were taken to the veterinarian was because of urinary tract infections. For both dogs and cats, the top 10 conditions accounted for about 25 percent of all medical claims received in 2007 by VPI. Top Reasons Dogs Went to the Vet • Ear infections • Skin allergies • Pyoderma/ hot spots • Gastritis/ vomiting • Enteritis/ diarrhea • Urinary tract infections • Benign skin tumors • Eye inflammation • Osteoarthritis • Hypothyroidism Top Reasons Cats Went to the Vet • Urinary tract infections • Gastritis/ vomiting • Chronic renal failure • Enteritis/ diarrhea • Diabetes mellitus • Skin allergies • Colitis/ constipation • Ear infections • Respiratory infections • Hyperthyroidism The biggest change on either list was feline enteritis, which jumped from No. 16 in 2006 to No. 4 in 2007. Also, almost a third of all the common conditions could be related to or exacerbated by diet, diet changes or dietary indiscretions. “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 Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. The most expensive of the common canine conditions in 2007 was benign skin tumors, with an average submitted claim fee of $327. For cats, it was renal failure at $279. <HOME>
