More pets are treated for accidental injuries on Mondays than any other day of the week, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) of Brea, Calif., which recently analyzed its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to find the most dangerous days for pets in 2010. The company tracked accident claims by treatment day for a year to discover that more accidents occur in the summer months the day after holidays and weekends. Of the days of the week, Mondays had the largest average number of pets treated for accidental injuries at 152. Sundays were the lowest at 59. “The difference in the number of accidents treated between Sunday and Monday may indicate that treatment is more difficult to find on Sundays and holidays,” said Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “In case of an off-hours or holiday emergency, pet owners should know where to find the closest 24-hour animal hospital and have a plan for covering unexpected treatment costs. Preparation and timely treatment can make the difference between life and death.” The amount of accident claims treated spiked following holidays, particularly Labor Day, Memorial Day and Easter. June was the most dangerous month of the year, with 4,145 claims for an average of 138 pets treated each day for accidental injuries. The safest month was December with an average of 108 claims treated each day. In order to accurately assess the danger of a day, the company only analyzed claims submitted for injuries requiring immediate attention, such as broken bones, poisonings and lacerations. The data revealed that on the average day in 2010, about 118 VPI-insured pets were treated for severe accidental injuries. While some people may suspect that full moons cause an increase in emergency room visits and accidental injuries, VPI saw a slight decrease in the average number of pets treated for accidental injuries which was 107, on days with a full moon. Monday June 7 was 2010’s most dangerous day; Sunday January 10 was the least. VPI lists a day-by-day breakdown on its Facebook page. <Home>
