Let’s face it when we take out an insurance policy we hope we’ll never have to make a pet insurance claim. After all, we want our four-pawed pals to stay fit and healthy.
Indeed, knowing the common pet insurance claims can help you to implement measures to help keep your barking buddy or meowing mate safe. Of course, accidents can and do happen but there’s a lot to be said for keeping your knowledge up to date and taking as many preventative actions as you can.
5 Common Pet Insurance Claims
You may be surprised to discover that the most common pet insurance claims are not for dogs that have been involved in a road accident or pets with broken bones. It seems most claims are for more everyday conditions.
1. Digestive upsets
Amongst the pet insurance claims that come under the banner of ‘digestive upsets’ are conditions such as gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Of course, gastroenteritis could be a reason why a pet is vomiting or suffering from diarrhoea, as these are amongst the typical symptoms.
Triggered by an infection and inflammation of the digestive system, there are some steps pet owners can take to help prevent their cat or dog from contracting the condition. Here are a few tips:
- Regularly worm your dog
- Keep up to date with vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments
- Discourage your dog from scavenging while out on walks
- Introduce any new foods into your pet’s diet slowly
- Ensure you are feeding your pet a highly nutritious and balanced diet
2. Eye problems
Conjunctivitis is common in dogs. Also known as pink eye or red eye, it’s an inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is an uncomfortable, itchy condition.
Signs include:
- Squinting or rapid blinking
- Redness and swelling of the membranes of the eye
- Discharge from the eye, ranging from clear fluids to yellow/green in colour
- Weepy eyes
- Pawing at eyes
- Rubbing face on the ground
There are several causes of conjunctivitis in dogs. However, a few common ones are allergy, viral or bacterial infection and trauma. While it’s difficult to completely prevent your dog from getting conjunctivitis, you can take steps to help maintain and protect the health of your dog’s eyes.
For example, if you have a dog that loves to stick his or her head out of the window while you’re driving you might try only opening the window ajar. This might help prevent foreign objects from going into your dog’s eyes.
You can also keep your dog’s face clean by wiping around the eye area or trimming the hair around the eyes.
Of course, if your dog contracts conjunctivitis regularly this might warrant a trip to the vet, as there may be an underlying cause.
3. Ear issues
Another common reason for owners to file a pet insurance claim is otitis externa (redness and swelling of the ear canal). AKA swimmer’s ear in humans, this is actually a fairly common issue amongst dogs. It is diagnosed when the cells that line the external ear canal become inflamed. There can be redness and scaling skin present too.
Signs include: head shaking, odor, redness of the skin, swelling, scratching, increased discharge, and scaly skin.
The mainstay of treatment for otitis externa is a topical antimicrobial or antibiotic. However, knowing the common causes can be helpful. This includes allergies, parasites and foreign objects. So, the best way to help your dog avoid getting otitis externa is to help keep allergies at bay and use preventative medicine to protect against parasites.
You may also choose to check your dog’s ears regularly and keep them clean, as a maintenance procedure. (NOTE: never use Q-Tips to clean your dog’s ears.)
4. Skin irritations
Dogs with skin problems regularly present to the vet, as such skin complaints are a fairly common reason for owners to claim on their pet insurance.
Whether it’s an adverse skin response from a tick or flea bite, loss of hair, or an allergic skin reaction, there are many skin conditions that can affect both cats and dogs.
To avoid having to make a pet insurance claim for a skin complaint, it pays to support good skin health in our pets. Some simple ways to do this include:
- Feeding your pet a balanced diet that’s rich in omega-6 (these are fatty acids that play a vital role in skin health)
- Using a gentle, non-irritating shampoo when bathing your pet
- Regularly groom your pet to keep their coat clean and free from irritants
- Regularly check your pet’s skin for signs of irritation
- Using preventative medicine to keep parasites at bay
5. Urinary tract infections (Cats)
According to several different insurance companies, urinary tract infection was among the most common conditions cat owners filed a pet insurance claim for. (Other popular conditions for cats include gastrointestinal concerns, diabetes and hyperthyroidism.)
Urinary tract infections (UTI) in cats are typically treated with a course of antibiotics. However, for some pets, UTI is a recurring problem, which can become costly to treat.
- Actions that can help prevent your pet from getting a UTI include:
- Regularly cleaning litter trays
- Protecting your pet’s immune system with a healthy, balanced diet or supplements, if needed.
- Ensuring your cat or dog always has access to clean, fresh water
While pet insurance gives you peace of mind, we all hope we won’t ever have to file a claim. Taking good care of your pet and the necessary actions to help keep them safe and well will hopefully mean trips to the vet are kept to a minimum!
Information sources:
Canstar. Top 10 Pet Insurance Claims. Accessed online Nov 2021 via: https://www.canstar.com.au/pet-insurance/top-10-pet-insurance-claims/
DVM 360. Top 3 Most Common Pet Insurance Claims. Accessed online Nov 2021 via: https://www.dvm360.com/view/top-3-most-common-pet-insurance-claims
My Vet Animal Hospital. Conjunctivitis in Dogs. Accessed online Nov 2021 via: https://myvetanimalhospital.com.au/my-dogs-eyes-are-red-and-swollen-conjunctivitis-in-dogs/
MDS Veterinary Manuals. Ear Disorders in Dogs. Accessed online Nov 2021 via: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/dog-owners/ear-disorders-of-dogs/ear-infections-and-otitis-externa-in-dogs
Image source: Photo by BRUNO EMMANUELLE on Unsplash
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