Nationwide Identifies the Most Common Reasons Pets Need Veterinary Care
COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 19, 2025 — Regular vet visits are a fact of life for pet owners. To offer insight into the health challenges faced by our four-legged companions, Nationwide® has released its annual analysis of pet insurance claims, offering details on the most common health issues affecting dogs and cats.
“From itchy skin to upset stomachs, the most common health issues affecting pets are the ones veterinarians see every day,” said Dr. Emily Tincher, Chief Veterinary Officer at Nationwide. “When a pet is diagnosed with a chronic condition, the financial impact can be just as worrying as the diagnosis itself. Many of these conditions require ongoing care, with costs increasing significantly over time. Understanding potential health risks and planning ahead can help pet parents navigate these challenges and ensure their pets receive the care they need.”
Key Findings for Dogs
For the 13th year, skin allergies remain the most frequent reason for vet visits among insured dogs. The top eight conditions from the previous year remained consistent, with kidney failure appearing on the list for the first time.
Notably, cruciate tear, seizures, and respiratory infections were closely ranked, with kidney failure edging out the competition.
Top Conditions for Nationwide-Insured Dogs
Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 conditions for dogs, along with the average cost within the first 30 days of diagnosis:
- Skin allergies: $265
- Gastroenteritis: $702
- Otitis externa: $304
- Osteoarthritis: $414
- Trauma: $708
- Dental disease: $1,284
- Urinary tract infection: $533
- Valvular heart disease: $553
- Liver disease: $499
- Kidney failure: $575
Five of the top 10 conditions are chronic, meaning they need ongoing treatment and care:
- Skin allergies: $841 (full-year cost)
- Arthritis: $1,093 (full-year cost)
- Heart disease: $1,203 (full-year cost)
- Liver disease: $770 (full-year cost)
- Kidney failure: $992 (full-year cost)
Key Findings for Cats
For the second year in a row, diarrhea/intestinal upset tops the list of common ailments for cats. While the first six conditions remained unchanged from the previous year, there was some shuffling among the bottom four.
Top Conditions for Nationwide-Insured Cats
The top 10 conditions for cats and their associated first-30-day costs are:
- Gastroenteritis: $802
- Urinary tract disease: $943
- Kidney failure: $655
- Dental disease: $1,517
- Osteoarthritis: $439
- Hyperthyroid disease: $511
- Inflammatory bowel disease: $828
- Diabetes mellitus: $850
- Respiratory infection: $534
- Skin allergies: $318
Six of the top 10 conditions for cats are chronic, leading to the potential for substantial long-term costs:
- Kidney disease: $1,201 (full-year cost)
- Arthritis: $1,274 (full-year cost)
- Hyperthyroidism: $1,145 (full-year cost)
- Inflammatory bowel disease: $1,464 (full-year cost)
- Diabetes: $2,240 (full-year cost)
- Skin allergies: $592 (full-year cost)
Pet owners can take steps to learn more about their pet’s potential risks and seek early intervention. Pet parents can visit the Nationwide Pet HealthZone®, a free website with information on over 100 dog breeds and 11 cat breeds, to learn how to keep their pets healthy. With Nationwide pet health insurance, many veterinary expenses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of these common conditions are eligible for reimbursement based on their chosen coverage. To explore options, pet owners can visit petinsurance.com.
About Nationwide Pet Insurance
With over one million insured pets, Nationwide is the largest provider of pet health insurance in the United States. Nationwide pet health insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds, and exotic pets for a wide range of medical issues related to accidents, illnesses, and injuries. Plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Products underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH; National Casualty Company (all other states), Columbus, OH. Agency of Record: DVM Insurance Agency. All are subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Insurance terms, definitions, and explanations are intended for informational purposes only and do not in any way replace or modify the definitions and information contained in individual insurance contracts, policies, or declaration pages, which are controlling. Pet owners can find Nationwide pet insurance on Instagram. For more information about Nationwide pet insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is a major financial services and insurance organization in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader championing customer-focused innovation, Nationwide offers a variety of insurance and financial service products, including auto, business, homeowners, farm, and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle, and boat insurance. For more information, go to www.nationwide.com.
Contact
Lyndsey Kleven (614) 249-6349 [email protected]
