Veterinarians can leverage a recent report from pet health insurance provider Nationwide to better inform pet owners about health risks, preventative measures, treatment options, and associated costs. The report, based on data from over a million insured pets, identifies the most common medical conditions in both dogs and cats and quantifies their financial burdens on pet owners.
“Many of the most frequently diagnosed conditions require ongoing management, from skin allergies to arthritis,” stated Emily Tincher, DVM, chief veterinary officer at Nationwide. “Chronic conditions, in particular, can lead to significant cumulative costs. Veterinary teams can help pet-owning families make informed, long-term care decisions by helping them understand disease risks and treatment expenses.”
For dogs, skin allergies continue to be the most prevalent health concern, a distinction held for the 13th consecutive year. While the top eight conditions remained consistent with the previous year, kidney failure has entered the top 10, replacing respiratory infection, which dropped to the top 15. The report noted that five of the top 10 canine conditions are chronic and have costly long-term implications:
- Skin allergies: $841/year
- Osteoarthritis: $1,093/year
- Valvular heart disease: $1,203/year
- Liver disease: $770/year
- Kidney failure: $992/year
The report showed that gastroenteritis remains the most common condition in cats for the second year in a row. The top six conditions mirrored the previous year’s findings, though the rankings of the last four shifted slightly. Chronic illnesses are also prevalent among felines, with Nationwide reporting the following annual costs:
- Kidney disease: $1,201/year
- Osteoarthritis: $1,274/year
- Hyperthyroidism: $1,145/year
- Inflammatory bowel disease: $1,464/year
- Diabetes mellitus: $2,240/year
- Atopic/allergic dermatitis: $592/year
The findings underscore the increasing financial impact of chronic diseases in pets, emphasizing the importance of early detection and proactive management.
