Pet health insurance company Veterinary Pet Insurance recently reviewed all medical claims it received in 2006 to identify the 10 most common reasons dogs were taken to the veterinarian.
Like the 2005 list, skin allergies, urinary tract infections, and upset stomachs remain near the top for dogs. A condition new to this year’s list is pyoderma, or “hot spots,” which reflects the prevalence of skin allergies among dogs.
Like humans, dogs can have allergic reactions. These allergies may cause a dog to lick or chew at an area on their skin until it creates a wound. Infected wounds from such self-inflicted trauma are what veterinarians deem as signs of pyoderma.
The 10 most common 2006 dog claims by incident are:
- Skin allergies
- Ear infections
- Stomach upsets
- Urinary tract infections
- Benign tumors
- Pyoderma
- Sprains
- Osteoarthritis
- Enteritis
- Eye infections
“Almost all pets will have one of these conditions throughout their life. In general, younger pets have a tendency to eat things they are not supposed to eat, which may result in stomach problems. Older pets are prone to tumors and arthritis,” said VPI Director of Veterinary Relations Carol McConnell.
“Daily care and attention is important. If you are touching your pet every day, you increase the chance of feeling a tumor, discovering an infection, or noticing if they have a sensitive area,” McConnell said.