Skin allergies, gastrointestinal disease among most common conditions that prompt veterinary visits

Skin allergies, gastrointestinal disease among most common conditions that prompt veterinary visits

Top 10 medical conditions represent more than 40% of Nationwide® 3.5 million claims

Pet parents know that planned and unplanned visits to the veterinarian are to be expected when caring for four-legged family members. To help pet families understand which medical maladies most commonly prompt those trips, Nationwide^® analyzed its database of more than 1.2 million insured pets to determine the top conditions affecting dogs and cats, and provide costs associated with treatment.

"When we talk about protecting pets, our minds often go to worst-case scenarios like broken bones or cancer. These are most certainly situations where having pet insurance can help, but we might not always give proper thought to the everyday reasons our pets will visit the vet," said Dr. Jules Benson, Nationwide's Chief Veterinary Officer and Vice President of Pet Health. "Common conditions like skin allergies and heart disease can result in costs for visits, tests and medications that add up quickly, and often require lifelong care. At Nationwide, we know the value in having a plan for everyday pet problems, as well as those that are more unusual!"

Key takeaways

• In 2023, Nationwide members filed more than 1.5 million individual claims to treat top 10 medical conditions affecting dogs and cats
• For the 12^th year, skin allergies is most the most common health issue for dogs, with more than 410,500 individual claims received in 2023 (up from 373,000 the year before)
  • Skin allergies represent 20% of total unique claims for dogs in 2023
• Diarrhea/intestinal upset tops the list for cats with more than 25,000 individual claims received in 2023
• Conditions common among both dogs and cats:
  • Gastrointestinal disease ranks among top two conditions for both species
  • Arthritis is a top-five condition among both
  • Dental disease shows up among top six conditions for both
  • Other conditions common among both species include urinary tract infection and respiratory infection

Pet parents may learn more about these and many other pet diseases and conditions by visiting the Pet HealthZone.

With Nationwide pet health insurance, many veterinary expenses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of these common conditions are eligible for reimbursement based on the member's chosen coverage. To explore pet health insurance coverage for dogs, cats, and many avian or exotic pets, visit petinsurance.com.

* This number was calculated by analyzing the 80th percentile of costs Nationwide pet insurance policyholders reported within the first 30 days after diagnosis for a given condition.