Veterinary Pet Insurance Reveals

Top Pet Wounds

Most Common Wounds Caused by Pet Fights and Animal Attacks

Brea, Calif. (July 30, 2008) — From four-legged foes to foxtails, wound threats surround our pets. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently mined its claims data to find the most common pet wounds in 2007. Claims for lacerations and bite wounds topped the list. VPI’s adjusters report that the majority of laceration/bite wound claims the company received in 2007 were the result of dogs or cats fighting with other dogs or cats, or the consequence of clashes with wild animals such as raccoons, coyotes and squirrels.

Top Pet Wounds

1. Lacerations/Bite Wounds
2. Torn Nail
3. Insect Bites and Stings
4. Abrasion
5. Eye Trauma
6. Puncture
7. Foreign Object in Skin
8. Foreign Object in Ear
9. Foreign Object in Foot
10. Snakebite

VPI received more than 11,000 claims for lacerations and bite wounds in 2007, about three times more than any other common wound. These conditions combined cost VPI policyholders more than $2 million in 2007 and on average, nearly $350 per claim. Depending on the severity, a laceration may require stitches and bandaging, accompanied by antibiotics to fight infection. Sometimes more extensive surgery is needed if a laceration or bite wound is deep enough to damage tendons and ligaments or puncture internal organs. Besides fights, lacerations can occur during amateur grooming attempts, or run-ins with the sharp edge of an immobile object, like a barbed wire fence, metal lawn edging or a tree branch.

“Lacerations and bite wounds frequently occur when a pet is simply defending his territory,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “A pet who feels threatened will fight violently to defend an area or face down a perceived predator. To avoid costly altercations, pet owners should monitor pets closely, especially during interactions with other pets or potential exposure to wild animals.”

Aside from attacks from other pets and wildlife, plant-based foreign objects posed a common wound threat in 2007. The majority of these claims involved foxtails, burrs and other seed pods that attach to a pet’s fur. These burrowing grasses and weeds don’t always stop at the fur and can penetrate deep into a pet’s skin and even become lodged in internal organs. The ears and paws are the most common entry points. If foxtails and burrs are not quickly discovered, their migration into the body can leave a trail of infection that can be difficult for a veterinarian to locate and treat. McConnell recommends pet owners feel a pet’s fur and body for objects that may have inadvertently collected in the pet’s coat during an outdoor excursion and then remove the objects promptly.

Adding to the list of outdoor threats, VPI received more than 2,500 claims related to insect bites and stings, the third most common wound claim in 2007. Combined, insect bites and stings cost VPI pet owners about $140 per incident. Bee stings composed the bulk of these claims; however, attacks from spiders, scorpions, wasps and flies also contributed. To treat wounds from bees and other stinging insects, a veterinarian may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication, while some severe spider bites may cause such extensive damage that the pet requires surgery to remove dead skin around the bite. Fly strike, a condition in which flies congregate and lay eggs in a pet’s exposed tissues, is commonly treated by removing the larvae, intensive wound care and antibiotic therapy. Application of a spray or ointment to keep flies away is necessary to prevent reinfestation.

Other common wounds included torn nails, eye trauma and snakebites. Snakebites, though relatively low in frequency of claims, were highest in wound treatment cost in 2007. The average snakebite cost VPI policyholders $580 per claim in 2007, a hefty fee mostly due to the expensive antivenin and hospitalization necessary to treat severe bites. Torn nails typically occur when a pet attempts to move quickly with a nail unknowingly stuck or caught in an object. Crocheted items and some carpets are particularly prone to catching pets’ nails. Any of the previously mentioned laceration causes can be responsible for eye trauma, most notably low-lying branches that catch and scratch an open eye.

“Wounds are scary, especially if a pet is attacked or bleeds excessively,” said McConnell. “The best thing a pet owner can do is to remain calm and transport the wounded pet to a veterinarian immediately. While there’s no way to eliminate all wound threats, pet owners can prevent some of the most common wounds by being aware of their pet’s surroundings, supervising their pet’s physical activity and regularly examining their pet’s body.”

About Veterinary Pet Insurance

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the nation’s oldest and largest pet health insurance company. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America’s pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional Pet WellCare Protection^SM for routine care is also available.

Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 1,600 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.