Dr. Nichole Agarwal Discusses the #6 Most Commonly Claimed Medical Condition for Cats and Dogs
Pet health insurance (PHI) really does pay. From unexpected accidents to seasonal conditions, PHI enables pet parents to secure the best care possible for their pets instead of basing decisions on economics alone. To tell the story behind PHI and let pet parents know how others are using insurance, NAPHIA has interviewed veterinary practitioners to get their thoughts on the most commonly claimed medical conditions, including tips on preventative care for your pet.
Dr. Agarwal is a huge supporter of PHI, especially when it comes to treating ongoing conditions, which can be incredibly costly. On top of reducing the financial burden, she also finds that pet parents with PHI are more likely to run the necessary diagnostics right form the start, which leads to better overall care for their furry friends.
#6 Most Commonly Claimed Condition for Cats: Vomiting
“Vomiting in cats is very common,” Dr. Agarwal explains, and there can be many causes. Allergies are a common cause, and “one of the things that really helps to find out whether the cause is an allergy is switching to a hypoallergenic diet.” Other causes seen by Dr. Agarwal include inflammatory bowel disease, parasites and stomach worms. Stomach worms can be remedied by regular treatment, so she says she is “big on annual deworming” in her practice.
Kittens often exhibit a unique cause not as common in older cats. “In kittens, it can often be a foreign body, so we will run x-rays and give fluids.”
In the case of older cats, Dr. Agarwal will check for inflammatory liver or bowel disease, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism or hepatitis. This is why a blood panel, and then x-rays or ultrasound become necessary.
When asked about preventative measures, Dr. Agarwal recommends,”if it happens more than once a week, than you should bring them in to a veterinarian. Also, don’t let them play with strings.”
#6 Most Common Conditionly Claimed for Dogs: Dermatitis
When told that dermatitis was high up the list, Dr. Agarwal replied, “Yup, that’s really really common.” For treatement she recommends antibiotics, steroids, shampoo and flea control. There are many different kinds of dermatitis, so she’ll often do a derm database, skin scrapings and fungal culture to rule out mites, bacteria, yeast and fungus.
“This is often an annual seasonal issue and can be very costly, especially when it’s recurring [and because] we often don’t find out the root cause,” she explains. For a dog struggling with dermatitis, she tells pet parents to switch to “a hypoallergenic diet, ensure they are on flea control, use Preva medicated paw wipes and also get the dogs bathing with special shampoos that enhance the skin barrier.”
Is Your Pet Covered?
If your pets are already covered, we’d like to give you a furry high-five. Now, go out and spread the word! Don’t have coverage yet? Well, what are you waiting for?! Explore the Pet-Parents section of our website to learn more. With providers across the US and Canada, there is sure to be a company that’s just right for you and the ones you love.
Stay tuned for Dr. Agarwal’s insights on the number 7 condition. To see all of the Top 10 Most Common Medical Conditions for cats and dogs read our full article.
The Most Commonly Claimed Medical Conditions has been compiled from NAPHIA’s annual State of the Industry Report, providing everything you need to know about the marketplace in North America.
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