Dr. Nichole Agarwal Discusses the #7 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.
#7 Most Commonly Claimed Condition for Cats: Lymphoma
For Dr. Agarwal, many dogs with lymphoma will initially come in with vomiting as there is a link between Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and lymphoma.
“What I’ll do is the same as with IBD: conduct blood tests, fecal tests, urine tests, x-rays and ultrasound. The only way to diagnose lymphoma it is to biopsy the intestines,” she explains. “For preventative measures for lymphoma, it’s really important to properly treat cases of IBD.”
#7 Most Commonly Claimed Condition for Dogs: Vomiting
As many pet parents know, “dogs are prone to eat things they shouldn’t, more so than cats, so we first worry about what they might have gotten into,” Dr. Agarwal explains when asked about the difference between vomiting cases in cats and dogs. “It’s also usually acute, rather than chronic, so we’ll do blood, urine and x-rays to make sure we didn’t miss anything, then treat with a bland diet, probiotics and anti-nausea meds supported by fluids and antacids.”
For prevention, she recommends that dogs eats the correct proportions of foods. They should be fed at least twice a day and the portions need to be right for their size. Pet parents should also try to avoid feeding their dog extra fatty food or table scraps, and to make sure that all snacks are safe and healthy for pets.
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.
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.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
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