Top 10 Dog and Cat Medical Conditions of 2009

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), receives more than a million claims annually for treatment of cats and dogs. This data reveals that just like people, many dogs and cats receive treatment for non-emergency as well as ongoing disorders:




A few of the top 10 dog and cat conditions can be associated with an animal's natural aging process. However, many of the top 10 conditions can occur in any pet. No matter the age or breed, whether it be an indoor or an outdoor dog or cat, pet owners should familiarize themselves with their pets' daily routine in order to identify abnormal behaviors that might indicate an injury or illness. In addition, regular semi-annual physical exams can help prevent and identify certain conditions before they become serious or costly.



Top 10 Dog Conditions

1. Ear Infection
2. Skin Allergy
3. Skin Infection/Hot Spots
4. Gastritis/Vomiting
5. Enteritis/Diarrhea
6. Bladder Infection
7. Arthritis
8. Soft Tissue Trauma
9. Non-cancerous Tumor
10. Eye Infection

Top 10 Cat Conditions

1. Lower Urinary Tract Disease
2. Gastritis/Vomiting
3. Chronic Renal Failure
4. Hyperthyroidism
5. Diabetes
6. Enteritis/Diarrhea
7. Skin Allergy
8. Dental Disease
9. Ear Infection
10. Eye Infection

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

A heart-warming tale for a cold winter night

'Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher In the spring of 2005, author Ingrid King met Buckley. All it took for King, a long-time veterinary hospital manager, was one look at the small homeless cat, and she fell in love. Hard. And fast. Soon, her life was transformed. In King's warmhearted memoir, Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, she shares the story of how -- rather unexpectedly -- one tortoiseshell cat touched her life forever. Buckley's presence in King's life leads the author to make major changes in her own life, inspired by the lessons this little cat taught through her joyful spirit and huge heart -- universal lessons that readers can apply to their own lives. But after only a few years, Buckley is diagnosed with advanced cardiac disease. In the following chapters of Buckley's Story, King tells of the sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes joyous, final months of Buckley's life. The human-feline bond is an unbreakable one, and King retells the story with poetic grace. This book is a celebration of life and a reflection of the never-ending love that anyone who has ever loved and lost a pet can surely relate to.