Healthy Paws Pet Insurance® Releases First-Ever Cost of Pet Care Report

Research Uncovers Veterinary Care Parallels Human Healthcare Technology

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Nov 15, 2016, 09:43 ET

SEATTLE, Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthy Paws Pet Insurance—the #1 customer-rated provider of insurance for dogs and cats, released its first-ever Cost of Pet Care 2016 report today, revealing how advances in veterinary medicine are impacting the cost of medical treatment for pets. The report utilizes data from 215,000 claims submitted by Healthy Paws customers over the course of a year and examines the most common accidents and illnesses for cats and dogs, new treatments and diagnostics available to pets nationwide, and their associated costs.

Increase in Treatment Costs by Condition

"This report was developed to better understand the financial decisions facing pet parents today," said Rob Jackson, co-founder of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. "We'll do whatever it takes to keep our pets happy and healthy. While advances in veterinary care are leading to more effective treatments for dogs and cats, the costs associated can become a big burden to pet parents."

The Cost of Pet Care 2016 report outlines the top 10 accident and illness claims for both dogs and cats, detailing signs and symptoms of each condition, the costs associated with cutting-edge treatments, and how advancements in diagnostics can positively impact a pet's quality of life. According to the report, pets now have access to some of the same diagnostic tools and treatments used in human healthcare, including MRIs, flu shots, laser surgery, and hip and knee replacements, as well as alternative medicine like acupuncture and hydrotherapy.

Diagnostics for ailments as common as stomach conditions – the most frequently occurring incident for dogs and cats alike – have benefitted from these technological advancements. Through these innovations, vets can utilize digital X-rays, biopsies, and CT scans to find the source of a pet's discomfort, however, the use of these tools can cost pet parents upwards of $3,000. Similarly, pain incidents in dogs – previously difficult to treat if nothing obvious appeared on an X-ray – can now be diagnosed with a simple MRI or CT scan. While those diagnostics can cost as much as $4,500, identifying the root cause allows vets to treat pain appropriately, sometimes with alternative therapies such as chiropractic and massage.

Advancements in veterinary medicine give pets the opportunity to live longer and healthier lives; however as advanced medical care grows more expensive, pet parents may struggle to pay the bill, making pet insurance an investment worth considering.

For the full list of top accidents and illnesses for cats and dogs and an in-depth look at the Cost of Pet Care 2016 report, please visit https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/cost-of-care.

For more information about Healthy Paws Pet Insurance visit www.HealthyPawsPetInsurance.com.

ABOUT HEALTHY PAWS PET INSURANCE
Healthy Paws is one of the leading pet insurance program providers in the U.S. for dogs and cats, and is ranked #1 by customers on leading review websites. Chubb, an A+ rated insurance carrier, underwrites its insurance policies. The Healthy Paws Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides cash grants to pet adoption organizations specifically for life-saving vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries and advanced medical treatments of homeless pets in their care. To learn more about their mission to save more homeless pets and how you can help, visit https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/how-we-help. For more information about Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, visit https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com.

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SOURCE Healthy Paws Pet Insurance