Dermatitis, gastroenteritis among most common conditions that prompt veterinary visits

Columbus, OH – Treating conditions like dermatitis and gastroenteritis is routine for veterinary healthcare teams but may be unsettling for pet families. To shed light on which medical maladies most commonly prompt those unplanned veterinary visits, Nationwide^® analyzed its database of more than 1.2 million insured pets to determine the top conditions affecting canines and felines, and provide average costs associated with treatment.  

“We know that veterinary healthcare teams are well aware of how common many of these conditions are and how costly it can be to manage them,” said Dr. Jules Benson, Nationwide's Chief Veterinary Officer and Vice President of Pet Health. “Every year, Nationwide’s top claims report brings that awareness to pet families – this year, it is boosted in 2024 by the addition of our Pet HealthZone. This digital resource brings together individual pet risk data, costs, breed info, and fun facts, helping educate pet families on the common (and uncommon!) conditions that their pets might be prone to.” 

Key takeaways 

• In 2023, Nationwide members filed more than 1.5 million individual claims to treat top 10 medical conditions affecting dogs and cats 
• For the 12^th year, atopic or allergic dermatitis is most the most common health issue for dogs with 410,500 individual claims received in 2023 (up from 373,000 the year before) 
• Skin allergies represent 20% of total unique claims for canines in 2023  
• Gastroenteritis tops the list for felines with more than 25,000 individual claims received in 2023 
• Conditions common among cats and dogs: 
  • Gastroenteritis ranks among top two conditions for both species 
  • Degenerative arthritis is a top-five condition among both species 
  • Dental disease shows up among top six conditions for both species 
  • Other conditions common among both species include urinary tract infection and respiratory infection  

More information about these and many other pet diseases and conditions can be found on the Pet HealthZone.  

With Nationwide pet health insurance, many veterinary expenses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of these common conditions are eligible for reimbursement based on the member’s chosen coverage. To explore pet health insurance coverage for dogs, cats, and many avian or exotic pets, visit petinsurance.com.  

* This number was calculated by analyzing the 80th percentile of costs Nationwide pet insurance policyholders reported within the first 30 days after diagnosis for a given condition. 

About Nationwide pet insurance  
With more than 1.2 million insured pets, Nationwide is the first and largest provider of pet health insurance in the United States. Nationwide pet health insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Products underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH; National Casualty Company (all other states), Columbus, OH. Agency of Record: DVM Insurance Agency. All are subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Pet owners can find Nationwide pet insurance on Facebook or follow on X. For more information about Nationwide pet insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.