Allergy-Related Conditions Costing Cat Owners Millions

Buffy may have his own wing of the house, and Fifi may eat three gourmet meals a day, but the fact remains: for many pets, life's an itch. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest pet health insurance provider, recently analyzed claims data to find that the most commonly received claims in 2007 were for conditions with ties to allergies. In fact, one out of every five claims received in 2007 was for a malady potentially related to allergies. Treatments for these conditions cost VPI policyholders a sum of nearly $16 million in 2007.

VPI ranked allergy-related claims in order to find which were the most common. Ear infections and skin allergies topped the list for cats. Among the most prevalent conditions are some that pet owners may not typically associate with allergies. While cats had far fewer allergies than dogs, they did have a higher frequency of eye inflammation and bronchitis/asthma.

The allergy-related claims were ranked by the frequency of the condition as a percentage of all submitted medical claims.

2007 Top Claims With Links to Feline Allergies

"Many pet owners are unaware that chronic ear infections and breathing difficulties may be the result of allergies," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. "Due to physiological differences, pets manifest allergies in a variety of ways that humans do not. They may lick their itchy paws, scratch their itchy ears, and/or rub their itchy eyes. To exacerbate the problem, with each lick, scratch and rub, they can traumatize their skin, allowing bacteria and yeast to cause secondary infections."

Lawanna Donnelly of Langhorne, Pa., was surprised to find out that her pug Lexi's chronic ear infections were connected to severe skin allergies. After frequent attempts to remedy the problem, Donnelly brought Lexi to a veterinary allergist / dermatologist who started Lexi on a series of injections to alleviate her allergies.

"She would walk around the house shaking her little head like she had a nervous tic," said Donnelly. "I could see that one of her ears was completely blocked and antibiotics did not work. My daughter had frequent ear infections, and, like a lot of children, had to have tubes in her ears. My daughter grew out of it, and I just thought Lexi would too, but it was a completely different situation."

Pet allergies are usually related to flea bites, seasonal pollens and/or specific foods in the diet. Pets suspected of having allergies should be taken to a veterinarian for an examination and evaluation. The veterinarian will recommend the best course of environment change and/or treatment. Exposure to allergens can be reduced with the application of flea control products, the use of air filters, and/or a change in diet. Additionally, a veterinarian may dispense a hypoallergenic shampoo to soothe a pet's skin and help alleviate the itch.

If allergies persist, a veterinarian may prescribe antihistamines or anti-inflammatory medications. More advanced treatment includes immunotherapy or hyposensitization, in which a pet is slowly exposed to small amounts of a serum containing reactive allergens. Even with advanced treatments, however, allergies often persist and some pets may never be completely allergy free.

"Allergies in pets are far more common than pet owners realize," said McConnell. "Because pets may be reacting to multiple allergens at the same time, allergies can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Even when allergens are identified, treatment options vary and individual pets may respond differently. Costs of testing and treatment can add up quickly. VPI's medical plans are designed for pet owners to relieve some of those costs, so pets can relieve some of that itch."

About Veterinary Pet Insurance

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the nation's oldest and largest pet health insurance company. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America's pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional Pet WellCare Protection for routine care is also available.

Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 1,600 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 866-357-0084 or visit petinsurance.com.