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Sources & Citations

Facts about Pet Insurance

  • Based on January 2017-2019 average claim price data for dogs & cats nationwide from C&F Insurance Agency, Inc. Sample provided to illustrate 90% reimbursement of the covered vet bill assuming standard $250 annual deductible has already been met.
  • Less than 1% of American dogs and cats are insured.
  • Dogs run hotter than humans .. their average temperature is between 101 and 102F
  • There are an estimated 80 million dogs in the USA, over 80% of which are spayed or neutered.
  • 94.2 million is the total number of cats owned in the U.S.
  • 89.7 million is the total number of dogs owned in the U.S.
  • CCL (cranial cruciate ligament rupture, dog’s ACL -tear or sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament-) TOTAL VET BILL $5,524.20
  • Intestinal Foreign Object TOTAL VET BILL $3,910.08
  • IVDD (intervertebral disk disease) TOTAL VET BILL $6,815.85
  • Diabetes TOTAL VET BILL $1,116.81
  • Did you know, in 1982, the famous TV dog Lassie received the first pet insurance policy in the United States
  • A pet receives emergency medical care every 2 ½ seconds.
  • Every 6 seconds a pet parent is faced with a vet bill for more than $1,000
  • 1 in 3 pets need emergency veterinary treatment every year.
  • 1 in 3 dogs get cancer. Treatment can cost well over $10,000 and as much as $20,000
  • Why do cats meow? To initiate play, petting, or to get you to talk to them.
  • Why do dogs lick people? It’s a sign of affection. Relieves stress. You just taste good.
  • Why do cats purr? To show contentment or as a mechanism that helps them rest and repair.
  • Why do dogs pant? It’s their way of cooling down when they are overheated. It’s also an important way for them to oxygenate their blood.
  • Why do cats like boxes? Because they like to hide and it gives them a cozy, safe and secure place to sleep.
  • Why do dogs howl? To attract attention, to make contact with others and to announce their presence.
  • Over 50% of policy holders file a claim each year.
  • 75% of pet owners make a claim during the first three years after enrollment.
  • 35% of all pet insurance claims are for chronic conditions.
  • The most expensive health issue is heart disease, which can exceed $20,000.
  • A dog has 42 teeth requiring specific care
  • 21% of pet owners spend over $5000 for emergency surgery on their pet.
  • Obesity is the number one health problem for dogs
  • Dogs under the age of one are 2.5x more likely to have an unexpected visit to the vet.
  • The average vet bill for a cat is more than $500 and more than $700 for a dog.
  • Treating stomach conditions (the most common serious illness for dogs and cats) can cost up to $6,500
  • 2.82 million pets were insured at the end of 2019
  • Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered
  • Approx. 25% of dog visits to the veterinarian are for problems with their skin or coat
  • Mixed breed dogs are the most insured pets in the US
  • 45% of veterinarian-recommended treatment is restricted by cost
  • 91% of U.S. pet owners consider their pets to be family members and 81% consider their pets as equal members of the family
  • Up to 10,000 cats and dogs die each year from exposure to Antifreeze
  • The average cost of hip replacement ranges from $5,600 to $6,000 for dogs
  • Dog Owners Rush to Get Pet Insurance with News of Coronavirus Outbreaks
  • 63.4 million US households have a dog
  • The average number of visits to the vet per year is 2.7 for dog owners and 2.2 for cat owners
  • $4300 annual cost of having a dog
  • 1.6 million dogs are adopted from shelters
  • Pet Owners spend $9,000 – $13,000 for medical treatments over their pets’ lifetime
  • Cats have 24 more bones in their body than humans (230 vs 206)
  • Did you know, even though US shelters take in more dogs than cats on average, two cats are euthanized for every dog.
  • Research shows that gingivitis, a bacterial infection, can lead to severe pain, bleeding, tooth loss and bone loss
  • Only 15% of insured pets are cats.
  • A pet receives emergency medical care every 2 ½ seconds in the U.S.
  • 35% of all pet insurance claims are for chronic conditions
  • 50% of policyholders file a claim each year
  • 2,517,122 million insured pets were reported in the US at the end of 2019
  • Over half of all cats and dogs are overweight
  • Pit Bulls make up the largest percentage of dogs in shelters across the U.S
  • Dark-colored dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke than light-colored dogs
  • Siamese cats are one of the oldest breeds of domesticated cats
  • The 2016 State of Pet Health Report shows an upward trend in the prevalence of the disease, rising nearly 80% in dogs and 18% in cats over a 10-year period.