Urinary tract infections, skin allergies top list of medical claims, VPI says

BREA, CALIF. - 7/20/06- Canine skin allergies and urinary tract infections in cats rank first in policyholder claims submitted last year to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).

Most of VPI's reported medical conditions for dogs and cats are repeats from 2004's top-10 list, but several are new additions. Osteoarthritis, enteritis and hypothyroidism were more common last year while diabetes in cats made the 2005 inventory of policyholder claims. Kidney disease, which ranked the 10th most popular claim in 2004, came in at number three in 2005, the company says.

VPI?s 2005 top 10 claims by incident are as follows:

Dogs:

1. skin allergies

2. ear infections

3. stomach upsets

4. bladder infections

5. benign tumors

6. osteoarthritis

7. sprains

8. eye infections

9. enteritis

10. hypothyroidism

Cats:

1. urinary tract infections

2. stomach upsets

3. kidney disease

4. skin allergies

5. respiratory infections

6. diabetes

7. ear infections

8. colitis

9. eye infections

10. wound infections.