10 Most Expensive Pet Health Problems
First, the bad news: There are 10 pet accidents and illnesses that can cost you up to $2,000 to fix. But the good news is the treatments usually work.
Healthcare costs aren’t just skyrocketing for humans. The cost of treating your pets can easily top $1,000 – and there’s no Obama health care plan in the works for Fido.
VPI, a provider of pet health insurance, tallied its claims from 2010 and made a list of those requiring more than $1,000 for treatment.
Here’s the top ten most expensive pet health issues:
1. Torn knee ligament/cartilage
Number of claims: 6,831
Average cost per claim: $1,578
2. Intestinal – foreign object
Number of claims: 1,005
Average cost per claim: $1,967
3. Stomach – foreign object
Number of claims: 954
Average cost per claim: $1,502
4. Intervertebral disc disease
Number of claims: 879
Average cost per claim: $3,282
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5. Stomach torsion/bloat
Number of claims: 372
Average cost per claim: $2,509
6. Broken leg (plate)
Number of claims: 350
Average cost per claim: $1,586
7. Laryngeal paralysis
Number of claims: 126
Average cost per claim: $2,042
8. Tumor of the throat
Number of claims: 124
Average cost per claim: $1,677
9. Ear canal surgery
Number of claims: 104
Average cost per claim: $1,285
10. Ruptured bile duct
Number of claims: 102
Average cost per claim: $2,245
“Pet owners should be aware that these $1,000 accidents and illnesses can happen to just about any pet – indoor, outdoor, young or old,” says Dr. Carol McConnell, VPI’s vice president and chief veterinary medical officer. “Though the cost of care for these conditions may be high, the prognosis is usually positive, and many of the pets that are treated will recover.”
Source: MoneyTalksNews.com