Is “Friday the Thirteenth” Unlucky for Pets?

Superstitious pet owners can rest easy today. After analyzing our database of nearly half a million pets, we found that “Friday the Thirteenth” is not among the most dangerous days for our four legged friends.

According to medical data submitted in 2010, there is an increase in pet accidents during summer months and most accidents are treated the day after holidays and weekends. Contrary to popular belief, there was no spike in pet accidents treated on “Friday the Thirteenth” or during full moons.

So what were the most dangerous days?

The amount of accident claims treated spiked following holidays—particularly Labor Day (No. 2), Memorial Day (No. 4) and Easter (No. 9)—and increased overall during the late spring and summer months. June was the most dangerous month of the year, with 4,145 claims for an average of 138 pets treated each day for accidental injuries and five of the Top 10 most dangerous days of the year. The safest month was December with an average of 108 claims treated each day and only 2 days in the top 50 most dangerous days.

In order to accurately assess the “danger” of a day, we only analyzed claims submitted for injuries requiring immediate attention, such as broken bones, poisonings, and lacerations. The data revealed that on the average day in 2010, about 118 VPI-insured pets were treated for severe accidental injuries. Of the days of the week, Mondays had the largest average number of pets treated for accidental injuries at 152. Sundays were the lowest at 59.

“The difference in the number of accidents treated between Sunday and Monday may indicate that treatment is more difficult to find on Sundays and holidays,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “In case of an off-hours or holiday emergency, pet owners should know where to find the closest 24-hour animal hospital and have a plan for covering unexpected treatment costs. Preparation and timely treatment can make the difference between life and death.”

While some people may suspect that full moons cause an increase in emergency room visits and accidental injuries, we actually saw a slight decrease in the average number of pets treated for accidental injuries—107—on days with a full moon. There was only one “Friday the Thirteenth” in 2010. We received 112 claims for accidental injuries on that day in August, which was below the average for the year, month and for Fridays in general.