Top 10 Cancerous Conditions in Pets

VPI received more than 48,000 claims for cancer diagnosis and treatments in pets during 2011 – making cancer-related conditions collectively the fourth most common type of medical claim received by the nation’s largest provider of pet health insurance last year. Although pet cancer awareness has increased since VPI launched National Pet Cancer Awareness Month in 2005.

Last year alone, VPI policyholders spent more than $17.4 million on the top 10 cancer-related conditions. Lymphosarcoma or Lymphoma was the most expensive condition on the list, costing policyholders an average of $2,367 per pet.

Below are the 10 most common cancer-related claims received by VPI in 2011:

Cancerous Conditions

1. Lymphosarcoma or Lymphoma
2. Skin Cancer (Malignant Skin Neoplasia)
3. Splenic (Spleen) Cancer
4. Bone or Joint Cancer
5. Hepatic (Liver) Cancer
6. Thoracic (Chest) Cancer
7. Bladder Cancer
8. Brain or Spinal Cord Cancer
9. Oral (Mouth) Cancer
10. Peritoneal (Membrane Lining the Walls of the Abdominal and Pelvic Cavities) Cancer

Treating these pet cancers can be a considerable financial burden and it’s important for pet owners to realize the cost of care for this disease. Whether it’s through a savings account, additional credit and/or pet insurance, the best thing a pet parent can do is be prepared. To ensure that our policyholders are able to pursue optimal cancer treatment, VPI medical policies include benefits for the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous conditions, including chemotherapy and radiation when necessary. 

Pet Cancer Detection Tips

To detect cancer early, pet owners should be attentive to any growing lump or sore that fails to heal. They should also monitor their pet for:

1. Drastic changes in the pet’s appetite or weight
2. Unusually strong odors coming from a pet
3. Discharge or bleeding from any body opening;
4. Difficulty chewing or swallowing
5. An unwillingness to exercise

To date, VPI has raised more than $130,000 to benefit the Animal Cancer Foundation. In addition, this year’s Facebook fundraising campaign has been such a success that due to the great response to our $1 per “Like” campaign, we’re increasing the cap on our donation!

Thank you to all of our new friends and to our existing fans who have helped spread the word. Keep on sharing the news; more “Likes” means more money for animal cancer research, up to $20,000!

For more information about National Pet Cancer Awareness Month or to learn more about pet cancer, visit http://www.petinsurance.com/cancer.