Summer shenanigans:
When the heat turns up on vet visits
Data from pet insurance claims reveals a clear seasonal trend: certain ailments and accidents spike as summer approaches. By knowing what to watch for, pet parents can help their pets avoid discomfort and pain and potentially save on unexpected vet visits.
That’s according to PD Insurance COO Michelle Le Long. “We like sharing key insights from our claims data because it provides a window into some common ailments and accidents people’s pets encounter across New Zealand,” she says. “And whether your pet’s insured or not, knowing what to look out for means a better chance of avoiding it altogether.”
The findings confirm a noticeable spike in claims across several areas: allergies, tummy upsets, getting hit by a car, grass seeds, and those ‘What did you eat?!’ ingestion incidents.
The grass seed predicament
First up, grass seeds. These are sneaky villains of the spring and summer seasons, frequently embedding themselves in paws, ears, eyes, and beyond – even working their way through skin and other soft tissues and into internal organs – potentially turning simple strolls into prickly predicaments.
The data shows a big surge in summer months: December, January, and February account for 63.7% of last year’s total. Compare that to the winter lows, where cases dip from May to August, and it’s clear – summer walkies can turn worrisome when grass seeds lodge.
“We’ve seen numerous claims where dogs suffer significantly, and vet bills climb into the thousands – all from something as small and seemingly insignificant as a grass seed,” Le Long cautions.
Vigilance is the key word here: avoid long seeding grasses and inspect and brush coats regularly. “Catching a seed early could mean the difference between a lot of pain for your pet or simply a walk in the park,” she advises.
Not to be sneezed at
If there were 3Ps for summer, they’d be pollen, pests, and particles. Allergies are a summer buzzkill, with itchy skin and reactions flaring up to a peak – more than 30% of annual cases occur in this season. Along with pollen, there’s dust mites, fleas, and particles from fungi and mould.
Pets scratch, sneeze, and suffer, leading to vet visits that can rack up costs fast. “Perhaps harder to avoid, but once you know the allergen causing problems for your pet, protecting them becomes more manageable,” notes Le Long.
Led into temptation (and tummy upsets)
Summer barbecues, picnics, and other festive feasts can mean extra temptations, and that could be just one potential cause of diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and vomiting woes. These tummy upset cases spike in January and February, making up 28% of the annual total.
Whether it’s scavenging dropped sausages (along with whatever else is on the ground), stress from heat, or ‘a little column A and a little column B’, these gut-busters spike in summer. That can turn playtime into ‘pray time’ over the water bowl and a lot of seriously unpleasant cleaning up. “Most of us tend to want to share our snacks with the fur family, but the general rule is simple: human food for humans. And if your pet’s prone to pilfering, keep the trash bins secure, or risk a symphony of unhappy bellies,” is Le Long’s advice.
Closely related are ingestion claims. “The ‘my pet ate what?!’ problem is slightly more pronounced in summer, probably owing to the more frequent walkies and other summer outings,” notes Le Long. From toxic plants to snuffling up sand and seawater on beach trips and all sorts of other items, pets gobble first and ask questions later. The data paints a picture of curious cats and daring dogs mistakenly turning summer freedom into emergency room stories.
Summer is riskier - but less if you’re tuned in to the hazards
Le Long says there’s a clear correlation between warmer weather and certain pet afflictions. “You could say summer’s joys come with jabs, sometimes quite literally in the form of vet needles. Perhaps it’s the combination of increased and unusual holiday activities where accidents are concerned and the heightened presence of allergens on the other. Either way, knowing what tends to go wrong can often mean spotting danger before it becomes a problem.”
With summer here and long, warm days ahead, she says there’s lots to enjoy. “Embrace the season: slap on the pet-safe sunscreen, stock up on toys, and be a prepared pet parent. Your furball will thank you with slobbery kisses, not scratchy itches.”