Insurance company analyzes cost of veterinary treatment vs. cost of prevention

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) recently released the costs associated with popular preventive canine and feline conditions in 2012. Below is a cost analysis of the five most common ailments-average treatment and prevention costs are calculated per pet.

1. Dental diseases

Examples: Tooth infection or cavity and periodontal disease.

Average treatment cost: $531.71

Average prevention cost: $171.82

2. Internal parasites

Examples: Round worms, tape worms and giardiasis.

Average treatment cost: $179.93

Average prevention cost: $29.51

3. External parasites

Examples: Heartworms transmitted by mosquitoes, Lyme disease transmitted by ticks and flea allergic dermatitis.

Average treatment cost: $180.67

Average prevention cost: $84.89

4. Infectious diseases

Examples: Parvovirus, Lyme disease and feline leukemia virus.

Average treatment cost: $678.24

Average prevention cost (per canine using core vaccines): $85.14

Average prevention cost (per feline using core vaccines): $73.52

5. Reproductive organ diseases

Examples: Pyometra, prostatitis and ovarian neoplasia.

Average treatment cost: $531.98

Average prevention cost: $260.69

Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI, suggests telling clients, "Similar to ensuring that all members of the family see their doctor regularly for wellness visits, it's just as important for pets. Taking preventive measures can avoid more serious and expensive medical conditions from arising down the road and helps keep our furry, four-legged family members on track for a long and healthy life."