Interesting Claims 2021
It’s that time of year when Pet Insurance Australia looks at some of the more unusual and unsuspecting claims made in 2021. From fishhooks to zoomy accidents, and plenty of great advice to keep your pet safe in 2022.
“It’s no surprise that we see many unusual claims over the space of a year,” Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia says. “I think this list really showcases how quickly things can go wrong and why it is so important to keep an eye on your pet and keep certain items safely stored away.”
In 2021 Pet Insurance Australia policyholders received a whopping $18.1 million in claim benefits.
“Since 2013, Pet Insurance Australia policyholders have received more than $81.5M in claim benefits,” Crighton says. “From the common complaints such as skin and ear problems to the more interesting claims mentioned below.”
All About Noses
In 2021 Pet Insurance Australia witnessed all sorts of different claims regarding objects being removed from the noses of cats and dogs. Symptoms of nasal complaints include; consistent sneezing, rubbing/pawing face, and discharge.
It’s not uncommon to have claims of fishhook ingestion requiring surgery to remove the fishhook from the digestive tract of dogs, however, in 2021 PIA witnessed a few claims for fishhooks needing to be removed from the nasal cavities of pets.
“Fishhooks can pose a big problem for pets,” Crighton says. “As many times they have a lovely smelly fish odour pets can easily mistake them for food, and their curiosity for something ultra-smelly can lead to problems for pet owners.”
Other interesting nasal claims include:
- Grass seeds
- Sticks
- Rawhide
- Broken toys
- Food
Ingestion
It’s no surprise that ingestion features once again in the list of interesting claims.
“Socks can be a big one when it comes to dogs, not only costing pet owners possible thousands in getting them removed, sock and even underwear eating can become an embarrassing habit for many pets,” Crighton says. “It’s important that if you do have a dog that has a sock or underwear liking, to try and keep these items out of sight and out of mind – sadly this is much easier said than done.”
Other ingestion complaints also include our rubbish roamers.
“The typical skewers, corn cobs, and cooked chicken bones, however, the rubbish roamers are also in danger of gastrointestinal complications and even poisoning,” Crighton says. “For this reason, it is vital that you keep your rubbish secured and rubbish bin lids firmly attached.”
Puppies are also well known for their curiosity when it comes to eating the undesirable or toxic.
“We have seen a case of a puppy eating parts of a Cycads Plant, this is a very toxic plant and the puppy was very lucky to have survived.”
Eating the children’s chocolate over the Christmas period is also a common claim during the festive season.
Growing & Healing Bones
Fractures are also hot on the list when it comes to claims in 2021.
“We’ve also seen an interesting case of a puppy whose growth plates stopped growing, these types of cases really amplify the incredible capabilities of our amazing Australian veterinarians.”
Puppies are also high on the list for fractures and broken bones. The typical puppy zoomies can also lead to some painful situations and large claims.
“We’ve also recently seen an incident of a puppy getting over-excited and suffering a fracture to their growth plate,” Crighton says. “These cases really show how quickly a pet can be accidentally injured, while also highlighting the incredible veterinarians and the wonderful specialised care our pets are now able to access.”
Featured By:
Photo by Justin Veenema
Nadia Crighton is a renowned and accomplished professional in the fields of Journalism, Public Relations, and Writing, with an extensive career spanning over 25 years, 20 of which have been dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of pets.
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