Protecting customers with insurance since 2001

Protecting customers with insurance since 2001

Common dog illnesses and insurance costs

  • 1, Jun 2023
  • Read time: 17 mins

This guide takes you through some of the most common diseases and illnesses that can affect your dog. Find out how to spot them and what the average costs per illness are, so you can get an idea of how much you may need to claim for on your pet insurance.

Dog looking sad sitting on a sofa.

1. Ear infection

Usually caused by inflammation in the ear canal, ear infections can be particularly common in breeds with longer ears.

Symptoms

If your dog has an ear infection, they may show symptoms such as shaking their head, scratching their ears, rubbing their head against a surface such as the floor or furniture and shying away from having their head or ears touched.

If you look inside your dog’s ears, you may notice brown wax build up, green waxy discharge, redness or an unusual smell.

Causes

The most common causes of recurrent or persistent ear infections are an underlying allergy, foreign objects in the ear canal, parasites or dirt.

Treatment

If you notice your dog has any symptoms of an ear infection, seek advice from your vet.

If your vet thinks that the cause of the ear infection is an allergy, your dog may need antihistamines, anti-inflammatories or a dietary change.

2. Joint pain, hip dysplasia and arthritis

Joint pain, hip dysplasia and arthritis are unfortunately common problems for dogs. Yet, with early vet diagnosis and treatment, your dog should continue to lead a happy life.

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary depending on the size of your dog, their age and if they have other medical conditions. Some common symptoms are stiffness after exercise or waking up, lameness or limping, an unwillingness to exercise, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, muscle loss, licking or chewing painful areas and difficulty lying down and getting up.

Causes

Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition, and certain environmental factors such as weight or growth rate can influence how it develops. It will often be diagnosed between six months to 1 year of age. Arthritis can develop in any joint, especially if it's affected by dysplasia, undergone surgery or suffered trauma.

Some common causes are aging, being overweight and developmental issues.

Treatment

If you notice any changes in your dog's movement or behaviour, it's always best to get them assessed by a vet. They may suggest x-rays or further tests to establish whether your dog has a joint disease.

3. Ticks, fleas and worms

Ticks, fleas and worms are common, but can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening illness. The good news is they are easily prevented and treated.

Ticks

Symptoms of ticks include lethargy, loss of appetite and lameness. Ticks are usually found in wooded or bushy areas, and are most common in the warmer months. Your vet will be able to advise if you live in an area where ticks are found more frequently.

There is a variety of treatment available to both treat and prevent ticks. For example, you can find specialist tick removing tools from most pet shops, which you can store at home in case you ever need to remove a tick from your dog. It's important to remove a tick correctly, which means never using a tweezer. Speak to your vet for advice if you are unsure.

Fleas

Signs of fleas include severe scratching and itching, hair loss, biting and chewing at skin and red, irritated skin.

Dogs often catch fleas from other pets, because fleas have strong legs which allow them to easily leap from one pet to another. Fleas can also live on the ground, such as within carpets and in soft furnishings. It's important to treat not just your pet, but the environment they're in to get rid of the fleas completely.

To treat fleas, you can choose from a variety of options, such as special collars and flea treatments. Your vet will be able to advise you if you are unsure which option is best for your dog.

Worms

Symptoms of worms include diarrhoea, weight loss, vomiting, changes in fur, lethargy and dehydration.

There are a variety of worms that can infest dogs, such as lungworm and tapeworm. Dogs can pick these up in different ways, such as eating a slug, snail, rodent or some soil.

Treatment is usually provided in the form of tablets and can be picked up from your vet. They will be able to recommend the best treatment based on your dog’s size.

4. Vomiting and diarrhoea

Keeping an eye on your dog’s toilet habits can give you an insight into their health. Diarrhoea is common for dogs and often passes within one or two days. Vomiting can be a sign of a variety of causes.

Causes

Some things that can cause your dog to have diarrhoea are times of stress, such as if you are moving house, changes in diet, eating too much human food, new medication and drinking water from a puddle or stagnant pond.

Some things that can cause your dog to vomit can include eating a foreign object, allergies, intolerances, or a virus or stomach bug.

    Treatment

    To help your dog’s stomach settle at home, you can try feeding them bland food and smaller meals. They should have access to lots of water and plenty of time to rest and recover. You may also want to speak to your vet about probiotics.

    If you notice your dog has prolonged diarrhoea or vomiting, or if you see traces of mucus or blood, seek advice from your vet.

    5. Skin infections

    Your dog can develop a skin infection or condition at any stage in their life.

    Symptoms

    Your dog may show a variety of symptoms if they have a skin infection or condition. These can include itching, excessive licking, red or inflamed skin, hair loss, dandruff and bumps on the skin.

    Causes

    Your dog may have developed a skin infection or condition from allergies, a hormonal condition or skin parasites such as ticks and fleas.

    Treatment

    If sensitive skin is a cause or contributory factor, you can try a special dog shampoo, essential fatty acids, fish oils or antihistamines.

    If parasites are the cause, you can help by treating your dog with regular flea, tick and mite treatments.

    If you notice any changes in your dog's skin condition, ask your vet to take a look. They can advise on treatments and help your dog become more comfortable.

    6. Obesity

    Being overweight or obese puts your dog at risk of serious health problems and can even shorten their life expectancy.

    Symptoms

    If your dog has a medical condition linked to obesity, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease, you might notice symptoms such as coat changes, lethargy and increased thirst.

    Causes

    There are three main reasons why your dog can become overweight. These are an unhealthy diet, a medical condition or lack of exercise.

    Treatment

    If your dog’s weight is being affected by their diet, you can fix this by reducing their food intake by 10%, avoiding too many treats and feeding them the right amount for their breed, age and size. Speak to your vet for advice.

    Our in-house vet, Martin, says “Try giving your dog dry food while you’re trying to control their weight. It tends to be easier to measure and calorie control than wet food”.

    7. Blocked anal sacs

    Anal sacs (sometimes called anal glands) are a pair of small sacs that sit inside your dog’s bottom, which are used to mark their territory.

    It is common for anal sacs to get blocked and is usually simple to treat. If they aren't treated, blocked anal sacs can lead to more serious health problems.

    Symptoms

    Common signs that your dog has blocked anal sacs are scooting their bottom along the floor, trying to nibble or look at their bottom and a fishy smell

    Causes

    Blocked anal sacs are most commonly caused by one of three issues. The first is your dog being overweight - overweight dogs have less muscle, making it harder for them to empty their anal sacs. The second is an inflammatory disease, such as anal sac disease. The third is a lack of fibre in your dog's diet - the firmer their poo, the easier it is for them to empty their own anal sacs without help. Our vets recommend adding extra fibre into your dog’s diet to help, such as a handful of sugar free bran flakes.

    Treatment

    Often treatment is straightforward - your vet will be able to empty your dog’s anal sacs without medication. They may suggest anti-inflammatory or antibiotics if they can’t unblock the sacs or if your dog is in pain.

    In some cases, your dog may need medical attention if their anal sacs are becoming blocked too much or they have developed an abscess.

    8. Dental disease

    Your dog's teeth and gums are as vulnerable to disease as human teeth. With poor care, your dog could develop dental disease and need medical attention.

    Symptoms

    Common signs of dental disease are bad breath, difficulty eating or dropping food, weight loss, tartar and plaque build-up, red or bleeding gums, drooling more than usual, only eating soft food, swollen face, pawing their mouth and face more than usual.

    Causes

    Some of the most common causes of dental disease in dogs are lack of dental routine, age, breed and diet.

    Our in-house vet, Martin, says: Brush your dog’s teeth with a firm baby toothbrush with dog specific toothpaste. Fluoride is toxic to dogs, so do not use human toothpaste. A good tip is to start them young; puppies adapt quicker and it should form a good habit.”

    Treatment

    Depending on the severity of the dental problem, there are a few treatment options. The most common of these are anti-inflammatory pain relief, antibiotics, dental surgery and tooth removal and doggy mouthwash.

    You should speak to your vet if you think your dog may have a dental disease.

      9. Kennel cough

      Kennel cough is a respiratory infection. It is a highly contagious illness which creates inflammation in a dog’s upper respiratory tract.

      Symptoms

      The main signs of kennel cough are consistent cough, sneezing, gagging, swallowing after coughing, runny nose and eye discharge.

      Causes

      Some factors can worsen the chances of your dog getting infected, including interacting with infected dogs, staying in crowded conditions with poor ventilation, cold temperatures, inhaling dust and cigarette smoke and travel-induced stress.

      Treatment

      Luckily, kennel cough usually goes away on its own within three weeks. You can help recovery by creating a humid environment and avoiding using a collar that will irritate your dog’s throat.

      If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, call your vet. They may prescribe antibiotics, dog friendly cough medication or anti-inflammatories.

      10. Lumps

      Finding a lump on your dog can be worrying, but it’s important to remember that they aren’t always bad news. Often lumps are benign (non-cancerous).

      Symptoms

      The most common signs of a lump are a visible bump that is either on or under the skin, or an ulcer on the skin.

      Causes

      A lump can be harmless and cause your dog no problems. However, some lumps can be the result of an insect bite or sting, a fatty growth (lipoma), a parasite or cancer.

      Treatment

      Always seek advice from your vet for lumps. Once your vet has been able to check, they will be able to advise on whether your dog will need treatment or if the lump is benign.

      Vet costs of some common dog illnesses

      If your dog were to fall ill and needs treatment from your vet, this can often be costly. We’ve picked out some of MORE THAN’s top claimed for conditions in dogs to help give you an idea of how much a claim, on average, could cost you*:

      Diarrhoea

      Diarrhoea ranks in MORE THAN’s top 15 claimed for conditions in dogs.
      Average paid out (including excess): £615
      Common in German Shepherds and Yorkshire Terriers.

      Arthritis

      Arthritis in dogs ranks in MORE THAN’s top 15 claimed for conditions in dogs.
      Average paid out (including excess): £964.
      Common in: Labradors, Border Collies, Springer Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.

      Lumps

      Lumps rank in MORE THAN’s top 10 claimed for conditions in dogs.
      Average paid out (including excess): £629.
      Common in Labradors, Jack Russells and Shih Tzus.

      Vomiting

      Vomiting ranks in MORE THAN’s top 5 claimed for conditions in dogs.
      Average paid out (including excess): £712.
      Common in Labradors, Border Terriers, Cockapoos and Golden Retrievers.

      *Based on MORE THAN data 1 January 2021 to 1 March 2023.

      You may find it helpful to learn how to complete a 5 minute home health check on your dog. Our guide has been created with help from our in-house vet.

      Covering your dog

      Treatment for a poorly dog can be expensive. Having dog insurance could help with vet bills if your dog did become ill or had an accident.

      When you insure your dog with MORE THAN, you'll also have access to vetfone, a 24/7 freephone advice line where you can chat to qualified vet nurses. 

      Find out more about our dog insurance

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