Accidental Expectations

There are a number of things to expect in your puppy's first year. Some of those things are regular vet visits for shots, flea and tick medication and heart worm prevention, the standard spay or neuter and even some possible dental work. There also might be some things you do not account for, like accidents. The Veterinary Pet Insurance Company recently announced their list of the top 10 puppy accidents.

VPI is one of the nation's largest providers of pet health insurance. Recently, they compiled a study on the 480,000 insured pets in their database to come up with their list of common accidental injuries suffered by dogs during the first two years of their lives. Here is what the list comprised of:

• Soft Tissue Trama
• Laceration or Bite Wound
• Cruciate Ligament Injury
• Sprain
• Insect Bites and Stings
• Abrasion
• Torn Nail
• Eye Trauma
• Drug Toxicity
• Oral Cavity Trauma

"Pet owners falsely assume that they don't need pet insurance because their pet is young and healthy," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. "While younger pets are less susceptible to serious illnesses such as cancer, our data shows that pets of all ages can suffer costly accidental injuries. Pet insurance is designed to defray unexpected treatment costs – whenever they may occur. It's important for owners of puppies to keep in mind that just because their pets may be young, they're not indestructible."

In addition to the physical toll the above accidents can take on young dogs, the financial costs can be draining. The top 10 puppy accidents cost VPI policyholders a combined $1.5 million in the past year. Although it can be difficult anticipating where and when a vigorous puppy might get into trouble, there are several steps owners can take to puppy-proof their homes. Examples include clearing obstacles inside and out that an uncoordinated younger pet might collide with during playtime, removing items that can be mistaken for food from the floor and countertops, and keeping all medications tightly sealed and securely stored in drawers or medicine cabinets.

Also, be sure to ask your Veterinarian about the benefits of having pet insurance for your furry friend. After all, you never know what could happen.

To read more about what to expect in your puppy's first year, take a look at the extensive list Dr. Martha McTavish, DVM has compiled in her article "What to Expect in your Puppy's First Year."

Leave a comment down below and let us know what accidents your pup got into during his or her first two years, and what you learned from the experience.