Owning a cat or dog can be full of surprises. Our annual pet insurance claims data can help you stay prepared by showing examples of what you might expect from your furry friend – from the average cost of medical treatment to the most common illnesses you need to look out for.
However, it’s important to remember that the following data is general only and can’t accurately predict your pet’s individual risk of injury, needs and lifestyle.
Pet Ownership in Australia
Australians love their pets. In fact, we love them more than any other country does – up to 61% of Australian households have an animal companion. The most common of these are dogs (40%) followed by cats (27%)1.
Unfortunately, many pet owners aren’t fully aware of the costs that can arise when caring for their pet. These may be routine care costs, costs due to injury or illness or even due to health problems that their pet may be predisposed to. These ailments can unfortunately lead to decreased quality of life for these animals if insufficient care is provided.
Although every pet’s individual needs will differ, the average cost of owning a dog can add up to $1,627 a year, while the average cost of owning a cat is around $962 a year1. These figures include things like food, grooming, accessories, and pet insurance.
In total, it’s estimated that Australia’s pet industry is now worth around $13 billion a year1. This means that on top of having the highest rate of pet ownership, we’re also among the highest spending nations when it comes to our furry friends.
Claims by pet types in 2018-19
Type
-
Total Benefit paid towards
Accidental Injury
-
dental
-
General veterinary
-
Routine Care
-
Emergency Boarding
-
Discover the average vet costs in Australia
The following data is based on claims made by common dog types (breeds and mixed breeds) which are insured with RSPCA Pet Insurance.
Please keep in mind this information is not based on weighted figures and does not indicate a particular dog type may be more prone to a particular injury or not. As we may insure more of a particular dog type this may be the reason, they have more of these claims.
Every dog’s individual needs and lifestyle will vary. In fact, getting to know your pet’s unique qualities can be one of the most exciting parts of your ownership experience.
Top 10 claims to treat arthritis by dog type
The following figures show the number of arthritis claims with RSPCA Pet Insurance by dog type (top 10). Keep in mind that canine arthritis usually increases with age but can also be caused by injuries, genetics, or other underlying conditions.
1. Labrador
449 cases
2. Maltese Cross
333 cases
3. Golden Retriever
321 cases
4. German Shepherd
252 cases
5. Kelpie Cross
248 cases
6. Border Collie
222 cases
7. Border Collie Cross
214 cases
8. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
172 cases
9. Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross
136 cases
10. Labrador Retriever
127 cases
Top 10 claims to treat fleas, ticks or worms by dog type
Fleas, ticks and worms can affect dogs of all types depending on their lifestyle and environment. These figures show the number of claims to treat fleas, ticks and worms, through RSPCA Pet Insurance by dog type (top 10).
1. Maltese Cross
855 cases
2. Cavoodle
854 cases
3. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
452 cases
4. Labrador
401 cases
5. Golden Retriever
357 cases
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
332 cases
7. German Shepherd
326 cases
8. French Bulldog
270 cases
9. Kelpie Cross
268 cases
10. Border Collie
259 cases
Top 10 claims for heartworm treatment by dog type
This data shows the number of claims to treat the infection of heartworms by dog type (top 10).
1. Maltese Cross
855 cases
2. Cavoodle
854 cases
3. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
452 cases
4. Labrador
401 cases
5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
360 cases
6. Golden Retriever
342 cases
7. German Shepherd
326 cases
8. Kelpie Cross
306 cases
9. Spoodle
291 cases
10. Border Collie
259 cases
Top 10 claims to treat allergies by dog type
Canine allergies are usually an excessive immune response to dust, pollen, or other environmental elements. The following shows the number of claims made through RSPCA Pet Insurance for the treatment of allergies by dog type (top 10).
1. Maltese Cross
855 cases
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
312 cases
3. French Bulldog
230 cases
4. Cavoodle
206 cases
5. Labrador
145 cases
6. Pug
134 cases
7. American Staffordshire Terrier
125 cases
8. Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross
117 cases
9. German Shepherd
105 cases
10. American Staffordshire Terrier Cross
94 cases
Top 10 claims relating to desexing by dog type
This data shows the top 10 most claims relating to desexing their pet, broken down by dog type.
1. Cavoodle
276 cases
2. Maltese Cross
169 cases
3. French Bulldog
230 cases
4. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
145 cases
5. Labrador
111 cases
6. German Shepherd
97 cases
7. Border Collie
97 cases
8. Golden Retriever
89 cases
9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
79 cases
10. American Staffordshire Terrier
74 cases
Top 10 claims to treat movement problems (lameness) by dog type
Below shows the number of claims made for movement problems, such as joint pain or limping by dog type (top 10).
1. German Shepherd
330 cases
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
294 cases
3. Labrador
287 cases
4. Maltese Cross
274 cases
5. Cavoodle
274 cases
6. Kelpie Cross
219 cases
7. Border Collie
193 cases
8. Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross
183 cases
9. Golden Retriever
181 cases
10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
146 cases
Top 10 conditions with highest cost per claim
This data shows which conditions have the highest cost of treatment for dogs based on the 2018-2019 claims data from RSPCA Pet Insurance.
Note: This data only represents conditions with more than 100 cases/claims made and is based on the average price paid per visit.
1. Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (Baos)
$16,926
2. Cruciate Disease
$15,582
3. Mast Cell Tumour
$8,184
4. Intervertebral Disc Extrusion/ Herniation/ Prolapse - Thoracic
$7,052
5. Patella Luxation
$6,970
6. Lymphoma - B-Cell
$6,844
7. Intervertebral Disc Disorder
$6,664
8. Fracture of Thoracic Limb - Radius and Ulna
$6,328
9. Foreign Body - Intestinal, Small
$5,938
10. Hyperadrenocorticism ("Cushing's")
$5,144
Top 10 most common reasons for dogs to visit the vet
These figures show the most common reasons for dogs to receive medical care, and the average price per treatment as per the RSPCA Pet Insurance claims data. Fortunately, most cases were for preventative purposes, which indicates that Australians are being proactive in maintaining their dogs’ health.
1. Vaccinations or Health Checks
$1,887 / 21,634 cases
2. Heartworm Control
$372 / 13,528 cases
3. Flea/Tick/Worm Control
$322 / 12,080 cases
4. Otitis Externa
$4,032 / 9,863 cases
5. Cruciate Disease
$15,582 / 8,459 cases
6. Gait Abnormality - Lameness - Presenting Complaint
$3,077 / 6,439 cases
7. Ear (Aural) Infection
$2,757 / 6,333 cases
8. Hypersensitivity (Allergic) Skin Disorder - Atopic Dermatitis
$4,649 / 6,227 cases
9. Arthritis
$2,021 / 5,887 cases
10. Dermatitis
$2,524 / 5,586 cases
Top 10 conditions by total spend
This data shows which medical conditions have been claimed for and cost dog owners the most money overall, based on the total amount spent on treatments. This is based on the number of claims made through RSPCA Pet Insurance over the 2018-2019 period.
1. Cruciate Disease
$3,381,344
2. Otitis Externa
$1,052,460
3. Hypersensitivity (Allergic) Skin Disorder - Atopic Dermatitis
$971,634
4. Patella Luxation
$947,902
5. Gait Abnormality - Lameness - Presenting Complaint
$904,776
6. Dietary Indiscretion - Foreign Body Ingestion - Presenting Complaint
$766,026
7. Vomiting - Other - Presenting Complaint
$740,428
8. Mass Lesion
$726,070
9. Gastroenteritis
$717,532
10. Ear (Aural) Infection
$689,157
The following data is based on the common cat types (breeds and mixed breeds) which are insured with RSPCA Pet Insurance. Please keep in mind that every cat’s individual needs and lifestyle will vary and that this data is not weighted on the percentage of the cat type that we may have insured which may also be cause for the higher numbers in a particular breed.
Top 10 claims to treat movement problems (lameness) by cat type
This data shows the number of claims for movement problems, such as joint pain or limping by cat type (top 10). This is based on RSPCA Pet Insurance and the number of claims made between 2018-2019.
1. Domestic Short Hair
72 cases
2. Domestic Medium Hair
20 cases
3. Tabby
19 cases
4. Burmese
16 cases
5. Domestic House Cat
13 cases
6. British Short Hair
11 cases
7. Bengal
10 cases
8. Moggie
9 cases
9. Scottish Fold
8 cases
10. Siamese
7 cases
Top 10 claims to treat fleas, ticks or worms by cat type
Fleas, ticks and worms can affect cats of all kinds depending on their lifestyle and environment. These figures show the top 10 types of cats that have experienced a claim in 2018-2019 to treat fleas, ticks and worms, through RSPCA Pet Insurance.
1. Domestic Short Hair
364 cases
2. Tabby
127 cases
3. Ragdoll
102 cases
4. Domestic Medium Hair
102 cases
5. Domestic House Cat
99 cases
6. Burmese
67 cases
7. Domestic Short Hair Cross
54 cases
8. Domestic Long Hair
46 cases
9. British Short Hair
44 cases
10. Moggie
42 cases
Top 10 claims relating to snake bites by cat type
Snake bites among cats are usually common in warmer periods and areas with large amounts of grassland. However, some cats may be at a slightly higher risk than others due to their tendency to explore or approach wildlife, and where they live and their lifestyle. Below are the cat types that saw the highest number of claims through RSPCA Pet Insurance between 2018-2019.
1. Domestic Short Hair
72 cases
2. Russian Blue Cross
25 cases
3. Domestic House Cat
15 cases
4. Ragdoll Cross
12 cases
5. Moggie
9 cases
6. Ragdoll
7 cases
7. Domestic Long Hair
7 cases
8. Siamese
6 cases
9. Bengal
5 cases
10. Tabby
4 cases
Top 10 claims for diet management by cat type
Cats are commonly placed on diets to control their weight or treat conditions such as diabetes or food sensitivity. These are the most common cat types (top 10) that had a claim for diet related issues through RSPCA Pet Insurance over the 2018-2019 period.
1. Domestic Short Hair
195 cases
2. Domestic Medium Hair
59 cases
3. Burmese
54 cases
4. Tabby
46 cases
5. British Short Hair
43 cases
6. Ragdoll
39 cases
7. Pixie-Bob
37 cases
8. Domestic House Cat
35 cases
9. Domestic Short Hair Cross
31 cases
10. Persian
26 cases
Top 10 claims to treat lacerations by cat type
Bites from other cats usually occur due to confrontations or, occasionally, rough playtime. This data shows the number of claims made by cat type (top 10) through RSPCA Pet Insurance due to lacerations caused by other cats.
1. Domestic Short Hair
123 cases
2. Tabby
67 cases
3. Domestic House Cat
38 cases
4. Domestic Short Hair Cross
26 cases
5. Domestic Medium Hair
26 cases
6. Burmese
20 cases
7. Ragdoll
16 cases
8. Moggie
14 cases
9. Domestic Long Hair
12 cases
10. Ragdoll Cross
11 cases
Top 10 claims to treat vomiting by cat type
Vomiting in cats may occur due to gastric irritation or other underlying causes. The top 10 cat types that had a claim through RSPCA Pet Insurance to be treated for vomiting are listed below.
1. Domestic Short Hair
70 cases
2. Domestic Medium Hair
28 cases
3. Domestic House Cat
22 cases
4. Tabby
14 cases
5. Ragdoll
14 cases
6. Domestic Short Hair Cross
14 cases
7. Pixie-Bob
12 cases
8. Persian
12 cases
9. Burmese Cross
12 cases
10. Burmese
12 cases
Top 10 conditions by average cost of treatment
This data shows which conditions have the highest cost of treatment (top 10), based on 2018-2019 claims data from RSPCA Pet Insurance.
Note: This data only represents conditions with more than 100 cases/claims made and is based on the average price paid per visit.
1. Neoplasm Adrenal
$10,598
2. Lower Motor Neuron Disease
$10,106
3. Mass Lesion - Adrenal
$9,435
4. Lymphoma - Renal (Kidney)
$6,877
5. Urolithiasis - Urethral
$6,510
6. Ligament Rupture
$5,866
7. Peritonitis
$5,433
8. Foreign Body - Intestinal, Small
$5,087
9. Fracture of Pelvis
$4,823
10. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (Epi)
$4,617
Top 10 conditions by total spend
This data shows which medical conditions have been claimed for and have cost cat owners the most money overall, based on the total amount spent on treatments. This is based on the number of claims made through RSPCA Pet Insurance over the 2018-2019 period.
1. Vaccinations or Health Checks
$91,222
2. Vomiting - Other - Presenting Complaint
$84,144
3. Abscess - Cat Bite Abscess (Cba)
$81,776
4. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (Flutd)
$77,193
5. Bite Injury - Cat Bite
$75,617
6. Snake Bite
$72,824
7. Renal (Kidney) Disorder
$57,852
8. Traumatic Injury
$53,976
9. Constipation
$50,029
10. Pancreatitis
$48,902