Top vet claims for Spring: Allergies, itchy skin and snake bites surge as weather warms
- Written by: Times Media
Pet owners are being urged to prepare for a sharp rise in seasonal health issues, with new data from CoverMy Pet revealing the most common vet claims between September and November as warmer temperatures, seeding plants and animals on the move outdoors drive a spike in allergies, skin conditions, ear infections, grass seeds, ticks and snake related emergencies.
CoverMy Pet General Manager Grant Pugh said Spring is the season where many common health issues typically go unnoticed, but can quickly escalate into a health emergency.
“We see a clear pattern every year. As soon as the weather warms up, pets spend more time outside, and claims for allergies, skin flare‑ups and grass seed injuries climb sharply. Snake bites and tick paralysis are also major concerns, particularly for dogs close to bush or coastal areas, ” he said.
“It’s important to check your dog’s paws, ears and coat after going outdoors. Grass seeds and ticks can hide under the coat for days until serious symptoms appear,” he said.
Analysis of a state by state spring breakdown shows vets in New South Wales typically see the most claims, followed by Victoria, Queensland and then WA.
Top Spring vet claims across Australia:
-
Allergies
-
Skin rashes
-
Injury/ Infections from grass seeds getting caught in paws and ears
-
Ticks
-
Snake bites
The data also reveals the most common breeds to experience seasonal allergies include Cavoodles, Golden Retrievers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, German Shepherds and Labradors for dogs and Domestic Shorthair, British Shorthair, Ragdolls and Maine Coons, Burmese for cats.
“One of the claims we start to see more often from Spring is for snake bites and many pet owners don’t realise treatment typically costs up to $5,000, so it’s worth knowing if your dog is covered in the unfortunate event that an emergency strikes,” he said.
“Simple things like keeping your pets on year round flea and tick treatment, inspecting paws and ears after a trip outdoors and avoiding long grass can help avoid unexpected, and costly, vet bills,” he said.
The average cost of pet insurance in Australia is $134 a month, however the launch of CoverMy Pet as a new affordable pet insurance alternative can now be accessed for as little as $22 a month, covering 85% of usual vet bills for the lifetime of their pet.
About CoverMy Pet
Australian owned CoverMy Pet offers no-frills, affordable pet insurance to help cover unexpected vet bills. https://covermy.au/
