Top 10 ways your pet gets hurt

August 21, 9:40 AMPet ExaminerCathy M. Rosenthal

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  Just like kids, pets need to be supervised in the great
  outdoors. Maybe even more so, since a dog might
  actually approach a snake while a kid would probably
  run away and scream.  
 

It's not just kids that need a trip to the emergency room.

Whether they’re trying to escape grandma’s crocheted quilt and tear off a nail (ouch!) or are playing in the backyard and encounter a snake, your dog or cat may not be able to outrun danger either. 

In fact, the most common injury for pets in 2007 – triple that of every other wound, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) -- were bite wounds and lacerations. Bites occur from dogs or cats fighting with other dogs or cats, or from encounters with wild animals, such as raccoons, coyotes and squirrels. Lacerations may occur during amateur grooming attempts or from run-ins with the sharp edges of immoble objects, like a barbed wire, metal lawn edging, or tree branch. And the average insurance claim for these types of injuries -- $350.

Plant-based foreign objects pose the second most common injury to pets. The majority of these insurance claims, says VPI, involved foxtails, burrs and other seed pods that attach to a pet’s fur and burrow deep into a pet’s skin, leading to possible infection. The ears and paws are the most common entry points, so check your pet after an outing to remove grasses and burrs promptly.

Adding to the list of outdoor threats, insect bites and stings buzzed in at third. Other common wounds included torn nails, eye traumas, and snakebites. Snakebites, though relatively low in frequency of claims, were highest in cost, averaging $580 per insurance claim.   

Here’s the top ten most treated pet wounds for 2007 

1.      Lacerations/Bite Wounds

2.      Torn Nails

3.      Insect Bites and Stings

4.      Abrasions

5.      Eye Traumas

6.      Punctures

7.   Foreign objects in skin      

8.   Foreign objects in ear

9.   Foreigh objects in paws

10.  Snakebites

While there’s no way to eliminate all wound threats, "pet owners can prevent some of the most common wounds by being aware of their pet’s surroundings, supervising their pet’s physical activity, and regularly examining their pet’s body," says Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI.

Really, their just like kids.