Farmers Insurance® & Pets Best Reveal Top Springtime Pet Claims

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Farmers Insurance^®, one of the nation's largest multiline insurer groups, and Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC (Pets Best), a leading U.S. pet insurance brand, today unveiled the first-ever Farmers Insurance Seasonal Smarts Digest: Pet Edition, which reveals three of the most common pet claims that occur in spring based on a review of the Pets Best claims database. For more information and access to the Seasonal Smarts Digest: Pet Edition, please visit https://www.farmers.com/news/seasonal-smarts/.

1. Foxtails: Certain plants, such as foxtails (also known as cheat grass) get stuck in animals' paws, ears and throats and can wreak havoc on pets. A foxtail getting lodged anywhere in a pet's body is called a foreign object (or a foreign body) claim. Foxtails caused more than 21 percent of all foreign object claims according to Pets Best database during the spring. More specifically, Foxtails were the cause of 47.8 percent of all ear and nose foreign object according to Pets Best claims database.
2. Insect bites and stings: A bee sting may seem benign on a pet, but did you know some pets could have an anaphylactic allergic reaction to bee stings, just like humans can? Bee stings represent 50 percent of all spring insect sting/bite claims; Spider bites account for 10.5 percent according to Pets Best claims database.
3. Fertilizer: Fertilizer can be dangerous for pets. Claims related to fertilizer ingestion are six times more likely in the spring.

"Whether you're insuring a home, vehicle, or adding a new pet to the family, Farmers^® through Pets Best offers a wide range of benefits and options to help limit the risk of hefty out-of-pocket expenses and provide coverage for unexpected events for pet owners," said Mariel Devesa, head of product innovation for Farmers Insurance.

Veterinary bills can be sudden and costly when a pet falls ill. Pet owners can speak to their Farmers Insurance agent about purchasing pet insurance, which is offered by Farmers Insurance through Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC.

About Farmers Insurance
"Farmers Insurance®" and "Farmers®" are tradenames for a group of affiliated insurers providing insurance for automobiles, homes and small businesses and a wide range of other insurance and financial services and products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than 10 million households with over 19 million individual policies nationally, through the efforts of more than 48,000 exclusive and independent agents and approximately 21,000 employees. Farmers Insurance Exchange®, the largest of the three primary insurance insurers that make up Farmers Insurance, is recognized as one of the largest U.S. companies on the 2016 Fortune 500 list.

For more information about Farmers Insurance, visit Farmers.com, Twitter and Instagram, @WeAreFarmers, or Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.

About Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC
Pets Best, a pet health insurance agency, was launched in 2005 by veterinarian Jack L. Stephens. Pets Best offers pet insurance plans to dogs and cats across all 50 states and D.C. and has paid over $140 million in pet insurance claims to its customers. Pets Best is veterinarian recommended and has a high customer rating of 9.6 (TrustPilot rating on 3/17/17). Dr. Stephens not only started Pets Best, but he also founded pet insurance in the U.S. in 1981 with a mission to end euthanasia when pet owners couldn't afford veterinary treatment. Dr. Stephens went on to present the first U.S. pet insurance policy to famous television dog Lassie. The Pets Best team is a group of pet lovers who strive to deliver quality customer service and value. Visit www.petsbest.com for more information.

Pet insurance offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company (APIC) or Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC). Please visit www.americanpetinsurance.com to review all available pet health insurance products underwritten by APIC. IAIC is a member of The IHC Group, an organization of insurance carriers and marketing and administrative affiliates, please visit www.ihcgroup.com for additional information. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

Pets Best is a proud member of the North America Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).

SOURCE Farmers Insurance