Your Pet Ate What?!

BREA, Calif., Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Harley the pug may have captured the 2011 VPI Hambone Award when he ate more than 100 rocks, but he wasn't the only pet with an unusual appetite this year. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, received more than 6,500 foreign object ingestion claims from January through November. While many pets opted to snack on commonly ingested items, such as socks and underwear, others chose to explore inanimate objects of a different variety.

Following is a list of notable items that passed the lips of VPI-insured dogs and cats in 2011. All pets made full recoveries and received insurance reimbursements for eligible expenses.

VPI policyholders spent nearly $5.2 million treating pets that ingested foreign objects in the eleven-month period. Surgery to remove foreign objects from the stomach of a pet cost an average of $1,472; while surgical removal from the intestines was $1,910 on average. Symptoms of foreign body ingestion include depression, a reluctance to eat or drink, vomiting and occasionally diarrhea. If a pet owner suspects foreign object ingestion, the animal should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

To prevent costly emergencies, VPI recommends closely monitoring pets' behaviors and environment. Items small enough to be swallowed should be placed safely out of reach. Pet parents should also be careful to select toys that are appropriate for all animals in the home and to monitor the items for small pieces that may have been eaten. While preventative measures are essential for pet safety, the 2011 list of unusual ingestions is proof that pets – and their appetites – are often unpredictable.

About Veterinary Pet Insurance

With more than 485,000 pets insured nationwide, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the No. 1 veterinarian-recommended pet health insurance company and is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America's pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional CareGuard^® coverage is available for routine care.

Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,500 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as a voluntary employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wis. Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit PetInsurance.com.

SOURCE Veterinary Pet Insurance