Representative study shows the most common dog diseases – and suggests a connection between insurance status and frequency of treatment
Hanover. “What type of illness have you taken your dog to the vet’s office for in the past twelve months?” Agila pet insurance, in collaboration with the survey institute Statista, asked this question to 1,206 dog owners throughout Germany. The results of the survey are representative and show: In addition to injuries, it is mainly skin and fur problems that require veterinary treatment.
Most common diseases of dogs in Germany
1. Injuries: 17%
2. Skin and coat diseases: 17%
3. Musculoskeletal disorders: 14%
4. Ear diseases: 13%
5. Infectious diseases: 12%
The survey did not include visits to the vet for preventative care, for example for annual vaccinations or parasite prophylaxis. “Just like the costs for necessary treatments and operations, which can be costly, the expenses for these preventative measures can also be insured,” explains Franziska Obert from Agila pet insurance.
Study suggests: Insurance status has a significant impact on treatment frequency
As part of the survey, participants were able to select all of the symptoms that applied to their animal from a range of illnesses. The option “My animal has not been sick in the past twelve months” was also available. When evaluating the data, it was noticeable that this option was chosen significantly more often by dog owners without insurance than by those who had taken out surgery or health insurance for their animal: a total of 37 percent of dog owners stated that their four-legged friend had not been sick at all in the past twelve months. Of the insured animals, only 28 percent were not treated for illnesses, while the proportion of uninsured dogs was 53 percent.
“It cannot be assumed that dogs without insurance generally only get sick half as often,” states Franziska Obert. “Rather, these figures suggest that people with cost insurance may have symptoms checked out earlier or generally go to the practice more often if they are unsure. Animal health insurance offers financial flexibility and ensures that the question of treatment costs does not only arise when the four-legged friend is not feeling well.”
Short profile of AGILA Pet Insurance AG
AGILA pet insurance, which is part of the Doubtless Pet Care Group, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. With over 400,000 insurance contracts for dogs and cats, the company is one of the leading specialist insurers for pets in Germany. The offer includes animal health insurance, surgical cost protection and dog owner liability. AGILA currently only insures dogs and cats, regardless of their breed. In the TÜV Nord customer satisfaction analysis, AGILA 2026 once again performed very well. More information about the company at www.agila.de.
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