Veterinary Pet Insurance  (VPI), USA's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently analyzed medical claims received in 2008 to find the year's most common pet maladies, according to a VPI press release.

The results indicate that pets visit the veterinarian for many of the same reasons humans visit the doctor, with ear infections the No. 1 condition for dogs and lower urinary tract disease No. 1 for cats. The top 10 conditions accounted for nearly 340,000, or close to 25%, of all canine and feline medical claims received in 2008.

"The large number of claims received for these medical conditions attests to their often repetitive or chronic nature," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. "A dog with allergies, for example, will most likely require continuing care and a cat with diabetes will be no stranger to the veterinarian's office."