Unfortunately, even if you do everything to keep your dog healthy, just like us humans, your dog can have an unexpected medical issue. While in most cases something that “just comes up” like this is rarely life threatening, many of the medical issues that come up on a whim can be expensive to treat.

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, gets more than a million claims every year for the treatment of cats and dogs. This data reveals that just like people, many dogs and cats in 2009 received treatment for non-emergency as well as ongoing disorders.

Here are the top 10 medical conditions of dogs for 2009, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance Company:

1. Ear Infection
2. Skin Allergy
3. Skin Infection/Hot Spots
4. Gastritis/Vomiting
5. Enteritis/Diarrhea
6. Bladder Infection
7. Arthritis
8. Soft Tissue Trauma
9. Non-cancerous Tumor
10. Eye Infection

A few of the top 10 dog medical conditions can be associated with the natural aging process. Nonetheless, many of the top 10 dog medical conditions can happen in any pet. No matter the age or breed, whether it be an indoor or an outdoor dog, you should familiarize yourself with your dog’s daily routine in order to identify abnormal behaviors that might indicate an injury or illness. In addition, regular semiannual physical exams by your vet can help prevent and identify certain conditions before they become serious or costly.