Nationwide's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jules Benson, recently analyzed data from more than 22 million pet insurance claims to unveil some surprising trends regarding certain dog breeds. Dr. Benson noted that some breeds, known as "Peter Pan pups," retain puppy-like behaviors well into their mature and senior years, which can lead to specific health risks.

Dr. Benson stated, "Some dog breeds continue to submit claims for what we might think of as ‘silly puppy’ conditions – including trauma, foreign body ingestion, and toxicity – well into their mature and even senior life stages." He highlighted that this trend was particularly evident in breeds like the English Bull Terrier, Bernese Mountain Dog, and American Bulldog, who are more likely to submit claims for foreign body ingestion as mature adults.

Regarding trauma claims, Dr. Benson identified breeds such as the Greyhound, Belgian Malinois, Airedale Terrier, German Shepherd, and Weimaraner as the top contenders. He also noted that some breeds, like the Shetland Sheepdog, showed a decrease in risk from puppyhood to mature adulthood in terms of trauma incidents.

Interestingly, the trend of "eternal youth" was not observed among felines. Dr. Benson pointed out that while some cat breeds had foreign body ingestion risks as young adults, no cat breed showed such risks beyond this life stage. This contrast led to speculation about cats being more sensible or risk-averse compared to certain dog breeds.

Dr. Benson emphasized the importance of the Nationwide Pet HealthZone, a free resource accessible to all pet owners, in providing valuable insights into pet health. The platform aims to inform pet parents about potential health risks specific to their pet's breed, ultimately impacting the care pets receive both at home and in veterinary clinics.

For those interested in exploring the Nationwide Pet HealthZone, the platform can be accessed at ThePetHealthZone.com.