THE CORE ARGUMENT
Early Detection = Better Outcomes. The Data Proves It.
The most common conditions affecting dogs and cats are largely preventable or manageable — if caught early. Yet most pets show no obvious symptoms until conditions have advanced significantly. At-home testing closes this gap.
THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN PET CARE
30%+
of pet owners avoided the vet in 2024 due to cost
29%
of owners couldn't pay for emergency veterinary care
16%
have lost a pet because they couldn't afford care
6.4%
rise in vet care costs from 2023 to 2024 — the highest increase of any pet expense
Sources: MarketWatch 2024 Pet Owner Survey; Dogster Pet Healthcare Statistics 2025; CareCredit Synchrony 2024 Veterinary Cost Study
DISEASE-BY-DISEASE BREAKDOWN
What the Research Shows
PERIODONTAL DISEASE
80%
of dogs have some form of periodontal disease by age 3
70%
of cats show periodontal disease by age 3
#1
most common clinical condition in adult dogs and cats (AVMA)
$768
average cost to treat dental disease / periodontitis (CareCredit)
✓ EARLY DETECTION COST
Dental rinse, monitoring, and early-stage homecare: $30–$80. Plaque forms within 24 hours of cleaning — early identification is the only reliable intervention.
× LATE-STAGE COST
Surgical extraction under anesthesia: $500–$3,000+. Advanced disease can also cause systemic damage to the heart, kidneys, and liver through bacterial spread in the bloodstream.
Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual; Today's Veterinary Practice; AVMA; CareCredit 2024; Fetch Pet Insurance Research 2024
KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD)
1 in 3
cats will develop CKD in their lifetime (CTSA One Health Alliance)
30–80%
of cats over age 15 live with CKD; 20–50% of cats over age 10
#1
cause of mortality in senior cats — and kidney damage is irreversible once it occurs
Silent
disease — long subclinical course means most pets show no signs until advanced stages
✓ EARLY DETECTION COST
Dietary management and prescription kidney diet: $50–$200/month. Early intervention can significantly slow progression and extend quality of life by years.
× LATE-STAGE COST
IV fluid hospitalization, dialysis, and crisis management: $2,000–$8,000+. With no treatment to reverse renal fibrosis, prevention is the only strategy.
Sources: CTSA One Health Alliance; IRIS Kidney; Colorado State University One Health; MDPI Epidemiology of Feline CKD 2025; Grand View Research Veterinary Renal Disease Market 2024
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)
26.1%
pooled UTI prevalence in dogs and cats with urinary symptoms (MDPI Meta-Analysis 2025)
14%
of all dogs will be diagnosed with a bacterial UTI at some point in their lives
44.6%
prevalence in dogs presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (vs. 18.6% in cats)
E. coli
most common uropathogen in both dogs and cats — early treatment prevents resistance
✓ EARLY DETECTION COST
Antibiotic course (amoxicillin or cephalexin) and follow-up urinalysis: $50–$150. Early-caught UTIs respond quickly to first-line antibiotics.
× LATE-STAGE / COMPLICATED COST
ER visit, IV fluids, hospitalization, and kidney complications: $800–$2,500+. Untreated UTIs can ascend to the kidneys, causing permanent damage or failure.
Sources: MDPI Animals — Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis (2025); PMC Antimicrobial Resistance Study 2022; Dogster Vet Costs 2026; dvm360 UTI Management Update 2024
DEHYDRATION
12,100+
dehydration-related pet insurance claims filed between 2020 and 2024 (Trupanion)
+20%
rise in dehydration insurance claims from 2023 to 2024 (Trupanion truInsights)
$1,480
average heatstroke claim in 2024; severe cases have reached $65,000+ (Trupanion)
Silent
Cats' naturally low thirst drive means chronic dehydration progresses undetected, accelerating CKD
✓ EARLY DETECTION COST
Dietary adjustment, increased water intake, wet food supplementation: $0–$30. Early identification allows simple, low-cost intervention before organ stress develops.
× LATE-STAGE / EMERGENCY COST
Emergency IV fluid therapy, hospitalization, and organ complication treatment: $500–$2,000+. Severe dehydration with organ involvement can reach much higher.
Sources: Trupanion truInsights Dehydration Report 2025; Star of Texas Veterinary Hospital; PetPlace Emergency Vet Costs 2025; NCBI StatPearls — Canine Dehydration 2024
THE BOTTOM LINE
Cost Comparison: Early Detection vs. Emergency Care
| CONDITION | PAWDX TEST | EARLY TREATMENT | LATE-STAGE / EMERGENCY | POTENTIAL SAVINGS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🦷 Periodontal | Oral Test | $30 – $80 | $500 – $3,000+ | Up to $2,920+ |
| 🥂 Kidney (CKD) | Kidney Test | $50 – $200/mo | $2,000 – $8,000+ | Up to $7,800+ |
| 🔬 UTI | UTI Test | $50 – $150 | $800 – $2,500+ | Up to $2,350+ |
| 💧 Dehydration | Dehydration Test | $0 – $30 | $500 – $2,000+ | Up to $1,970+ |
The Human Rapid Test Parallel
Over 1.4 billion OTC rapid test units were sold globally in 2023. At-home testing now accounts for 40% of total rapid test market demand. Pet owners who already self-test are ready to do the same for their pets.
Veterinary Cost Inflation
Vet care costs rose 6.4% from 2023 to 2024 — the highest increase of any pet expense category. Americans now spend over $38 billion annually on veterinary care and products.
Telehealth Is Booming
The veterinary telehealth market reached $4.48 billion in 2024 — up nearly 20% year-over-year. PawDX's built-in Televet connection positions every test at the center of this trend.
Data Sources & Disclaimer: Statistics presented are drawn from peer-reviewed veterinary literature, published market research, and insurance industry data including: Merck Veterinary Manual, AVMA, IRIS Kidney, CTSA One Health Alliance, MDPI Animals (2025 Meta-Analysis), Trupanion truInsights (2025), CareCredit/Synchrony 2024 Veterinary Cost Study, Dogster Pet Healthcare Statistics 2025, MarketWatch 2024 Pet Owner Survey, and Today’s Veterinary Practice. Cost ranges represent reported averages and may vary by region, provider, and individual patient needs. PawDX makes no claim that any specific outcome will result from use of its products.