And here’s what it tells us about the real cost of waiting too long.

Every year, PetSure, Australia’s largest pet insurer, releases a detailed snapshot of pet health in Australia. It’s not a fluffy trend piece. It’s 70+ pages of raw data drawn from over a million insurance claims. It’s a mirror of what’s going wrong, how often, and how much it costs when it does.

At Elita, we’re building the other side of that story.

The story of what happens when you act early. When you store your dog’s healthy cells while they’re still well. When you prepare before something goes wrong.

So we read the whole report. And here’s what stood out.

What’s really going wrong with Aussie pets

PetSure’s 2025 report, based on 2024 data, confirms what most vets already know: chronic conditions are on the rise, and the costs aren’t slowing down.

Here are the headlines pet parents need to know:

• Osteoarthritis remains one of the most common and costly chronic conditions in dogs, with treatment claims reaching up to $39,289.
• Skin conditions and allergies made up 24% of all medication-related claims in 2024. Treatment isn’t just topical, many cases require long-term anti-itch medications, antibiotics, immunosuppressants and even monoclonal antibodies.
• Ear infections  are one of the most commonly treated conditions in dogs. While most are straightforward, the data shows treatment costs can reach as high as $22,665.
• Gastrointestinal issues were the most claimed condition for cats and second most for dogs. One-off treatment costs reached **$32,310,**often triggered by things as simple as scavenging on a walk.

It’s a reminder that “common” doesn’t mean “cheap,” and reactive care comes at a real price, financially and emotionally.

Why it feels so expensive

In Australia, we’re lucky. For humans, Medicare absorbs most of the true cost of healthcare. So when we get a vet bill for $3,000, it feels outrageous. But the reality is, we’re just seeing what care actually costs when it’s not publicly subsidised.

And that care is getting better.

Twenty years ago, you couldn’t get an MRI or a CT scan for your dog. Now, they’re used in clinics around the country. Stem cell therapy, cancer immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, it’s no longer aspirational. It’s available. But it comes at a cost.

Vet care isn’t just getting more expensive. It’s getting more advanced. And that’s a good thing, when things go wrong.

Insurance is there when things go bad. Elita is here to help you stay ahead of it.

We’re not anti-insurance. In fact, we think it’s smart.

But it only kicks in when something goes wrong.

At Elita, we’re asking: what if we did something before that?

What if we stored your dog’s healthy stem cells today, so that you had more options when things get tricky later?

Instead of reacting with treatment, you could be responding with your pet’s own healing cells.

That’s not the future. That’s happening now. Globally, autologous stem cells (your dog’s own) are already being used to support treatment for arthritis, cruciate ligament tears, and other inflammatory conditions.

And yes, we’re exploring how they could help with skin conditions too. It’s early days, but our focus is on personalised, biology-led approaches that treat the root cause, not just mask the symptoms.

What’s the cost of doing nothing?

We’re not saying you can prevent every illness.But when it comes to outcomes, earlier is always better, and often, far less expensive.

At Elita, we go one step further: by storing your dog’s healthy cells and tracking their individual health data over time, we’re putting that insight back where it belongs: in your hands.

So instead of guessing, delaying, or reacting, you can make practical, personalised decisions with the confidence that comes from knowing your pet’s biology, not just their symptoms.

Because the future of pet care isn’t just reactive. It’s informed. It’s individual. And it starts today.

A smarter way to care

Insurance helps when something goes wrong.

Elita helps you stay ready, in case it ever does.

When you bank your dog’s stem cells with us, you’re not just preparing for treatment, you’re gaining access to your pet’s unique biology and starting to build their individual health profile.

Not just what might go wrong, but how to keep them specifically right.

With Elita, your dog’s health data doesn’t disappear into a spreadsheet. It’s tracked, protected, and can help guide future care.

That’s not just proactive healthcare. That’s personalised, pet-first thinking. Sign up today.