Pet Insurance Blog – Pets Best Insurance

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Dog Insurance’

Best in Show: Which award would your dog win?

Posted on: June 21st, 2012 by

A colorful cartoon dog infographic.

Pets Best Insurance took a dive into some of its fascinating and fun customer pet data, spun out a comical dog-centric infographic, and is excited to share the amusing creation with dog owners everywhere!

The pet insurance agency has always emphasized the importance of creating educational and entertaining content for pet owners, and will continue to provide this kind of fun content in addition to educational blogs and of course, our comprehensive pet insurance plans!

The infographic, called “Best in Show” reveals everything from the most popular insured dog breeds to some of the trendiest dog names and even the ages of some of the oldest dogs with pet insurance policies from Pets Best!

There are seven separate categories (dog-agories?) and it’s perfect for sharing on pet blogs, websites or with your dog-loving friends! It will be fun for dog owners to see if their pooches would be up for an award based on the “Best in Show” categories!

(more…)

Pet health special: A Basset’s broken biter

Posted on: February 20th, 2012 by

A dog with dog insurance smiles, showing healthy teeth.

By: Judy Luther
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
For Pets Best Insurance

Now that we’re well into February, and you’re both animal lovers and pet health insurance enthusiasts, you probably know that it’s National Pet Dental Month. You might be surprised that a dog trainer, like myself, would be concerned about the dental health of animals I work with, but the health of your dogs’ teeth is important for many reasons.

Recently I was called out to work with a client whose Basset Hound, Billy, was suddenly exhibiting severe aggression. I worked with Billy as a puppy and periodically when his family wanted him to learn new behaviors. Billy had never exhibited any aggression and had always been a happy, healthy and active dog. I was curious what was causing the sudden aggression. Any time, a dog has a sudden behavior change, my first concern is that there may be a pet health issue.

Often medical issues manifest themselves as behavior issues. While discussing recent events in Billy’s life, I searched for something that may have caused him to become aggressive. One of the children sadly told me that Billy stopped playing with his toys and would not even chew his favorite bones. After thinking about this, Billy’s owner told me they had purchased a cow hoof for Billy. That day Billy chewed on the cow hoof for a while then suddenly stopped chewing. That night he would not eat his dinner and the next day he seemed sad and grumpy, even snapping at one of the kids when they wanted to play with him. That is when they called me.

I recommended the family take Billy to the vet for a dental check-up. Later that day I received a call from the family who reported that Billy had a broken tooth. The veterinarian repaired the dog’s tooth and the aggressive behavior has stopped. Billy was obviously in pain from his broken tooth and a bit grumpy.

Pet insurance quote button

Or Call 877-738-7237 to Add a Pet to Your Current Policy

Your dog’s dental health is very important. I recommend you brush your dog’s teeth as recommended by your veterinarian, give your dog good safe dental chews, avoiding chews that are too hard and examine your dog’s mouth daily to make us his teeth are healthy. Since this is Pet Dental Health month, it is a good time to make and appointment to see your vet and have your dog’s teeth checked. Your vet will also help you develop a good plan to keep your dog’s teeth healthy.

For more information about pet health and dog insurance, visit Pets Best Insurance.

Poochie Pilates

Posted on: February 17th, 2012 by

A dog that would benefit from dog insurance stretches.

By: Kristie Sullens
Save-An-Angel Founder
For Pets Best Insurance

1 in 3 dogs is diagnosed with cancer each year, making it the leading cause of death for our canine companions. As with humans, EARLY DETECTION is critical and saves many lives every year. In the case of a cancer diagnosis, it’s also very helpful to have had a pet insurance policy in place for your pet.

Poochie Pilates is a fun way to check your dog for lumps! Performing monthly sessions could be the difference between life and death for your best friend. Poochie Pilates is for people and dogs of all ages and fitness levels. Not only can it be good for pet health, but it’s fun too! No medical degree or fancy machinery required! It’s simple, easy and fun. The next time your dog nudges you for affection, take that moment as an opportunity to be their voice. Let’s get started.

What you will need

• A positive attitude and a pooch
• A piece of paper and a pen to track any changes. You will use the same piece of paper every time so make sure it’s accessible.
• A calm, quiet environment. Pick a place where you and your dog feel comfortable and relaxed.
• Treats! Giving treats is a great way to distract hyper active or nervous dogs and puppies.

Pilate Techniques
Poochie Pilates is a great way to keep older dogs limber, and it helps young dogs become accustomed to being touched all over. The more comfortable your dog is with being handled, the easier it will be to tell if something is off. It is especially important for pet health to be sure you check inside the mouth and ears.

Bring your dog to a special place and lay them down on a towel, blanket or even your bed. Let them get used to you petting them while they are in this special place, so they will build a positive association with the Poochie Pilates environment.

When it comes to petting your dog, you can’t do it wrong enough or long enough! Here are some tips to get you started. Hold your hand out in front of you and spread your fingers (like you’re showing the #5) Place your hands flat on your dog’s back end with your fingers spread and gently squeeze. Continue the motion by moving your thumbs toward one another and work your way up. We always massage from the tail to head, or belly to chest to make the dogs more comfortable. Imagine how you would want a massage, and then give it to your pooch.

Make sure to check all over your dog’s body including the tail; back legs, belly, inside the legs, paws, chest, neck, back of neck, entire back, ears and even private parts. Remember to check inside of the mouth, because oral cancers are also a threat. We recommend brushing your dog’s teeth and giving heart worm preventatives on the same day you perform the monthly Poochie Pilates session.

Pet insurance quote button

Or Call 877-738-7237 to Add a Pet to Your Current Policy

When you get to the legs, give your dog a nice long stretch and muscle massage. It might be difficult for older dogs at first; however it’s impressive to see how much they improve over time. Just like humans, dogs need to stretch in order to stay limber, so try to incorporate this portion of Poochie Pilates into your routine. Your dog will thank you for it!!

Now it’s time to create a baseline that will help you determine what is normal for your dog. It’s not uncommon for dogs to get lumps and bumps, however not all lumps are cancerous. Write the date, location of the lump, if the lump is hard or soft and the size and color of your findings on the sheet. This will help you track any changes that arise in the future. It’s important to note if the lump is hard or soft.

If you discover anything on your dog’s body, it’ It’s important to know if any existing lumps are benign (non-cancerous), and it will also help you to keep an eye on them if they grow.

Warning signs of cancer

• Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
• Sores that do not heal
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
• Offensive odor
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

When to call the doctor
Save-An-Angel recommends monthly “Poochie Pilates” sessions with your dog to check for unusual lumps, bumps and other warning signs. If you discover something on your dog, have it checked out by your vet right away! While Lymphoma is one of the most common types of cancer in dogs, it is just one of many that can occur. As with humans, EARLY DETECTION is critical and saves many lives every year.

For more information about pet health or dog insurance visit Pets Best Insurance.

Five ways to find a dog name you love

Posted on: January 5th, 2012 by

A puppy with pet insurance chews on a shoe.

By: Chryssa Rich
For Pets Best Insurance

Congratulations, you’ve just come home with a brand new dog! Before you even look into a pet insurance plan for him, you’ll have to find the perfect name.

For some reason, people seem to have more trouble coming up with boy dog names than they do girl names. In fact, the top five male dog names on almost any list are cute but pretty ordinary. Chances are you want something more original than “Max”. (No offense to those who love classic names!) Here’s how to get some inspiration.

1. Remember the moment you adopted him
Think about when and where you found your dog. Was the street name interesting? Whether he was from a breeder, a shelter or running loose– would any of the associated names be a good fit? How was the weather that day? Was it on a holiday? Questions like these can lead you to unique or funny names with personal meaning, like Cole, Sunny or Turkey.

2. Think of your favorite cities
If you’ve traveled and found places you really love, consider using one of those names for your dog. Some of our Facebook friends have named their dogs Holbrook, Cutler, Brooklyn, Aspen and Dallas, after cities they love. One friend named her dogs after rivers in Ireland. London, Phoenix and Hamilton would also make proud dog names.

3. Name him after another animal
Does your new pup behave like another type of animal? Maybe he hops, hides, or makes funny squeaky noises. If so, consider names like Bunny, Turtle, Bear, Birdie or even Kitty.

4. Go through your Facebook lists
If you like giving pets people names, Facebook can be a great resource. Where else can you find thousands of names in just a couple of clicks? You may not want to name your dog after someone you already know, so poke around friends-of-friend’s lists and see if you find anything you really like. I’ll admit I found my dog’s name that way. I asked a friend to read through her friends list and when I heard “Jayda”, it immediately made my short list.

Pet insurance quote button

Or Call 877-738-7237 to Add a Pet to Your Current Policy

5. Honor your favorite famous person …or beverage
Think about your favorite movies, TV shows, sporting events or historical figures. You could name your dog after a funny character (stage name or real name), or after an athlete you find impressive. One Facebook friend named her cats Monet and Picasso, and another named her dog Stoli Vanilla. There’s even an adorable Aldo Ray, named after the American actor of the ‘50s – ‘80s.

Once you’ve chosen a name, think through your family members’ names and make sure none are too similar sounding – that could cause problems when training your new dog. And if the day comes when you’re having second thoughts, check out our blog with great tips on how to change your pet’s name.

After you’ve decided on something that fits your pet perfectly, be sure to sign him up for dog insurance.

For more information about pet health and behavior, or for more information about pet insurance, visit Pets Best Insurance.

Something that keeps you cozy can hurt pets

Posted on: December 12th, 2011 by

A dog with dog insurance who has ingested antifreeze is cared for by a vet.

By: Dr. Fiona Caldwell
Vet at Idaho Veterinary Hospital
For Pets Best Insurance

Winter is in full swing and thermostats are being turned up in order to keep everyone warm. The winter season can be a great time to get cozy with the family, but there are some winter pet health dangers that should be considered in order to keep your pets safe this year. Exposure to the cold is an easy danger to recognize, but some are less obvious. One of the most lethal dangers to pets that veterinarians see in the wintertime is antifreeze toxicity. Since emergency treatment isn’t always rewarding, prevention is the key. Because accidents like these abound in the winter months, it’s a good idea to be prepared with pet health insurance.

Antifreeze is used to keep your car running smoothly in the wintertime. It contains ethyl glycol, which has a very low freezing point, meaning at normal winter temperatures it won’t freeze. The problem is that antifreeze tastes sweet, so when animals are exposed to it, they are likely to drink it. The amount needed to harm an animal is also very little, especially in cats. The average ten pound cat could die with as little as one teaspoon of antifreeze ingestion, and a 20 pound dog could suffer severe consequences and possibly death after drinking as little as 3.5 tablespoons.

Once in the body, ethylene glycol is metabolized into formic or oxalic acid. Oxalic acid can combine with normal amounts of calcium in the bloodstream, causing calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals are large and hard, and get stuck in the small tubules of the kidneys, blocking them and causing acute kidney failure. In effect, the kidneys crystallize, which is an impossible process to reverse. Treatment is aimed at preventing the ethylene glycol from forming oxalic acid, and therefore preventing calcium oxalate crystals from forming in the first place. Once the crystals are there, damage has been done. Therefore, if you see you pet come across antifreeze, or know they were exposed to it, don’t wait until they act sick to seek veterinary care, it might be too late. Having dog and cat insurance is a good way to defray costs around the holidays when your normal vet may be closed and sometimes-costly emergency clinics are your only option.

Pets that have ingested antifreeze will often act ‘drunk.’ Ethylene glycol is an alcohol and works on the brain in a similar manner to cause stumbling, incoordination and stupor. This can happen within 1 to 12 hours after ingestion. As the kidneys stop doing their job, pets will often become very thirsty and will drink excessive amounts of water. After 12 to 24 hours the pet will become significantly more sick as the kidneys begin to fail, severe electrolyte imbalance will cause cardiac and respiratory signs, including fast breathing and a fast, weak heartbeat. By 2 to 3 days after ingestion, the pet is usually gravely ill, and might seizure and have severe vomiting episodes.

If you suspect your pet has ingested anti-freeze, you veterinarian will likely want to perform a blood chemistry, a blood gas profile and a urinalysis. These tests can become quite costly, which is why cat and dog insurance can help owners afford the best care without worrying about finances. The smaller calcium oxalate crystals forming in the kidneys can be flushed into the urine and visualized under a microscope. The presence of a certain form of these classically shaped urine crystals is a strong indicator of exposure to ethylene glycol. There is a blood test that will look specifically for the presence of ethylene glycol in the blood, but not all veterinary clinics have access to this test.

Pet insurance quote button

Or Call 877-738-7237 to Add a Pet to Your Current Policy

Some commercial antifreeze solutions have added sodium fluorescein dye to help detect leaks in the car’s coolant system. The dye fluoresces under a black light and may be excreted in the urine for up to 6 hours, and may be present on the paws, fur or mouth.

Successful treatment must begin before the ethylene glycol is metabolized into the toxic oxalic acid. Patients typically require intensive hospitalization and aggressive treatment. Veterinary care can be expensive, and having pet insurance can be a crucial asset to allowing your pet the emergency care they need. Animals that start treatment 8 to 12 hours after ingestion typically have a poor to grave prognosis.

Some preventative measures you can take to help keep your pet from exposure to this deadly toxin include:

1.) Not allowing your pet access to the garage or other places where antifreeze is used or stored. Store antifreeze with appropriately marked containers.

2.) Immediately clean up any antifreeze spills appropriately and check your car regularly for leaks.

3.) Use antifreeze solutions that have an additive to make it taste less appealing to pets.

4.) Don’t allow your pets outside unsupervised.

Antifreeze toxicity is a devastating illness, but with some foresight and common sense it can be prevented. Always consider pet insurance as a way to ensure your pet can receive the care they need in a time of crisis. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

« Previous Page  1 2 ... 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15   Next Page »
powered by SEO Pager