Pet Insurance Blog – Pets Best Insurance

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Dog Insurance’

My dogs loves the vet and yours will too!

Posted on: October 24th, 2011 by

A vet holds a pet with dog insurance.

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

Throughout your pet’s life, you will make many trips to visit their veterinarian. Hopefully most of these visits will be for routine check ups, but unfortunately at one point or another, these visits may be due to illness or emergencies– this is when dog insurance will come in handy. When going to the vet, your pet may show signs of anxiety and stress. This may be magnified as a result of not feeling well or suffering from pain and discomfort. Proper socialization at the veterinary office is critical to help you pet feel comfortable and safe during visits. It is never too early (or too late) to start this socialization process.

When you first get your new pet, aside from purchasing pet health insurance, the next thing you will want to do is take them to the vet for a visit. Your vet will want to do a health and wellness exam, to rule out any medical issues and to get your pet off to a good start. Many pet insurance companies, like Pets Best Insurance, even offer a wellness care option. This should be a stress free visit, think of it as a fun experience meeting new friends. Bring lots of yummy, healthy treats, and ask the receptionist, vet techs, vet assistants and of course, the vet to give your pet treats. Food changes the chemical makeup in the brain and the emotional state of the animal.

After this initial visit, you’ll want to continue to make visits to the vets office about every 6 months or as instructed by your vet. Ask the receptionist when the slowest time of the day tends to be and plan to visit during those times. Make your visits are short and happy. Even visits as simple as having the receptionist give your pet a treat, or having your pet weighed can help your pet get acclimated to the vet office. Many vet clinics have scales in the waiting room, so you will not have to interrupt the staff. This is also a great way to keep an eye on your dog’s weight.

If you have an older dog that has had a bad experience at the vet, or just does not like the vet’s office, short visits will help your dog feel less anxious when he has to go for a medical procedure. As pets age they can develop new fears and anxiety, so continue to make visits throughout your pet’s life.

If you take these steps now, your pet will look forward to their next veterinary visit, and the veterinary staff will appreciate a dog that is less stressed during the visit.

For more information about pet health and pet health insurance visit www.petsbest.com.

All I want is a normal puppy

Posted on: October 17th, 2011 by

A Border Collie puppy with dog insurance bites at a cloth.

By: Judy Luther
Certified Dog Trainer
For Pets Best Insurance

As a pet health insurance enthusiast and certified professional trainer, I often get phone calls from pet owners complaining about their dog or puppy’s behavior.

Just last night I received a call from a woman who owns a 6-month-old Border Collie puppy. She complained that when she walks through the kitchen in the morning, her puppy bites at her robe and wants to tug on it. She said it was so bad she could not make coffee without the puppy hanging onto her robe, biting at her feet and even barking and growling at her. Her biggest fear was that the puppy was showing some signs of aggression.

After discussing this behavior with the pet owner, it was clear to me this puppy was just behaving like a normal puppy. My interpretation was that each morning the puppy, who has been sleeping all night, was just happy to see his owner and wanted to play.

After a long night, the puppy awakes full of energy, happy to see his family members, and is ready for a fun game of tug. When the tug game does not happen, he tries harder to engage his family in play, by doing what puppies do; he bites at his owners toes and starts barking. In a sense, he is just begging for someone to give him much desired attention and help him burn off some of his puppy energy. If the owner starts telling him to stop and dances around to avoid the little puppy teeth, the dog interprets this as the interaction and play he was looking for.

So what is a puppy owner to do? There are some very easy solutions to this playful puppy issue. First, before anything, take your puppy out for a potty break. Next, while the coffee is brewing, take a few minutes to give your puppy some much needed attention. Play with him for a few minutes. Next, fill a food-dispensing toy with your puppy’s breakfast. Give him this food-dispensing toy and let him enjoy his breakfast while burning some of that puppy energy. These types of toys give the puppy that much needed mental exercise.

Just like children, puppies need a lot of attention and playtime can be a very important learning experience. Because puppies are naturally curious and full of energy, it’s a good idea to look into dog insurance to help protect your pup from potential puppy accidents and illnesses. Good dog health care will be essential throughout your puppy’s life.

Play training games, hide and seek and crate games with him. These games will help your puppy learn that his crate is a fun place to go. Hide and seek can help teach that coming when he’s called is wonderful. All of these exercises will help your puppy to grow up to be a well-rounded adult dog.

Oh, and about the above mentioned client; her puppy WAS acting like a normal puppy. Now this puppy owner better understands how to control that excessive puppy energy and has reduced the early morning puppy antics!

For more information about dog health care and pet insurance visit www.Petsbest.com.

October is Adopt a Dog Month!

Posted on: October 1st, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance is adopted durign the month of October.

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

October is adopt a dog month! Dogs have been proven to help keep us happier and healthier by reducing stress, providing companionship and giving unconditional love. Honoring this bond with a month devoted to adoption also helps keep homeless dogs out of shelters and can help raise awareness about pet over-population. Adopt a dog month is sponsored by the American Humane Association and encourages people to consider shelters and rescue organizations when choosing their next four-legged family member. But before you adopt a furry canine friend, there are a few things you will need to consider– like what will be the best pet insurance, how you will train your new pet, and if the new dog will be a good fit for your family dynamic.

Shelter animals occasionally get a bad rap as abused, disobedient, unwanted and incapable of being trained. This is untrue! It is true, however, that some of the dogs brought into shelters have trust issues and often are under socialized. These dogs require much more time and devotion to training than you might be able to provide. It is important to recognize how much time and emotional energy you have to offer. Taking on a ‘project,’ while it may make you feel good to be helping a dog in need, will fail if you don’t truly have the resources to provide for the dog. There are plenty of dogs that don’t have behavioral issues and are given up for other reasons.

Before choosing a dog, take a look at your lifestyle. Do you live in an apartment? Do you work 10 hours a day and travel a lot? Do you have children? These are all very important factors to consider prior to picking out a dog. It is unreasonable to expect a high energy breed, like a border collie to sit quietly alone at home for hours at a time. On the other hand, an older poodle might be perfectly content to watch cars go by out the window while you are at work. Consider getting an older dog if you don’t have the time to train a puppy. It is untrue that older dogs are incapable of learning new ‘tricks,’ like basic obedience.

Be sure that you are financially prepared to care for a dog. Consider pet health insurance, as this can be invaluable in times of medical need. Veterinary care is expensive, and also important. Remember the cost of food, toys, bedding, leashes, kenneling when you are on vacation… This adds up. It is estimated that as a country Amercians spend $41 billion a year on their pets! According to the Animal Pet Products Association 2011-2012 survey, the average dog costs over $1,500 a year. Because healthcare can be one of the most costly parts of dog ownership, you will want to look into dog insurance early on.

After you have examined all these fundamental aspects and made the decision to open your home to a dog, consider rescue organizations and humane societies. Even if you have a specific breed in mind, there are many rescue organizations that cater to one breed. Some shelter will allow you to be notified if a dog meeting your breed standards turns up for adoption. By considering organizations whose mission it is to help animals in need, you can become part of the solution to pet overpopulation. Every year, about 8 million unwanted and stray animals are taken in by shelters across the country. Tragically, about 3.7 million, almost half, are euthanized because good homes cannot be found for them.

Let’s take time this October to honor these wonderful pets and the joy and smiles they can bring! And for more information about pet health insurance and other pet tips, visit Pets Best Insurance.

Scratch Scratch, Sniff Sniff, Achoo!

Posted on: September 30th, 2011 by

A Chihuahua with dog insurance is itchy from allergies.

By: Dr. Jack Stephens
President and Founder
Pets Best Insurance

Unlike humans, who typically have nasal and sinus allergies, the most common form of allergies in dogs tend to be related to scratching and itching. While cats can develop allergies too, they tend to be more prevalent in dogs. Investing in pet insurance is a wise choice, considering that any pet can develop an allergy at any time.

The most common allergy, by far, is Atopy or allergic skin disease. These allergies can manifest all over the body with hives, itching, and constant scratching and may lead to a bacterial condition called pyoderma. All dog breeds can be affected by this, and symptoms usually begin between 1-4 years of age. At first the symptoms may be mild, but can worsen each year. This kind of allergy is usually seasonal and may be due to pollen, mold, house dust, mites and especially fleas.

Fleas are one of the more common causes for scratching and itching and dogs can become allergic to the flea saliva causing an intense allergic reaction over most of the body. Fleas can cause mild to severe symptoms depending upon the pet’s allergic response to the saliva. A bite from even just a few fleas can cause an allergy.

Some dog breeds are far more susceptible to allergies overall. Dalmatians, Bulldogs, English Setters, Irish Setters, Pugs, Golden Retrievers and many of the Terrier breeds are often most seen for allergy-related health problems. Like humans, pets can also develop food allergies and become allergic to specific ingredients or foods.

Although pets have natural protection from chemicals and other skin irritants because of their fur, they can still be sensitive to these things. Pets can also be allergic to vaccines, insect bites and drugs. These kinds of allergies are one-time episodes that only manifest when the pet is exposed to them. They are also usually easy to treat.

Avoidance of the allergen or irritant, if possible, is best. Dietary supplements, such as essential fatty acids, may help and if a food allergen is the cause, then complete avoidance of the offending food is required.

Allergy treatment will vary depending on the cause and severity of the symptoms. Steroids are commonly prescribed for short-term relief. Antihistamines have limited success, but do not have the negative effects that can come with long term steroid therapy.

Once the allergen has been determined from a skin test, they can also respond to injections or desensitization. Some allergies will respond to therapeutic shampoos and topical treatment with cortisone sprays. Secondary or primary pyodermas will require antibiotics, both topically and systemically. More intense treatments may require a referral from your veterinarian to a veterinary specialist in dermatology. Because allergies can occur in pets at any time from such a variety of culprits, cat and dog insurance is recommended.

Allergies can be very complex. Palliative type treatments provide relief but do not cure the condition. Complete cures are rare. Often, pet owners get discouraged by the cost and continuous treatment required for allergies. If an allergy has severe symptoms and manifests often, it’s wise to invest in a good diagnostic work-up at your veterinarian or licensed veterinary dermatologist.

Severe allergies can be frustrating and require good communication and record-keeping . Keep a log of what has worked for your pet so you and your veterinarian can adapt the diagnostics and treatment approach as necessary. Together, with the help of your vet and your pet insurance company, you can develop a maintenance plan to control the symptoms and help your pet live a long, healthy, happy life.

No sushi for Fido

Posted on: September 2nd, 2011 by

A dog with dog insurance turns down a sushi roll on a plate.

By: Dr. Fiona Caldwell
For Pets Best Insurance

Many people enjoy good sushi, which is, of course, prepared safely and is eaten with little risk. But when Fido is scouting the banks of the river on your next camping or fishing trip for raw versions of his or her own ‘sushi,’ you might be wary, even if you have dog insurance. Some raw fish found in the Pacific Northwest can lead to Salmon Poisoning, an acute and often fatal disease if left untreated.

It is a very regional disease for a very interesting reason. The disease can only happen in areas that have a specific type of small snail called Oxytrema plicifer. The Pacific Northwest, including northern California, Oregon, Washington and southern Vancouver Island in Canada have this particular type of snail. So what do snails have to do with Salmon? Here is the tricky-to-follow life-cycle that can culminate with Salmon Poisoning:

The snail has to become infected with a type of parasite called a fluke. The fluke has to be infected with a type of Neorickettsial bacteria. The larval stage of the fluke containing the bacteria can penetrate the skin of the fish, who are not affected by this and don’t become sick. The fish has to be a salmon, steelhead or trout. The dog then has to eat the raw fish, therefore ingesting the parasitic fluke with the harmful bacteria.

Generally about one week after eating the infected fish, the dog will become sick, developing diarrhea in which the parasitic fluke egg is released in the feces, contaminating the ground where snails can pick it up and the cycle repeats itself. Did you follow??

Dogs with this condition generally have a high fever, sometimes over 104 to 105 degrees, and horrible watery, bloody diarrhea. About two thirds of patients will have swollen lymph nodes as well. The bacteria released by the fluke can spread to the liver, lungs, brain, and lymphoid tissues causing damage.

Definitive diagnosis is made by finding the eggs of the fluke parasite in the dog’s feces, even though it is not truly the fluke that is causing the illness. A cytology of the lymph nodes can sometimes provide clues to this diagnosis as well. Of course, a history of access to raw fish in the past week is also helpful. Your veterinarian will likely want to run blood work to determine the extent of damage done to organs and the vast majority of patients will need to be hospitalized in order to prevent dehydration and in order to adequately treat. Pet health insurance will undoubtedly be beneficial in order to ensure the pet has the best care possible and treatment doesn’t become a financial strain for the owner. Unless treated, dogs can succumb to infection within 7-10 days.

This illness can mimic parvoviral enteritis, which is typically vaccinated for, but a test to rule this out might be indicated.

Treatment can be costly, which is why dog insurance can be so beneficial. Depending on the severity of the illness the pet may need hospitalization, fluid support, antibiotics (to kill the Neorickettsial bacteria) and anti-parasiticides (to kill the fluke parasite). Once infected and recovered, dogs generally build a strong immunity to this disease.

In order to prevent this potentially fatal disease, Dogs should not be permitted to ingest raw salmon or similar fish as well as smoked raw salmon.

The Neorickettsial bacteria is not zoonotic, meaning people cannot contract this disease, nor does it cause any illness to other domestic species, including the cat.

So next time you’re chowing down on crunchy salmon sushi rolls, be sure not to share the treat with your pup.

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