Pet Insurance Blog – Pets Best Insurance

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Dog Insurance’

The Rusty puppy

Posted on: August 9th, 2011 by

A Dachshund puppy without dog insurance fights for his life.

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

Rusty is just the color you’d expect a dachshund named “Rusty” to be, a handsome shiny red. He was normally a happy 8-month-old puppy, full of energy and bouncing off the walls. However, in the last few days he’d been mopey and refused to eat. Although Rusty’s owners didn’t have dog insurance for Rusty, they were worried and decided to make an appointment at the veterinary clinic.

When Rusty was seen by the vet, it was very obvious that something was wrong. He was so weak that he could barely lift his head and his gums were white instead of a nice healthy pink color. This is very serious and indicated something was terribly wrong.

Blood work was recommended for Rusty to better understand why he was so weak and pale. The owners didn’t have a lot of money were worried about the cost because they didn’t have pet insurance. Rusty’s owners were convinced that there was a good possibility they might lose him if a diagnosis wasn’t made quickly.

A normal canine Complete Blood Count, or CBC has about 40% red blood cells, and the rest is serum or plasma. Rusty had just 11% cells, indicating he was severely and life-threateningly anemic. In an animal with anemia, or low numbers of red blood cells, there are only three ways this occurs: the animal’s bone marrow isn’t producing the blood cells, the blood cells are being destroyed by something, like the immune system, or the animal is bleeding somewhere.

After additional questioning, the owners mentioned they had a rodent problem and last week had put rat poison down. In fact, they were pretty sure they had seen Rusty eat some. It was then I determined Rusty was suffering from rodenticide toxicity, a fatal disease if left untreated. Rusty’s red blood cells numbers were low because he was bleeding internally.

Rodenticides are chemicals used to kill mice, rats, moles, gophers and other vermin. They have been available in the US for decades and are available in several formulations with blue or green pellets or paraffin blocks being the most common. While many contain bittering agents to prevent accidental ingestion by children, these agents have limited effectiveness in animals.

The reason rat poison works is that it is an anti-coagulant; it inhibits the blood’s ability to clot. Clotting is important for everyday life and prevents you for bleeding when bumped, or with normal cell turnover.

Anticoagulant rodenticides stop the liver’s ability to produce vitamin K, which is crucial to the production of several coagulation factors. This takes several days to deplete; therefore clinical signs of toxicity, such as bleeding can take days to happen. When clinical signs do occur, everyday things that would normally result in a bruise or other small insignificant problem can turn into life-threatening bleeding situation.

Patients may present bleeding almost anywhere, from the nose, in the lungs, into the eyes, GI tract, heart sac or bladder, to name a few. Because Rusty’s owners hadn’t actually seen any bleeding, it was thought that his bleeding was likely internal. After they were told the gravity of the situation, Rusty’s owners agreed to having him hospitalized for treatment.

If he had been brought immediately to the clinic after ingesting the rat poison, treatment would generally be straight forward and consist of inducing vomit, administering activated charcoal to ‘soak up’ any left over toxins to prevent absorption, and supplementing vitamin K for three weeks until any toxin is officially out of the body.

Rusty required 2 costly blood transfusions and was hospitalized for almost a week before he was strong enough to go home. His bill was hefty– even after using some of our clinics’ ‘needy pet funds’ the invoice was still over $1,500. Rusty was a sweetie though and worth every penny! If his owners had pet insurance Rusty’s condition would have been covered by most pet health insurance companies.

Five tips for you and your beach baby

Posted on: August 8th, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance runs on the beach.

By: Chryssa Rich
For Pets Best Insurance

Landlocked in lovely Boise, Idaho, we’re a full day’s drive to the Pacific Ocean and not exactly pros when it comes to beach living. So we asked our more sea-savvy Facebook friends how they keep their pets safe on the beach (aside from having pet insurance of course) and we got some great advice we hope you can use on your next beach getaway.

Bring Fresh Water
Gulping salt water can cause diarrhea and vomiting in your dog, so make sure you discourage him from drinking ocean water and provide plenty of fresh water. Keep it covered and in the shade so it’s clean and cool when he needs to rehydrate. Any digestive discomfort caused by sea water should pass within 24 hours. If not, seek veterinary care.

Protect Their Paws and Skin
Hot sand can abrade and crack paw pads, and those cracks can become infected. To keep pads soft and healthy, one friend swears by Musher’s Secret, a natural wax product that you can rub onto your dog’s paw pads before hitting the sand. Other options include a variety of water-proof booties and socks available online and at pet stores – just make sure they fit well and won’t come off when wet.

Dogs with short coats and lighter skin especially need extra protection from the sun. Talk to your vet about a pet-safe sunscreen and be sure to give your dog a good bath when you get home.

Test the Waters with Other Dogs
Especially in off-leash areas, make sure other dogs are friendly before letting yours run free. This is especially true if your dog will be fetching a toy – how will he react if another dog tries to sneak in and grab it? If your dog is possessive of toys, leave them in the car till the other dogs are gone.

Scout the Land
Most dogs love seeing vast expanses of open space – they’ll tear off running as fast as they can. Before you let your pup off leash, check the beach for anything potentially dangerous like broken glass, garbage and jellyfish. Investing in dog insurance can help ensure your pup will be protected if any injuries occur while on the beach.

Take Frequent Breaks
Some dogs will fetch and swim themselves right into exhaustion. Even if your dog wants to keep playing, give him breaks in the shade throughout the day. Some signs that indicate he might be overdoing it include vigorous panting, dark red gums and thick saliva. If you observe any of these signs or your dog seems weak or dizzy, get into a cool place right away and call your veterinarian. Pet insurance can help diminish costs associated with emergency vet visits for heat stroke or exhaustion.

How to make your dog behave!

Posted on: July 20th, 2011 by

A dog with dog insurance learns how to behave.

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

I’m going to share one of my favorite methods of solving behavior problems with the Pets Best Insurance pet insurance readers today. This menthod is teaching dogs an incompatible behavior in place of something they currently do. This is very effective in eliminating unwanted behaviors and teaching the dog to offer acceptable behaviors instead, therefore reinforcing what we want the dog to do.

I know this probably sounds a bit difficult, but it is really quite easy. It’s simply a different way of thinking through your dog’s behavior and a coinciding training plan. Instead of telling our dogs to stop doing something, we are going to ask him to act differently.

Let’s say you have a dog that loves to jump on people to greet them. Would you prefer, instead, to have your dog sit when someone enters your home? While there is no right or wrong answer, it’s up to you to determine what you’d like your pet to do and how he should behave.

The next step is to put the plan into action. Each time your dog jumps you will ask him to sit. You should only ask him to sit one time, and then simply wait for him to respond to your command. Ignore all other behaviors he may offer, including any additional jumping he may do. Once he sits, reward him with praise, petting and/or a yummy treat.

Initially this will take a bit of effort on your part. You are going to have to think through your dog’s behavior problem, and come up with an alternative behavior. The alternative behavior you select, should be something that is opposite and therefore incompatible with the undesired behavior. As in the example above, your dog cannot jump if he is sitting.

This method can and should be used with any unwanted behavior your dog does. So the next time your dog is chasing the cat, pulling on his leash, digging a hole in the garden, darting out the door, etc, simply ask yourself “What would I rather my dog do?” You will be surprised at how quickly your dog’s behavior will change, and how much fun you will have training him. Another benefit of this training method is that you will build a great training partnership with your dog, while solving behavior issues without force or punishment.

For more articles by Judy Luther, visit the Pets Best Insurance pet insurance blog at http://www.petsbest.com/blog/.

Blood thirsty beast or loving family pet?

Posted on: June 28th, 2011 by

By: Gary Eelman
For Pets Best Insurance
A Pit Bull with pet insurance looks at the camera.

When people used to ask me what kind of dog I owned, even before my wife worked in the dog insurance industry, I was always a little reserved about saying Pit Bull (I’ve owned two). Many people say they own a American Staffordshire Terrier or Staffordshire Bull Terrier just to avoid the stigma that has become an unfortunate and unwarranted part of any association with the Pit Bull breed.

How is it that the Pit Bull, which was once America’s sweetheart breed, is now largely perceived as a blood thirsty beast and banned in numerous American cities and a dozen different countries?

The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) which was founded in 1892. According to the UKC, “aggressive behavior toward humans is uncharacteristic of the breed.” During the 19th century, England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the Terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. This was the origin of several breeds including the APBT. The dog was first bred to bait bulls and bears. When baiting bulls was deemed inhumane, “ratting” (a practice of putting rats in a pit for a specified time with the dog) and dog fighting became more popular. Any aggression towards humans in these activities was met with the immediate destruction of the dog and as a result, Pit Bulls became recognized for their loyalty and trustworthy nature with humans.

Pit Bulls are a fixture in American history and culture. In WWI, Pit Bulls including Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated war dog of WWI, were mascots depicting bravery and heroism. Farmers and ranchers used their Pit Bulls for work and as pets. Due to their friendliness towards people, Pit Bulls were once an extremely popular family dog in the United States and a favorite breed among politicians and celebrities such as Theodor Roosevelt, Helen Keller and Our Gang/The Little Rascals. The Pit Bull’s popularity began to decline in the following World War II in favor of other breeds such as Labrador and Golden Retrievers.

A Pitbull with pet insurance looks at the camera.

Pit Bulls are loving, gentle and loyal pets who dedicate their lives to pleasing their owners. They shed very little, never smell, and believe they belong on your lap. They are generous clowns who love to play and give kisses. However, the Pit Bull’s natural muscular build, athletic capabilities, and tenacious work drive are not to be taken for granted. Regardless of breed, any dog can become aggressive if not properly bred or socialized.

In recent times, the Pit Bull’s physical traits, along with its strong desire to please its owners, have been exploited by organized dog fighting rings which have come about in the past 20 years. For the first time in this breed’s history, fatal bites and attacks on humans caused Pit Bulls, that were not properly socialized or bred, to be increasingly reported. Because of this, Pit Bulls today are linked to crime, poverty, dog fighting rings and are over-represented as a breed in animal shelters across the country.

As a society we are easily led to believe what the media and our own fears would have us think. Amazingly, mis-information and sensationalism has led to the notion that the breed is the problem, not people. For more information on Pit Bulls, there are several organizations and celebrities, such as Cesar Milan, who work to educate the public on the breed and responsible dog ownership and breeding.

A Piper, a Pit Bull with dog insurance kisses her owner's ear. As for me and my dog, when people ask me what kind I own, I proudly say “a Pit Bull.” If they have a negative reaction, I try to educate them on how they have been misled to believe what they do. I hope more people give this maligned breed a chance and that Pit Bull owners appreciate the responsibility of raising a good ambassador for the breed so we can rise above our fears and be as good to these wonderful friends as they have been to us. For more information on various other dog breeds and other pet health information, visit www.petsbest.com.

Pet health: The ABCs of OCD

Posted on: June 27th, 2011 by

By: Dr. Fiona Caldwell
For Pets Best Insurance

A dog with pet insurance displays OCD symptoms.

Obsessive behaviors in animals can be funny, especially at first. Turning again and again to bite a tail, or chasing a light obsessively seem humorous and harmless, but can be a part of obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) in pets. While we don’t know what our pets think, and therefore can’t comment on obsessive thoughts, OCD is a recognized disorder that can require medical and behavioral intervention. Some pet insurance companies, like Pets Best Insurance, even offer limited coverage for behavioral issues.

True OCD behaviors are defined as inappropriately repetitive motor patterns and can include such behaviors as rocking back and forth, pacing, weaving, feather pulling in parrots, licking and obsessive grooming, shadow or light chasing, spinning, and flank sucking in dogs. Some behaviors can be harmful, especially excessive licking. Some animals can create significant self-inflicted tissue trauma that will require medical treatment.

There are many postulated underlying causes for OCD. Recently there has been discovered a genetic link in Dobermans with flank sucking behavior, suggesting some behaviors can be inherited. Stress, the environment in which the animal was reared, frustration, boredom and underlying medical problems can all be possible causes for OCD.

Kittens weaned early often have ‘wool sucking’ and kneading behaviors. Dogs bred for herding, such as Border Collies will often be obsessive about chasing lights, especially laser pointers. Underlying arthritis might cause a dog to obsessively lick a painful joint, causing damage to the skin.

The first step in treatment of OCD behaviors is a medical work-up by making an appointment with your veterinarian. Consider pet health insurance, which, in some cases, can help defray veterinary costs if a limited behavioral benefit is included. Intervention earlier when the behavior starts is more likely to manifest in a positive and successful outcome.

Treatment can include psychopharmacological administration, such as anti-anxiety medication, and behavioral and environmental modification.

Behavioral modification involves teaching substitute behaviors the dog can use to cope with whatever feelings are prompting the inappropriate behavior can be an important part of behavioral treatment. For example, a dog that chases its tail can be taught the command ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’ Repeat until the dog forms a habit choosing the alternate behavior.

Environmental enrichment includes ensuring your dog gets plenty of one-on-one attention, lots of exercise and something to ‘do.’ When you are not able to supervise, a place for the dog to rest and stay out of trouble is ideal, such as a crate or kennel. This place must not be abused, or it will become a source of more stress to the dog.

Prescription medications are reserved for the pets with more harmful behaviors, with severe anxiety, or ones that have not responded to behavioral and environmental changes. The two medications most commonly used include clomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, and fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Both have shown promising results. Goals of treatment are to wean the dog off medications while you, the owner are implementing behavioral training.

Not all dogs need medication. For some, the aspects of a treatment plan may be sufficient. It is always important to rule out underlying medical reason for a sudden change in behaviors and seeking veterinary advice first is warranted. Research pet health insurance companies that offer limited behavioral coverage early on, so that if your pet develops OCD later, you will have coverage options.

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