Pet Insurance Blog – Pets Best Insurance

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Puppies and Kittens’

Three Points to Consider Before Snoozing with Pets

Posted on: December 20th, 2012 by

Dog insurance can help pay for incontinence treatment.As pets gain more and more footing as members of our families, they’re increasingly allowed into every aspect of our lives – even our beds. A 2010 Pets Best Insurance policyholder survey revealed that 27% of dogs and 8% of cats sleep on their owners’ beds all night, every night – with another 40% sharing sleeping space at least part of the time.

The image of multiple species curling up together as a source of warmth and comfort is a delightful one, but is it a good idea? Here are three points to consider before you open your bed to your fur family.

1. Zoonosis
Zoonotic diseases are those that can be transmitted between species, specifically from pets to humans. Any time close spaces are shared, the risk of spreading diseases is greater. If your pet is in bed with you, please be sure to have them up to date on deworming, flea prevention, and free of illness. Pets can transmit ringworm and scabies and even be a source of bacteria, to name a few examples. People with compromised immune systems and small children probably shouldn’t share sleeping quarters with a pet due the increase risk of contracting illnesses.
(more…)

Cat Birth Defect Often Heals Itself

Posted on: December 15th, 2012 by

Hello. I’m Dr. Jane Matheys, from the Cat Doctor Veterinary Hospital and Hotel in Boise, Idaho. Today I’ll be answering your question from the Pets Best Insurance Facebook page.

This question is from Cassy. She says “I have a cat who had a herniated belly button as a baby but as an adult does not seem to have it anymore. He’s a year old now and it’s still growing with no signs of problems; but I always worry if it’ll show back up”.

Cassy is referring to an umbilical hernia which is where a kitten is born with an umbilical opening that doesn’t close.

The most important thing is to make sure that this is checked by your veterinarian, because if there’s still one there, it can pose a threat to the cat.

If the opening is large enough, what can happen is that some of the abdominal contents can slip through that hole and cause problems. Usually it’s just some fat that slips through, but sometimes you could have a loop of an intestine that can slip through and actually get twisted and that’s very serious for the kitty cat.

So for larger hernias there’s a fairly simple surgical procedure to correct that and that surgery typically done at the time of the spay or the neuter. If the hernia is small, and none of the abdominal contents are able to slip through, sometimes they don’t have to be corrected.

In little kittens, as they advance into adulthood, sometimes those hernias can spontaneously close on their own. That sounds like maybe what has happened in the case of Cassy’s cat. (more…)

Top 7 Tips for Apartment Living with Dogs

Posted on: December 5th, 2012 by

Choose the right sized dog breed for your apartment.The housing downturn made renting instead of owning a popular choice for many Americans. Many families have turned to smaller spaces to save money.  And in terms of roommates, one of the most agreeable cohabitants can be of the canine variety – they don’t steal your groceries or borrow your clothes, and they can be a constant source of companionship and unconditional love! Living in an apartment is possible with a dog, given a little foresight and planning. Here are some considerations when downsizing with your pooch, or adopting a dog into your current apartment situation.

1. Be realistic     

There are some breeds and temperaments of dogs that are not well-suited to apartment life. Dogs that are very high energy, such as a Labrador or Border collie, may really struggle being confined to a small space.  Often the frustration of being cooped up and bored translates into destructive behaviors like chewing.

Especially large breeds won’t fit well in tiny spaces, either. Take an honest look at your main living areas and map out space for a kennel, dog bed, food dishes and toys. You may discover you’ll be better off with a 20-lb. mutt than the Chesapeake Bay retriever you’ve always wanted. (more…)

Five Training Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on: October 30th, 2012 by

Top tips from a pet insurance company for training your dog.The National Humane Society cites behavioral issues as the number one reason that dogs and cats are relinquished every year. Undoubtedly, a well-behaved dog will be a more accepted and productive member of the family. It’s best to start training pets as young as possible, but you CAN teach old dogs new tricks! Here are five common training mistakes to avoid.

1. Inconsistency
Nothing is more confusing to a pet than inconsistency. Why is being on the couch okay with dad, but not okay with mom? Everyone in the family needs to be on board with the rules to help enforce them. Start by having a family meeting when a new pet is introduced to the family, or when a new training regimen is started. Lay down the ground rules and ensure everyone is willing to enforce them.

2. Always rewarding with a treat
This seems counter-intuitive, but over-praising can actually have the opposite effect. Consider this human example: when we’re “rewarded” for a behavior every time, like the light turning on when we flip a light switch, we don’t keep trying to flip the switch when that reward doesn’t happen – i.e. the light bulb is burned out. Dogs who always get treats will stop doing the behavior you are asking for if the treat doesn’t present itself right away.

(more…)

Smart Solutions for Cats & Carriers

Posted on: October 12th, 2012 by

Cat insurance can help pay for routine visits to keep your cat healthy.Feline visits to the veterinary’s office have declined steadily over the past decade, despite the fact that the population of cats has increased over the years. It’s estimated that over half of household pets are cats, but felines only make up 39% of visits overall in the veterinary clinic1. Possible reasons for this trend include the misconception that indoor cats don’t need cat insurance or regular veterinary check-ups and vaccinations, and due to the fact that, well, getting the cat in the carrier and in the car and in the waiting room and then in the exam room is stressful for the cat, and you! Here are 5 tips for making your cat’s next vet visit smoother:

(more…)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7   Next Page »
powered by SEO Pager