Posted by Pets Best on 1/27/2010 in General Articles
With so many pet insurance companies out there today, it’s a wonder that anyone knows who to trust. In your role within a veterinary hospital, clients trust you when it comes to mending, treating and taking care of their pets.
Posted by Pets Best on 1/27/2010 in Articles from Newsletters
Looking for the perfect way to show loved ones how much you care? If their pets are unprotected from illness and injury, an annual Pets Best insurance plan could be the best gift you’ve ever given. You’ll pay the annual premium (with a 7% discount for paying annually) and they’ll enjoy the peace of mind, knowing they won’t have to worry about how to afford their pet’s health care.
Posted by Pets Best on 6/9/2009 in Articles from Newsletters
With winter well underway, you’ve probably spent time and energy to winterize your house and your car. But have you thought about winterizing for your pet? Severely cold weather brings threats to pet health and safety, and many of these might shock or surprise you. Here we have listed some of the most serious threats and what you can do to avoid them:
Posted by Pets Best on 12/16/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
You might not believe it, but Ralph Lauren wants to take care of your dog. It’s true! He has actually designed a whole line of clothing for pups, guaranteed to keep the well-bred canine comfortable and fashionably well-dressed. And he’s not the only one catering to the four-legged set—these days, a host of designers and high-end retail stores offer luxury items for those cats and dogs who appreciate the finer things in life. Here are some of the gifts that you’ll find on the Christmas wish lists of America’s most pampered pets.
Posted by Jennifer Jones on 12/10/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
Pet Airways, the first pets-only airline specifically designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of animals is scheduled to begin flights in Spring-Summer 2009 to major destinations throughout the continental U.S. Pet Airways will begin taking reservations in February, 2009. What sets Pet Airways apart from major airlines is that pets fly in the main cabin, not in cargo. “Our pets will travel in the main cabin of our specially outfitted aircraft with climate and lighting controlled for comfort and safety and with a trained Pet Attendant always watching over the pets,” the company says.
Posted by Pets Best on 11/17/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
10 Potentially Deadly Foods
Secret killers: foods that are tasty for you may be deadly for pets. This list does not include all of the foods that can harm pets, but does include some of the most common (and surprising!) dangers that could be lurking in your home.
The holidays are full of warm, happy occasions shared with family, and for people like us, pets play just as large a role in these occasions as humans do. But by treating pets just like people, could we be killing them with kindness?
Posted by Pets Best on 10/31/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
Enjoying Halloween with your pets can be a hairy problem. Or it can be a real treat. You’re the best judge of how your pet will react to this happy—but hectic—holiday, but chances are good that with a bit of planning, everyone, including your furry family members, can get into the spirit.
Posted by Pets Best on 10/27/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
For humans, staying happy can be a complicated issue. Not so for pets, who, as long as they are healthy, loved and well cared for, are almost always happy. With National Pet Health Month in full swing, now is a great time to perform a check-up on your pet’s health care and make sure you’re doing everything you can to protect your furry friends. Here’s what you should be doing to help maintain their good health, plus the top ten signs that your pet may be feeling ill.
Every year, racing-dog breeders produce tens of thousands of greyhounds, far more than they can place at racetracks. This overbreeding is motivated by the desire to produce winning dogs. Many times, the dogs that are not fast enough to compete are euthanized. Those who are fast enough may only race until they are retired at three-and-a-half to four years of age. Thousands of greyhounds at each track are disposed of yearly to bring in a fresh group of dogs.
Posted by Pets Best on 10/17/2008 in General Articles
Dogs provide us with companionship, love, loyalty, and friendship – but having a dog could also save your life. It is easy to underestimate your dog, but when danger strikes, it may be your dog that comes to the rescue and helps to keep you safe.
Owning a dog is a big responsibility, and having to train your dog to stay outside can be difficult at times. Many people decide to invest in invisible fencing, thinking that this is the best solution to keeping their dog contained.
Many animals have jobs; some serve a vital role for those in need, and others are just purely for our entertainment. However, most of us have never really considered that animals may have better jobs
Designer dogs have become the new trend both in and outside of Hollywood. Since their arrival on shows like Good Morning America and The Today Show, these pets have become the hottest thing around
Caring for a pet can be an expensive but necessary venture. The cost of pet ownership is soaring through the roof, and even a simple trip to the vet can set you back several hundred dollars.
Posted by Angela Klein on 9/26/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
What a wonderful group of pets we are able to insure! When we asked you for your photos, we had no idea that we’d get such an overwhelming and amazing response. Your pets are BEAUTIFUL!!
We want to thank each person who took the time to send in a photo or two of your cherished dog or cat. We know that behind each beautiful face is a story of love and friendship that goes deeper than words.
Posted by Angela Klein on 9/17/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
Have you had a chance to log in to your account online yet? If you haven't, this is a great time to because we've been adding features that make it even easier for you to view your claims and change account information.
Posted by Angela Klein on 9/16/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
IF YOU FIND IT HARD TO THINK ABOUT LIFE WITHOUT YOUR PET, IMAGINE YOUR PET’S LIFE WITHOUT YOUAmy Shever has had a passion for pets all her life. From 1985-2001, Amy volunteered at local animal shelters in Northern California because she wanted to help pets. What she didn’t realize was that she would witness large numbers of animals undergoing euthanization because there were no homes for them.
Many of these pets had been surrendered to animal shelters simply because they had outlived their pet owners, and these owners had made no plans for their continued care.
Posted by Jennifer Jones on 9/10/2008 in Articles from Veterinary Newsletter
Christy Johnson, a certified veterinary practice manager with Pampered Pet Health Center in Port Charlotte, Fla., recognized the value of pet insurance, she just didn’t realize that anyone in her office would use it as quickly as they did.“One of our staff members had only had the policy for 3 weeks when her pet had grease in her eye and ended up getting an ulcer and needed corneal debridement, 80% of which was covered by Pets Best,” she said.
Posted by Angela Klein on 9/10/2008 in Articles from Veterinary Newsletter
You Asked. We Listened!
These are exciting times at Pets Best! To keep up with our record growth, we have redesigned our web pages to better meet your needs.
See for yourself at www.petsbest.com/veterinarians
Specifically designed with you in mind, on the new web pages you can:
Often, we hear people say that they don’t quite know what pet insurance is, how it works, and what it does and doesn’t cover. We understand!
To meet this need, we’ve worked to put together an interactive presentation over the web that will guide you and your hospital staff through the fundamentals of pet insurance and how Pets Best compares to the rest.
Posted by Angela Klein on 7/30/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
With one look at the Arizona Humane Society, it’s easy to see that this group is so much more than just a shelter for pets in transition.Founded in 1957 as a private nonprofit organization, the Arizona Humane Society works daily to stay true to their mission: to safeguard, rescue, shelter, heal, adopt and advocate for animals in need.
There are few phrases in a dog’s vocabulary that elicit joy like the phrase “Let’s go!” As more and more families bring their pets along on their travels, we wanted to compile a list of tips to remember to help make your journey safe, memorable and fun.
Posted by Angela Klein on 7/23/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
With summer fully arrived, the heat is on and we’re looking for your best doggone and cool cat photos. Submit your dog or cat’s best summer photo with a caption by August 15th and we’ll post winners – one for dogs and one for cats – in the early September edition of the Pets Best Newsletter.
Posted by Jennifer Jones on 7/11/2008 in Articles from Veterinary Newsletter
Thinking about offering a valuable incentive for your employees where you can also reap the rewards? Let Pets Best Insurance help. Here at Pets Best we not only offer coverage to your clients, but we offer coverage for staff pets through our StaffBest™ program. When you enroll your hospital as a group you will receive a 20% discount* off your monthly premiums. This program can be a great cost effective way of offering care to your staff’s pets in lieu of giving away services.(*Discounts not available in all states.)
Posted by Angela Klein on 7/7/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
While we’ve worked to make filling out claims as simple as possible, we wanted to share with you some tips to help speed the processing of your claim and make sure that reimbursements reach you as quickly as possible.
Inspired by the love of a Siberian named Bullet, the Magic Bullet Fund is writer and editor Laurie Kaplan’s labor of love for the dog who “graced (her) life for 12 years, 2 months and a day.”
Laurie founded the Magic Bullet Fund to help people who have dogs with cancer but cannot afford to pay for treatment. “I often thought about how very lucky I was to be able to pay for Bullet’s treatment and how devastated I would have felt if I could not,” she said.
“The Magic Bullet Fund is about giving every dog the chance he or she deserves to survive cancer,” Laurie said. “At best, it is about beating cancer. At least, it is about giving people and their dogs more time together - more time to create a few more precious memories.” Bullet survived his battle with cancer and lived until he was nearly 14 when Laurie lost him to renal failure.
Posted by Angela Klein on 6/17/2008 in Articles from Veterinary Newsletter
At Pets Best Insurance we strive to fully educate Veterinary Associate Providers on our policies. Part of this commitment involves explaining what Pets Best considers as pre-existing. One of the questions we hear most often is: What about pre-existing conditions?
Posted by Angela Klein on 6/5/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
As spring turns to summer, dogs and cats everywhere are beginning to feel the heat! To help you and your pets get through the summer, we’ve compiled a list of helpful tips to keep your four-legged friends healthy and happy.
Wondering if routine care is covered with your accident and illness policy? It is if you choose BestWellness in addition to your plan. BestWellness is optional coverage you can add to your Pets Best policy that helps you budget for annual exams, teeth cleaning, routine tests and more.
Every year, millions of pets are lost to cancer. Leukemia, lymphoma, bone cancer and mammary gland cancer all claim the lives of our beloved pets.The Pet Cancer Foundation is a cooperative venture supported by Pets Best Insurance, Oncura Partners and the Morris Animal Foundation. Last year, Pets Best also pledged $1 million to the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) Cure Canine Cancer campaign in an effort to eradicate cancer in dogs in the next 10 – 20 years.
Posted by Jack Stephens on 5/21/2008 in Articles from Veterinary Newsletter
THE FEAR FACTOR – PET INSURANCE NEED NOT REPEAT HUMAN HEALTH CARE PRACTICES
We have all heard the medical profession lament the concept of managed care as an intrusion into the way they practice and the way it has taken much of the enjoyment out of practicing medicine. But if one looks back to those early days when decisions were being made, the medical profession basically did not become involved in that decision-making process.
Posted by Angela Klein on 5/12/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
Since 1948, the Morris Animal Foundation has been answering a critical and unique need in promoting animal health and welfare and advancing veterinary medicine. As the largest non-profit organization dedicated to funding research studies to protect, treat and cure animals, including companion animals, nearly 1,400 studies have been conducted to that end.
Posted by Angela Klein on 5/8/2008 in Articles from Newsletters
Having a pet means that we’re no longer alone, and even if we already live with others, the addition of a pet can still help tremendously. Anyone who has ever seen a dog look at its owner will understand the meaning of pure, unadulterated love. Pets look to us to meet their needs, be part of their pack, and thrive on the attention and affection we give. In return, they provide a love that asks for little and gives much.
Posted by Amy Shojai on 4/30/2008 in General Articles
On-the-go dogs delight in outdoor adventures, but too often they sniff out pesky bugs that prove aggravating or even dangerous. Recently, my happy-go-lucky German shepherd pup Magic morphed into a miserable crybaby, courtesy of something that bit or stung. His eyes swelled shut, his muzzle inflated, and hives made fur stand off his body in an itchy checkerboard pattern that prompted nonstop scratching.
Posted by Arnold Plotnick, DVM on 3/31/2008 in Scratching Post Articles
Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a common cause of feline illness, especially in older cats. It is also incurable. With the exception of a kidney transplant, it is difficult or impossible to improve kidney function in cats with chronic renal failure. But it is possible to slow the progression of renal failure and improve the quality of life through dietary and drug interventions.
Posted by Arnold Plotnick, DVM on 3/14/2008 in Scratching Post Articles
Happy cats demonstrate their happiness by kneading their paws, purring, and bunting (head-butting). A truly ecstatic cat may even drool on her owner. But drooling, while regarded as the utmost affectionate feline compliment, can also signify that something is amiss.
Posted by Pets Best on 3/6/2008 in General Articles
Yes, it’s true. Most of our dogs eat better than we do! With the recent buzz about cooking for your pets, we wanted to share with you a fabulous find written by a pet expert we trust with our dogs and cats.
Posted by Kim Campbell Thornton on 3/6/2008 in General Articles
Concerned about the negative side effects of medication and the invasiveness and pain from surgery, more pet owners are seeking therapies that go beyond conventional veterinary medicine to help their cats and dogs. They want to combine the best of traditional veterinary medicine with complementary and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, massage – and more – to provide their pets with the best possible quality of life.
Posted by Kim Campbell Thornton on 2/6/2008 in General Articles
When was the last time you brushed your dog or cat’s teeth? Can’t remember? Counting on dry kibble and a daily hard biscuit to keep his teeth clean and breath sweet? Don’t.
Posted by Sally Deneen on 12/26/2007 in Scratching Post Articles
It is the sound no cat owner wants to hear -- the gagging, the hacking. Then the hairball seems to always land on the new carpet, never on easy-to-clean surfaces. Just why do cats develop hairballs? Even more importantly, what can owners do to reduce them?
Posted by Arnold Plotnick, DVM on 12/18/2007 in Scratching Post Articles
Cats are living longer and better quality lives than ever before, thanks to improved nutrition, veterinary care and educated owners. This increased longevity means that more owners will be faced with the special demands and problems that become apparent with geriatric cats. Understanding aging is the first step in providing the best possible care to your cat in her golden years.
Posted by Kim Campbell Thornton on 11/23/2007 in Dog Behavior
Dogs are pack animals, and they love to be with their people. That’s one of the many reasons they make such great companions. In some cases, however, a dog’s need for human attention becomes extreme, making him prone to separation anxiety when no one’s home to keep him company.
Posted by Kim Campbell Thornton on 11/16/2007 in Training Tips Articles
Successful housetraining has one simple rule: consistency. Housetraining your puppy, or even an adult dog, will go more smoothly if you establish a potty schedule from day one. Taking a puppy out at the same times throughout the day helps establish in his mind that outside is the proper place to eliminate.
Posted by Pets Best on 10/31/2007 in Lifestyle
Brrrrrrr! Is it just us, or has anyone else noticed that winter is rapidly approaching? As the cooler nights begin, it’s more than just your car and house pipes that need winterizing. The outdoors for our four-legged friends can be more than just uncomfortable: they can be downright dangerous.
Happy Halloween! As pet owners everywhere gear up for the spookiest night of the year by shopping for costumes, getting out the doggie glow sticks and hiding the chocolate, we wanted to share a list of quick tips to help you and your pet have a spooktacular night.
Posted by Kim Campbell Thornton on 10/16/2007 in General Articles
Managing pain in pets has always been a challenge because they can’t say where or how much they hurt. Up until 10 or 15 years ago, little was known about how animals experienced pain, and few drugs were available that could help. Of course, pets have always received anesthesia for surgeries, but beyond that not much was done about recognizing or treating any pain they might be feeling.
Posted by Audrey Pavia on 10/10/2007 in General Articles
At first glance, they seem innocent enough. After all, they are just seedpods looking for a place to lay down their roots. But beyond that innocent exterior lurks a menace that can easily wreak havoc with your dog’s health.
We aren’t talking about some alien life form here, but rather, a very earthly phenomenon known as the foxtail. Found all over the United States at various times of the year, these plant parts are the bane of dog owners everywhere.
Posted by Audrey Pavia on 10/10/2007 in Scratching Post Articles
When it comes to their eyes, cats share some similarities with people. After all, both human and feline eyes are located in the front of the face, so both species have good depth of field. A good depth of field allows people to do things like play basketball, drive cars and plant flowers. It enables cats to accurately calculate jumping distances when they are hunting or just leaping from your floor to the couch.
Posted by Audrey Pavia on 10/8/2007 in Training Tips Articles
If you’ve been around dogs for much of your life, you have, at some point, been touched by a dog’s teeth. While these experiences were probably benign — an overexcited puppy mouthing your arm or a friendly pooch gnawing on your hand — the potential for bodily harm is real whenever canine teeth meet human skin.
Posted by Amy Shojai on 9/28/2007 in Training Tips Articles
Does your dog chase your cat? More than 40 percent of pet lovers keep multiple pets. While they often get along famously, some dogs treat the family feline like a windup toy. Constant chasing turns even easy-going cats into nervous wrecks, and even dogs who mean no harm may accidentally injure a cat or kitten.
Posted by Arden Moore on 9/20/2007 in Lifestyle
Sneezing. Runny nose. Itchy, swollen eyes. Rash.
When most of us touch and pet the coats of our dogs or cats, it’s a pleasurable experience. But some unfortunates — approximately 1 in 5 people — suffer from allergies that are set off when they touch an animal or even when they’re simply in the same room with them.
Posted by Arnold Plotnick, DVM on 9/7/2007 in Scratching Post Articles
Although cats living together indoor occasionally fight over territory or for owner attention, it rarely leads to serious injury. However, when cats encounter other cats outdoors, fights are likely to occur – usually over territory.
Posted by Shannon Steffen on 9/4/2007 in Nutrition
Dog foods come in all shapes, sizes and flavors. Wet dog food is used primarily for those canines with particular taste palettes or as an intermittent treat. For the less discriminating, dog dry food varieties are available. It is not necessarily the delicate palette of a dog that determines what type of food it eats, but rather a combination of its dietary need, availability of the food brand in the area, owner preferences, and financial cost.
Posted by Amy Shojai on 8/21/2007 in Dog Behavior
Adopting a puppy or kitten often conjures anticipation of his eventual Lassie-like devotion and intelligence, or fond memories of dressing Grandma’s oh-so-tolerant cat in doll clothes. But soon, reality sinks in.
Posted by Shannon Steffen on 8/9/2007 in Lifestyle
You want to leave on vacation, but what about Duke and Fluffy? For some, boarding kennels are a perfect solution for their pets to receive the care they need, but for others, they want their pet to receive more personalized care during their absence. For them, there is no better option than a pet sitter.
Posted by Shannon Steffen on 8/8/2007 in Lifestyle
All the plans are set, the course laid out, safety gear purchased, and all preparations have been made. But what about your dog?
Posted by Pets Best on 8/8/2007 in Scratching Post Articles
Currently there is an overwhelming amount of discussion over the hot issue of whether it is humane to have a feline declawed. There is a tremendous amount of information both positive and negative over this
Posted by Kim Campbell Thornton on 8/8/2007 in General Articles
Summertime brings fun in the sun, but it also signals potential dangers such as heatstroke, sunburn, insect stings and water hazards to dogs and cats. To ensure a safe, adventure-filled summer for your pet, we offer several ways to recognize, treat and prevent problems.
Posted by Pets Best on 8/8/2007 in Lifestyle
The listing states “Dogs Allowed.” But before you drive two hours to your destination and then find out that “Dogs Allowed” means in a crate outside, here are a few tips to help in the decision making process.
Posted by Pets Best on 8/8/2007 in General Articles
For the last few weeks, the attention of pet owners has been turned to what’s in our cupboards and pantries as news of additional recalls of dog and cat food as well as treats continues.
Posted by Shannon Steffen on 8/8/2007 in General Articles
You want to leave on vacation, but what about Fido? For some, boarding kennels are a perfect solution for their pets to receive the care they need, but for others, they want their pet to receive more personalized care during their absence. For them, there is no better option than a pet sitter.
Posted by Pets Best on 6/18/2007 in Lifestyle
Say the word exercise and many people respond with one word: ugh. Or, they may come up with a half-dozen excuses why they can't make it to the gym or reasons why their bike gathers cobwebs in the garage.
Posted by Pets Best on 6/18/2007 in Nutrition
Listen in as Pets Best correspondent Kim Campbell Thornton chats with nutritional expert Jean Hofve, DVM, a holistic veterinarian who lives in Jamestown, Colo.
Posted by Pets Best on 6/18/2007 in Dog Behavior
Patricia Simonet says she found a way to calm down the raucous barkers at her animal shelter: For several hours a day, she plays a recording of dogs “laughing” – a pronounced breathy exhalation through the mouth, sort of like excited panting.
Posted by Pets Best on 4/9/2007 in General Articles
With so many pet owners concerned for the health of their pets because of the recent pet food recalls, we thought we’d take a moment to share with you the benefits of our BestWellnessTM coverage.
Posted by Pets Best on 3/21/2007 in General Articles
This week, we have been receiving many calls regarding the pet food recall, and one of the primary questions we have heard is, "How do I switch foods without causing stomach upset?"
Posted by Pets Best on 2/15/2007 in Training Tips Articles
We’ve all seen them—dogs who seemed out of control with problem behaviors, dogs who seemed beyond hope. Fortunately, the truth of the matter is that no matter the age of the pet, obedience training
Posted by Pets Best on 2/9/2007 in General Articles
With the cold winter nights and short days, winter's hold is still apparent, not just for us, but for our pets, too. More than just inconvenient, outdoor winters for our four-legged friends can be more than just
Posted by Pets Best on 4/12/2006 in Training Tips Articles
A new puppy can be a fun addition to a household, but is a decision that should be thoroughly thought through before making the commitment for the next ten to twenty years. Puppies while being cute and entertaining require a great deal of time
Posted by Pets Best on 4/7/2006 in General Articles
Companion animals have evolved over the last hundred years into a huge component of the human household and in many cases are considered a family member. Over half a million households in
Posted by Pets Best on 4/3/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Breed Information
Posted by Pets Best on 3/13/2006 in Training Tips Articles
If it's true that 80% of communication is non-verbal, it stands to reason that we could learn quite a bit from our canine friends. Since the beginning of the man-dog relationship, dogs and wolves have proven to be
Posted by Pets Best on 3/13/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Posted by Pets Best on 2/23/2006 in Scratching Post Articles
Did you know that our domestic feline friends are believed to be direct descendents of the African wild cat and that cats were domesticated about 5000 years ago! During this time period mankind had...
Posted by Pets Best on 2/19/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Posted by Pets Best on 2/16/2006 in General Articles
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires and floods have a reputation for catching people unprepared, costing lots of money, destroying lives, plus injuring and even killing a huge number of companion pets.
Pet ownership offers many rewards, one of which is participating in healthy physical fitness activities with your pet. One of the most common activities owners participate in with there pet is
Before adopting or purchasing a new pet, make sure you and your families are prepared. Pets take a lot of time and work, they need daily exercise, routine feedings, create clean up duties and most
Posted by Pets Best on 2/15/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Posted by Pets Best on 2/12/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Posted by Pets Best on 2/8/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Posted by Pets Best on 2/5/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Posted by Pets Best on 2/3/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
Posted by Pets Best on 2/2/2006 in Breed Shorts Articles
A disease that is becoming more common in the United States is leptospirosis. It is caused by a spiral shaped bacteria that is spread through the urine of wild animals and vermin that are shedding the
Copyright © 2005-2008 Pets Best Insurance Services