PetsBest.com Blog Posts

Santa Paws: Christmas for Pets

Jack Stephens — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Feliz Navidog! It's Torrey, writing to you from sunny Mexico. I'm spending a few days here, recharging my batteries before heading home to Idaho for Christmas. I need to be home, after all, when Santa Paws comes down the chimney dragging a sack full of presents for me with his teeth. Every year, I try to stay awake so I can see him but I always seem to fall asleep before he shows up. (Well, a girl does need her beauty rest, after all!)

Some of my friends, believe it or not, have tried to tell me that there is no Santa Paws at all, that he's just made up. That's simply ridiculous. I mean, how else could you explain the new chew toys, the soft fuzzy blankets, the boxes of treats and everything else I find under the tree each Christmas morning? And who eats those dog biscuits I always set out on a plate by the fireplace?

Now Santa, if you're reading this, you know I've been extra good this year. Well, pretty good, anyway. I have tried not to bark so much at the office (I only bark when there is a very good reason) and have reduced my howling by as much as 50%. And I always work hard to keep my Dad happy. It hasn't been easy, Santa, but I knew it would be worth it come Christmas morning.

As you know, Santa, I'm a simple dog with simple tastes. I'm easy to please. I don't want to burden you with a long list of items, and after all, I already have everything a girl could want, so why not make it easy on yourself this year? Just bring me a simple diamond-studded collar. And if it's not too much trouble, you might throw in a nice cashmere cardigan, size extra-small. Those Idaho nights do get mighty chilly, after all. You see? I'm quite easy to shop for.

Most of all, though, what I want is for my fellow dogs and cats, the homeless ones who have to spend the holidays in animal shelters, to find warm, loving homes. Santa, please tell everyone who has room in their house (and love to give) to think about adopting a shelter pet. My mom and dad do this, and even though I have to reestablish myself as top dog with each new pet, I do feel good about helping others. If they don't have the room for a new pet, they should at least donate food or toys to their local shelters this Christmas; it would be best to call the shelter and ask what their biggest needs are.

And to all the rest of my friends out there, all of us at Pets Best would like to wish you health and happiness in the coming year. Try to stay warm and most of all, be good! After all, Santa Paws is watching you.

Merry Christmas!

Torrey

Sparkly whites: Dental Care for Pets

Pets Best — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Diary,
November 25th, 2008

Take it From Me, Darling:
You Can't Take Your Teeth for Granted.

Hi, it's your old friend Torrey, writing from the Pets Best Headquarters. As my friends will tell you, I take my work quite seriously; much of my job involves running from office to office, encouraging each member of the Pets Best staff to work as hard as they can to protect pets like me.

Like a mail carrier, almost nothing will keep me from my appointed rounds, but I must admit there was one day this month when I was not my usual, perky self. I had been to the dentist, you see, to have some work done. I slept through the actual procedure, which was fine with me, but then I woke up feeling groggy and numb.

A day later, I was back on the job, but the experience reminded me that I should write to you about regular dental care and how important it is. Take it from me, darling, you can't take your teeth for granted.

Sure, regular brushing keeps my breath fresh. And dad likes my kisses better that way. But it's much more important than that-did you know that dental disease is the number one health problem diagnosed in pets? That goes for cats and dogs alike. The worst part is, it's an even bigger problem for petite dogs such as myself!

Not brushing leads to an accumulation of plaque, which can cause tartar buildup. Above the gumline, tartar encourages the growth of bacteria which can lead to all sorts of nasty things, like tooth loss, abscesses, bone loss or infection. In extreme cases, the infection can enter the bloodstream where it can affect the heart valves, liver and kidneys. In the long run, this can actually shorten a pet's life!

There are plenty of things you can do to stop this. For example, eating crunchy kibble, not soft canned food, may help keep teeth clean. And pet parents should brush pet's teeth, using appropriate tools and pet-formulated toothpastes, daily or at least a couple times a week. (I'm a big fan of beef-flavor toothpaste! Yummy.) There are plenty of products on the market, including dental wipes and special chews, that may also help. Trust your veterinarian to recommend the best products and the best regimen for you.

Vets should also check pets' teeth on a regular basis and may recommend in-office teeth cleanings. It's very important for pet health, which is why the Pets Best BestWellness option includes annual benefits for teeth cleaning.

Remember, just a few minutes a day spent on dental care can add up to more years of healthy life for pets, which is invaluable when you're as well-loved as I am. Until next time, keep smiling!

Torrey

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Dear Diary, October 2008

Pets Best — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hello, my adoring fans! As I'm sure you know, I'm something of a celebrity. I can't help it. In my role as Customer Service Advocate for America's Best pet insurance company, I'm a high-profile dog. And with my gorgeous looks and winning personality, well, let's just say a certain amount of fame is inevitable. I've learned to live with it, darling.

Anyway, as a famous dog, I get a large amount of fan mail. I don't read it, of course-my people take care of that kind of drudgery-but sometimes, if I'm in the mood, I will have my assistant read me a letter or two. Many of my fan letters ask for beauty tips, of course. How do I keep my coat so glossy? What's my secret for long, elegant nails?

Well hold on to your hats, girls, because I'm about to spill it-my ultimate beauty secret. And that secret is, believe it or not, good health. I love pampering as much as the next girl, so far be it from me to downplay the value of a visit to the salon to get buffed, polished and pedicured, but let's face it, without my overall glow of health, even the best groomer in Beverly Hills wouldn't be able to make me shine the way I do.

As you might know, my Dad is a veterinarian, so I actually see the doctor every day. No wonder I'm such a specimen of health! But for most pets, an annual wellness screening is enough to keep them in the pink. And those that are middle-aged-relax, darling, you're only as old as you feel-should have their people schedule an appointment every six months or so.

A good doctor will give you a thorough examination, including several lab tests, to keep an eye out for any potential problems that might keep you from being as attractive as I am-you know, bright eyes free of discharge, a sleek, beautiful coat with no nasty dandruff flakes, great-smelling breath, that sort of thing. I won't promise that it will make you as beautiful and popular as me, but it's a start, dear, it's a start.

Until next time, keep those fan letters coming (who knows, I may just decide to answer one!) and remember, if you don't have your health, you don't have anything, darling.

Let's do lunch. Have your people call my people.

Torrey

Dear Diary September 2008

Pets Best — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hello All! Oh it's an excellent month to be a dog! The weather is changing and it is finally getting cooler in my office, I no longer have to lie around all day in the scorching heat! For a while now I thought I might have been gaining a few more ounces, since I haven't been able to make my daily treat trips around the building which help me keep my slim figure!

For all of you who weren't able to wish me a Happy Birthday, I celebrated my glorious 6^th year of life last week! It was fabulous! I was able to catch up on my beauty rest, had one or two treats here and there.. Ok, ok, I may have fibbed just a little, I had a few more than that, but it was my birthday, I deserved something special! Later that afternoon I had a few pictures taken for my portfolio. I was enjoying myself until they attempted to put a birthday bow on my head. Yeah right, like I was going to let that happen. I look fantastic just the way I am.

Some other current events that are going in my life. My dad enrolled me in these Positive Pet Parenting courses. So far I haven't notice a difference. I am not surprised because, in my opinion there is nothing wrong with me. I may be a little bit more vocal than some of my fellow canine friends, but hey, I am pint sized and have to speak up or no one would be able to hear me. I also don't think that "asking" politely and putting on my "cute face" really translates to "begging."

So have you all seen the previews for this upcoming movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua?"

Well I did, and I am appalled that my dad didn't get any offers for me to be one of the main stars! I am cute, full of spunk and have a great talent for acting. I mean half of the people that work for Pets Best who give me treats, really think I like them. Now that's "real" acting. I should get an Oscar for that..hmm maybe they should start calling them the "Torrey" awards, that has a nice ring to it. Anyway, not to babble on about how I am not in the movie, I am just thankful I am insured, because I bet most of the Chihuahuas in that movie aren't. What happens if they were to get hurt on the job? Like break a nail or something? At least they would be protected by Pets Best Insurance. Hmm maybe we should give their parents a call!

Well my paw is getting awfully tired of writing, so until next time everyone!

P.S. For anyone who may have forgotten to send me a belated birthday gift, you know where I work!

Be good! I know I will try, just for my dad's sake!

Dear Diary, August 2008

Angela Klein — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Wow! What a month! So much has happened and I hardly know where to begin. Since a few of you have asked (and because I personally enjoy being the center of attention), I asked my people to take a few beauty shots of me to help tell this month's story.

To begin, we spent several busy and incredible days at the American Veterinary Medical Association annual meeting in New Orleans where it was hotter than sin. Thank God for air-conditioning as I'm not sure that I would have made it. As you know, real ladies never sweat, so that was a bit of a challenge in 510% humidity, even for a dog.

This show seemed even busier than usual for some reason. Dad was shaking hands a lot, and while we usually spend a lot of time talking to people, it seemed like there was hardly ever a moment when we were alone. Other people were really excited, and it all seemed to be a pretty big deal, something about Somebody Something Trust and some lady named Edna, but I just smiled and enjoyed the extra attention.

While we were there, Mom picked up J.P., short for Jefferson Parrish because he was adopted from, yes, Jefferson Parrish, a New Orleans shelter that Mom helped fix up with other volunteers while we were there. She said he was too adorable to leave behind. I don't know about that, but I do know I'm glad *I'm* not stuck in one of those boxes!

As far as J.P. and I go personally, I'm glad that he seems to understand who the pack leader is, so he and I have not had any issues. Yet.

I'm glad that he's a decent sort of fellow because Mom and Dad took us camping the weekend after AVMA and it was irritating enough to have to share my space with seven others, let alone seven plus the new guy who may or may not have deferred to me naturally, as he should have. I did the best I could and spent most of the time in my chair or trying to stay near Dad. Truthfully, I missed my cheetah couch as I am not a huge fan of the Great Outdoors.

Back in the office I settled back in to my daily routine of Office Guard Dog and Chief Giraffe Fetcher, along with my customer advocate duties.

All in all, it's been a pretty good month. I have a celebration of the day I was born coming up next month, but since ladies never reveal their true ages, I'll just say that I am in the prime of my life. (And not that I would share this with just anyone, but it's on Sept. 10^th if you'd like to send jewels, treats or anything cheetah themed, my favorite.)

And to whomever shared the Animal Behavior website with my Dad, you and I need to talk. Fortunately, I was able to do a little damage control so that Dad remembers that I, of all people, don't need behavior modification, but the phrase "I have a bone to pick with you" does not begin to describe the conversation I plan on having once I find you.

Remember, Darlings, well behaved women seldom make history.

Until next time,

Torrey

Torrey@petsbest.com

Pet Insurance Myths

Jack Stephens — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Recently Pets Best conducted another set of focus groups of pet owners in order to find out if we are addressing what pet owners really want and to see if they understand the value concept of pet insurance.

Overall we verified previous observations from years of prior experience and learned more about perceptions of Pets Best. One thing of note-which was prevalent in all the focus groups-is that there are definitely still myths floating around about pet insurance. The following are the highlights along with my responses to those lingering myths:

Pet Insurance is only for sick pets.

Actually, you must purchase insurance before your pet is sick for it to be effective, the same as you would buy auto or homeowners insurance before you have an accident or catastrophe.

Insurance is a hassle.

Pets Best plans are simple, you simply pay your veterinary bills and submit the bills to us and we reimburse you directly, usually in less than a week.

Unlike some plans which are complicated and use schedules which may be substantially less than your actual veterinary expenses, with our 80% payment, after the deductible, it is easy to figure out how much we will reimburse you for claims.

Since pet owners are typically out-of-pocket for their pets' medical expenses, unlike human health care where hospitals and doctors bill the insurance company, the turnaround time for payment is important when choosing a pet insurance company.

We could not choose our own vet.

Fortunately with most pet insurance plans there are no managed care principals, pet HMOs or veterinary PPOs to contend with. At Pets Best-and most other pet insurance providers-you can always select the veterinarian of your choice. Pet insurance is not typically involved in the decision process for treatments, care or cost. As with most things, there are exceptions, though, and at least one company is currently working to set up a network of veterinarians.

Pet Insurance must be expensive.

Although premiums vary by company, plan type, the age of the pet, and species (cat or dog), in most instances pet insurance is more affordable than you might imagine with the monthly cost being about what you would pay for a dinner for two. Pet owners can also choose even less costly plans with lower limits and a higher deductible or higher cost plans with lower deductibles and higher limits. Prices will vary from company to company, but most are reasonable.

Pet Insurance has too many exclusions or does not cover what I need.

When it comes to accidents or illnesses, pet insurance actually has very few exclusions. Pet insurance is designed to transfer the risk of your pet's future unknown health cost to the insurer. When it comes to your pet's health and the many thousands of accidents and illnesses that can happen to pets, other than hereditary, congenital and pre-existing, all accidents and most illnesses are covered.

With Pets Best many of the typical exclusions are limitations, where the payment, although smaller does provide some coverage and value. Ask your veterinarian or their staff how many times a pet's illness can present financial hardship and hard decisions for pet owners. Pet insurance is like your own health insurance, it is designed to help pay for your pet's medical needs, whether it is a simple skin rash, a virus, an ear infection or severe cancer.

Although your actions in insuring your pet speak to your understanding the myths and knowing the value pet insurance can provide to your peace of mind, our recent focus group shows that most pet owners still do not completely understand pet insurance. I will not rest until every pet owner is at least aware there is pet insurance coverage that can be budgeted at a reasonable cost so they never have to be concerned with their pet family member's health cost.

Dear Diary, July 2008

Jack Stephens — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Recently, I was listening to a conversation in the office about pets with bad habits. This wouldn't be me, of course, but I do happen to know several pups here with some pretty poor manners.

Let's talk about Bear for a minute. Now don't get me wrong, everyone says that Bear is a great dog. However. That dog has some behavior issues. He barks - and I don't mean just a bark or two like a hey-how-you-doin' bark - it's more like an I'm-going-to-rip-your-face-off bark, that goes on and on. You get my drift.

And then there's Tallulah. I'm sure she's a great girl - don't get me wrong. But if she's left alone for more than a fraction of a second, she starts howling. And Kiah. Bless her. But that girl has more energy than everyone else in the office put together. I know we all need exercise, but that girl is over the top with her running around. (Perhaps I wouldn't mind it so much if she wasn't mowing me over, but she is and I do.)

Because they are disturbing my beauty sleep (and trampling me), I'm thinking of politely suggesting that their owners hook them up with Dr. Rolin Tripp and his team at the Animal Behavior Network.

Now, there is a *nasty* rumor circulating that *I* could use some lessons, myself, and I would just like to put my paw down and say that is the most ludicrous idea I have ever heard. Darlings, that's just not me.

The others, though. That's an entirely different story altogether. Love you all. You know I do. MuWah!

p.s. If you, or somedog or cat you know could benefit from a refresher course in etiquette, visit the good folks at the Animal Behavior Network at www.animalbehavior.net. Tell them Torrey sent you!

Dear Diary, June 2008

Jack Stephens — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Diary,

You'd think that a girl my size would have more trouble getting what she wants. Fortunately, this is not the case. And while I think that I would probably still get pretty much whatever I want if my Dad wasn't the boss, I must say that I do enjoy the extra clout it brings.

Being Daddy's Girl, I know that wherever he goes, I go, whether it's to the office, or hanging out on a beach in Mexico for our annual trip. It is rare that you won't see me by his side.

So for Father's Day, I wanted to share a little secret with you. Ready? Here it is. Dads don't like ties. Oh, sure, they act like they do, but really, they're just being nice. And while some Dads may actually like that new golf club or trashcan basketball game (as if!), most Dads would appreciate your doing something that protects pets in times of need. Like me!

Remember: Ties stink. Choose something meaningful for Dad and buy him a policy so he can have the peace of mind knowing that he doesn't need to worry if something happens to pets like me. Of course, it never will. I'm too amazing to get sick or hurt, but Dad says that you just never know.

Until next time,

Torrey

p.s. Giving a gift policy is easy. Call us to find out how! 1-877-PETSBEST. (1-877-738-7237)

Dear Diary, May 2008

Jack Stephens — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hi, my name is Torrey. You may know me as the Customer Service Advocate here at Pets Best - a job I take seriously. I may be small, but I've been told I have the heart of a lion and, truth be told, I rule the roost, whether it's here at work or at home with my family. Those other dogs, cats and people may be bigger than I am, but have no fear - I put them in their places just fine.

I do a lot here around the office, actually - am glad that my Dad (who most people call Jack or Dr. Stephens) brings me to work with him every day. There are a lot of things I'm good at, and one of them is running off strangers. I may only be a pound-and-a-half, but I can intimidate someone a hundred times my size. I love it!

Take this guy Andrew, for instance. I love to eat his lunch. He came in to talk to Dad just yesterday and I let him hang out, just minding my own business. I have him trained so that when he leaves, he inches for the door little by little because he knows I've got my eye on him. It was so great. He inched his way closer and closer to the gate that Dad puts up sometimes in his office door and then you know what I did? I made him jump it! HA! I gave him a good barking to for a couple of minutes and feel pretty confident that I intimidated the *you know what* out of him. I haven't seen him since. It's all in a day's work.

People like to use the words "tea-cup Chihuahua" and "Lil' Tornado" around me, but all I know is that I have a voice and opinions and know how to use them, know how to be sweet when it will get me what I want, such as in my Dad's lap or a treat from one of the employees here at the office. Dad has told everyone lately not to give me as many treats because he found out that I make the rounds and have put on too much weight, apparently. Humpft. As if a little extra on a girl ever hurt anyone. I work hard for those treats!

Speaking of working hard, one of my favorite things to do is to work hard to make sure that our policyholders are happy. If you ever need me, e-mail me at Torrey@petsbest.com. I have to find someone to help me type my responses, obviously, but if anyone can get what she wants around here, it's me!

ShelterBest "Racing to Save Pets" Wins Big in Vegas

Jack Stephens — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Our ShelterBest "Racing to Save Pets" campaign took a huge leap forward at the recent Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas last month as the visual of the racecars, the passion of our Pets Best team, and the ShelterBest WVC Challenge Cup Race at the Las Vegas Speedway brought attention to our campaign to save shelter pets.

The presence of Thompson Motorsports and Brett Thompson's NASCAR racecars on display during the convention helped bring Pets Best and "Racing to Save Pets" front and center with one car in the Mandalay Bay exhibition hall foyer and another outside next to the racecar trailer. Our hope and goal was to help promote shelter adoptions. We also added a place for conference attendees to come and pet the dogs at the puppy play area outside next to the racecar trailer.

Brett Thompson and his team have helped us spread the word about the needs of shelters and shelter pets.

ShelterBest "Racing to Save Pets" is a means to communicate with the public about the need to adopt pets from shelters across the country. As part of the program, we help to raise awareness, money and provide added value for shelter adoptions. Most importantly, the program will increase pet adoptions and reduce euthanasia. Our goals are three-fold:

1. To increase shelter adoptions - Despite years of spay/neuter programs, unwanted, surplus pets are still a huge problem and a shame on our society that so many millions of pets are euthanized each year. This is a societal problem, and it is imperative that we help change people's attitudes about where they obtain their pets.

2. To provide financial responsibility - Pets Best offers its ShelterBest protection for adopted pets and other family pets, making it convenient and economical to insure family pets. With Pets Best, pet families know they will always receive 80% after the deductible reimbursement for covered accidents and illnesses. Having this help makes it much less likely they will return the pet to the shelter for a costly accident or illness.

3. To provide added revenue for shelters - The Pets Best shelter program provides pet owners with discounts, which can be donated to the local shelter. All or part of their Pets Best discount can automatically be donated to their shelter. Additionally, Pets Best makes another donation to those shelters when those pets are insured.

Our goal is to have more pets adopted, more pets insured, and to keep pets in families by covering 80% of their healthcare needs. We believe that ShelterBest "Racing to Save Pets" is an integral part of saving thousands (hopefully millions) of pets who deserve loving families and good care, including necessary healthcare.

When you share the word about shelter pets, you are making a difference. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who is working tirelessly for the needs of pets, especially shelter pets. The race is a long one, but one I believe we can win.

Jack L. Stephens, DVM

Sweet Sixteen

Jack Stephens — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What a great age! Sixteen, second only to twenty one as a magical day. How I looked forward to reaching sixteen and being able to drive - a milestone year for most, a year that brings much to look forward to.

Sixteen is also a milestone year for our pets, but for a different reason. Sixteen for them is more like reaching our 90^th birthday. Skeeter, my special little angel man, turned 16 on January 25th.

He lost his hearing a couple of years ago and is basically blind now, with slight light vision in his right eye only. We were able to stall his inevitable blindness for nearly two years with "Nu Eyes."

His front leg shakes more often. He sleeps more. At times, he becomes disoriented and shows signs of senility. He now has less control of his bladder, and although much more onerous for my wife and me, we recognize that it is something that comes with the aging process and we simply have to prepare and allow for it.

Skeeter, a miniature pinscher has been my constant companion and pal for nearly sixteen years now. He came to me at six weeks of age after the loss of my special Spanky, another miniature pinscher that helped me through my ordeal with cancer in many special ways. I did not want another dog, certainly not that soon. My shock and grief at losing Spanky were overwhelming.

After all, what dog could ever replace my dear Spanky? I felt it would be unfair to other dogs to bring them into my life, where I would constantly compare them to Spanky. No dog could ever measure up to the companionship and mystical ways of Spanky.

Fortunately for me, my wife and our special breeder, Norma Cacka, forced Skeeter on me, despite my ungracious attempts to repel this little six week old puppy. Alas, my self pity and grief was not meant to be.

Skeeter very quickly captured my heart, even though he was nothing like Spanky. In fact he was not only very different, but almost the opposite. Day by day, he became even more endearing and more special to not only to me, but to the community of my acquaintances and nearly the entire Veterinary profession.

Skeeter moved me to a higher plane of bonding with a pet. Skeeter soon traveled everywhere with me, whether it was a short trip or cross-country. He goes to the office with me daily and occasionally on vacations. Skeeter has indeed been a constant companion. In fact he became the "icon" for pet insurance. I remembering overhearing people say, "There's Skeeter, the insurance dog."

Skeeter has had a special life, meeting many movie stars and dignitaries, even Walter Cronkite, who was enamored as everyone else has been with Skeeter's demeanor and dignity. Skeeter is steadfast and loves everyone, while Torrey, my other constant companion can be difficult and might even bite people, letting them know to leave her alone. Not Skeeter, he is comfortable in a room with hundreds of people, walking among them, mixing, being picked up by anyone, and petted by anyone. He will sit for hours on a stage, as he did twice during veterinary graduation commencement speeches and cancer survivor events that I participated in. He is the epitome of stoic behavior, friend to all, calm and loving.

Skeeter is special in many ways, and his accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but a few bear sharing. His accomplishments are remarkable when you consider he only weights nine pounds and is a dog. The following is a testament to this mighty little package of dog, now sixteen years of age!

Two Commencement Speeches, first at University of Missouri and later at Texas A&M Veterinary schools, where he sat on the stage in a chair during the entire exercise with his own cap and gown. He stoically sat for hours on stage next to me or on the podium. While I spoke, he simply starred at the audience or dozed.
He participated in several other speeches where he sat on the podium in front of hundreds.
Honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) from the University of Missouri Veterinary School
Broke the no pet barrier for Veterinary Conferences
Honorary Board member of the Western Veterinary Conference, the largest veterinary conference in the world
Scholarships in his name at two Veterinary schools
Skeeter Foundation named in his honor that promotes research that provides scientific proof of the physiological benefits of pets and pet therapy visits to hospitals and nursing homes
Hugged by movie stars too numerous to name
Logged so many flights he should have his own frequent flyer card
Chairman of Pet Relations for Pets Best Insurance
Photo hung in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas for several years, in the hallway of stars
Funded research to validate the positive benefits of pets in humans

Most importantly, this wonderful dog has been a steadfast, loyal companion for sixteen years to this person awed by the positive powers of pets and animals on human health and well being. Happy Birthday, my dear friend.

Jack L. Stephens, DVM

Pet Sitting Insights

Arden Moore — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The benefit of sharing my home with two dogs and two cats is that I get to enjoy the antics of this "furry fab four," and they get to have a member of their own species as a pal.

The downside is when I need to travel. Hiring a professional pet sitter can cost more than the price of an airplane ticket or hotel stay - depending on the duration of the trip. Still, I consider it money well spent. My pets get to remain in their own homes and get to be catered to by a professional who is licensed and bonded.

In picking a pet sitter, I've learned to be, well, picky. Just because someone tells you that they love pets, doesn't make them skilled in dealing with companion animal issues. Facing a lot of trips this year, I knew I could not afford to have just any person stay at my house and care for my pets.

I contacted two national organizations: Pet Sitters International and National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Both referred me to local pet sitting companies who belonged to one - or both - of these organizations. The information on the websites of these local companies provide me with their fee schedules and pet policies.

In picking a pet sitter - and hiring that person for future trips, I considered the following factors:

Punctuality of the prospective pet sitter for the initial face-to-face meeting with me and my pets.
Availability of the pet sitter for future trips to provide continuity for my pets.
Comments from others who had hired the pet sitter in the past.
Knowledge of cat and dog behavior.
Acceptance that my pets are not perfect. My dog, Chipper is afraid of skateboards and will turn into a 60-pound puddle at the sight of one on a walk.
Willingness to provide daily walks for my dogs and daily brushings for my cats.
Receptiveness to meet close neighbors who keep an eye on my house and are available should an emergency arise.
Accessibility by phone or email to provide me with daily updates on my pets.
The body language of my pets when they were around the pet sitter. The person I chose brings out pure joy and goofiness in my dogs and dignified acceptance from my cats.

The next time you face a business trip or a long-awaited vacation, please plan ahead and make arrangements for your stay-at-home pets to receive the best possible care. Hiring a professional pet sitter helps reduce the chance of coming back home to a behavior problem.

Caring for Pets: A Lifetime of Love

Arden Moore — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In New York City, there is a well known animal care shelter called the ASPCA. This place is fortunate to attract a steady stream of donations to help homeless dogs, cats and other companion animals. It also attracts a lot of media attention.

I applaud the efforts of the ASPCA, but on a recent trip to New York City, I had the chance to tour a lesser-known, but equally vital shelter. The Animal Care and Control of New York City is located in a functional, but far-from glamorous building in Manhattan.

Elizabeth Keller, shelter operations manager, took the time to show me the shelter with most cages filled with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens seeking permanent, loving homes. She informed me that AC&C, on average, rescues about 150 lost and homeless animals every day. In addition to the Manhattan site, there are AC&C centers in Brooklyn, State Island, Bronx and Queens.

You can tell every nickel is spent wisely and the center relies heavily on pet-loving volunteers. Among them is a small but strong woman named Juana Mendoza. She was busy cleaning up dog cages when we ran into her.

She won't divulge her age, but gives you a wink when she tells you she is over 60.

"I've been volunteering here for four years. Come every day," she declares. "My only wish is that other seniors would volunteer, too. Here, you get a chance to do so much good for so many animals."

She gives ageless advice that people of all ages should heed. I feel lucky to have met her.

To learn more about the work of the Animal Care & Control of New York City, please visit their website: www.nycacc.org.

Making the Skies Feline Friendly

Arden Moore — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In my role as editor of Catnip, the author of 17 books on cats and dogs and an animal behavior consultant, I travel coast to coast to make presentations about pets. Usually, I fly solo and hire a professional pet sitter to take care of my two cats and my two dogs. They seem - well, the cats, Callie and Murphy - quite content to stay home while I hop form one time zone to the next.

My two dogs, Chipper and Cleo, are always up for any trip - be it a road trip, on a boat or on a plane. They just love sharing the chance to get from here to there with me.

I am about to embark on a national multi-city book tour to promote my latest releases, The Cat Behavior Answer Book and The Dog Behavior Answer Book. The tour is aptly being called, "Arden Moore Unleashed for a Pet-Friendly America."

One of the "pre-tour" trips called for me to appear in New York City and to discuss cat behavior for a satellite media tour. About 20 big and small television news stations all over the country lined up to ask me about why cats do what they do.

The sponsors of this satellite media tour requested that I bring one of my own cats to New York. Murphy performs a lot of tricks, but unfortunately, she gets motion sickness and tends to make anything-but-pleasant vocals inside a carrier. The natural pick was Callie, my 12-year-old calm calico.

Callie has flown before - but it was seven years ago. So, I took the necessary steps to ensure her flight was as stress-free as possible. I booked a non-stop flight from San Diego and New York City and verified with the airlines that Callie was indeed listed as my travel mate. I recommend you do the same because airlines limit the number of pets who can travel in the cabin. Sometimes, that number per flight is as low as four.

I also had Callie receive a head-to-tail physical examination by my veterinarian who signed the necessary health certificate that airlines require. I also trained Callie to enjoy being inside a soft-sided, airline-approved carrier by feeding her favorite healthy treat inside it.

Callie's packing needs included a harness, leash, an ID tag on her collar that listed my cell phone number (she also has a microchipped ID), an absorbent pad (in case of an accident), treats, collapsible water bowl and a small, comfy bed.

What I didn't anticipate was the new rule at airport security screening areas. We're all now used to taking off our shoes, pulling out our computer laptops and putting loose change and metal objects in the trays.

In addition, you are ordered to take your cat out of the carrier and hold her as you walk through the security sensor door. I was at a crowded airport full of impatient people wanted to get to their gates. I tried to remain calm as I removed Callie out of her carrier and held her tightly in my arms as we were screened.

Once I put her back in the carrier, I realized how lucky we were. Imagine if she had panicked and wiggled free and ran loose in a large airport?

The lesson I pass on to those of you who find the occasional need to have your cat join you on an airplane is to always fit your cat with a harness before putting her inside the carrier. At the airport, attach the leash to the harness as well. This way, when you are told to remove your cat from the carrier, the chances of escape are minimized.

As for Callie, her trip to the Big Apple was full of adventure. From the hotel window sill in our 20^th floor room, she could watch tourists in Times Square and actually look down as some birds. She flirted with the TV cameras and tolerated being oohed and aahed and petted by feline fans at the studio and inside the hotel.

Now, it's time for me to pack my suitcase and begin the official launch of the book tour. Callie is happy to remain and enjoy the comforts of home.

ShelterBest: Racing to Save Pets!

Jack Stephens — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Brett Thompson & Bowdy

Far too many pets are euthanized in animal shelters after not being adopted, in spite of the value they could bring to pet families. In response, Pets Best has put together the Pets Best ShelterBest program.

ShelterBest is a program designed to increase adoptions, provide financial responsibility for a pet's care, decrease the cost of insurance and provide needed donations back to the shelter.

Local Shelter Leaders

Here is how it works: ShelterBest is a Pets Best program for shelter adoptions that insures shelter pets at a discount for the adopter, creating a positive outcome for the new pet family. Pets Best also donates needed funds back to the shelter.

Importantly, pets with insurance receive better care when needed and are much less likely to be relinquished back to the shelter due to a medical problem or accident. Pet owners pay a budgetable monthly premium and have the peace of mind knowing we are there when an accident or illness occurs. The ShelterBest plan is simple and easy to understand, paying 80% after deductible and providing coverage worldwide.

Pet owners receive a shelter discount on Pets Best insurance, and shelters receive donations back. In addition to our donation, pet owners will have the opportunity to donate their insurance discount back to the shelter to further increase shelter donations, saving even more pets. This program is a win-win for everyone, especially shelter pets.

Racing!

Pets Best wants to not only help get pets adopted by offering a discount on policies, but Pets Best is "Racing to Save Pets" with NASCAR driver Brett Thompson and his adopted shelter dog, Bowdy. As we race the #61, Pets Best Insurance Monte Carlo across the country racing to save pets we are also raising awareness of the need for shelter pet adoptions and how wonderful a shelter pet can be. Follow the racing action at http://www.thompsonnascar.com.

Shelter pets make great pets. My wife and I know this from the personal experience we've had adopting, socializing, training then placing abandoned pets in many households.

Cooper, our little Doxie/Chihuahua mix, was rescued from a dumpster, where he had been abandoned several years ago. He is a now wonderful therapy pet and great addition to our home. Santos, a rescued puppy from Todo Santos, Mexico, became a wonderful addition to a local family after we adopted him on a vacation in Mexico and brought him back home with us. My wife and I have many personal stories of rescued pets becoming wonderful family members.

Friends of local shelter

With our ShelterBest effort, our hope is that we will raise awareness of the wonderful pets waiting to be rescued, help pet owners by discounting policies and help shelters through our donations and the donations from pet families. Rescue a wonderful pet, save yourself money, and help your community shelter. Thank you for helping us in our Race to Save Pets.

Score One for Hemingway's Cats

Arden Moore — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For nine years, I lived in South Florida and looked forward to the occasional getaway to Key West. From my home in Palm Beach County, it took about five hours to reach the final key - Key West.

Ah, but it was well worth the drive. Instead of a rainbow at the end of the trip, there was a special house, actually a mansion, which housed special cats. These cats are all descendents of polydactyl cats owned - and adored - by the late famous writer, Ernest Hemingway.

Polydactyl cats, by definition, have extra toes - on their front paws and sometimes, back paws, too. Hemingway's felines - more accurately - their descendants - have freely roamed the grounds of the Hemingway house which is now a major tourist attraction in Key West. Many of them loved to greet visitors and pose for photos.

These cats knew they had it made. Free meals. Free lodging. Adoring fans. What could be better? Unfortunately, big government, namely the U.S. Department of Agriculture, opted to try to force removal of the cats - citing a city law that prohibits more than four domestic animals per household.

For more than a year, the feds engaged in a catfight with the locals running the Hemingway house. I am happy to report that the Key West City Commission recently voted to exempt the Hemingway house from that city law on the number of animals allowed per property.

The famous polydactyl cats will get to roam the grounds as the members of the commission ruled that these felines are indeed animals of historic, social and tourism significance.

If you ever get the opportunity to visit Key West, please do. It is one of the few remaining places in the country where freedom truly exists - without a lot of meddling laws. Just ask the Hemingway cats.

-- Arden Moore

Woof! Woof! Road Trip

Arden Moore — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

"Hey, Chipper and Cleo, do you want to go."

When my dogs, Chipper and Cleo hear that magical word, "go," their ears perk up, their faces start to grin and their tails begin whirling like oscillating fans.

Go. That two-letter word generates nearly as much excitement in our dogs as "treat." Little wonder. Most dogs were born to ride - no matter if the excursion is five-minute trip to the pet supply store for a new toy or a cross-country trek to meet your cousin and his friendly Labrador named Jake.

Whenever possible, my dogs accompany on my travels - whether it involves errands near my home in Oceanside, California or visits to pet-friendly places a few states away. Chipper is a Golden Retriever/Husky mix and Cleo is (at best guess) is a Maltese-terrier mix. Both are game for seeing (and smelling) new sights. Chipper has been with me the longest and can boast of mastering planes (no trains), hailing cabs in New York City, braving the Staten Island Ferry and plowing through snow-thick trails at Colorado ski resorts in Breckenridge.

I've learned about what to pack and how to ensure the trips are fun and safe. Dogs are born travelers and they can make the trip more adventurous. We are fortunate to be living in a dog-friendly time. Latest surveys indicate about 29 million people travel with their pets each year and that number continues to grow.

When hitting the road with your pet, however, pay attention to the weather. Extreme hot or cold can impact your decision to have your dog join you. Never leave your dog alone in your vehicle during warm weather - even for just a few minutes. Even if you crack the windows a bit, the temperature inside your car can climb quickly and your dog can develop heat stroke and die.

When traveling with your dog in the hot weather, make sure the air conditioning is on - and, consider attaching a small battery-operated fan to your dog's crate for added ventilation. Bring extra water and look for the key sign of dehydration: your dog's tongue is wide, red, and dry.

During cold weather, coat your dog's pads with a layer of petroleum jelly to protect them from harsh ice and salt.

To prevent your dog from developing an upset stomach on your road trips, stick with his regular food and wait to sere his main meal when you reach your destination. To protect dogs who love sticking their heads out windows, fit them with protective eye gear like Doggles so dirt and other debris can't lodge in their eyes.

Finally, here's a handy road trip checklist to make the adventure fun - and safe - for your dog.

First, secure your dog inside a crate or canine harness that snaps into the seat belt buckle and be sure to bring:

· An extra leash, collar, and ID tag

· Bedding

· Bottled water and bowl

· 1-2 days supply of food and treats in sealable storage containers

· Copy of your dog's health record, including vaccinations

· Contact information, including your veterinarian, your information and a backup person's phone number

· Favorite toy and chew item

· A minimum of a one week's supply of medications and supplements

· Grooming tools, including brush, comb and lint removal product

· Cleaning items, including paper towels, moist towelettes, and disinfectant spray

· Extra doggy poop bags

· Flashlight

* Arden Moore, author of 17 books on cats and dogs, including her latest, The Dog Behavior Answer Book and The Cat Behavior Answer Book. She can be reached through her website: www.ardenmoore.com.

Help Overcome Depression with a Dog

Jack Stephens — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Previously I have reported how I have personally witnessed people eliminate antidepressants by the simple act of obtaining a dog, especially a "lap" or household dog or cat. I have also shared how it is being scientifically documented and measured that pets can reduce and even eliminate mild depression.

Now, the National Women's Health Resource Center and Support Partners has a national education campaign dedicated to people with depression, touting the benefits of a dog in overcoming depression. They suggest that petting your dog will help relieve stress and anxiety, taking your dog for a walk gives you exercise and relieves stress, and teaching your dog a new trick will give you a sense of accomplishment.

More and more social and healthcare professions are seeing the value of pets in helping to keep us healthy and improving our health when we are ill, stressed or depressed. Why is this important? Because the acknowledgment by national organizations and health care professionals will expand the access and awareness of the valuable role that pets play in our health. What more natural way to stay healthy and happy than by having the joy of owning a pet?

If you review some of my previous blogs you will see where I discuss the exact biochemical feedback mechanisms we experience when we are with our pets. How pets improve our health and well being by altering our biochemistry is still under investigation, and I will share the findings as they continue to develop. In summary a few benefits of pets are as follows:

The quiet interaction of petting a pet will lower your blood pressure, decrease your stress hormone and increase the levels of good hormones and neurotransmitters which will all help you feel better.

The simple act of watching fish in a fish tank will lower your blood pressure and decrease feelings of anxiety.

Interacting with your pet will increase your serotonin levels, which are instrumental to decreasing the feelings of depression.

Walking your pet will help you lose weight better than other traditional weight loss methods and improve your sense of well being.

According to a leading clinical psychologist, "While a doctor, family and friends should form the basis of a support network for clinically depressed individuals, dogs can play an important role by being a constant companion. Depression is often associated with strong social stigma, causing people to withdraw from their lives and intensifying the emotional symptoms of the illness."

You and I know walking your dog will bring on more social contacts, make you feel better and help you lose weight, which are all beneficial to your emotional health and physical well being. Having a constant companion in your home will decrease the feeling of loneliness, provide you with activity that makes you feel needed and improve your biochemistry. So, take care of your buddies, and they will take care of you.

Jack L. Stephens, DVM

"Prescribe Pets Not Pills"

The Benefits of a Barking Dog

Arden Moore — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Far too often, people equate barking with bad behavior in a dog. Just like people, dogs vocalize in many ways to convey various messages.

In my neighborhood, we all know (and hear) a mini-Schnauzer named Buddy who lives with a fun and feisty senior named Flo. Buddy unleashes a series of high-pitched yap-yap-yaps whenever anyone approaches the front door or whenever he spots trespassing cats in his backyard.

In this case, barking serves a benefit. Flo wears a hearing aid, and her dog seems to tune in when he is needed by running up to her and sounding a noisy alert. Buddy's breed was born to bark. Schnauzers rank among the chattiest of canine breeds.

Having a noisy dog comes in handy for Flo during those times when solicitors come to her front door uninvited. Buddy barks so loud and so long that Flo can't hear what the people are trying to pitch. They leave in frustration and Flo rewards Buddy for a bark well timed. Buddy also barks to awaken Flo if he hears a strange sound in the backyard at night. Most dogs seek jobs, and in Buddy's case, he feels he earns his daily kibble by serving as Flo's keen sense of ears. He detects everything that goes past Flo's house.

But Buddy doesn't bark just to bark. Whenever I bring over my two dogs, Chipper and Cleo, Buddy doesn't bark - he cries out in pure joy as the sight of seeing his two doggy play pals coming up his walk. He also turns off his barking machine once welcomed guests are inside Flo's home.

Flo has been a lifelong dog lover and she does her best to keep Buddy at his best. She signed him up for Pets Best insurance when he was a pup, has his coat professionally groomed and feeds him only high-quality food.

In the beginning, Flo would apologize for Buddy's noise-making ways. Now, she embraces his vocalizations and proudly nicknamed him, Buddy Barky. Between a home alarm system and Buddy, Flo feels justifiably safe and secure.

Arden Moore, author of 17 books on cats and dogs, including her latest, The Dog Behavior Answer Book and The Cat Behavior Answer Book. She can be reached through her website: www.ardenmoore.com.

Frustrated by Felines?

Arden Moore — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Book Expo of America is to authors and publishers what the Super Bowl is to quarterbacks and linebackers. It's THE event of the year. The most recent book expo took center stage in New York City and I was invited by my publisher, Storey Books, to unveil my latest book, The Cat Behavior Answer Book.

When my publisher told me that I would be signing books at the autograph arena - rubbing elbows with the likes of far-more-famous folks like Dave Barry and John Grisham, I tried to be realistic in my expectations.

My hope was that at least a dozen or so attendees would come to my table in search of my autograph on this new cat book. After all, the topic is cats - not the latest Dave Barry humor-filled take on life in the 21^st Century or a suspense-filled page turned penned by the likes of John Grisham.

I was wrong. Instead, the line s-t-r-e-t-c-h farther than I could see. In one hour, I had signed more than 300 copies - and ran out of books! This is clear evidence that people - especially fans of feline - are mystified and puzzled by cats and their behaviors. They want answers - and they want peace and harmony in their households.

Why does my cat make a cackle sound at birds? What can I do to stop my cat from sleeping on my pillow at night? How can I teach my cat to shake paws? These and more questions were fired my way by those in line to have my books signed.

Face the feline facts - cats revel in being a bit mysterious and hard to pin down. But they can be as loyal as a Labrador and as fun as a Border Collie. If you're blessed to share your life with a feline or two, count yourself fortunate. Invest in their health by booking regular veterinary visits, obtaining pet insurance, serving nutritious food and spending one-on-one time with them. The dividends you reap will be beyond your expectations.

Arden Moore, author of 17 books on cats and dogs, including her latest, The Dog Behavior Answer Book and The Cat Behavior Answer Book. She can be reached through her website: www.ardenmoore.com.

Plays Well With Others? What to Know Before Hitting the Dog Park

Arden Moore — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

My dog, Chipper, goes ga-ga if I mention the phrase "woof park." That's my nickname for dog parks. If I say that phrase - even in a whisper - Chipper, my Golden Retriever/Husky mix, will start to whine and wiggle with delight.

For nearly three years, we've gone to a local dog park in the early morning. There's a regular crowd there featuring well-mannered dogs just looking to play a friendly game of chase (or chase me, please) and tennis ball fetching. The owners pay attention to the canine antics and share training tips and goofy dog stories with one another.

Recently, however, we arrived an hour later than usual. The usual gang was not there. Chipper and my small dog, Cleo, bolted into the fenced-in dog park and began what they normally do - the perimeter prowl. They stopped and sniffed. Their noses were filled with the scents of dogs and other delights - pure canine bliss, I guess.

At dog parks, I pay close heed to the body languages unleashed from my dogs and other dogs. This time, an Australian Shepherd mix made a direct beeline to Chipper. In the world of dog etiquette, that's a rude - and threatening - gesture. Most dogs come up to one another from the side. This dog then growled and leaped on Chipper. I produced my deepest, I-mean-business tone and yelled at both to stop and sit. Surprisingly, they did. If they hadn't, I was prepared to use Chipper's leash to safely separate them without getting my hands bit.

I managed to put the leash on a shaken Chipper and noticed that she had a cut below her left eye. It was starting to bleed. Meanwhile, the owner of the Aussie just looked, shrugged and said, "Oh well. Dogs will be dogs." Unbelievable.

Fortunately, I keep a dog first-aid kit in my car, and I cleaned Chipper's wounds and stopped the bleeding. Then I noticed another man coming back into the parking lot with a dog limping. It turns out that the Aussie attacked his dog, too.

Dog parks are designed to be places where well-mannered dogs can romp and socialize. They are not places for aggressive dogs to try to "work out" their bully tendencies. And, they are certainly not places for owners to abandon their responsibilities to keep their dogs from harming others.

My parting advice: Please pay close attention to the interactions of dogs - and the watchfulness of their owners - before you decide to bring your dog inside the park. If you see aggression, leave and treat your dog to a long walk elsewhere. Even though your dog will have to be on a leash, it will be a far safer way to get in some exercise.

Dishing Up Grr-eat Advice

Arden Moore — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It's not everyday one receives a personalized letter from Martha Stewart. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine I would garner praise from the queen of daytime TV regarding a six-year-old dog cookbook.

It just goes to show that some nutritional advice is timeless. In this case, I wrote a book called Real Food for Dogs: 50 Vet-Approved Recipes for a Healthier Dog (Storey Books). The recent commercial pet food scare sent sales of my cookbook soaring all the way up to #6 on Amazon. The book has sold more than 40,000 copies this spring, and my life has been forever changed. When I wrote the book, the meals and treats were intended to compliment quality commercial dog food as ways to hone in good doggy manners. The pet food recall, though, found more people turning to my book for safe ways to prepare food for their dogs.

I've been on dozens of television and radio shows coast-to-coast plus Canada to tout tips on how to prepare healthy meals and treats for dogs. One stop included an appearance on the "Martha Stewart Living Radio" show with co-hosts Dean and Betsy. Just before airtime, the producer whispered in my ear, "You know, Martha listens to this show. She listens very carefully."

During the hour, we prepared a recipe from my book called "Bow Wow Brownies" (made with carob - a safe substitute for chocolate, which is lethal for dogs) and made it in honor of Martha's Chow Chow named Paw Paw. I also gave the producer an autographed copy of my book to deliver to Martha. Within a week back from New York City, I received a letter from Martha, who practiced - as always - good etiquette. She wrote:

"Dear Arden: Thank you so much for sending me a copy of your book, Real Food for Dogs. It was kind of you to think of me and very much appreciated. I have started preparing more home-cooked meals for my dogs since the recent dog food scare and they seem to be happier and healthier because of it. Kind regards, Martha Stewart"

Today, the letter is inside a frame and displayed in my home office in Oceanside, California. True, the letter comes from a celebrity, but the words come from a person who loves her dogs and who wants to do what she can to keep them healthy. That's the real message all of us who are fortunate to have a dog share our lives should heed.

Arden Moore, author of 17 books on cats and dogs, including her latest, The Dog Behavior Answer Book and The Cat Behavior Answer Book. She can be reached through her website: www.ardenmoore.com.

Callie's Healthy Vacation

Arden Moore — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Indoor cats - guaranteed to be free of risks from illness and injury, right? Wrong. For 12 years, I have jokingly regarded my calico cat, Callie, as a "cheap date." The reason? For a dozen years, all I've need to spend on her was routine needs - food, treats, bedding, toys and annual veterinary exams. She was the poster cat for feline health.

She has spent her life indoors since I adopted her as a tiny kitten found running the streets of Miami. She goes outside to my fenced backyard, supervised by me, and she strolls back into the house when I say, "Callie, inside."

For the past few years, however, her belly has grown and I nicknamed her "Calorie." I knew she wasn't to blame for the added weight. She wasn't raiding the refrigerator at night while I was asleep or pilfering food from the dogs' bowls. The blame belonged to me because I wasn't paying attention to her food portions.

But a couple months ago, I noticed that Callie was slimming down. It's natural to take credit for this fit feline look, but I knew unexplained weight loss often signals a silent health condition.

My veterinarian confirmed my thoughts: Callie was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a silent disease that strikes middle-aged and senior cats. It is caused by a benign tumor in one or both of a cat's thyroid glands, which in turn, causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones. Unchecked, it can trigger hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a disease that causes a thickening of the heart) and damage the kidneys and eyes.

The best option for curing this condition is a pricey radioactive iodine injection. The total cost for this procedure, necessary tests, medications and hospitalization tops $1,400. Ouch. But this is one feline disease that has a real cure.

Callie is definitely worth this investment, and she recently returned from a week's stay at a veterinary imaging center. During that week, I received daily updates on her recovery and was able to "tune in" and see her through a Web cam accessible on my computer.

It turns out that only one of her thyroids was affected by this disease and now she is happy being back at home. She is displaying renewed kitten-like energy and purrs longer and louder.

That hefty veterinary bill reminded me of the importance of getting pet insurance. At the time, I only had policies covering my two dogs. Callie's pricey "vacation" convinced me to obtain insurance for my cat, Murphy, age 7. Due to Callie's senior status and the hyperthyroidism diagnosis, the only insurance available for her would cover in case of an accident - not an illness.

Please learn from my experience and obtain insurance policies on your cats. As I've learned, even indoor cats are not insulated from disease.

Meet Cleo: My $500 Free Dog

Arden Moore — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It is never easy to admit that you have a bias. But when you do and can work on overcoming it, the results can be amazing.

I guess that is why a tiny mixed breed dog came into my life about a year ago. For years, I declared that I was more comfortable around dogs medium size and larger. I used to joke that I never wanted a dog smaller than my cats.

Then Cleo showed up. She arrived in the backyard of my elderly neighbor, Flo, at night. Flo's dog, Buddy, a vocal mini-Schnauzer, sounded the bark-bark-bark alert that something was shaking and whimpering on the back porch. Flo saw this small, frightened dog and was not certain how Buddy would react if she brought in this dog, so she called me.

My dog, Chipper, a 60-pound Golden retriever/Husky mix, is a former shelter mascot who is used to dogs and cats of all sizes and attitudes. She, like my two cats, Callie and Murphy, also know what it is like to be without a home and then to be rescued. My three pets welcomed Cleo without a growl or a hiss.

Cleo weighed barely 10 pounds when she arrived. Her coat was matted and dry and her teeth were nearly brown. I could feel and see her ribs. She sported a collar that was too tight bearing her name and a phone number from an area two counties away. I tried calling the number, but it was disconnected. I also left word with that county's animal shelter as well as those in my area. I posted signs. I alerted neighbors.

No calls. Something told me that this little dog either ran away or was dumped. What was certain was that she was in dire need of good nutrition, a bath and a complete physical exam by my veterinarian. Within a month, I had spent $500 plus to provide her with the necessary vaccination, dental cleaning, food, grooming, bedding, leash, collar, cool toys - and most importantly, pet insurance.

Cleo has taught me that little dogs sport big hearts. She now weighs 12 pounds and her once too-skinny body is toned and muscular. She easily trots next to Chipper on our daily 40-minute walks and cuddles with my cats during afternoon naps. She races to greet me when I come home and is learning tricks to earn healthy treats.

Like many of you, I didn't plan on adopting a second dog. It just happened. But something told me that she deserved a second chance in a caring home. On June 27, we celebrated the one-year anniversary of her arrival into Flo's backyard and my home. For Cleo, June 27 marked a new beginning -- and for me, it marked the end of a bias toward dogs smaller than cats.

Fighting To Cure Canine Cancer

Jack Stephens — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Recently Pets Best joined the Morris Animal Foundation's campaign to find a cure for cancer in dogs. Pets Best made a multi-year $1 million pledge to the Morris Animal Foundation for their quest to fund research that could find a cure for cancer. This effort by the Morris Animal Foundation is notable even for non-pet owners, because finding a cure for dogs will be a shortcut to finding a cure for human cancer. I will speak to their efforts and progress in future communications, as well as in our newsletters.

As you may know from previous blogs, my wife and I love our dogs. They are truly family members. The following photo was taken in our car as we drove to Colorado to be acknowledged by Morris Animal Foundation for our pledge. Four of our little guys went with us on the three-day, 1,600-mile round trip from Idaho through the middle of beautiful Colorado.

The return trip was not as leisurely, and we drove eleven hours straight through in order for me to be back at the office on Monday. Torrey, Skeeter and Cooper are seasoned travelers both by car and air, and Pepper, our new addition, fit right in. They had two beds, a pillow and, of course, our laps from which to choose their round-robin siestas for the long drive. Torrey, however, seldom relinquished my lap during the trip.

One night we had to drive an extra sixty miles in order to find a hotel that accepted pets. But I must say, both my wife and I marvel at how much more relaxing a long road trip is with our pets than in the days when our human children were young. Two years ago we took a 4,000-mile trip with six of our dogs and thoroughly enjoyed the entire time! Each night was a chore, with the kennels and taking turns to "do their business," but they enjoyed the experience and all the new smells and places to pee. Dogs simply accept their circumstances and do not have any great expectations, other than the simple pleasure of our company and some attention.

Finding a cure for canine cancer is special to me, not only because of my own prior cancer, but because I lost a special pet to its devastating affects. Treatments are much better now, but costly and cost-prohibitive for many pet families. As a resource, we will be sharing with you in the near future how you can find the best treatment options and expected outcomes for all the many types of cancer.

I will also be sharing with you the many other things that Morris Animal Foundation does for animals and how you can help also. They are truly working in many diverse ways to help animals throughout the world.

Jack L. Stephens, DVM

Help for Skeeter's Cataracts Thanks to Can-C

Jack Stephens — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As you may know from my previous blog posts, Skeeter, my miniature pinscher, is over fifteen years of age and still going strong despite being deaf and also almost completely blind due to retinal degeneration and cataracts.

As in humans, cataracts are part of the aging process in dogs that causes the lens in the eye to become very dense. They can be removed surgically to prevent blindness; however, before undertaking the surgery, a pet ophthalmologist should examine the retina to be certain that the retinas are not degenerating.

If the retina is degenerating then cataract removal would provide only temporary improvement at best and may actually accelerate the retinal degeneration, due to additional sunlight reaching the retina or inner eye, without the lens.

When Skeeter started developing cataracts, I had him evaluated by two pet ophthalmologists. Both related that indeed Skeeter had retinal degeneration and said that cataract surgery would not result in any improvement beyond a few months at best.

They determined he had no vision in his left eye and maybe 10% vision in his right eye. His vision at night, especially, was extremely poor. They recommended a product called Can-C for his right eye that might slow the cataract progression.

Although skeptical that the eye drops would even diminish the progression of the cataract-let alone improve the eye-I went to my local pharmacy to purchase the drops. After driving to six pharmacists who had no idea how to obtain the drops, I went on the Internet to learn more and hopefully purchase the drops. The eye drops had to be ordered from Great Britain with payment via credit card and a two-week shipping time. The cost was nominal, a box that cost me $50 with shipping, which was expensive enough to make me to wonder if it would be worth it.

On the heels of my skepticism I thought, "How can I let Skeeter simply go blind without trying?" I ordered the drops and started medicating him with one drop twice a day. At first I did not see any improvement and almost stopped using the drops, but then I decided I would give it a few more months.

Then I began to notice that the left cataract was becoming much more pronounced with that white denseness taking over most of his eye, while the right eye was not progressing. I noticed he was seeing better also, especially at night.

After a year of the drops, I can state that his right cataract has diminished! His vision although not improved has stabilized. For his age and the progressive nature of retinal degeneration, the drops are another modern scientific miracle for our pets.

If your pet has cataracts, ask your veterinarian or a pet ophthalmologist about Can-C. From my observations it has made Skeeter's aging process easier and kept him from going blind at least another year and still counting!

Can-C has allowed Skeeter to maintain his limited vision longer and is worth every dollar!

Jack Stephens, DVM

Who Is Actually Buying Pet Insurance?

Jack Stephens — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Who Is Actually Buying Pet Insurance?

In one of my previous posts, I talked about the myths of pet insurance that we learned from our recent series of pet owner focus groups. The pet owner focus groups also told us in these sessions who they thought would buy pet insurance, and the results may or may not surprise you.

We found that:

The Pet Owner Perception of a Buyer Is Someone Who:

Considers the pet part of the family.
Sees the cost benefits of insurance.
Has had experience with the cost of veterinary care.
Is a first-time pet owner who is concerned with the unknown expenses of veterinary care.
Is a high-income, well-educated, sophisticated purchaser.

People Who Actually Purchase Insurance Are People Who:

Consider their pets part of the family.
Are professionals who see the value of insurance.
Are pet owners who want to budget for their pets' care.
Are primarily women who make the actual purchase.
Purchase insurance for their puppies and kittens (which may or may not reflect first-time ownership).
Have previously experienced high veterinary costs for a pet.
Have a pet who already has a medical problem.

As you can see perceptions and reality were actually very similar regarding the value of obtaining pet insurance, that is, those who are buying and the core reasons they purchase insurance.

Typically a pet insurance policyholder lives in a household where the pet is a family member, the family has experienced a high veterinary expense in the past and now wants peace of mind and protection for their pocketbooks. Pet owners also want their coverage to be broad, yet reasonable in cost and payable monthly, so it fits into their budget.

Of course there are other factors that pet owners take into consideration before purchasing, such as the level of customer service of the company, few plan exclusions, how quickly claims are paid, and options that provide for routine care, to name a few, but these are usually a concern only after they have made the initial decision to buy pet health insurance.

Once a pet owner has made the decision that pet insurance may be right for them, then they begin to seek out information about pet insurance and the different types of plans available. Most pet owners will use the Internet for information, but many will turn to their veterinarian or the pet hospital staff regarding their final decision. If in doubt, ask your vet or their staff for their recommendation. They've heard all the stories and can direct you to a plan and company that's right for you.

Jack L. Stephens, DVM

More Treats and Biscuits Added to Recall As Dates Expand

Jack Stephens — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

While the FDA is assuring pet owners that 99% of all pet food is still safe, Sunshine Mills joined the recent recall by pulling dog biscuits sold under five different brands, including Ol' Roy, Lassie and Pet Life.

ABC reported in its "Pet Food Recall Expands to Include Biscuits" <> that Menu Foods has also once again expanded its recall by covering "cuts and gravy"-style products made between Nov. 8 and March 6, which is earlier than the original recall date of Dec. 3.

T.W. Enterprises of Ferndale, Wash., is also asking consumers not to use their American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chew and Dog Chew products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Resources on these new recalls can be found at:

Sunshine Mills Release and Recall List
Menu Foods Expands Recall Dates
FDA Issues Health Hazard Alert for Pet Chews

New Foods Added to Recall List

Jack Stephens — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As a precautionary measure, Del Monte Pet Products is voluntarily recalling select product codes of its pet treat products sold under the Jerky Treats®, Gravy Train® Beef Sticks and Pounce Meaty Morsels® brands as well as select dog snack and wet dog food products sold under private label brands.

Read the full press release and affected brands here.

Nestle Purina PetCare Company also announced late Friday that it is voluntarily recalling all sizes and varieties of its ALPO(R) Prime Cuts in Gravy wet dog food with specific date codes. The company is taking this voluntary action after learning that wheat gluten containing melamine, a substance not approved for use in food, was provided to Purina by the same company that also supplied Menu Foods. The contamination occurred in a limited production quantity at only one of Purina's 17 pet food manufacturing facilities. Purina says they are confident that the contaminated wheat gluten has been isolated to this limited production quantity of ALPO Prime Cuts canned products.

Read the full press release here.

Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is also voluntarily recalling Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food from the market. Hill's is taking this precautionary action because during a two-month period in early 2007, wheat gluten for this product was provided by a company that also supplied wheat gluten to Menu Foods. Prescription Diet m/d Feline Dry represents less than one half of one percent of all Hill's products.

Hill's is reiterating that there is only one product affected by Hill's voluntary recall announcement yesterday: Hill's Prescription Diet™ m/d™ Feline Dry Food. This is the only product Hill's currently sells in the United States and Canada that contains wheat gluten from any supplier. No other Hill's Prescription Diet® or Science Diet® products are affected by this voluntary recall.

Read the full press release here.

As always, we will keep you informed as new reports are released. Do continue to check your cupboards and monitor your pets for illness. If they are vomiting, lethargic, not eating, drinking excessively or urinating excessively, have them checked by your veterinarian. Again, our sympathies go out to everyone affected by the recall during this stressful time.

Dog, Cat and Ferret Treats Recalled after Salmonella Found

Jack Stephens — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Associated Press is now reporting that another company, not connected with Menu Foods, is recalling dog, cat and ferret treats that could be contaminated with salmonella. The announcement that came yesterday from Eight in One Inc., is unrelated to the more extensive recall of melamine-tainted dog and cat food that led to kidney failure in pets around the country.

Eight in One Inc., a division of United Pet Group Inc., is recalling all packages of Dingo Chick'N Jerky, Dingo Kitty Chicken Jerky and Dingo Ferret Chicken Jerky.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in pets and children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In pets, salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and abdominal pain. Animals that do not get sick can infect other pets or humans.

The bacteria could also infect people handling the pet treats. Humans infected with the salmonella can experience fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. It could also cause more serious problems such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract problems.

Eight in One said they received a report of a dog infected by salmonella, which lead to further testing of this product. Some, but not all, of the samples tested were contaminated.

The treats were sold around the country at Target, PetSmart and other stores.

Speculation is that the Menu Foods recall and testing has led to more diligent testing of other brands and may have revealed the presence of salmonella in the Eight in One treats.

FDA Blames Melamine, Not Rat Poison

Jack Stephens — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that testing of Menu Foods pet food had revealed the presence of melamine, a chemical used in fertilizer, but has not been able to confirm the findings of aminopterin, the rodent poison that was reported last week to have been the likely culprit.

In a news conference earlier today, it was also reported that the tainted wheat gluten was sold to an undisclosed manufacturer who produces dry food, as well. The FDA could not say whether or not dry food had been contaminated, only that it was under investigation and that it would alert the public quickly if melamine was found in any foods other than the recalled pet food.

MSN is also reporting today that Menu Foods has received more than 300,000 calls from worried pet owners, and the most recent numbers from the Veterinarians Information Network, a website of 30,000 veterinarians and veterinary students, said members had reported nearly 500 cases of kidney failure since the recall was announced.

As a pet family dad of six dogs and two cats, I want pet owners to be armed with the best information and financial assistance to provide the best healthcare possible and prevent disease and illness when possible, and we will continue to post updates as we are made aware of them.

Pets Best Offers to Pay 100% of Bills Related to Food Recall

Jack Stephens — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

On Saturday, I spoke with yet another pet owner who only recently learned of the Menu Foods recall. She said that she hadn’t taken her cats in yet, though one of them had been vomiting. Cats (and dogs to a certain extent) tend to hide symptoms of illness. This is troublesome and means that even if you have stopped feeding the recalled food and think that things are fine, if your pets show any signs of illness, it’s best to have them checked. Kidney failure can sometimes take weeks or months to manifest signs, but early detection is truly the key to saving your pet and reducing the trauma to the kidneys.

At Pets Best, our heartfelt sympathies go out to every pet family affected by the recent pet food tragedy, especially those who are financially unable to pay for their pet’s care, as we read about last week. In response, we have committed to all policyholders affected by the recall to pay claims at 100% up to policy limits, waiving the deductible and co-payment, which we will recoup ourselves from the manufacturer.

We believe that pet owners have been affected enough by the stress of the recall and want to do what we can to help ease the emotional and financial burden for pet families.

We also learned over the weekend that Menu Foods has expanded their recall, and it was announced today that the New York State Food Laboratory is continuing their tests on the food to confirm that aminopterin is to blame for the deaths and illnesses of pets who consumed the “cuts and gravy” style food.

Pet Deaths Reportedly Linked to Rat Poison

Jack Stephens — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

ABC News and others this morning are reporting that a rodent-killing chemical is the toxin in the tainted pet food that has killed pets across the nation.

A source close to the investigation told ABC News that the rodenticide, which the source says is illegal to use in the United States, was on wheat that was imported from China and used by Menu Foods in nearly 100 brands of dog and cat food.
The Food and Drug Administration, which was notified of the tainted food one day before the recall, said it's frustrated and realizes the growing crisis is an emotional one.

"This is tragic," said Stephen Sundolf of the FDA's Veterinary Medicine group. "It is certainly uncommon. We expect pet food to be safe."
The New York Department of Agriculture has announced a press conference for 1 p.m. EDT.

Again, if you believe your pet ingested any of the foods on the recall list, stop feeding the food immediately and call your veterinarian to schedule a blood test.

Questions Surround Pet Food Recall as Pet Owners Look for Answers

Jack Stephens — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As news of more and more pets affected by the recalled food continues, we want to share with you some of the questions we are receiving from callers to help ease fears and provide resources during this time.

If my pet is insured with Pets Best prior to the announcement of the pet food causing kidney damage is my pet covered for veterinary claims associated with the tainted food?

Yes, Pets Best considers this an accidental poisoning, and it is covered under ALL Pets Best plans.

When was this problem with pet food first noticed and the recall reported?

The recall began on March 16. Pets Best became informed the next day and immediately reviewed the information and sent an alert bulletin to all of our policyholders. Our emergency bulletin informed pet owners of the problem, provided a link to the list of pet foods affected, informed pet owners regarding the symptoms to look for and what to do if their pet had symptoms.

The problem may have been known some time prior to the recall, according to some news sources. Please note that the actual cause has not yet been determined. An investigation is underway to determine how it happened, what caused the problems and who is responsible.

If my pet has been eating the food listed from the website, what should I do?

You should I M MEDIATELY STOP feeding the food. Save the packaging or labels and any receipts you have and have your pet’s kidney function tested. Call your veterinarian for an appointment to have a simple blood test to check if your pet’s kidneys have been damaged.

There were 95 brands of dog and cat food affected by the recall, reportedly produced and sold between Dec. 2006 and March 2007. Go to www.menufoods.com/recall/ for the complete list.

What if my pet has damage to their kidneys?

Follow your veterinarians’ advice and seek the care they recommend. Treatments will vary according to how severe the kidneys have been damaged. The blood test and your veterinarian will determine the damage. There may be other tests that are recommended depending on the test results and your pet’s age and health status.

What are the symptoms of kidney damage?

The symptoms will vary by the degree of damage, but look for the following symptoms: lethargy, listlessness, vomiting, drinking excessive amounts of water, urinating excessively, not eating and general malaise or simply not feeling well.

So far, most of the affected pets have been cats, and they typically start with vomiting. Several pet owners have reported that their cat would not eat the offending food. Our first policyholder to submit a claim reported that her cats started with vomiting and staggering gait. She rushed them to the emergency clinic and most unfortunately one died. The other cat is undergoing treatment.

What should I do if my pet has these symptoms?

Consult your veterinarian immediately and, again, STOP feeding the listed food. Your veterinarian will need to take a small sample of blood for a laboratory test that will check kidney function, as well as a host of other tests to determine your pet’s general health. If your pet is demonstrating symptoms, the key is quick treatment.

How did this happen?

We do not know yet, our website will be posting the latest information as it develops. The manufacturer, Menu Foods, thinks it was an ingredient commonly utilized in pet foods that was from a new vendor who unknowingly provided the tainted product. Again, more research and much investigation will be conducted in order to determine the exact cause.

I heard that Pets Best has offered to pay policyholders 100% of the claims associated with poisoning from the recalled food up to the policy per-incident limit for this recall and then obtain the co-payment and deductible from the manufacturer. Does that mean I give up my rights to sue or seek restitution?

No, Pets Best is not involved in any legality or in the rights of affected consumers. We are offering to help our policyholders obtain a quick reimbursement of their pets’ medical expenses related to the food recall. Our action to help our policyholders has nothing to do with their rights as a consumer.

We are not even sure we will recover subrogation rights, however if we do, we will only seek the payments we made to protect and help our policyholders.

We will subrogate (or request that the manufacturer repay us) for our losses associated with any claims we pay on your behalf. This is important to avoid any rate increase due to this unfortunate incident that would otherwise affect our policyholders.

Our goal is to ease the entire financial burden quickly for our policyholders. This is a very abnormal situation, and we want pet owners to only worry about regaining their pets to a healthy state.

What is the Pets Best policy limit for poisoning?

For the Accident-Only plan, the accidental poisoning limit is $1,500, for Pets Basic the per-incident limit is $2,500 and for Pets First the per-incident limit is $7,000. If you are unsure which plan you have, please call or e-mail us. 1-888-899-0402 or customerservice@petsbest.com.

What if I want to sue the food company involved?

That is up to you. Pets Best is not and will not be involved in any legal proceedings associated with the recall. Our goal is simply to help our policyholders receive reimbursement for all expenses related to any damage their pet received from the pet food recall.

How many pets were affected by the offending pet food?

To date 16 pets have died and over 500 have been identified as probable for poisoning, however more are reported or suspected daily. The damage caused may be progressive or acute. Most reports are of an acute illness associated with the food, within hours or days. There may be more pets developing chronic kidney damage, especially if they received small doses over longer periods of time. It is still too early to determine the exact responses and illnesses that will be the result. Also, because there were pets experiencing kidney failure due to unknown causes prior to the recall announcement, there may be many more related illnesses.

I am not sure if my pet ate the offending food and he seems fine now, what should I do?

First, we recommend not overreacting. If you are concerned, have your veterinarian take a blood sample from your pet and screen all the internal organs and blood. This is something that you should have performed for your pet anyway. Annual exams and health screens are a must. You should consider twice-a-year health exams and screens if your pet is aged or has history of medical problems.

An annual blood test, along with annual exams and other wellness benefits are provided with our Pets Wellness coverage (which can be chosen in addition to your Pets First or Pets Basic plans). Your pet should have these benefits at least once a year to detect any problems early.

Will Pets Best pay for the blood test?

If you have Pets Wellness, an annual blood test is included in the benefits, as well as a urinalysis and wellness exam. Should your pet have kidney damage or any other abnormal finding that developed and was acquired after your pet’s policy went into effect the appropriate test would be covered under both Pets Basic and Pets First plans.

As a pet owner what is my recourse?

We will keep you posted on our website, but be assured the pet manufacturers and distributors are taking this problem very seriously. Our interest is to make sure you have the right information to protect your pet and help you pay for medical expenses when your pet requires veterinary care.

Why is Pets Best providing early information and advice?

We truly care about the health of your pet, which is why we provided the early alert bulletin, even when we were not sure of the severity of the recall. We will continue to post updates, status and advice for our policyholders and pet owners in general as they develop.

While paying for your pet’s medical needs is our business, I truly love pets and have six dogs, two cats and four horses of my own. Keeping your pet healthy is my passion and has been for more than 30 years.

PET FOOD RECALL UPDATE

Jack Stephens — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As promised, we want to keep you updated as we learn more information about the pet food recall. Below are some of the things we have learned and information specifically for our policy holders, as well. We are also working on information to help you change your pet’s diet, if you have been feeding one of the recalled products, and will continue updating you as we learn new information. For more information on the recall itself, call Menu Foods at 1-866-895-2708.

THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN WE THOUGHT

Pets Best Insurance is receiving claims for kidney damage.
Veterinarians are treating more cases of kidney damage as now being reported in the leading veterinary network.
Preliminary estimates of affected pets may be low and requires a national reporting network. No one yet knows the magnitude of the problem, but the potential offending agent in the pet food could cause significant kidney failure in thousands of pets who ate the food. The longer they were ingesting the offending food, the worse the damage, though the specific cause is still not known.

IMPORTANT THINGS FOR YOU TO KNOW

Kidney damage can occur slowly. Symptoms and damage may be progressive or cause acute illness if larger doses of the offending ingredient are given or if the pet is older or in poor health.
Symptoms will depend on a host of factors, such as amount and time span of the toxin introduced into the pet, age, health, how quickly the toxin is removed, and how quickly treatment is initiated.
Look for lack of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, weight loss, listlessness, increased urination and drinking water excessively.
A simple blood test is the first and best solution to determine if your pet has any kidney damage.
If your pet is older, the damage can become more irreversible.
Your veterinarian can collect necessary samples and interpret your pet’s kidney function.
To date the pet food in question is only from certain “wet” pet foods, no dry pet food is known to be involved.

We have also been receiving calls from our policyholders about coverage and want to assure customers who have questions about whether or not their medical bills will be covered.

YOUR PETS BEST POLICY

Will cover any kidney damage that developed from exposure after your enrollment.
Will pay 80% after the deductible, up to the per-incident limit of $2,500 or $7,000, whichever you chose at enrollment.

For those of you who signed up for the additional wellness coverage, your wellness coverage will

Provide $ 35 for a wellness exam.
Provide $ 60-100 for blood panel, which includes the kidney function (depends on your particular state coverage).
Provide $ 25 for a urinalysis test.

Wellness benefits provide much more per year, however, these tests are pertinent to this issue if you have the wellness coverage and simply want to have your pet tested as a precaution.

PETS BEST WILL ALSO SUBROGATE (HELP YOU COLLECT) ANY CO-PAYMENT AND YOUR DEDUCTIBLE FROM THE PET FOOD MANUFACTURER THAT IS OVER AND ABOVE OUR 80% PAYMENT OR PER-INCIDENT LIMIT. We will be providing subrogation forms should you wish our help. Do keep any proofs of purchase, including store receipts and can or pouch labels.

Pet Food Recall

Jack Stephens — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Few things, other than politics, can bring up such emotion as pet food preferences. The recent recall of certain "wet" pet foods has gained national attention. The results are not in as to how many pets were negatively affected and what it was in the pet food in question that caused the problems, but I commend the pet food manufacturer for their rapid action and even recalling pet food beyond what was to be expected. This rapid and broad response demonstrates how committed the pet food manufacturers and distributors are to your pet's health and to protecting their brands.

It has been several years ago, but I have visited pet food plants and was amazed at how clean and efficient they were. In fact I found the few I visited were even cleaner and more modern than a couple of the canned food plants for humans I visited. Food contamination whether pet or human is most regrettable and shakes our faith.

Fortunately it is not that common or prevalent. We must stay diligent to prevent this type of problem from reoccurring, and I am sure this episode will create more safeguards to protect our pets.

When I was a child, commercial pet food was not common. Now we have special diets for particular medical problems, gourmet foods and a large selection from which to choose.

I have witnessed incredible growth in the pet food industry, from few commercial selections to today where the pet food isle is the largest single product area in a grocery store. I have also witnessed the expanded life spans of pets, much of which is due to great quality commercial pet foods.

In addition, I can relate that after 25 years of reviewing pet health insurance claims, pets have fewer medical problems, such as pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas and other ailments, when on a stable diet of high quality pet foods as compared to feeding leftover people food (or people food in general). My best advice is to not panic or overreact and to be certain your cupboard does not have any of the suspected products. (See http://www.menufoods.com/recall/ for the list.)

I am sure more answers will be forthcoming and that they will find the cause of the offending agents. If your pet has been eating any of the products listed on the pet food manufacturer's website, call or make an appointment with your local veterinarian and have a urinalysis and blood screening test performed on your pet.

The tests are easy, fast and can detect a host of other problems, as well as detecting kidney failure. Early detection is the key, while there is still time to prevent symptoms or disease and before the damage is irreversible. Remember, if you have a pet wellness plan, those tests are covered, and your pet should have those tests annually anyway.

When anything new develops that will help you have a healthier pet, or we learn more news on the pet food recall that might help, we will keep you informed.

Pets Improve our Health

Jack Stephens — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

As you know from my prior blogs, and the book I am writing, pets are good for us. Pets have measurable positive effect on our biochemistry that improves our health and well being.

Recently there was an Associated Press article titled "Americans Tenderly Stuffing their Pets with Drugs" and another version "Americans Increasingly Medicating their Pets," both on the same theme. The article pointed out that $2.9 billion was spent on drugs for pets and was now larger than spending on drugs for farm animals.

Basically, the article's premise is that we continue to indulge and spend more on our pets. It was interesting to note that pet owners quoted in the articles where not complaining, they were simply stating how they felt it was important to them to provide whatever medication their pet needed. One pet owner estimated she spent $5,000 over the past two years. "You cannot put a price on that," she was quoted as saying. And her husband, replied, "And I don't want to."

Why are pet owners willing to spend so much more on their pets?

Could it be they are receiving enough value from their pet to offset the expense?

The benefits of pets are just now being fully understood by science, something pet owners have known all along. Pets relieve stress, decrease feelings of anxiety, reduce and even eliminate depression. Pets entertain us, provide us with a feeling of security, cause us to exercise more, provide valuable services such as for the deaf, the blind, the physically handicapped and in psychotherapy. They make us smile. When we smile, we feel better. Pets are a "social lubricant" for meeting, greeting and conversing with others.

Scientific measurements have shown that sitting with your pet (dogs were used for the study) and petting them, improves your biochemistry of hormones and neurotransmitters. Your stress (bad hormones) decreases and your good hormones increase by that simple act. Your immune system is believed to be positively impacted by pets, thereby helping you to fight off disease and illness.

Pets make people feel less lonely and they provide us with unconditional love, which is hard to find these days. Pets listen to us (97% of pet owner's report they talk to their pet) and even though they cannot answer back, we always feel better after talking to them.

DIFFERENT APPROACH

A better story would be "Pets make us Healthier," thereby decreasing our own reliance on drugs and reducing human medical cost. All medications have unintended consequences, even if unnoticed. Why not allow interaction with a companion pet improve your health and decrease your reliance on some medications?

In a survey of surgery patients, those with a companion pet reported less post-surgical pain than those without a pet. Less post-operative pain would indicate that pet owners required less medication and shorter hospital stays. Heart attack victims with a companion pet had a higher survival rate than non-pet owners. It has been demonstrated that quiet pet interaction decreases our blood pressure.

I strongly believe that increased spending on pets is the result of people intuitively knowing they feel better and want to maintain and reward that relationship by providing the medication necessary to increase their pet's longevity and health.

As to cost, the articles stated that even at $2.9 billion spent on pet drugs, it was only 1% of the cost of human drugs. The headline would lead one to think spending on pet drugs is excessive.

However, consider the benefits of pets with only one very prevalent epidemic in America, depression. There are an estimated 48 million people (16% of the population) with some form of depression in the United States. If only 25 % of these people were able to eliminate antidepressants and it saved only $200 per year, that would translate into a savings of $2.4 billion annually in decreased drug cost for those drugs alone! Add to that the fact that those people would have the extra benefit of not having the many side affects that these drugs can cause and you can see how the cost of owning a pet is money well spent.

Of course we know that the actual annual cost of medication for depression is higher, but you get my drift. Pets pay for themselves many times over, and we receive so many more benefits from pets than simply helping to relieve or prevent mild depression.

I have personally witnessed a number of people on antidepressants who have eliminated the need for the drugs completely by the singular act of obtaining a household companion pet.

A close relationship with a companion pet increases your sense of well being, improves your body chemistry, increases natural anti-depression chemicals and enhances your immune system, thereby improving your odds of fighting off disease and illness: all natural methods biologically rooted into humans. Why not indulge something that helps you so much and in so many ways? Imagine how much money we might save in our present health care system by simply prescribing a companion pet.

My motto? "Prescribe Pets Not Pills."

Jack L. Stephens, DVM

Do The British Love Their Pets More Than We Do?

Jack Stephens — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In the United Kingdom it has been reported that 15% of dogs and 4% of cats-or 19% of U.K. pets-have pet health insurance. Yet, in the United States we are just approaching 2% of all pets being insured, which leads to the question: Do the British love their pets more than we do?

I am repeatedly asked why there are not more pets insured in the United States. Having been the pioneer of pet insurance in the U.S. and sitting here as a bonded pet owner with my Chihuahua in my lap as I write this, I have firsthand experience to both pet insurance and the joy pets bring to our lives, and I can definitively state that the British do not love their pets more than Americans do, even if one uses the acceptance of pet insurance as a measurement. There are actually several theories I have as to why pet insurance is not as common in the U.S. as it is in the U.K.

Pet insurance in America has larger obstacles to overcome than in Europe, beginning with the individual regulatory requirements for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Insurance regulations and financial qualifications in America are more onerous and have set higher financial standards, even for pets.

In Britain, pet insurance is unregulated, making it easier to start and operate a pet insurance plan. In the U.S. the financial and regulatory requirements set some high hurdles for companies to jump.

Second, there is more competition in the U.K., which increases awareness of the service, provides more features, options and price ranges from which a consumer can choose.

A third difference is the maturity of the field itself. Pet insurance started initially in 1946 with Dog Breeders Insurance (DBI) in the U.K., whereas I started pet insurance in the U.S. in 1982. The reason these dates are relevant is because the current 27% compound annual growth pattern of pet insurance in recent years is similar, demonstrating a much higher acceptance of the concept than the actual numbers show.

The fourth-and I believe biggest-reason for the enrollment difference is "risk transfer," or the fact that pet care was simply not that expensive compared to most Americans' disposable income, until recently. This is certainly not the situation now. Previously, most veterinary expenses could be managed through discretionary income. This has changed dramatically, though, with the increasing acceptance by pet owners of more sophisticated-yet more costly-care.

More and more often, people in America refer to their pets as family members, which means that their care and well being have a higher priority than a dog or cat who is considered "just a pet." That is a good thing.

Pet insurance is simply one method that allows pet owners to budget and always be prepared for their pet's medical expenses. Other methods are tapping your savings, borrowing, foregoing other expenses or worse yet, credit card debt. Budgeting with affordable monthly premiums is a better method. At Pets Best Insurance we are proud of our part in helping pets always receive the care they need and protecting your pocketbook, despite the cost.

Claim Examples

Jack Stephens — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A Routine Visit Helps Identify Tumor Early

Bebe, a 10-year-old Bicon Frise, recently went in for a routine annual visit. Bebe's owner had enrolled in Pets Best's Best Wellness plan and was using the benefits for Bebe's annual visits.

It was suggested to Bebe's owner that since the wellness benefits provide for an annual blood test that blood be drawn and sent to the lab. Although it was almost an afterthought, the blood test revealed an elevated enzyme that occurs with liver damage.

Further testing, including an ultrasound, revealed that a tumor was present. A veterinary specialist in Los Angeles was able to remove the tumor, which would not have been found except for the routine annual visit and blood work.

Pets Best reimbursed Bebe's owner 80%, or $3,440 out of $4,300, since the per-incident deductible had already been met. Additionally, Bebe's owner was reimbursed $1,012 for the expense of her regular veterinarian. To date $4,452 has been sent to Bebe's owner for Bebe's squamous cell carcinoma of the liver, a very deadly tumor type that was thankfully caught in time.

Separate Incidents, Same Dog

Miss Pugsly, a 5-year-old Pug, recently developed pancreatitits, an infection of the pancreas. After a referral from Miss Pugsly's regular veterinarian and an emergency clinic to the Teaching Hospital at Texas A&M Veterinary School, a biopsy was performed. The biopsy cost was $2,341, of which Pets Best paid 80%. Thankfully, the mass was not malignant.

About a month after developing pancreatitis, our curious Miss Pugsly decided to swallow rat poison. For this trip to the vet, Pets Best reimbursed $1,400 towards this treatment, or 80% after the deductible.

We're hoping that 2007 is a stress-free year for Miss Pugsly and her owner!

Sam's Story

Sam, an 11-year-old Golden Retriever, developed severe diarrhea and vomiting, much to his owners' distress. X-rays revealed a foreign body in the intestinal tract. Upon exploratory surgery to remove the foreign body, it was discovered that Sam's intestines had ruptured, causing a severe infection in the abdominal cavity. The cost of Sam's surgery was $4,262, of which Pets Best reimbursed $3,344, or 80% after the deductible.

Paco's Troubles Still a Mystery

Paco, a 1-year-old Shih Tzu, developed vomiting for reasons that are still unknown to his owner. After a trip to the vet, Pets Best reimbursed Paco's owner $1,486, or 80% after the deductible, for diagnostic testing, including a blood panel and x-rays, hospitalization and treatments.

Pets & New Children

Jack Stephens — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

There are many reasons why people should not consider "getting rid" of a pet when a new child enters the home. Unfortunately, this happens all too often with pets that have provided years of companionship. They become disposable. The pet owner mistakenly believes that a new child and a pet are incompatible. They may be concerned that the added responsibilities will be too much for them, or that the pet might injure the child. However, the many advantages for pets in households with children far outweigh these concerns; usually, those who consider disposing of their pet are unaware of the many positive benefits that result from pets.

HEALTH BENEFITS
It now documented and scientifically proven that pets are good for our health and well-being. The simple act of petting a dog will improve a human's internal biochemistry in several ways. Interaction with a dog or other pet increases certain hormones such as prolactin (the feel-good hormone) and oxytocin (the warm-feeling hormone). These are interesting bodily changes in our chemistry, especially given that these hormones are higher in women and even higher in women with newborn infants! Prolactin is responsible primarily for milk let-down in nursing mothers, and oxytocin is primarily responsible for the birthing stimulus. In other words, Mother Nature gives women higher levels of these hormones, so they will be more nurturing towards infants. Over the eons of interacting with animals, this same biological benefit was also being developed by safe, quiet interacting with animals for both men and women. If pets provide us with higher levels of the very same hormones, ones that cause us to be more nurturing and to generally feel better, why remove the stimulus?

Pets also decrease cortisol, the stress hormone. Blood levels of the primary hormone that can be measured when we are stressed (cortisol) actually decrease when we pet a pet. It has been a long time since I raised my four children, and I loved them dearly when they were small; but I can tell you it was stressful being a parent. Why remove the pet that actually reduces your stress and has the other proven benefits of reducing your blood pressure?

Additionally, pets increase certain neurotransmitters and other favorable chemicals that allow your nerves to work more efficiently and effectively. Pets improve Serotonin levels, decreasing depression. Think about all the post-partum depression that occurs and how having a pet may play a role in alleviating depression. It has been well documented - and I have personally seen many times - that obtaining a pet will lessen or even alleviate depression. I have witnessed people eliminate antidepressants completely by the simple act of acquiring a companion pet. Notice I said "companion pet," because the pet needs to interact with you daily and be part of your life in order to obtain the maximum health benefits. If a household pet, such as a dog or cat is not feasible, consider an aquarium. There are even measurable benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, that have been observed with the interaction of pet fish and people.

INTRODUCTION OF CHILD AND PET
Household pets, especially older pets, should be introduced with the new child, just as you would introduce the new infant to a sibling. After all, we don't call pets our babies and treat them like children for nothing; and - as with human siblings - there can be some jealousy of a new member of the family. Proper introduction can head that issue off and prevent a negative association with the new member.

Allow the pet to see and sniff the new family member. Praise and pet the pet as you do the introduction, and always follow up with a treat. A few episodes of positive reinforcement with praise and petting, followed up by a treat, will soon associate the new family member with rewards. This same pattern should be used for any new family member, whether four-legged or two-legged. This should work in most all cases, if not; consult a professional behaviorist for advice. There is a solution to almost all situations.

THE CUROSITY FACTOR
Most pets are simply curious about a new family member. After all, this has been their household, and anything new in the environment demands their attention. Pets, like humans, need to assimilate and understand how change affects them. They have questions, which, while they cannot be expressed in language, are important to resolve through positive reinforcement and close supervision at the introduction.

Pets, like very small children, are curious and need to know how to avoid anxiety, frustration and undesirable results. Also, pets, like children, cannot express, nor can they understanding in our language, what is going on. In other words, you can not simply tell a dog how wonderful it is that the new baby is here and expect him to understand. Once their curiosity has been satisfied and they receive positive feedback for their curiosity, things will return to normal in most households, and nearly all pets will accept, if not welcome, the new member of the family. It is important to understand that a pet's behavior is a direct result of your actions and reinforcement through the positive feedback mechanisms of praise and reward.

WELCOME DISTRACTION
In our hectic lives pets can be a welcome, non-judgmental distraction from our stresses of the day. We have many demands, and a new child, although most welcomed, does come with stress. There are more concerns regarding how they are doing, their comfort, feeding, bathing, and changing of diapers, for instance, that increase the parents' work load. The argument that adopting the pet out will relieve a few more burdens or chores that take time away is not valid, because the pet does not take that much time away. And - as we know from the positive biochemical and hormonal changes pets provide - valuable improvements in our lives because of our pets allow us to be even better parents.

ALLERGIES
The old school of thought that keeping children, especially infants, away from pets was helpful for preventing allergies has now been scientifically shown to be wrong. Evidence supports that early exposure to pets is actually better at preventing future allergies and non-exposure causes greater allergies for many children. Having pets around infants may actually improve their chances of having fewer allergies, certainly to pet dander, anyway.

LOYALTY
In life, we owe certain loyalties to individuals, our family, society, the community and our government for the benefits they provide us. There is no less loyalty owed to a companion pet who has been there for you and been part of your family. You owe them an allegiance for the value they have brought to your life. Changes in your family situation do not change your loyalty to your other family members. It does not change your loyalty to society or to your community, nor should it change the loyalty you have to your pet. We are the protectors of children and pets. The creator granted us dominion over animals, but with that dominion comes responsibility. All things are temporary and transient, but how you deal with life and others is not. Pets give us unconditional love and loyalty. That loyalty should be reciprocated and not abdicated when family situations change.

PROTECTION
I realize your pet may not be a Lassie that will save your child as Lassie did for Timmy many times, but it does happen. Pets commonly protect children introduced to them when they are mature. As the children age, many animals bond to children in their homes, in a manner that is still to be quantified. In fact, many breeds of dogs were specially bred to protect the children of emperors and nobles. There are many stories of pets protecting children and families. Cats have awoken their owners when a fire was present in the home, saving their owners' lives. A pot bellied pig, when its owner suffered an incapacitating stroke, went into the street and would not move until a person followed her to her stricken master. Dogs have pulled children out of lakes and pools.

Dogs and horses have saved children from poisonous snakes. Even birds can be early warning signals for toxic fumes. Remember the canaries in the coal mines? Coal miners placed canaries in the mine shafts to warn of deadly toxic gases, by giving their lives as an early warning. Now instruments have been designed to take the canary's place and measure deadly gases in the air.

One never knows when disaster will strike, or what form danger could come in for your child. Why not have trusted pet companions that can sense and know things you do not and can be there when you are not to protect your child?

There are many positive benefits of companion pets for you and your child. With a few easy steps, you can be assured of a good relationship between you, your pet and your new child or family member. The benefits of keeping the pet far outweigh the attitude that when new family members come, pets must go.

Dogs Help to Find and Cure Rare Human Disease

Jack Stephens — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

At the University of Missouri-Columbia, Tibetan terriers are contributing to a canine DNA bank in an ongoing research program that studies the genetic basis of a neurological disease that affects both dogs and humans.

The disease is neuronalceroid lipofuscinoisis (NCL) in dogs and Batten disease in humans. A rare, inherited neurological disorder, NCL/Batten disease does not currently have a cure. According to Dr. Martin Katz, professor of ophthalmology with a dual appointment in the School of Medicine and the College of Veterinary Medicine, human NCL often goes misdiagnosed due to its rarity and symptoms that are similar to other diseases. Affected children develop symptoms that may include blindness, seizures, cognitive decline and loss of motor function.

But Dr. Katz feels the purebred Tibetan terrier may hold the key for the genetic basis of the disease. By comparing the mutated genes of affected dogs to unaffected dogs, researchers have been able to pinpoint the mutant gene and identify through a complicated mapping process where the gene is in the DNA sequence.

A simple test for the mutation can then be performed on any dog using DNA extracted from a blood sample. This test will enable breeders to screen dogs prior to breeding to prevent future generations from being affected. This process will also lead to making it possible to determine whether any humans with NCL have the same mutations in the corresponding human genes.

The shorter life span of a dog allows researchers to conduct their studies much faster than with people, and the similarity of the disease will allow for better and faster results for humans. Another benefit of studying the genes in dogs is that there is excellent record keeping by the breed registries and close observations by the dog owners, which make them ideal subjects for genetic studies.

Another way man's best friend continues to help us.

Source: Veterinary Medical Review, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri.

Cantankerous Goose Helps Elderly Cancer Patient

Jack Stephens — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

A northern Idaho man diagnosed with terminal cancer says a usually cantankerous goose that befriended him on his walks has helped him live past doctors' predictions. Bill Lytle, 73, a two-time state legislator told the Coeur d'Alene Press that after retiring, he became a founding member of a walking club that walked around a local lake where a goose was well-known to actually attack humans. After he was diagnosed with cancer, the goose, called Mr. Waddles, began to attach himself to Mr. Lytle. For some strange reason, this change in behavior only happened after he was diagnosed with cancer and seemed to be limited to this one person.

Mr. Lytle thinks Mr. Waddles knew he was sick and started coming up to him and letting him pet him. The goose now rubs his head against Mr. Lytle, yet will snap at anyone else who comes too close! This has inspired Mr. Lytle to continue his walks despite feeling ill, in order to have the daily meeting with Mr. Waddles. "He keeps coming to me, and I look forward to the daily sessions. Although I have cut my walks, he inspires me to keep going even when I do not feel like it," Lytle said. (Coeur d'Alene Press)

Another example of animals helping humans. It is a mystery why this goose-who was well-known in the area for being a bird to stay away from-would change from a goose that would charge and nip anyone straying to close to suddenly befriending one ill person. Why would its behavior change so dramatically to this one person and become a motivational factor in this man's battle with cancer?

My own personal experience with Spanky, coming to my rescue in my battle with cancer, was similar in that his behavior changed suddenly when I was diagnosed with cancer-although not as uncharacteristically as Mr. Waddles. He became tuned in to my need to fight the disease with more than drugs and radiation-a mystery in life that I feel is somehow rooted in our biology from eons of interaction with animals. My faith says humans are the stewards of animals, but is that because of our hierarchy or is it much more because they benefit us in ways we do not understand?

Aging Well

Jack Stephens — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Skeeter is nearing his fifteenth birthday. As Skeeter ages I am witnessing on a closer and more intimate the effects of aging on pets. It is not that I have not lived with older pets previously, but Skeeter shares my life nearly 24 hours every day, going to work with me and traveling with me. His aging has begun to affect how we relate with each other and has made me more sensitive to aging in general.

Older pets have similar problems as older humans-they get arthritis, have liver and kidney failure, obesity, gum disease, decreased thyroid function, blindness from cataracts, diabetes, dull hair coat and skin problems, loss of hearing, and even dementia from decreased cognitive function.

Decreased cognitive function can be demonstrated through an increasing reliance on you and concern over their immediate environment. In other words, they become more anxious and dependent, a version of separation anxiety.

With pets living longer due to better health care and nutrition, we are also witnessing much more cancer, a huge concern for our pets. It has been reported by a leading University School of Veterinary Medicine that 60% of dogs over six years of age will acquire some form of cancer. Today, cancer does not necessarily create a situation for euthanasia, as many cancers can be cured or controlled so that a pet can lead many more years of a healthy life. But, cancer in pets, like humans, has a high price tag. It creates a crisis for the pet owner both emotionally and financially. With Pets Best insurance, at least the financial concern is eliminated because you can afford the best care.

Skeeter has lost his hearing completely, I now must "motion" to him when we need to move along or I want him to come to me. When he first started losing his hearing I was left to determine if he simply could not hear me or was ignoring me, as he could do at times. Finally, it was apparent that the verbal request was no longer an effective communication tool when he would not respond to the door bell or loud noises.

He is also developing cataracts, which are beginning to affect his vision. We have had his initial exam from an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) which indicates that if the retinal scan is clear that we can proceed with corrective surgery to remove the cataracts. My goal is to restore his vision and avoid blindness.

His bouts of colitis are more frequent if I am not careful what he eats. His hair coat is duller and turning the brilliant back sheen of his coat to a brown. Supplements and coat conditioners are now part of his regime.

Yet, despite his infirmaries, he is still more than willing to follow me everywhere, if he sees me move. He sleeps more soundly than he used to, and with his loss of hearing he can slumber long after I have moved off. Once he awakens he will patiently begin his search for me in all the usual places. There is no panic, yet he is definitely becoming more apprehensive if he cannot soon find me. His frustration quickly evaporates once I am found. He now lives for the moment and constantly reminds me to emulate his patient, stoic nature, which I seldom heed.

Torrey has long since taken over the role of primary lap dog with her overbearing personality and strong will. Skeeter is content just to lie next to me or near me while I am working. Torrey is now the entertainer and dominant dog in the pack, despite her diminutive one and half pounds. Skeeter simply ignores her, although often, as Skeeter lays on the rug while I am showering, I see her rub up against him and walk under his chin, rubbing as she walks-just like a cat does when they rub up against you wanting attention. So much like a cat, I quite expect to hear her purring one day.

Although aging pets, like Skeeter, do not have the stamina they once did, they still can have a high quality of life. After all, after a decade or more of their enhancing our lives, we owe them continued loyalty and a willingness to change our approach to a more senior-care focus.

As your pet ages, you should be diligent with their exams from at least once a year to twice a year. A semi-annual exam should also include diagnostic test to screen your pet's internal organ functions and urinalysis to test kidney function. These tests become even more important as a pet ages.

Teeth cleaning to remove tartar-which can accumulate and enter the bloodstream as micro emboli or as an infection-also becomes more important. As your pet ages, or if they are prone to heavy tartar build up on their teeth, you may need hand scaling of the teeth, with light sedation, once or twice a year and a deep cleaning with anesthesia yearly. Bad breath can be eliminated, but more importantly the overall health of your pets is greatly improved by keeping their teeth and gums healthy.

Senior pets should receive a modified diet to meet different age-related requirements. Also consider vitamin and mineral supplementation. As pets age, just as in humans, vitamins and mineral supplementation become important again to prevent disease and maintain our immune systems. I was never a big fan of supplementation, but as Skeeter ages and we placed him on a senior vitamin supplement, I can definitely see an improvement in his coat, activity level and cognitive functions.

Older pets' immune systems diminish with age, and they become more prone to disease and cancer. This weakened immune system encourages us to be more diligent through exams and early diagnostic testing, modification of their diet, and supplementation.

Skeeter receives a semi-annual exam with a blood test to screen his health, because I want to catch any problems early, before they become critical. As you know, pets age faster than humans. Large dogs age faster than small dogs, and small dogs age faster than cats; therefore, a year to a pet is like four to seven years for us as they age.

Follow your veterinarian's advice and set up a senior program for your pet based on his or her assessment. Then your treasured pet, like my Skeeter, can live a long and relatively health life. Pets are good for you, be good to them.

Decreasing the Feeling of Loneliness in Nursing Homes

Jack Stephens — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Individual dog visits at nursing homes resulted in a bigger decrease in the feeling of loneliness than group visits with a dog, according to Saint Louis University School of Medicine. They found that nursing home residents prefer one-on-one time with a dog. Their original prediction for the study was that dog visits would increase interaction between the nursing home residents. Based on the results, these researchers say the main way pets reduce loneliness in nursing homes is by being with people alone, not by enhancing socialization among people who already spend their days together.

Man’s Best Friend comes through again.

Walking Your Dog is an Effective Weight Loss Plan

Jack Stephens — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

According to a research project at the University of Missouri (conducted by Rebecca Johnson PhD and Richard Meadows D.V.M.) study participants who walked a dog averaged a weight loss of fourteen pounds, which was a better result than most weight loss plans.

The project goal was to look for ways to increase the average exercise regimen. They found being responsible for a pet, such as committing to walk a loaner dog, encouraged people who did not own dogs to walk more often and for longer periods of time. Their first study group averaged a weight loss of fourteen pounds during the one year program.

The lesson was this: having a pet encourages owners to get more exercise and lose weight. Good for the human and good for the dog.

As you know from my prior posts there are other advantages of being with your pet that result in biochemical changes that take place in you. Some examples:

•    Reduced cortisol, the hormone associated with stress (therefore your stress level decreases),
•    Increased oxytocin hormone, which makes you feel good,
•    Increased prolactin, your bonding hormone,
•    Increased serotonin levels, helping to reduce depression, and
•    Increased phenylethylamine which increases your feeling of exhilaration.

All that and loosing weight while walking your dog!

Another way pets help us physically.

Pet Premonition

Jack Stephens — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Many bonded pet owners I have talked with have had episodes where it seemed that their pets had apprehensions that affected them, such as avoiding danger or knowing when they would return from a trip. When I was young my dog knew when I would be home from school and would either come to my school and greet me or she would be waiting at the end of my block. This I always attributed to their biological clock and not premonition, which is knowing an event in advance.

I experienced what I consider true pet premonition while I was undergoing treatment for cancer. Although my family was extremely patient and emphatic when I had my cancer, they could not sense what was just right, without asking. They would ask how I felt, as anyone would when a loved one is going through a severe illness, but Spanky, my miniature pinscher just knew. Some nights he would lie up next to me and cuddle, giving me that warm, oxytocin feeling. Other nights he seemed to understand and would simply lay off and watch me from a distance. Constantly on vigil to see how I was coping. Surviving cancer, I witnessed firsthand the power of pets in the healing process. This innate ability of animals to help us in many ways is now being recognized as I continue to repeat in my messages and my mission to better understand the power of pets. But, again I did not attribute this attribute of Spanky as premonition, but more the power of observation, empathy, or perhaps my body emissions called pheromones, which pets can pick up on by simply being in the room with us.

Spanky was a most unusual dog and I have had many from which to compare. Originally, Spanky was acquired by my wife for herself, but it was not long at all before it was evident that Spanky bonded to me. So much so that he actually knew when I would arrive home at night from work, although I never kept a routine. I had heard of such paranormal abilities of pets to sense when an owner would come home, but until Spanky, I had never experienced such an attribute.

Spanky did not display this exceptional quality until after I acquired my cancer. I began to notice that upon arriving home at night he would be standing on the back of the couch upstairs and looking out the window at our drive way. I began to look forward to him being there, with those little “batman” ears looking down when I would drive up. I would be disappointed if he was not there when I drove into our driveway. I had assumed he was simply looking out the window at cars or people on the sidewalk. However, one day as I opened the front door, my wife was there with a drink in hand. I asked her if she called the office and they told her I was on my way home. She replied, “No, Spanky told me.” I said sure, Spanky told you, she said, “No really, every night a few minutes before you arrive Spanky will get up from his bed in the kitchen near me and run upstairs and get on the couch and watch for you.” She then realized that indeed he does that most every night. “How does he do it?” We never knew, because we lost Spanky suddenly shortly after that and I can never think of him without emotional feelings of a great loss.

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Roger Caras

Stress Causes Disease

Jack Stephens — Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I have personal experience with the more severe consequences of chronic stress causing disease. I cannot say what caused my cancer. Although I never smoked, in 1989 I acquired throat cancer of the tongue and tonsilar area. Initially, after a persistent sore throat, my doctor thought my tonsil, which had been removed as a child had grown back. My cancer, very likely was at least precipitated by continued chronic stress over many years in my new vocation of being the CEO of a pet insurance company. In trying to keep pet insurance and my former company in business, both financially and operationally I endured many years of unrelenting stress. Looking back, I was ahead of the perceived need for pet insurance and certainly very undercapitalized for such an enterprise. I simply started pet insurance too early, before pet owners were ready for the concept. It took many years to establish the company and the associated chronic stress placed a heavy toll on me emotionally, physically and financially. All of these are common factors in stress related illness. Although we know stress can bring on illness and disease and that stress can even cause death, we do not yet know how stress is involved in causing cancer. It is thought that the chronic affects of the stress hormone, cortisol diminish our immune system, making us more vulnerable to disease and diminish the healing process of the body.

I firmly believe I won my battle with cancer in great part because of a strong Human-Animal bond I developed with Spanky, our miniature pinscher. He was an Angel to my wife and me in so many ways in those awful times. Spanky brought us joy with his playful antics, such as chasing and jumping at his shadow. He made us laugh at a time we did not feel like laughing. His entertainment and the joy he brought us allowed us to forget the debilitating affects of the treatment for my cancer. He also forced me to get out of the house in the fresh air and take walks. He would bring me his leash, then proceed to jump and bark at me until I would relent and take him and my Labrador retriever, Remy for a walk. After our walks, sure enough I felt better, otherwise I would tend to sit around and feel sorry for myself.   Other nights he seemed to know that I was simply too sick from the chemotherapy or radiation to take our walk, he would let things be. How he knew is a mystery. He seemed to grasp what was going on with me both physically and emotionally and respond accordingly. Upon reflection years later I realized he never demanded the walks before my cancer treatment started and soon after my treatments and recovery he ceased initiating the walks! This change in behavior, as any “dog” person knows is indeed strange, because dogs are creatures of habit. They have schedules for feeding and activities that is built into their biological clock. They are able to tell time, when it comes to enjoyable events, such as feeding time, departing for work, bed time or play time.

If stress can cause or exacerbate disease, then the lack of stress can assist in preventing disease and aiding the healing process. After my experience, I began to observe how a close relationship with a pet made a difference in others who were in stressful situations, such as the loss of a spouse, an impending surgery or a divorce. Bonded pet owners had a positive outlook and a focus on life and their pet, instead of their problems. My wife and I, when confronted with people going through stress, started encouraging the idea of acquiring a pet because of our experience and observations. We noticed quickly that this simple act of introducing a pet reduced their stress and improved their lives in former non pet owners. This was long before we knew there was a biological basis for pets improving our body chemistry. In addition we noticed depression was reduced or eliminated by having a bond with a pet. Yes, pets can help reduce depression.

An incident several years back vividly demonstrates that pets can reduce depression.   A man in casual conversation, which was stimulated by our pets, shared with my wife and I that he was soon to have prostate surgery and he was very uneasy about the surgery. To make matters worse, his wife had died the previous year, his family was out of state and he had no friends nearby. He spent a lot of time alone and could not get excited about much of anything, since he wife passed on. Even to our untrained observation he had classical symptoms of depression.

We told him about Spanky and how he had made my ordeal with cancer more bearable. How he made a huge difference in my healing process, my mental outlook and certainly decreased tensions in the family. We suggested he get a puppy, which to our surprise he readily agreed. He bought a miniature pinscher puppy and we did not see him for a couple of months, until after his surgery and treatments. The change was clearly evident; he was transformed by that puppy, which he named Buster. He was not the same person we met before. He was so excited to tell us how much his life had changed for the good because of Buster. He bonded quickly with the puppy, so much so that he was out of the hospital in record time. He related that all he could think about while in the hospital was getting home. He missed his dog, he worried that Buster would not eat while he was in the hospital and would not get enough exercise. He was anxious to resume their walks. The doctors were shocked at his lack of post operative pain, how quickly he was dismissed from the hospital and his overall recovery. Whereas, before Buster, his doctors were concerned about his lack of support and depression.

Our new friend said not only did having the responsibility of the puppy help him recuperate, but walking him around the neighborhood had introduced him to new friends. Who can pass up stopping someone walking a puppy? He said before Buster he would walk the neighborhood, but never met anyone, now through Buster he knows all of his neighbors.   He was no longer depressed, he had new friends, he had responsibility and he had unconditional love from Buster.

We asked him about his long term prognosis with his cancer, which he replied, “Oh, I am fine, I don’t have time to be sick, Buster and I have a trip planned and he wants a playmate, so we are shopping for a new buddy for him.” Indeed, this was not the same person, who just a couple of months previously was overly preoccupied with his health, his lonely life and worried about the upcoming surgery.

Physicians have long known that depression can lead to prolonged recovery from illness or surgery and even cause health problems if not resolved. There is of course medication for depression, but why not the natural method of having a beloved pet? However, from my observations it requires a “bonded” relationship with a pet, not just a pet in close proximity, such as the back yard. The pet must be part of your daily existence and that you care about. Although, there are some benefits from even a fish tank, the benefits are not as pronounced, as when a bond exists.

“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.”
Ben Williams

Pets Are Good For Us

Jack Stephens — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

How you feel can be affected by interaction with your pet. Simply being with your pet can provide positive health benefits because they affect your internal chemistry in ways that until recently were unknown to us. However, in the last few years several chemical indicators in our bodies have been measured before and after interaction with a dog. Previously, I discussed one of these, Oxytocin, but there are more I will discuss periodically, which are cortisol (stress hormone), prolactin (bonding hormone), endorphin (warm feeling or high feeling hormone), phenylethylamine (attention hormone), dopamine and epinephrine (nerve transmittors) and serotonin (depression related hormone). All of these natural chemicals in our body are affected in a positive manner when interacting with your pet.

As pet lovers we know that pets are good for us, because we experience an enhanced well being when we are with our pets. We look forward to going home and being with our pets. As humans we seek acceptance, unconditional love, understanding and uncritical companionship, which in our modern complex society is fleeting at best from other humans. However, we received all these benefits and more from our pets. Pets can become a safe haven of retreat which allows us to diminish all the negative chemicals that build up in our bodies from life’s daily duties such as, paying bills, commuting, work, and coping with complex human interactions. As you and I will come to understand, our pets help us to restore a natural chemical balance and avoid chronic imbalances which can negatively affect our health and well being. The way we feel about our pets has a physiological basis, which is currently referred to as, the Human-Animal bond.

CORTISOL
Cortisol is the “stress hormone” in our bodies. It has long been known that when we are under stress the body produces a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol allows the body to react to an immediate life threatening situation, which allows us to react quick enough to avoid danger by fighting or fleeing. In our primal beginnings we needed to be able to react to danger without a lot of thought. This is our natural defense which places us into a state called the “flight or fight” syndrome that allows our bodies to react almost instantaneous to any perceived or real danger. Without this quick reaction mechanism, as a species we would not have survived. Cortisol has other functions which in small quantities have positive affects on us necessary to carry out our metabolism, such as glucose release to fuel our bodies. In prolonged quantities Cortisol can have negative affects on our health.

Prolonged stress, such as we endure in our fast paced culture can cause cortisol levels to be continuously high, instead of spiking in a crisis and then tapering back to normal levels. The desired affect of preparing our body too quickly react, will have the opposite effect of damaging our bodies if the spikes of cortisol do not return to normal levels. Interacting with pets reduces your cortisol levels, almost like an “all clear” signal to calm us down. Measurements of cortisol levels in our bloodstream decrease when we are quietly caressing or petting a dog. Although to date, only measurements of blood chemistry have been done in humans, interacting with dogs, there is other strong evidence that similar positive results would be present with any animal or pet. Certainly, riding a bull or confronting an enraged animal of any kind would have the opposite affect of increasing our cortisol levels, but only until the episode or dander was over. Then the cortisol levels would rapidly diminish.

People under chronic stress with continuous high levels of cortisol become immunodeficient. Our immune systems become deficient and thus susceptible to infections. An interesting fact is that unlike our pets which decrease our cortisol levels, our spouse increases our cortisol levels. This may be because as humans, we have complex relationships that require more effort and diplomacy for acceptance. We are always more vulnerable to those we are most close to, from which we expect and become more demanding of.

“The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.”
Anonymous

Skeeter Foundation Revitalized

Jack Stephens — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Recently, through the generous donations of General Fire & Casualty Company, the underwriter for Pets Best insurance and Greg Mc Donald, the chairman of GF&C, the holding company for General Fire & Casualty Company, the Skeeter Foundation was revitalized. If you don’t know me, you are asking yourself, “What is a Skeeter?”

Skeeter is my miniature pinscher that I write about a lot. He and Torrey (my tea cup Chihuahua) travel with me daily to work and occasionally around the country to Veterinary Conferences. Skeeter and now Torrey are the daily reminders of why I am such an advocate of pets. To learn more about Skeeter and therapy pets, go to the Foundation web site at: www.skeeterfoundation.org.

My wife, Vicki and I started the Skeeter Foundation in 2000 to fund and assist volunteers who take their certified therapy pets to hospitals, nursing homes, hospice facilities and schools and to fund studies that prove scientifically the positive attributes of pet ownership. “Prescribe Pets Not Pills” is the foundation’s mission.

Of course we know that pets will not eliminate the need for humans to take pills. But we also knew from unscientific observations that pets make us healthier and happier. We witnessed people eliminating the need or decreasing the need for antidepressants, by the simple act of obtaining a pet. We also witnessed people that obtained pets, being less lonely, more fulfilled, meeting new friends, being discharged from hospitals quicker with less post operative pain and generally having a better outlook on life. My own personal observations during my bout with Cancer demonstrated other benefits of pets, such as distraction, entertainment, empathy and a complicated technique, the National Cancer Institute terms complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) . So, why not prescribe a pet instead of a pill, when it works?

Skeeter Foundation – The Start
A primary goal of the Foundation is to fund, organize and assist volunteer pet therapy teams to visit hospitals, nursing homes, hospice facilities and schools. Helping volunteers to bring some joy to others who are under stress from health care issues or educate our youth about the value of pets in society. For me, it all started over 25 years ago when I made my first visit with a therapy pet to a hospital. As the therapy pet and its owner handler walked the isles of the hospital (I was an observer), a nurse came over to us and said she really did not have permission, but would we visit a child in one of the wards who was scheduled to see a psychiatrist, because of emotional trauma associated with post operative pain. The child refused to open her eyes, after surgery. The nurse explained that the parents, siblings, doctors and nurses were unable to get the child to open her eyes, despite any pleading, promises or encouragement. It seems the little girl thought the pain would return if she opened her eyes. After several days of urging, the doctors had finally recommended a psychiatrist be brought in the next day.

The volunteer of course obliged and went to the child’s room. The nurse told the child, “that there was a furry visitor here to see her, would she open her eyes and see the nice golden dog”. The little girl refused, whereupon, the dog walked over to the bed, pushed his nose and muzzle under the girl’s hand, as if to say “pet me”.

Immediately, the young girl opened her eyes and began talking, petting the dog and after about 15 minutes when we had to leave for the other visits, I can still remember her, jumping out of bed and running down the hospital isle, with the IV stand and tubes still attached telling us, “Don’t leave yet”. Nothing against psychiatry, but wasn’t this much better, cheaper and NO PILLS REQUIRED!

That episode inspired me to learn more about how pets affect us and how pets can make us healthier. No scientific studies had been done to validate the observations of me and countless others, but we knew something powerful when we saw it. Validating the positive effects of pets is another primary mission of the Skeeter Foundation; to fund scientific studies that measure the biochemical changes that occur between humans and pets.

The Skeeter Foundation is an all volunteer organization. My wife and I donate our time, mostly Vicki, to the foundation. The foundation has many volunteers who spend countless hours training and preparing their pets for hospital visits in effort to bring joy to others. To learn their stories and more about the foundation, I urge you to visit www.skeeterfoundation.org

He Killed My Dog

Jack Stephens — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Since graduating from Veterinary School, protecting pet family members has been my mission. My observations back in the late 1970’s that economic hardship was often the culprit in pet owners not being able to restore a pet to health caused me to wonder how as a society we could overcome that obstacle.

One day as I pondered the solution to helping more pets and before I ever thought about starting a pet insurance company a lady and her daughter brought in a middle aged dog to my practice that was very ill. As I examined the pet the mother kept telling me that “I should do whatever it takes to heal Fluffy, she is family.” She related, “Fluffy and been in the family since her daughter was an infant and she was family.” The daughter was crying and the mother was consoling her. After a preliminary exam, I told her that Fluffy had a serious medical problem and that I needed to take some blood to test her liver, as she was showing symptoms of liver disease. The mother replied, “Do what ever it takes” over and over. I told her we may need additional test, to which she gave the same reply, “Do what ever it takes.” She was quite well dressed and they lived in an expensive house in an expensive community, all the trappings of success. As I started to review the preliminary estimate of the cost for initial treatment, hospitalization and the testing, the mother started asking “If Fluffy was suffering?” I replied that she was very ill and was feeling more like a severe flu, than pain. She stepped behind her daughter and kept repeating the new mantra, “We don’t want Fluffy to suffer” and would shake her head from side to side in the negative to me as a signal she did not want to pursue diagnosing and treating Fluffy. I replied that although she was ill, if we were successful we would have her back feeling good soon, but until I knew more there was no guarantee. The mother again replied “We do not want Fluffy to suffer.” I got the hint and replied there was another alternative for terminally ill pets, which was putting her to sleep (euthanasia). She immediately said “If I thought that was best for Fluffy then we should put her to sleep.” Again, I stated I did not think that best, but it was an option. The mother continued to assert only that option as best, signed the approval for euthanasia and left.

Several months later I was shopping in the local grocery store with my wife and we met the client and her daughter. She said hello and said to her daughter, “You remember Dr. Stephens don’t you dear?” The response changed my life.

Her response was, “Yes, he is the man that killed Fluffy!” I was stunned! I do not remember how the conversation ended, only that I was the villain who had caused that young girl to lose her beloved pet. As a veterinarian I only wanted to treat pets, I studied even more after I entered practice than I had in school, I agonized when I could not diagnose or cure a pet, now I was a villain! To that young girl I was at fault, not the real villain the family’s finances or their attitude toward pets. Appearances can be deceiving, I will admit. As a Veterinarian I have had clients who seemed to have no money, yet they provided very expensive care for their pet and like this lady who seemed to have much wealth, not willing to spend even the $300 I estimated was necessary to find out if we could save Fluffy. Again, was it the willingness, motivation or simply having the money that was the problem? So much for Fluffy being part of the family.

After that day, I resolved to never euthanize a pet that was not terminally ill. Others could do it, but I would not. Others could put a pet to sleep because the people were moving, the pet was ill, they simply did not want the pet any more, but not me. Of course, reality is not that simple, so there had to be another way to protect pets. That’s when I started my campaign to develop pet health insurance. I had no expertise in the field; remember I was not particularly a fan of insurance. But I knew if I was to really help pets on a large scale, there had to be a broad economic method, not my skills as a veterinarian helping one pet at a time. After that day, I started the campaign to develop Pet Insurance.

“The average dog is nicer person than the average person.”
Andy Rooney

Veterinary Conferences

Jack Stephens — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians like all professionals continue their education (CE) after they graduate to keep up with all the many changes, discoveries and to learn about new technology. Gaining a degree is only the first step in what should be a lifelong journey of learning. In veterinary medicine there is a plethora of CE opportunities locally, regionally and nationally. The abundance of courses teaching new knowledge astounds me. Frankly it is intimidating for busy veterinary practitioners to maintain the pace of being informed on new techniques for surgery or diagnostics to uncover a disease. You should know that attendance by your veterinarian is at an all time high with an increasing number of CE opportunities. For instance, one that struck me was a new DNA test that eliminates the guessing of a dogs breed. According to the Western Veterinary Conference, which I attended last week one company was introducing a Breed Identification Test that will allow your veterinarian to unlock the mystery of the primary breeds involved in a mixed breed dog.

You might ask, “Why is that important?” Most of us are quite happy with our mixed breed dogs. In fact, mixed breed dogs are known to be healthier and have less hereditary or congenital defects. Yet, even with mixed breed dogs, they do posses and will at times manifest severe genetic defects that need to be treated. The premise is that early detection may allow prevention. Also, as more gene therapy techniques become available, better treatment option for some genetic conditions will be possible.

Knowing the parentage of a mixed breed pet may someday soon allow your veterinarian to prevent the onset of certain diseases, giving your dog more years of good health, according to a spokesperson for Progressive PetCare, the DNA test provider.

The recent Western Veterinary Conference also announced that canine influenza, a highly contagious respiratory disease infecting dogs across the United States is an emerging problem for dog owners. A two hour symposium was provided that discussed the outbreaks, clinical signs, new diagnostic testing, treatments and control measures. The disease has been identified in 18 states and is similar to kennel cough in its symptoms. Like kennel cough, a secondary bacterial infection can develop and lead to pneumonia. Treatments require hospitalization, isolation to prevent further spread, antibiotics for secondary infections and supportive therapies, according to the symposium. There is no vaccine for canine influenza at this time. Another of many reasons, to have pet health insurance for your pet.

Pets Best Exhibits at CE Conferences
Like most other companies that provide products, equipment or services to veterinary professionals, Pets Best insurance was at the two largest conferences recently, North American Veterinary Conference and Western Veterinary Conference. This was our unveiling of Pets Best to veterinarians and their staff. After 25 years in the business, I must admit I was still somewhat apprehensive of how our new pet health insurance would be received by my colleagues. After all, they had only known me to be at one company for all these years. I am happy to report that the response was overwhelmingly positive and even jubilant by many of my colleagues that I was back in the industry. Not only was I back, but I had improved pet insurance greatly. I knew I had made many innovative changes and improvements, but still you wonder if those most critical will notice. AND THEY DID! Your veterinarian is very sensitive to only providing their clients with good services and products, because after all their integrity is on the line every time they recommend any service, product or company.

For companies offering services or products exhibiting at CE conferences is a good method to inform and to receive feedback on how you are doing as a company with veterinarians. At Pets Best veterinarians are our first customer and pet owners are our ultimate customer. At Pets Best we recognize that we must satisfy both to be successful; our policyholders and their veterinarians.

At the Western Veterinary Conference I was able to take four of our dogs, Skeeter of course, Torrey, Obie, our Scottish Deerhound and Cricket, a Brussels Griffon. They were our official ambassadors and provided petting opportunities to all the many attendees who missed their dogs. It was also special, because Skeeter had his 14th birthday party at the conference, where he is an honorary Board member. Skeeter attends many veterinary conferences, but at the Western Veterinary Conference he has had 13 straight annual appearances and is loved by all for his stoic good nature. Crowds do not phase him. He remains calm and relaxed in front of large groups and audiences, something he has done many times. Skeeter is one of a kind.

“We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.”
M. Acklam

Feel Like Talking or Not?

Jack Stephens — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Feel like talking or not? If not, tell people you sell insurance! Several years back, while traveling extensively to promote pet health insurance, I noticed something interesting. Everyone that travels has had the experience of going on a flight and after you are seated you or the person next to you ask where you are going? Are you going home, traveling on vacation or on business? Then they will invariably ask you what your occupation is.

For many years at parties or social gathering, I was reluctant to offer my occupation, not because I was ashamed, but because I would be overwhelmed with stories about pets or asked for medical advice on pets. Flying was the same. If I told my fellow passenger that I was a veterinarian, then a litany of pet stories would ensue and sure enough, I would be provided some pet symptoms and asked for my medical opinion. I found I could not read, contemplate or get any work done.

Quickly I discovered that if I wanted to read or work or simply did not feel like talking due to some major issue that I was pondering, I would tell my fellow passenger that I sold insurance. That ended the conversation! I must have given that answer to over 100 people over a 20 year period. And, you know, not ONE person asked what kind of insurance I sold. I guess they were afraid I would try to sell them an insurance policy.

In fact, I never really liked insurance or the thought of insurance ever since I was a senior at Veterinary School and was bombarded by all the University ex jocks who sold life insurance. They descended upon soon to be graduates like a lynch mob in the Old West. But here I was, a veterinarian who sold insurance. I always distill things down to the basics and it was true, like so much in life we never know where life will take us. Yet, I slowly and deliberately chosen my new career path and was not about to change. I was helping many hundreds of thousands of more pets than I ever could have done in my pet practice and was providing a service that protected family bonds and pet health. But my method sure stops people from chatting if you are ever on a plane and not in the mood to talk!

I Sell Pet Insurance
Telling people I am a veterinarian has one path of continued dialog, telling them I sell insurance ceases all dialog; but tell them that I sell Pet Insurance and watch out. At first, they just sit or stand there, with their mouth partly open; pondering the dichotomy of a vet, who is generally held in high regard or even revered by some and combined with selling insurance which is similar to being a used car salesman, although with more education. Then, after a few seconds of silence, their whole face brightens up and they say, “That is a wonderful idea. Did you think of that?” Their first impression, which they do not share, is “that is the dumbest thing I ever heard.” But during that silent pause to be courteous, they realize that pet insurance is a good idea. Why? I think because everyone in America and throughout the more urban societies is starting to recognize the REAL VALUE of pets. As we leave more rural areas and agricultural societies to dwell in urban societies we lose the ties of family and small close knit groups who help one another. We also lose the interaction with animals that has been rooted in our biology over many thousands of years. We have more time from labor intensive activities; we have more complex relationships that create stress and emotional upheaval which causes us to seek solace and non critical companionship. It is easy to understand why pets with their unconditional acceptance of us play a vital role in our health and well being.

Not sure? Animals, especially pets have a biological relationship with us that has developed over the eons of time. This longstanding relationship has created positive biochemical and hormonal reactions within us that helped us survive and cope. We have known for some time that pets can lower our blood pressure. In fact studies have shown that simply sitting in front of a fish tank will lower our blood pressure.

Petting even a strange pet will increase good hormones, chemicals and neurotransmitters and decrease stress hormones in our bodies. It also results in an increase in serotonin levels in the brain, which is a natural antidepressant. Pets are so good for us, that innately we want to provide for them. Often my wife will tell me that she wishes I would respond to her greeting as enthusiastically as I do to our pets greeting. She is right and it is a good reminder of my deficiencies as a husband. But our pets display the same overwhelming exuberance when I am gone from the house for a few minutes as they do when I return from a long trip. They are simply glad to see me and they have to outdo one another in their greeting. Whenever my wife or I return form a brief trip to the store or from a long trip we receive the same “pack welcome”, which makes us feel good. Think how many times you are anxious to go home and see your pet, because of their greeting. Just the thought of your pet greeting you at the door is enough to make you smile. Watch pet owners who talk about their pet, they are smiling. Stop and think of your pet now or describe some episode with your pet and you will smile. Each of us has our own special memories or daily activities with our pets that make us happy.

Happy Hormone
Oxytocin is a natural human and animal hormone. We think of it as only being a hormone for women that increases with pregnancy and is responsible for helping mothers give birth. In fact, oxytocin is given to animals to stimulate birthing. But men also have very small amounts of oxytocin, which is one reason why men and women are different. Oxytocin also is thought to be primarily responsible for the feeling of “warmth and comfort,” in men and women. Oxytocin has much higher levels in women and is thought to be the reason why women are more responsive to children.

Petting your pet increases the oxytocin levels in our bodies, even men! It gives you that feeling of well being and warmth. Don’t worry men; your level will not increase enough to cause you to want to give birth. But it will give you a glimpse into the feelings that women have for children.

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.”
Will Rogers

Being a Veterinarian

Jack Stephens — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

I can think of nothing more rewarding, stimulating and at times as frustrating as being a veterinarian. As a youngster I knew early that I wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved biology, the logic of science, animals, critters (bugs) and nature, so becoming a veterinarian was my only option from which I never deviated. For me nothing was more rewarding than being skilled and knowledgeable enough to help animals and to perform sophisticated surgery or perform medical detective work to arrive at a diagnosis and heal a pet. I would have done it for free if I could, but alas I had a family and mortgage.

But, early in my practice career, I found out that far too many pet owners simply could not afford or would not pay for needed care for pets. As a new graduate I wanted to heal and treat pets, not simply vaccinate, treat symptoms or put pets to sleep if their medical condition was chronic, serious or expensive. I wanted to utilize ever more sophisticated diagnostics, when needed, to accurately treat a pet’s medical condition and perform surgery if, necessary to restore a pet’s health. But good medicine can be expensive and pet owners had to pay for that care from disposable income, which more often than not was not available or budgeted. Every veterinarian, early in their career, goes “overboard” treating pets for less than it cost, at times for free or making whatever payment arrangements they can to treat a treasured pet, rather than put it to sleep. But reality sets in when you realize that you are losing too much money with your generosity. Unfortunately, many people learn of your empathy and “prey” on it, seeking discounts and waiving of fees when they simply do not want to pay for a pet’s care. Giving away services does not allow a veterinarian to pay decent salaries, pay for their education debt or invest in the business if insufficient charging and discounting becomes the predominant way of doing business. Every veterinarian gives away services, but there must be a limit if they want to stay in business. I always knew there had to be better options.

FRUSTRATION

So, the frustrating side of being a veterinarian is not being able to treat pets when they need treatment. Too often, people are either unwilling or lack the funds to provide for necessary care. Although my practice was in an affluent community, I found that many clients would ignore their pet’s health needs or put their pet to sleep (euthanasia) if a pet’s care cost more than they were prepared to pay. Putting pets to sleep when they can be healed is very frustrating and demoralizing to veterinarians, the veterinary staff and to pet families. But it was a hard and common fact then and even now it is a common negative alternative, when pet owners are not financially prepared for an accident or illness.

WE KEEP PETS FOR A REASON

As pet owners, we are the stewards of our pets. Pets and domesticated animals depend wholly upon humans for their care and well being. Of course, if you are reading this, I know you are a good pet steward, and that you are committed to your pets care; otherwise you would never have even found me or our web site. Your affiliation with your pet springs from the fact that you have discovered the “human-animal bond”. That special feeling you have when you are with your pet. As a result of those feelings engendered in you by your pet, you are willing to provide for their needs. In future discussions, I will be sharing with you the many varied reasons why you and I feel the way we do about our pets and how pet interactions are mutually good for us, as well as good for our pets. There is an abundance of scientific evidence which demonstrates that the simple act of petting your pet improves your biochemistry and thus has positive effects on your emotions and even on your health. I hope my findings will help you express your feelings to skeptics, because they need to know about our “SECRET WEAPON” of pets.

We keep pets for a reason; in fact the canine and feline ancestors of our present day dogs and cats are thought to be the very first animals domesticated by man. Although we have kept dogs for maybe as long as 25,000 years and cats for 9,000 years, until recently we thought that we kept them for more rational or practical reasons, such as hunting, protection, herding, guarding and controlling rodents. To keep them for other reasons was either a sign of wealth or thought to be impractical. Keeping a household pet had to have a utilitarian reason, just like livestock or it was as sign of social stature to be able to afford and house an animal for strictly personal, non economic reasons. The societal norm was that animals had to have an economic value no greater than their replacement cost. Sadly, until a few decades ago that was the attitude and mind set of even the Universities that taught veterinarians. This attitude was due to the emphasis placed on domestic animals that spilled into the training of companion pet practice. The concept was that a pet was replaceable and as such, no one should ever spend too much on a pet, unless they were wealthy.

This attitude of an economic value was instilled in my generation, as it had been for hundreds of years because of the utilitarian value of pets being viewed similar to livestock. I did not want to be a large animal veterinarian for that reason; I wanted to use my training and skills to a higher degree than that of the simple economics of an animal’s worth. Somehow that view still seeped into my psychic. But that’s another story- more on how a small dog changed me at a later time.

When I was a young boy, my dog meant a lot to me, but to my parents, bringing her into the garage or my father’s workshop in the cold of winter was a big accommodation. Dogs and cats belonged outside and they ate leftovers. Commercial pet food was still a novelty. As I entered veterinary practice I noticed that people had moved their pets from the yard to the house.

And in a few short years I saw commercial pet food become the norm and then special pet food, formulated with higher cost ingredients Pets in the house fulltime then became the norm. Then in even a shorter time span I witnessed pets sleeping on the bed with their adult owners. I remember the few times, as a child I slipped my dog into bed with me, it was done so at the risk of punishment. Now my wife and I feel lost if we don’t have 3 or 4 of our dogs in bed with us, under the blankets! In fact, we are so forbearing when it regards our pets that will tolerate an awkward position, before we will disturb our pets. I had one pet, Spanky who took over my pillow by sleeping inside the pillow case. My wife found it incredulous that I would endure loosing my pillow. Now, I hear more and more of pet owners preparing gourmet home cooking for pets.

Did you know that expenditures for pets in the U.S. are higher than for toys and is growing at twice the rate as total consumer expenditures! Who would have imagined this level of spending and an attitude shift so swiftly in our society? What happened?

Was it simply that as a society we had become so affluent that we could afford to indulge our pets? If so why was spending for pets growing faster than our indulgence in toys for children? My bias towards a pet’s value changed later in my life, after my wife brought Spanky, a miniature pinscher into our household. And my attitude changed even more after a bout with cancer. Over those terrible months of treatment I witnessed the remarkable power of pets. I came to realize that a small dog could dramatically affect our lives. This experience caused me to look deeper into these changes in society and in myself. I will be sharing my extensive and compelling findings with you in future talks.

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Josh Billings

Pet Vet - Talks

Jack Stephens — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

As you can see from the photo of my wife and me with our dogs, we are indeed pet lovers, especially our dogs! We also have photos with our cats which I will be sharing, but on this particular day they made the collective decision of not cooperating, as only cats can, despite the fact that they interact and play with the dogs daily. It must have been my mood that day. In addition to our household family pets my wife also has miniature horses and a miniature donkey. Since early childhood I have had pets and critters. Everything from tarantulas, bats, fish, ants, pigeons, chickens, owls, birds, lizards and almost anything you can imagine, even a raccoon. I did not live on a farm, but a small town in southwest Oklahoma. Their care, housing and feeding were totally my responsibility. Today it is my dogs in particular that I am most fond. In fact Torrey my tea cup Chihuahua and Skeeter, my fourteen year old miniature pincher go to work with me most every day. It is rare to see me without them. They are my constant shadows. I love nature and its diversity and feel compelled to protect not only individual pets as a Veterinarian, but nature and ecosystems in general that provide for wild animals.

In my ensuing discussions of “Pet Vet -Talks” on the Pets Best Community web site I will share with you a host of diverse subjects about pets and how PETS ARE GOOD FOR US EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. I will talk as a Veterinarian, a business owner, as a pet dad and as one who demands logic. I will share the logic I discover behind why we humans love our pets. And why some of us are “over the top” when it comes to pets. I will also bring you the perspective from one who has had a successful career as a no nonsense business person, a successful entrepreneur and as America’s first insurance executive for pets. Mostly I will share my journey of discovery on “Why we are so nuts about our pets,” a personal journey to understand myself and other pet owners. It will surprise you that the benefits of pet interaction is more than emotional, it did me. There is now scientific evidence that helps us better understand the relationship of humans and animals that can be demonstrated even to the pet skeptic. As you will hear from me many times, the relationship with animals is “Rooted in our Biology.”

I was asked to share all my many stories and experiences with others because of my diverse experience, credentials and my genuine love for animals. But as we journey along in the ensuing Pet Vet- Talks you will judge for yourself the value of taking your time to hear me out. I am human and like all complex humans have sides of me that you may not agree with at times, but, being direct, honest and constantly searching will not be one of my faults. Time is a precious gift and I will try not to waste yours.

Being the founder of Pet Insurance in the U.S. way back in 1980 and now starting, Pets Best in 2005, I will obviously have some insight that I will share with you about pet insurance. Providing pet owners with a reliable method to budget for a pet’s health and to always be able to accept needed care, without worrying about how to pay for that care has been my passion since 1979, when I first started exploring the concept of pet health insurance. After 24 years as the founding CEO of the first pet health insurance company and building it to over $100 million in annual sales I left in 2004 and soon realized I wanted to re-invent pet insurance to better address changing pet care and pet owner’s expectations of pet insurance. I developed the business plan for Pets Best and began a search for an Insurance Company to underwrite the plan. Fortuitously, after I moved to Idaho from California I met Greg McDonald and Dan Crandall, the Chairman and CEO, respectively of General Fire & Casualty Company. After several meetings and after reading my business plan, they asked me to join them. They were in the agribusiness of insurance and always wanted to provide pet insurance, but lacked the expertise. It was a perfect match that enabled me to do it over again and with their help and ideas improve upon the concept of pet insurance. I was able to utilize new ideas, apply what I had learned and of course benefit from my mistakes. It is very gratifying both personally and professionally to be able to take what one has learned and make it better. One thing about an inventor or an entrepreneur, you love the chance to do something again and hopefully better. With my zeal to help pets, Dan and Greg’s confidence and support, Pets Best insurance was born.