Summer is a time of fun in the sun for many pets and their owners. However, it can also present significant risks for pets, with insect bites, sunburn, and accidental injury far more common during the summer months than during the rest of the year. Taking steps to protect your pet before you head out to enjoy the great outdoors can save you and your pet a trip to the veterinary office and ensure that you have a safe and happy summer vacation. But because accidents and illnesses can occur at any time, it’s also a good idea to have pet insurance.

Bug Bites and Poisonous Plants
Most insect bites are not serious and can be treated with cuddles and a warm dose of affection. However, heartworm prevention is very important as just one mosquito bite can eventually develop into the deadly disease. Also, if significant swelling or disorientation occurs after time outdoors, a trip to the veterinarian’s office may be required.

It is important to remember that just because something naturally grows outdoors doesn’t mean it isn’t toxic. Mushrooms can cause rapid illness, shock and even death if not treated promptly. Author Catherine Mann of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida learned this the hard way when a puppy she was fostering ate a mushroom he found under some bushes in her backyard. Catherine tried to get the mushroom out of the puppy’s mouth but the puppy, and one of her older dogs, both started vomiting.

“My son and I raced both dogs to the vet ER,” wrote Catherine. “My dog and the puppy had to receive charcoal treatments.”

Beep Beep
Car safety is a major issue when owners and their pets are out and about. Pet health care experts advise that maintaining good leash habits is crucial, especially when your dog is excited about exploring the great outdoors. Dogs can easily be overwhelmed by unfamiliar situations and may run away or break free of their leash to chase other animals or simply to investigate an interesting sight, sound or smell they have discovered. It is wise to invest in pet health insurance, as well as keep a close eye and a firm grip on your dog whenever you are around busy traffic areas.

Hot Dog
In hot, sunny weather dogs can easily overheat and even be sunburned with prolonged exposure. Most pet care professionals recommend keeping dogs inside from 10 AM to 3 PM when the sun’s rays are most direct. Ensuring that dogs have sufficient water and a cool place during the hottest part of the day can help protect them against heat exhaustion. You should also never leave your dog unattended in the car during hot weather even with open windows, as they can quickly overheat and die in the enclosed environment.

Purchasing and maintaining pet health insurance coverage for your pet is one of the most effective ways to protect his or her health in the event of an injury or illness. In general, the pet insurance cost is low compared to the services it can cover and the peace of mind it can provide for owners. Pet lovers typically view the initial pet insurance cost as an investment in their future happiness and the health of their beloved animal companions, especially during what should be the happy, carefree months of summer.

You’ve likely heard the expression, “dog is man’s best friend.” This old saying is actually true on many levels. Pets enhance our lives by simply being a part of our lives. Because having a pet has also been proven to benefit our health—both physical and emotional, it’s important to provide our pets with good nutrition, exercise and dog insurance to help ensure they are healthy and happy.

“Unconditional Love”
This is another term that is used so often, we may not pay attention to its importance. A loving dog (or cat) doesn’t care if we’re grumpy or tired. They care about us no matter the kind of day we’ve had. Coming home to a wagging tail is just the tonic to end the day.

Stress-Reduction and Emotional “Tuning In”
Being around pets has actually been proven to reduce blood pressure and relax people. Other things pet owners report when around their pets is improved mood, less loneliness and consistant good health. Because our pets can help to make up healthier, it’s important we provide then with pet health insurance to help ensure we can afford keep them healthy.

When people, especially children, suffer a loss from death, they often turn to their dogs for comfort and relief. Pets seem to almost instinctively know when we need their presence. Families who have experienced difficult times report that having pets made their family feel more stabilized.

We can return the wonderful benefits of having a dog by practicing good dog health care and good care for cats as well. Investing in dog insurance is one way to show we care.

One of the best ways to keep pet health in top shape, is to plan pet activities based on things you and your pet can enjoy together. Most healthy pets need lots of exercise to stay in good shape.

For cats, engaging in active play with various toys and games can help keep them mentally and emotionally stable as well as providing an outlet for excess energy. Dogs often enjoy a friendly romp in the back yard or impromptu games of fetch and catch– especially during the summer months, however, planning more elaborate pet activities can be fun for both you and your pet.

Dog Vacations
While many hotels accept pets on vacation trips, a few companies offer vacations designed specifically for dogs and owners to enjoy together. One example is Canine Club Getaway in Lake George, New York. This dog-centric vacation spot features organized dog sports classes with Frisbee, flyball, and three levels of agility training. Swimming sessions are also available and owners can attend relevant seminars on dog insurance, health and nutrition, all in a resort atmosphere that caters to dogs as well as humans.

New activities are in the works according to the owner and founder of Canine Club Getaway Janice Costaco, who stated that “Next year, we plan to incorporate Doga (doggie yoga) and possibly doggie Zumba into our class offerings!”

Dog Parks
For stay-cations closer to home, many communities now offer public dog parks for off-leash fun. While most pet health care experts recommend that cats be kept inside for their own safety, dogs can benefit greatly from supervised off-leash time at a public dog park.

Interacting with other dogs and owners can provide valuable socialization experience for younger dogs, while older dogs with established temperaments can simply enjoy the chance to run and play in a natural environment. Not all dogs react appropriately to off-leash time, however, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on your pet to ensure the safety of all parties.

Cat Towers
These innovative indoor structures offer cats the chance to climb, hide and pounce all inside their own home. Even the simplest towers can provide hours of exercise for cats who can use it as home base for their playtime activities. Also, having pet insurance for your cat will help ensure that they will be protected if any play time accidents occur. By engaging in active play with cats and kittens and incorporating the tower into these activities, you and your cat will enjoy playtime even more. Kitty condos can be a new experience every day by:

• hiding treats in and around it
• sprinkling it with catnip
• pointing a laser at it and watching the cats climb
• moving the tower from window to window

Regardless of which activities you choose, pet health care professionals agree that staying healthy and spending quality time with your pet is the best way to ensure years of happiness and friendship for both of you.

Pet owners across the U.S. have the same concerns: Keeping their beloved companions happy, safe and healthy. With that in mind, cat and dog owners are opting for pet insurance.

And pet owners who live in Texas are no different. They want Texas pet insurance policies that are affordable, flexible and user-friendly, offering inclusive coverage that will give them peace of mind when it comes to their precious family members.

Visit Any Vet in Texas
If you live in Texas, you want to know that your dog or cat can visit any properly licensed veterinarian in any part of the state. Be sure to choose a pet health insurance plan that allows for that. Remember, you may be traveling to another part of Texas with your pet. If he had an injury or illness, you wouldn’t want to waste precious time finding a vet in that city that was approved to see your pet.

Texas pet owners want to be sure that their pets can receive emergency and specialist veterinary care in addition to just routine services administered by a generalist veterinarian. When shopping for Texas pet insurance, pet owners will want to make sure the plan they are considering covers these “special circumstances.”

Rising Cost of Vet Care
With medical advances being discovered every day in veterinary science, the fees for quality care are increasing. Some statistics reflect that fees for veterinarian care are doubling every 13 years! But with comprehensive, lower-cost pet insurance coverage, you can expect to benefit from these advances when your furry family member needs care. Texas pet parents are choosing to offset the costs of pet care with their pet insurance plans.

Being Good Pet Parents
Texas, like other Southern states, has special concerns for pets. Hot climates, large insect populations and dangerous wildlife are just some of the Texas-specific threats to pets that Texans must be vigilant about.

Indemnity Insurance
Unlike most current health insurance plans for people, pet insurance plans are called “indemnity.” What this means is that you pay for the vet’s services up front and then submit claims to get reimbursed later.

Each state has different regulations regarding insurance. Pet insurance companies must comply by each state’s Department of Insurance guidelines. When choosing a plan to cover your pet, be sure to find out if there are particular aspects of pet insurance policies that are specific to Texas pets.

Cat insurance plans vary just like dog insurance plans. You’ll want to compare the coverage provided from a few pet insurance plans before making your final selection.

But before you choose a plan and discuss it with the company’s representative, you’ll want to get some basic information. One way to compare health plans is to get cat insurance quotes from different companies.

You may also find that a plan’s premiums are simply cost-prohibitive. We don’t like to put a dollar value on pet health, but it’s best to find affordable coverage. You can get information about rate quotes on the pet insurance plan’s sites.

Putting in Your Cat’s Information

On the pet health insurance website, you’ll be asked to enter some information about your cat:
• Cat’s name
• Cat’s age
• Cat’s breed
• Your zip code (Some sites may require additional information.)

On most sites, your quote will automatically be calculated. You can then select the plan and deductible that will work best for you and your pets’ needs.

Pet Insurance Comparison: Plans
Some companies will also have a side-by-side comparison chart so you can see how they stack up against others. Most of the time a “sample” pet is used for the cat insurance comparison, such as a “domestic shorthair cat under 1 year old.”

Keep in mind that these pet insurance quotes are mainly for informational purposes, but they will give you an idea of a plan’s coverage costs. For more information about pet insurance visit www.petsbest.com.

The American Humane Society is once again celebrating Adopt A Shelter Cat month throughout June to highlight the issues facing cat rescue shelters and to promote the adoption of shelter cats.

Most of the pets available from these shelters are healthy cats and kittens that need owners to love and care for them. Upon adoption many pet owners will begin researching the best pet insurance plan for their new cat. In return, these feline friends offer unconditional love and affection and a lifetime of purrs and cuddles for their lucky human owners.

Prospective adopters should consider certain factors before selecting their next pet, including:

-Age and temperament of the cat
-Environment inside the home (including any other pets already living with the family)

-Activity levels and available time of family members.

Cat vs. Kitten
While kittens are cute and cuddly, they typically require far more attention than adult cats and may need training in order to adjust well to their new environment. However, it may be more difficult for adult cats to find homes, so taking home a stable, loving adult cat may be a wise and humane decision for potential adopters. When taking age into account, a pet owner should also ask cat insurance companies if there are any upper age limits. Companies like Pets Best Insurance don’t have upper age limits, and will cover a pet so long as it is seven weeks old.

Social Environment
Most cats do better in a household with at least one other cat. In the wild, cats live in colonies and are highly social creatures; as a result, they require a great deal of contact with humans and other animals within the home in order to be happy and healthy. While cat rescue shelters and foster homes make every effort to ensure the well-being of their cats, ultimately cat health and happiness depends on having a dedicated and attentive owner to care for its physical and emotional needs. By adopting two cats or kittens at the same time, most owners find that their pets bond well and interact with other in the household in a more healthy way.

Activity Levels
Just as people may have widely differing personalities, cats can vary widely in their temperaments and activity levels. Some cats are lovable couch potatoes, content to snuggle up with their owners for hours on end. Others may perform acrobatics and engage in amateur clowning, demanding constant attention from their humans in return for entertaining them. By choosing a cat whose temperament complements their own, owners can ensure that their new pet is the perfect fit for their household.

Cats and kittens require veterinary care in order to grow and remain healthy and happy. Cat insurance is a solid investment for new owners, since it offers financial security even if serious health problems arise.

Pet insurance is typically a cost-effective purchase, as it usually covers much of the cost of typical veterinary procedures and emergency care. Purchasing health insurance for cats is one of the most practical ways of ensuring the health and happiness of the newest addition to the family.

Pet insurance is a relatively new idea considering how long veterinary services have been around. Although more people are now buying pet health insurance policies for their pets, it’s still a fairly small percentage of pet owners. An even smaller percentage of people purchase cat insurance.

The Myth that Cats are Self-Sufficient
Unlike dogs, cats are often seen as being much more self-sufficient—they don’t need to be walked, they groom themselves, and they’re “independent.” People also believe that cats are less likely to get into things that might be harmful. There is a perception that cats are such finicky eaters, for instance, that they would never eat something they shouldn’t.

Dangerous Situations for Indoor Cats
But think about it, cats often ingest parts of cat toys, especially string or metal parts, that can be very dangerous to their digestive systems. They will also eat foods that are toxic, like chocolate, if it’s appealing to them. And most cat owners have seen their pet chew on house plants, some of which can also be poisonous. These are just some of the reasons that cat owners should consider purchasing cat insurance for their pets.

Outdoor Cats
Despite statistics telling owners that cats with access to the outdoors have higher injury and death rates, many cats are still let out. This can result in vehicle accidents, fights, injuries from other animals and opportunities for your cat to eat things that are harmful. The subsequent injuries or traumas often need very costly vet interventions, like complicated surgeries.

It’s crucial for you as a responsible pet owner to consider purchasing pet insurance for cats. Despite your best intentions, there may still come a time when having a good cat insurance policy will give you peace of mind.

Like dogs, cats can also have allergies. There are several different causes for cat allergies including flea bites, food allergies, atopy (inhaling something like pollen or dust) and immune-response allergies, which can be very serious. Many pet insurance companies will cover allergies so long as they are not preexisting conditions.

Food Allergy
Cats can have allergic reactions to foods that cause similar responses in humans—soy, dairy products, wheat, or meats. To determine if a cat is allergic to a substance, they must be exposed at least twice. If a reaction happens after only one exposure, it could be an isolated incident.

• Symptoms: These can include itchy rashes on cats’ heads, necks and backs. Often hair loss and sores will result from scratching. Less common is redness and a discharge from the ears.

• Treatment: After it’s determined that a food is causing the allergic reaction, treatment starts with changing the food to a hypoallergenic type.

Inhalant Allergy (Atopic Dermatitis)
Sometimes you will see an inhalant allergy as the seasons change and pollen gets in the air. But mold, dust, and other irritants can cause the reaction as well. You may see itching and rashes on the cat’s head, neck. Excessive licking can cause hair loss.

This type of allergy is hard to differentiate from allergic reactions caused by insect bites. Diagnosis is often made after skin tests. Because quality veterinary care can be expensive, looking for the best pet insurance for your cat is a good idea.

• Treatment: As with foods, try to identify the allergen and remove it from the cat’s environment. The cat can also be treated with antihistamines, but this will not cure the allergy.

Immune-Related Skin Allergies
These are a group of diseases that come from the body’s autoimmune system “attacking” the skins. It’s the most common allergy seen in cats and results in itching and small pustules. In severe cases, symptoms include a fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

• Treatment: This can include corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs.

Watch for symptoms and signs of allergies in your cat. Because cat health care can be expensive, be sure to find a pet insurance company that will provide coverage for allergies.