Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Cat Health News’

Keeping pets healthy

Posted on: May 16th, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance selects healthy foods.

Pets are wonderful companions and considered members of the family. As a responsible pet owner, your job goes beyond feeding, sheltering and ensuring they have pet health insurance. Your pet relies on you to make good decisions as a key component of good pet health care.

Proper Feeding
Your vet can advise you about proper nutrition for your pet, but other resources and your own common sense can guide you, too. Feeding human food to pets is not a good idea. Their digestive systems are not made to deal with our diet. Certain foods like chocolate are toxic to pets, so being diligent about what goes in your pet’s mouth is extremely critical for their safety. Having pet health insurance is also a good idea, in case of accidental ingestion.

Pets also have different water consumption needs than we do. Make sure your pet has clean, fresh water several times daily if necessary. This is especially important if your dog or cat will be outside for any length of time.

Proper Handling
It should be a no-brainer that dogs need to be leashed at all times when outside on walks unless they have access to a fenced dog park. An unleashed dog can disappear in an instant if an interesting distraction, like a squirrel, runs by.

Statistics tell us that cats that have outdoor access have a high rate of injury and death. It’s a myth that cats need to go outside to hunt for food. If properly fed, there is no nutritional value to hunting.

Be Prepared
Regular vet care is important for healthy pets. But vet healthcare costs can be hard on pet owners’ budgets. Considering a pet health insurance plan can help defray some of those costs.

Aging Gracefully and Pet Insurance Plans

Posted on: May 12th, 2011 by

An older dog with a pet insurance plan sits by his owner.

It is common knowledge that as pets age, more pet health issues are likely to arise. Many pet insurance companies counter this fact by putting age limits on their pet insurance plans. This puts the owners of many healthy older dogs and cats at a disadvantage, and could increase the likelihood of further pet health complications.

According to an article written for the Cherokee Chronicle Times, an estimated 75 percent of U.S. households own aging pets. These numbers are startling, considering older pets need proper preventative care, just as young pet do– but may be unable to receive it because some pet insurance companies won’t cover them.

Routine tests and services are essential to keeping dogs and cats in great health. Routine care can also prevent more serious problems from arising in the later stages of a pet’s life. Simple pet health care services such as teeth cleaning, heartworm testing, or urinalysis could improve the quality of a pet’s life, and ultimately leave more money in an owner’s pocket.

Luckily, there are pet insurance plans out there, like those offered by Pets Best Insurance, that do not have upper age limitations. Though usual limitations apply (such as pre-existing conditions and preventable diseases), no pet is turned away based on its age, so long as the pet enrolling is at least seven weeks old.

Just as you would take the necessary steps to ensure proper pet health care for anyone in your family, securing the proper pet insurance plan for your four-legged friend is equally important—at any age

The beautiful Ocicat

Posted on: May 4th, 2011 by

A group of Ocicats with cat insurance play with one another.

Although there are now cat breeds that look wild, like the Bengal and Savannah, the Ocicat was the first breed to look like a wild animal. In 1964, the Ocicat was the accidental result of breeding an Abyssinian (which has a solid-looking coat but each hair is actually ticked with three colors like a deer) and a Siamese cat. Although the breed is somewhat rate, many pet insurance companies will still cover it.

The kitten has small dark spots on their body, making them look like a leopard or ocelot. The Ocicat has a distinctive spotting pattern with thumb-print sized spots in a classic “tabby” configuration. They look wild, but are domestic and have a gentle temperament. They have none of the issues that arise from exotic breeds that have wild blood, which is one of the reasons that many pet insurance companies will provide coverage for this kind of cat.

Description
As the breed developed, so did a variety of coat colors. The color descriptions are tawny, chocolate, cinnamon blue, fawn, lavender and silver. Ocicats are medium to large cats with athletic, muscular bodies. Females weigh between 6 and 9 lbs., and males weigh between 9 and 14 lbs.

Temperament
Ocicats are extremely intelligent, sometimes capable of opening their own cages. They are ideal companions with a sweet temperament, and they like to be with their owners, responding more like a dog. They enjoy vigorous play and will become bored if not “entertained” by the owners regularly. It is good to invest in a pet health insurance plan for this breed because of their curiosity.

Pet Health Issues
Fortunately, Ocicats are not prone to any genetic diseases or issues. Since 2005, the breed has been outcrossed with Abyssinians and no pet health problems have arisen yet. But if you are thinking of getting an Ocicat, it’s a good idea to check carefully with a breeder. Even though they are very healthy, you should consider cat insurance for typical cat illness coverage.

Pet health care keeps you healthy too

Posted on: May 2nd, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance plays with his owner.

It may sound odd, but keeping up with good pet health care as well as pet insurance can be good for you too.

Besides the obvious reason that we want our animal companions to be well, taking care of pets has physical and psychological health benefits. The following are some examples:

Pet Ownership Promotes Responsibility
You often hear a good reason to get a pet for a child is that is promotes responsibility—the child learns to feed and care for another living thing. But it can also be good for adults. Looking after a pet and ensuring they have pet insurance, food, water and exercise helps you be a responsible person.

Physical Comfort
Petting your dog or cat after a bad day can have a comforting and relaxing effect on your body and mind. A cat jumping in your lap or a dog putting his wet nose on your hand can help tremendously if you’re feeling overly stressed. Studies have shown that just being around animals reduces blood pressure.

Emotional Wellness
“Unconditional love” is an overused term, but it aptly describes the kind of love that pets give you. They don’t care if you’re feeling snarky or irritable, they still like to be around you. Having pets can reduce isolation and promotes social activity. Walking with your pet or taking your pet to the dog park can up your socialization as well as your dogs’.

Benefits for Older Adults
There’s a reason why companion and therapy animals are often taken into nursing homes. Older people in that environment, who have often had to give up a pet, crave contact with a loving animal. Research even shows that older adults who have a pet have fewer doctor visits.

Pet health: Vet trips don’t have to be stressful

Posted on: April 27th, 2011 by

A dog with dog insurance is tended to by a veterinarian.

While pet insurance can make a trip to the vet less stressful for the pet owner, pets may still feel uncomfortable.

The office is oftentimes cold, sterile, and uninviting. The smells are funny, and the waiting time is usually long and awkward. When it comes to visiting the vet, our pets experience the same kind of discomfort and anxiety as we do.

This office is a new place, or one that your pet likely associates with something negative (shots, surgery, medications).

Discount pet care is out there, but more often than not medical costs can run through the roof! So along with making sure your little ball of love is as stress-free as possible, managing the cost of veterinary care with cat or dog insurance will help you buffer the headache in the office. Here are some tips for making the most of your vet visit:

1. Make sure your animal has a security blanket. Okay, maybe not an actual blanket, but a familiar place or object that makes them feel safe—like a carrier, or a leash. Bring a familiar toy for some comforting smells from home.

2. Be sure to do a pet insurance comparison so you can better understand coverage. Just because you have cat or dog insurance doesn’t mean that everything is covered. When shopping for insurance for cats or dogs, take inventory of what services are covered prior to your vet visit. You don’t want any surprises!

3. Understand how your dog insurance plan works. Just having pet insurance isn’t enough. Make sure you really understand how the payment system works for that particular company. Find out what will be covered and what’s excluded.

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