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Blog posts Categorized under ‘Cat Health News’

Keeping Kids Safe Around Pets—and Vice Versa

Posted on: April 26th, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance sits with a baby.

Colleen Paige is founder of the Animal Miracle Foundation & Network and National Kids & Pets Day, April 26.

On kidsandpetsday.com, she offers tips for keeping kids and pets safe around each other.

According to the site, “National Kids & Pets Day is dedicated to furthering the magical bond between children and animals and to help bring awareness to the plight of pets in shelters awaiting new homes.”

Dogs, cats, and kids have a lot in common. Both pets and kids often try to push their boundaries and challenge their parents. Both can get cranky and lash out when sleepy or hurting. And both have potential to hurt the other, either by accident or on purpose. However, children and pets have a lot to offer each other, as well.

Some of the tips Paige offers on her site include:

•Teaching children to always ask first before petting a dog. Even friendly dogs can be startled by the sudden appearance of another set of eyes right at their level.

•Teaching children how to pet animals nicely and gently, avoiding running toward, yelling at, or pulling on an animal’s body parts.

•Never leaving children and pets unsupervised.

Just as pets can cause sudden and even accidental injury to children, children can cause injury to pets. Pet insurance should be on the list of all policies that parents with pets own. These policies can keep unexpected vet visits more affordable when sudden dog or cat health care is needed due to a cut paw, broken tail, or ingestion of crayons.

Pet owners veterinary fears and confusion

Posted on: April 25th, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance is checked out at the vet.

Even though people have pet insurance for their pets, they “are not seeing the veterinarian as frequently as they used to,” according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

In an article published in the Calgary Herald titled “Why Pet Owners Fear Vet Visits,” pets are potentially not getting the proper veterinary attention for two reasons: lack of information and “higher than expected costs for vet services.”

The article was written by veterinarian Dr. Wendy McClelland, who recommends one or two wellness visits per year—one for younger pets, two for older. She reminds pet owners that those visits can be used to discuss pet health, nutrition, care options, and preventative care to prepare for the future and eliminate fear, “instead of just putting out the fire of the latest illness or injury.”

Because one or two vet visits per year—even when an animal is seemingly healthy—does cost money, McClelland admits, she says pet owners should “think of them as insurance.” Alternately, pet owners may think of insurance for wellness exams. Pet insurance companies like Pets Best Insurance offer coverage for wellness visits. Such visits help find potential pet health issues early on, eliminating unnecessary soaring expenses.

Online pet insurance company websites offer a wealth of information as well, from pet health tips to the ability to thoroughly compare pet insurance to find the best financial fit. This could be the answer that those pet owners mentioned in the article were looking for.

Pets rely on their owners for all their needs. Even if pet owners weren’t fully aware of the full expense of pet ownership when they adopted a dog or cat, pets shouldn’t have to suffer because their owner is afraid of a diagnosis or a bill.

Pet acupuncture and chiropractic care

Posted on: April 21st, 2011 by

A cat with pet insurance gets holistic care from a vet.

Until recently acupuncture for people was considered a kind of “out there” treatment. It has now become a rather mainstream, but still alternative, treatment option for many medical issues.

It’s especially helpful for relieving pain. Amazingly, it is now even used in pet health care and some pet insurance companies even provide coverage.

What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that uses small gauge needles inserted into various points in the body. It is a painless procedure. The acupuncture points correspond to areas that generate physiological responses. It’s used to treat many diseases and conditions.

Acupuncture is almost always combined with other treatments including massage, breathing exercises, herbal medicines, and healthy nutrition. The effectiveness of acupuncture, which was previously doubted, has been scientifically proven.

Acupuncture Can Be a Pet Health Benefit
There are now vets who are trained in administering acupuncture to pets. If you are considering it, you should consult with a properly certified veterinary acupuncturist. Various illnesses and medical conditions have shown to be effectively treated with acupuncture.
Incontinence, different orthopedic conditions, chronic respiratory conditions, immune-related disorders, arthritis and neurological disorders have all been treated successfully with acupuncture.

Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is treatment for the health of the musculoskeletal system, with the main focus being the spine. Chiropractors perform procedures that align the body’s joints. Chiropractic care can help neck and back pain and arthritis.

Within the past decade, pets have been increasingly treated with chiropractic care. Many of the ailments for which people seek relief can be helped.

Pet Insurance
Some pet insurance plans will cover acupuncture and chiropractic care. These are usually on plans that included “extras” that go beyond basic coverage. Ask a potential pet insurance company if they offer coverage for these services.

How to do a pet insurance comparison

Posted on: April 20th, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance looks astute for the camera.

Owning pets can be very expensive, especially if you don’t have pet insurance. Online pet insurance companies understand that pet ownership is a very rewarding experience and they want to help you enjoy pet ownership as much as possible– not live in fear of high-priced vet bills or worry about negotiating care because of treatment costs.

While you have probably heard about the various pet health insurance providers that are on the market now, you may not know what to look for from an online pet insurance company.

When you go out in search of pet health insurance, one of the first things you will probably look at is the price. You may be surprised to find that most companies offer plans starting at very reasonable rates.

With companies like Pets Best Insurance, rates are based on three things: age of the pet, location and breed. Because of the variety of choices Pets Best Insurance offers in terms of plans and deductible amounts, there will likely be something that will fit everyone’s budget.

You will of course want to make sure that the policy you select covers the specific type of pet you own. But there are some other factors to consider as well. It’s important not to just base your choice of an online pet health insurance company on price alone.

If you’re looking into dog or cat insurance, it’s likely that you’re already concerned about pet health. But make sure that you take a look at what the pet insurance company is offering you for the price. Some pet insurance companies offer plans that cover the cost of vaccinations, worming, flea control, and even pre-existing conditions that have since healed—but not all companies will. Some plans are only intended to cover your pet if he becomes sick or injured. Also, look at the claim limits each of the insurance companies offer.

If you’re concerned about pet health and you have more than one pet, look into companies, like Pets Best Insurance, who offer a multi-pet discounts! They also cover older pets, so if you’ve decided to get a new puppy to keep your older dog company, it may be the perfect time to insure your whole four-legged family.

Pets Best Insurance also covers chronic and on-going conditions, so long as they’re not preexisting—so this can be very helpful if your pet comes down with something that cannot be cured right away.

For more information about Pets Best Insurance visit www.petsbest.com.

National Animal Control Appreciation Week: April 11-17

Posted on: April 12th, 2011 by

A dog with dog insurance is tended to by an animal control officer.

The entire month of April is a cause for celebration. While it’s not all necessarily pet insurance related, the month of April is a time to focus on our pets and the people who devotedly work for their safety, protection, and animal health care. Throughout April, there are a number of week-long awareness and appreciation days.

National Animal Control Appreciation Week
Many of us have an outdated image of “Mean Mr. Dogcatcher” rounding up all the stray dogs in the neighborhood when we hear “animal control.” But in reality, animal control officers work hard on behalf of animals and always have their safety in mind.

The profession, which is state certified, also requires continuing education. In many areas, animal control departments also operate the local animal shelters. The men and women who do this job are invested in assisting and getting good results for both animals and the people who care about them.

According to the National Animal Control Association (NACA), an animal control officer’s job entails:

• Investigating animal neglect or cruelty
• Capturing roaming (and sometimes dangerous) dogs
• Rescue injured and sick animals
• Educate pet owners about the laws and proper pet care
• Mediate disputes between neighbors over pets
• Reunite lost pets with owners

Animal control officers are often at personal risk when doing their jobs, as they can be exposed to many animal-borne diseases like rabies and attacks by vicious animals. Many police departments, who usually oversee animal control, and local governments are planning events recognizing this profession.

So take some time this week to acknowledge the valuable contribution these people make to pet safety, and say “thank you” for their service to animals and the community.

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