Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Dog Health News’

To Fix or Not to Fix?

Posted on: May 26th, 2011 by

A cat is attended to by a veterinarian.

It’s estimated that one dog or cat is put down every eight seconds in U.S. shelters, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

When Leigh Peterson of Ohio found herself posting ads trying to find homes for four puppies, she struggled with guilt.

“I felt like I was killing a dog in the pound every time someone came to see our puppies rather than go to a shelter,” said Leigh.

In the past, she had always preached how important spaying and neutering, vaccinating and investing in pet health insurance was. She volunteered at an animal shelter and considered herself fairly knowledgeable on pet health. “But when I started dating my boyfriend,” Leigh said, “he refused to get his dogs fixed.”

One day, when her boyfriend was out of town, he called and asked how everyone was. Leigh started to say how the dogs were fine and playing in the back yard, which was completely fenced-in. When she went to the window to look outside, she was shocked to find a strange male dog in the yard with their dog Abby. The two were mating.

“I stood there watching, telling him over the phone what was happening and resisting the urge to say I told you so,” said Leigh. “Even I had started to believe it was OK not to spay because I knew we were responsible pet owners. But this stray dog wanted in to our yard and found a way in.”

Sure enough, puppies were soon on the way. Leigh had to swallow her guilt and take control. She was releived they had purchased dog health insurance for their own dog, but now she had to focus on finding the best homes for the new pups.

The only thing in Leigh’s control now was making sure that these puppies didn’t further contribute to pet overpopulation. All the puppies were spayed and neutered before leaving her care. Although spaying females and neutering male dogs does not come without risk, it does offer some pet health benefits and reduces the urge to roam, like the male dog who found his way into Leigh’s fenced-in yard.

To help ensure that the puppies found good homes, the ads stated that the puppies would be fixed and an adoption fee was set at $50 per puppy. She screened all adopters and was able to keep in touch with them all, receiving pictures as the puppies grew.

When her boyfriend’s older dog developed a large tumor on her uterus, she was spayed, too. It was then his turn to feel guilt, as he could see that the surgery was much harder on a senior dog to recover from than it was for the puppies. From then on, he became a proponent of spaying and neutering, as well.

Wild animals and pet safety

Posted on: May 24th, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance is safe outdoors on a leash.

If you have a pet, it’s a safe bet that you love animals in general and enjoy seeing wildlife. But pets and wildlife can be a lethal combination.

It’s important for you to keep your pets safe from dangers they might encounter from wild animals. Injuries and bites from wildlife have a serious impact on pet health care. Most pet health insurance includes coverage for those injuries, but it’s best to prevent them.

Dangers From Wild Animals
Many wild animals present a danger to our pets. As humans are increasingly encroaching upon wild animals’ natural habitats, wildlife has become more adapted to living in populated areas. Because of this, wild animals, especially predators, come into contact with domestic animals more frequently. There are a number of things you can do to protect your pets from harm by wild animals.

• Don’t leave you pet outside unattended – This is dangerous to pets on many levels. They can get lost, ingest things that make them ill, get hit by cars or injured and killed by wild animals. Many predators and even animals that aren’t considered predators, like raccoons, are nocturnal. So be careful, even when letting your dog out at night while you’re with him.

• Make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies – While cases of humans getting rabies are now rarer, animals continue to be bitten by rabid wild animals. Some pet health insurance companies will even provide limited coverage for vaccines.

• Take measures to ensure that wild animals don’t have access to your home. Pets can be bitten by bats and other animals that come into your home. Be sure to look around your foundation, chimney and attic for areas that might allow an animal in.

• Do not leave pet food outside – Your pets’ food is like a buffet for wildlife. Keep their food bags in covered containers inside. Be sure that your garbage cans are closed and in an area that is inaccessible to wild animals.

• Notify local wildlife extension service agents – If you see a dangerous wild animal in your yard, notify the authorities.

• Clear debris and tree limbs from near your house – Snakes pose a very real threat to pets because they hide in woodpiles and underbrush. Pets will often not have any warning before being bitten. Clear the vegetation around your house. Keep tree limbs from your roofline to prevent tree-climbing animals from access to your home.

But no matter how conscientious you are about protecting your pet from wild animals, it’s a good idea to have pet insurance in case of unforseen attacks.

Siberian Husky

Posted on: May 23rd, 2011 by

A Husky with dog insurance sits for the camera.

The Siberian Husky is one of several arctic breeds, which also includes the Malamute. The Siberian is a compact, strong dog in the working group that is gentle and intelligent. A popular breed, especially for families, he can be a handful if not properly trained. It’s also a good idea to consider pet insurance for this breed.

Description
The Siberian Husky has a medium-sized head that is proportionate to the body. His ears are erect and triangular in shape. Like other dogs who must withstand extreme cold, the Husky has a thick double coat that can tolerate temperatures as low as minus 76 degrees. The coat can be gray, silver, sand, red and black and white. Often there are characteristic, striking markings on the head.

The Siberian’s distinctive eyes can be half brown, half blue or one blue and one brown eye. His coat has two heavy shedding seasons a year and the hair should be combed out. The Husky’s tail curves up over his back when he is alert or running. Another adaption to the cold weather is his large snow shoe feet which have hair between the toes to keep warm and to grip well on the ice.

The Siberian Husky ranges from 21 to 23 ½ inches tall for males and 20 to 22 inches for females. Weights are males—45 to 60 pounds and females—35 to 50.

Temperament
Although this is a very relaxed breed of dog, he is also very high energy. He likes to howl and gets bored very easily. Like most working dogs, he needs a “job” and short of that, lots of exercise or he can become destructive. Researching pet insurance and finding the best pet insurance plan for this breed is a good idea. Training Siberian Huskies can be tricky because they must be sure that their pack leader is strong and in charge. This is not the dog for a first-time owner.

This breed is very good with children and they are attached to their families. Not a good candidate for a watch dog, the Husky is friendly to strangers. He is compatible and safe with other pets in the household if he is raised with them.

Pet Health Concerns
Like many dogs this size, the Husky is prone to hip dysplasia. Also, this breed can have eye issues like corneal dystrophy. Yearly screenings for these problems is recommended from a canine ophthalmologist. It’s always a good idea to have dog insurance with this breed. Pet insurance coverage can help defray the costs of vet care for any breed you choose.

Being kind to animals

Posted on: May 18th, 2011 by

A dog with pet health insurance waits for a treat.

The American Humane Association advocates protection and humane treatment of the voiceless, and among the voiceless are animals. This organization offers a few tips on its website outlining how you can speak out and provide care for animals.

Appreciate Wildlife
Wildlife is part of our Earth’s delicate lifecycle. American Humane Association suggests creating an inviting area in your yard for birds, butterflies, and other local animals. Avoid inhumane traps and poisons, which can harm animals that aren’t being targeted, like stray cats and loose dogs.

Adopt a Pet From a Shelter or Rescue
According to the American Humane Association, every year “an estimated 3.7 million animals must be euthanized at our nation’s shelters because they could not be adopted into loving homes.” Save these animals by offering them a home rather than buying from a neighbor who failed to spay and neuter. Spaying and neutering dogs and cats offers pet health benefits, can help decrease pet overpopulation, and may be subsidized with pet insurance coverage.

Take Care of Your Pet
Pets rely on their owners to keep them safe and in good pet health. Annual vet check-ups aren’t just for vaccinations. These exams can also detect potential pet health issues early, when they can still be successfully treated. Pets should also be protected from getting lost with proper identification. Vaccinations, preventative visits and treatment are often covered by pet health insurance. Visit Pets Best Insurance for more information.

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.

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