Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Dog Health News’

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.

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.