Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Dog Health News’

Yearly vaccines: What your pet needs

Posted on: March 14th, 2011 by

A sick dog with pet insurance waits for treatment.

Annual vaccines are a part of your pet’s annual check up. Vaccines help boost your pet’s immunity and protect them from common pet illnesses, some of which can be deadly.

To help with the cost of annual vaccinations for your pet, make sure your pet has a pet insurance plan that covers annual vaccinations. Pet health insurance companies like Pets Best Insurance offer supplemental wellness plans.

Annual dog vaccinations generally consist of the distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, coronavirus, and rabies vaccines. Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and coronavirus are usually given as a combination vaccine know as DHLPP-C. Many pet insurance companies help cover this if you have a wellness package.

Other vaccinations may include the bordetella and Lyme disease vaccine. If your dog is around other dogs frequently, your veterinarian will likely recommend that your dog get vaccinated for bordetella, more frequently known as kennel cough. If your dog goes camping or hiking, or you live in an area that is prone to ticks, then your veterinarian will likely recommend the Lyme disease vaccine. Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks and can cause serious neurological side effects.

Annual cat vaccinations generally consist of the feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia, and rabies vaccines. The vaccines for feline viral rhinotracheitis, calcivirus and panleukopenia are given as a combination vaccine known as the FVRCP vaccine.

If your cat goes outdoors at any time, then your veterinarian will likely recommend that your cat be vaccinated against feline leukemia. The feline leukemia vaccine is generally not recommended for strictly indoor cats.

Your pet’s annual vaccine protocol will depend on where you live, your pet’s age, and their health. Your veterinarian will discuss which vaccinations are right for your pet.

Pet health: Brush their teeth to keep them healthy

Posted on: March 8th, 2011 by

A dog with pet health insurance gets his teeth brushed.

Brushing your pet’s teeth is an important step in maintaining proper pet health. A daily tooth brushing is the first line of defense against dental disease. Dental disease is a common health concern with an estimated 80% of dogs and 70% of cats having some form by the age of 2.

Take the steps to help your pet avoid this common health issue by including pet dental care into your daily routine. Some pet insurance companies, like Pets Best Insurance, will even help with the costs of annual teeth cleaning with their wellness plans.

You may be thinking that brushing your pet’s teeth is impossible. At first, your pet may not like having their teeth brushed, but you can make it a tolerable experience. The key to success in dog and cat dental care is having the right tools for the job and taking your time when brushing.

Make sure that you have the appropriate sized toothbrush. If you have a cat or small dog you will want to choose a small sized toothbrush. Choose toothpaste formulated for pets. Pet toothpaste comes in many flavors such as bacon or liver—choose a flavor that you think your pet will enjoy.

Once you have your pet’s toothbrush and toothpaste, you are ready to brush their teeth. If this is the first time, take it slowly. Begin by brushing their teeth in circular motion until you have brushed the entire surface of each tooth. Take breaks if your pet needs them. Keep the experience a positive one by offering treats and praise when you are finished.

Pet adoption tips

Posted on: March 7th, 2011 by

A puppy with dog insurance looks up at his owner.

Choosing to add a new member to your family is a huge responsibility.

Once you have decided that you have the time to commit to a new pet, you are ready to begin your research. When looking to adopt a new pet you will also need to consider purchasing pet insurance.

Below are several pet adoption tips that will help you choose the type of dog or cat that will be the best fit for your family.

• Costs: The first thing you’ll want to consider is the cost that is involved with owning a pet. Besides food, there is the cost of annual veterinary care. To help with the cost of pet heath care, consider pet health insurance. Companies like Pets Best Insurance offer reasonable rates for cat and dog insurance.

• Family Dynamics: You will want to consider when choosing a new pet for your family is family dynamics. Do you have children? If so, you need to evaluate which breeds of dogs tend to be better with children.

• Exercise: Consider the amount of time you have to properly exercise your new dog. If you lead an active lifestyle, you will probably want to choose a breed that enjoys being active, too.

• Location: You also want to examine where you live. If you live in an apartment, then a large breed dog may not be the best choice for you. Also, check the stipulations regarding having a dog in your apartment—there may be weight limits and breed restrictions.

Celebrate Prevent-A-Litter Month

Posted on: February 25th, 2011 by

A neutered dog with pet insurance waits for his master.
Did you know that each day there are 10,000 humans born in the U.S., but 70,000 puppies and kittens? As you can see, there will never be enough homes for all of the puppies and kittens.

The overpopulation of dogs and cats in the U.S. is out of control, and shelters around the country are filled beyond capacity. Do your part to help prevent unwanted litters by spaying and neutering your pets.

Not only does spaying and neutering your pet ensure that they aren’t contributing to the pet overpopulation problem, their pet health will be improved. Dogs that have been altered live 1 to 3 years longer, and altered cats can add 3 to 5 years to their life.

There are other pet health benefits that altering your pet offers. Females that have been altered will not have a heat cycle, which means they will not attract males. The urge to roam is less in females that have been altered. Females that are altered have a lessened risk of getting mammary tumors and uterine and ovarian cancer. If they are spayed before their first heat cycle, their risk of these conditions is almost eliminated. Spaying also eliminated their risk of getting uterine infections.

Neutering male dogs has significant health and behavior benefits. Males that are neutered are less likely to spray and mark their territory. Neutering also decreases aggressive behavior. When it comes to their health, they are at a lower risk of getting prostate diseases and their risk of testicular cancer is eliminated.

If veterinary costs are preventing you from getting your pet spayed or neutered, contact your local spay and neuter assistance programs. These programs work with people who want to have their pets altered but cannot afford it. Some pet insurance companies, like Pets Best Insurance also offer spay and neuter benefits with their wellness packages.

Pet Health Insurance: Finding the Best of the Pack

Posted on: February 24th, 2011 by

A dog finds the best pet insurance with a little help from his owner.

When everything in life is going swell, it’s easy to take our pets for granted. The dog is happy to take a walk, play, or rest, and usually loves anything we throw in his bowl.

However, with February being National Responsible Pet Owners Month, it’s a good time to take stock in everything we do for our pets.

Should we research the food we feed them to make sure it’s up to standards? Have we been putting off his annual exam? Maybe now is the time to look into dog insurance.

But how do you know which is the best pet insurance? Here are a few tips:

1. The best pet insurance lets you choose your own veterinarian and any clinic. Finding out that your favorite veterinarian works with a pet insurance company is only half the battle. What if you need help on a day your vet is closed? What if you take your dog on a trip and she gets sick or injured?

2. The best pet insurance coverage will also include older dog insurance. Some pet owners use multiple pet insurance companies because they decided to insure an older dog but their current company has age restrictions. Companies like Pets Best Insurance don’t have any upper age limits.

3. The best pet insurance will cover visits to specialists and emergency clinics. You may have a great vet, but that doesn’t mean he specializes in dog dentals or has the most up-to-date equipment for canine cancer. If your dog needs specialized treatment, you want to know you’re getting the best treatment and you’re covered. Also, if your pet has an emergency in the middle of the night, it’s reassuring to know that you can take him to the doggie ER.

4. The best pet insurance covers wellness exams. Dog health care shouldn’t have to be put on hold because bills are piling up. When one human year equals seven dog years, conditions can arise quickly and need to be caught early. With wellness coverage, your pet’s annual exams, teeth cleanings, and vaccinations don’t have to wait.

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