Pets Best Newsroom

Blog posts Categorized under ‘Pet Industry 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.

Americans pamper pets even with prices rising

Posted on: May 19th, 2011 by

La La the Chihuahua watch dog looks out the window.

According the the website, Petweek.org, one of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA’s primary messages is to “promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine.”

The organization hopes to help educate children and adults alike that as animal rescues and shelters work to save homeless animals, families can save lives by offering a home to a pet in need.

When pets are adopted, they are innocent, voiceless, and rely on their owners for everything from food to pet insurance and care. Pets give their owners years of love and joy, and shouldn’t have to suffer when they are sick because of high treatment costs. This is where pet health insurance comes in.

Obtaining pet insurance coverage is a wonderful way to ensure that pets get all the help they need from puppy and kittenhood into their senior years.

An April 2011 Reuters report on an American Pet Products Association (APPA) poll revealed that in spite of an economic downturn, pet owners are spending more every year on their pets, including a projected $4 billion more in 2011 than five years earlier.

“Sixteen percent of dog owners and 13 percent of cat owners said their animal’s medical treatment would take priority over their own,” according to the Reuters report. The report also revealed that the number of yearly vet visits and surgery costs are both on the rise, particularly for cats.

Because there’s no guarantee to goodIt w pet health, pet insurance offers pet owners some control over both the expected—yearly check-ups—and the unexpected—accidental injury or surprise illness. Pet insurance cost varies, with pet coverage plans ranging from emergency-only to wellness policies. Researching pet plan insurance may prove one of the easiest and cost-effective ways to see the AVMA’s hope of saved lives and veterinary medicine awareness realized.

What to consider when buying pet insurance

Posted on: May 7th, 2011 by

A dog with dog insurance sits in his master's lap.

By: Dr. Jack Stephens
Pets Best Insurance President and Founder

1. How are you reimbursed?
I mention this area because reimbursement issues can become your biggest area of discontent if you receive less than you anticipate for your pet’s medical cost.

Some pet insurance companies reimburse or pay claims based on a “set” benefit schedule. The problem with this is the schedule may not reflect what you are actually charged for veterinary care. For instance, if your pet had a broken leg that cost you $3,000; the pet health insurance company that operates from a benefit scheduled may reimburse a lesser amount after the deductible. This can be considerably less; leaving you with the balance. Pick a plan that pays a flat percentage (such as 80%) of your cost for pet health care and avoid this pitfall.

2. How long will it take to be reimbursed?
This is another important facet of cat or dog insurance that you may not initially understand why it matters. After all, with human health insurance, you go to your doctor and they submit the bills to the insurance company. The length of time this process takes is probably of little concern to you because your doctor or hospital is waiting for the funds, not you.

In contrast, with pet health insurance, you pay the veterinary cost upfront and then submit your claim to the pet insurance company, who will then pay you back. With pet insurance you are out-of-pocket for the cost up front and you may incur interest expenses on your credit card if your reimbursement is not timely from the pet insurance company.

It’s a good idea to ask what the average time is from receipt of a claim until payment is rendered by your pet insurer. If the company acts evasive, you have your answer; you will likely be waiting for your money for some time. Seek pet insurance companies that have a good history of paying their claims quickly. In addition, ask if they offer direct deposit, which can expedite your reimbursement.

3. How easy is it to file a pet insurance claim?
Another pitfall to avoid are the companies that make it difficult for you to file a claim and track your claims status. You should seek a pet insurance company that allows your claim to be filed electronically (email) for faster service. Also seek a company that will provide you with an email confirmation once they received your claim. And better yet, do a pet insurance comparison to find a company that will directly deposit your funds quickly.

Parvo Virus: Bad for puppies, bank accounts

Posted on: May 5th, 2011 by

A dog with pet insurance looks up.

Dog owners generally purchase pet insurance because they know dogs will likely go through various bouts of illness and upset tummies throughout their lives.

But for puppies, such an incident can be very serious– as it often means the dog has Canine Parvovirus, otherwise known as Parvo. Parvo is a very dangerous pet health disease for puppies and elderly dogs that can turn deadly quickly.

Parvo virus infects the intestine and destroys the lining, causing severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting. What’s worse, the virus can live on surfaces for months and can spread very easily on clothing and shoes, infecting puppies that have had no contact with other dogs at all.

Treatment means hospitalization for at least three nights, and anyone whose pet has stayed overnight at the vet knows this is very costly without dog insurance.

According to Dr. Michael Dill, a veterinarian at Bienville Animal Medical Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, treatment for Parvo can even require ten days of non-stop hospitalization, which, without pet health insurance, could cost a pet owner hundreds or even thousands of dollars. But, “with appropriate treatment, parvo infected dogs have about 85 to 90 percent survival rates,” the veterinarian wrote in an article for the Biloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald.

Fortunately, routine puppy vaccinations, which can be covered with dog insurance plans include vaccinations for Parvo. These shots require multiple booster shots and return vet visits, so puppy owners should compare pet insurance to find a policy that will cover this routine.

The extra preparation is well worth it for your puppy’s health and your bank account. According to Dr. Dill, “At my clinic, a full set of puppy visits (four visits including examination, vaccines and fecal examination) is less costly than a single day of parvo treatment.”

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.

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