Archive for the ‘Pet Health’ Category
Pet Insurance – No Pet Should Be Without It
This morning in reading the newspaper an interesting article about a large grocery 
chain stating they are now supporting pet insurance with a pet insurance company with the quick and easy process in claiming, and very affordable in protecting the health and welfare of our furry friends. When your pet is in need of veterinarian services due to accidents, sickness, and scheduled office visits, the reimbursement on a claim is usually within several weeks. This is really a great way to go in protecting your financial concerns regarding the health of your pet. Pet insurance companies offer different coverages and the age of the pet may be different as well, but anywhere from several months to 9 years of age can be insured for medical coverage.
This particular pet insurance company offers coverage with the renewal of the policy that will insure your pet for life. The eligibility of accident coverage is for all ages of dogs and cats, and deductibles may vary from one insurance company to another, but 
being able to save money in keeping and maintaining your pet’s health is worth every penny of the cost for pet insurance opposed to not having any coverage at all. I am sure that all of us have heard friends, neighbors, etc, talk about how expensive their veterinarian bill was after an illness, accident, surgery, or for whatever reason. With the economy as it is today, you cannot be without a medical insurance policy on your pet, and another good reason is that the pet parent is able to use any veterinarian nationwide. Be Happy!
Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth – Whoopee!
Dental care in brushing your dog’s teeth will not be the most exciting health care effort you ever tried to give your dog, but boy is it ever exhilarating. Opening and 
looking in their mouth periodically will lessen the fear with consistency, especially when they are young, then when the time comes to start brushing their teeth the hassle will diminish gradually. This will also be helpful when and if you need to give them medication, then the fear will not be so great (that is if the medication is not horrible to their taste) when it is time to brush their teeth. Dogs do not like unwanted objects in their mouth, unless it is a nasty dirty old bone dug up from last year so this definitely will be a whole new experience, and I do mean experience for the pet child and their pet parent.
The care of dog teeth is now approaching, and when it is time to start this new adventure, there is a new and exciting dog toothbrush that has three flexible heads that maintain proper pressure for all surfaces of the dog’s teeth for thorough surface cleaning, and stimulate and massage your pets gum. Brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis is a major step in keeping your dog healthy, having good clean teeth, and avoiding offensive doggy breath will save future problems with their teeth and 
avoid high dental costs, but DO NOT use human toothpaste, there is doggy tooth paste on the market. Once they have lost their baby teeth and you have practiced with the pet child’s mouth and teeth, (if your dog was young) start deciding where and how often to begin this ritual in preparing a well-learned and satisfying togetherness. Learning how to brush your dog’s teeth, and them accepting what you are doing will take patience, persistence, and determination, but once all has been accomplished, you the pet parent can sit back and say to yourself, “job well done”, but just a word of caution, grown dogs will generally not take to this procedure very well, so be careful. Be Happy!
Does Thunder Storms and Fireworks Drive Your Dog Up the Wall?
Did you know that a pet parents’ fear of lightning and thunder would affect your dog’s anxiety? If you do not show concern, your dog may realize that it is okay to hear the loud rumble of thunder, and the electrical storms that some time occurs as 
well as the loud crack of firecrackers during the holiday celebrations. If you react in a fearful way your dog will pick up on your attitude toward having fear, and will start panting, pacing, trembling and shaking, and may look for a safe place to hide. Whatever makes your dog fearful and anxious, a thundershirt dog anxiety treatment is excellent in calming them down.
This unique design provides a gentle and constant pressure to the dog’s torso that brings calmness to your dog. The thundershirt dog 
anxiety treatment calms the fear of separation, travel, thunder and fireworks and eliminates anxiety usually caused by these situations. Exactly why this treatment of a gentle pressure works in calming a dog, no one really knows, and there are theories, but no scientific studies to prove why. Some experts feel that the pressure has a calming effect on the dog’s nervous system and using this pressure relieves anxiety, so if this is true, then every pet parent whose dog experiences fear during certain situations could make good use of such a product. Be Happy!
Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Treatment
In just a few weeks, the American way in celebrating the 4th of July will be upon us 
and you know what that means. Fireworks and more fireworks that make an awful lot of dogs scared to death with all the popping going on, and it just does not end there. The fireworks usually go on a day or two before the different communities have their own displays. The poor dogs do not know where to hide and begin to pant profusely.
Helping to calm your dog during this time and others, such as anxiety, separation, 
and thunderstorms is a product recommended by veterinarians around the world. Have you heard of the Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Treatment? This vest-like wrap is amazing and is a pressure wrap that applies a gentle constant pressure on the dog’s torso. It has not been identified as to why this Thundershirt works to calm a dog. Some experts say that pressure has a calming effect on their nervous system that helps to soothe their nerves. Be Happy!
Dogs Need Exercise
Dogs are no different in needing exercise to keep in shape and stay healthy avoiding 
medical problems, just as much as their pet parents need to exercise. They have health insurance, but does your dog. Pet insurance will relieve the strain of large medical bills. If dogs have a large yard to play and run in, that is great, but what about the dogs who live in an apartment and only go outside to smell the roses.
Large dogs particularly need to have at least 30 minutes of exercise once a day, but it is recommended twice a day would be better. Exercise keeps your dog’s 
joints lubricated, which in turn can prevent arthritis that usually affects large dogs, and can be crippling if left unattended. Exercise keeps pet parents’ minds stimulated, and it does the same for their dog. Enjoy life together to avoid possible health problems. Be Happy!
Do I Really Need Pet Insurance?
This is the consensus of most pet parents during this time of economical crisis. This is understandable in trying to take care of financial responsibilities, but thinking and planning toward maintaining your pet’s health is important. The cost of veterinarian treatments, medication, ex-rays, lab work, and surgeries…has risen drastically the past several years. Possibilities of health problems during your pet’s lifetime, is a 
wise choice for purchasing pet insurance. If you have a large purebred dog, there may be some genetic illnesses such as hip dysplasia that may turn out to be is very expensive. Not all large pure breed dogs are affected, and this is something that research may possibly help in understanding just what breeds have this condition. However, many genetic conditions affect other dogs. This is why it is so important to keep an eye on your dog. Behaviors that are not normal will be noticeable for any abnormal mobility changes. Genetic conditions by defect in the underlying genes from parents of puppies or kittens can cause many difficulties in living a long and normal life. That is why I mentioned above on being cognizant of your pet’s behavior. It will tell you so much of how they feel and if they are in pain. Conditions can remain dormant for many years, so you as the pet parent can notice changes in their behavior.
Pet parents need to “embrace” their pets with pet insurance that will cover illnesses and lead a normal life. Treating hip dysplasia could will end up with surgery if not caught in time, and that may not always be successful. There are hundreds of genetic conditions that will affect not only purebreds, but other dogs. I guess you could look at it this way; humans contact 
certain medical problems as they grow older, pets are no different. Keep in mind that pain relieving medication and supplements will add up, so just consider the alternative. I am so conscious of this particular problem, because my boy Pope is suffering from this ailment. Had I known 14 years ago, pet insurance was available; things could have been different financially and his life could have been made easier. Be Happy!
Do You Brush Your Dog’s Teeth?
Back when … did we ever hear of brushing our dog’s teeth? I sure do not remember hearing anything about this, do you? I know that we, as adults, must brush our teeth every day to avoid tooth decay and gum disease, but who would have ever thought about brushing our furry friends’ teeth. Like everything else we do for our pets, I do not think I could have ever accomplished this with any of my previous dogs. To begin with, this is certainly an inconvenience and probably a small 
percentage of pet parents that will even attempt to do this. I would think this should be started at a very early age and become a routine that your dog will not like at first, but will figure it to be something that they will have to tolerate. It has been suggested that this should be done at least several times a week. Estimation is that at least 80 percent of all dogs will have some dental problems and disease before they are five years old, maybe even less. Puppy’s breath is such a sweet smell, but as they age, that can change severely without proper diet and care.
During a dog’s lifetime, plaque and tartar can build up, leading on to more serious gum disease such as halitosis, gingivitis, and periodontal disease. Gingivitis can be reversed, but periodontal disease cannot. Usually dental disease will start with plaque and if not treated soon enough by brushing their teeth will lead to additional problems. Dog’s teeth are for chewing meat and tough objects, but food particles and bacteria will collect on their gums. Without proper care of your dogs’ teeth, medical 
bills can be very costly. When you purchase your pet insurance, make sure that dental coverage is available. If any pet parents out there have had dental problems, you know how expensive it is, and most likely will not be much different for your dog. Periodontal disease can become very serious and cause other medical problems, and will start to travel into various parts of your dog’s body once it gets into their bloodstream. Their liver, heart valves and kidneys can become infected is left unattended. There are many products available in caring for your dogs teeth, but brushing will be less costly than the alternative. Be Happy!
Free Eye Exams for Service Dogs
I realize that only a few days ago I posted an article regarding pet insurance, but this is a free event that I felt was an article worth reading.
Thousands of Service Dogs to Receive Free Sight Saving Eye Exams in the U.S. and Canada
ACVO®/Merial® National Service Dog Eye Exam Event brings together veterinary ophthalmologists and thousands of service dogs for free exams. Registration begins April 1st for May 2010 event.
There are thousands of pet parents that rely on a guide dog, and depend on them for assistance in their everyday lives. These animals are being represented because of their very special jobs and have allowed independence for their master. This is exactly the reason for the National Service Dog Eye Exam. Guide dogs, handicapped assistance dogs, detection dogs and search and rescue dogs selflessly serve the public. Therefore, for the month of May 2010, the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) is launching the 3rdannual ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam Event to help serve the dogs who dedicate their lives to serving us. More than 150 board certified veterinary ophthalmologists in the U.S. and Canada will provide free sight-saving eye exams to 
thousands of service dogs. This event is a success each year due to the outstanding support of our volunteer ophthalmologists, our sponsors and the service dog community. An eye exam for these dogs helps to identify any health issues in their early stages. The complete ocular exam will detect any retinal disease or early cataracts, and looks for things that will limit their vision. There could be an ingrown hair or anything that can result in a scratch of the cornea.
To qualify, dogs must be active “working dogs” that were certified by a formal training program or organization or currently enrolled in a formal training program. The certifying organization could be national, regional or local in nature. Specific service groups are listed on the website at www.ACVOeyeexam.org Owners/agents for the dog(s) must FIRST register the animal via an online registration form beginning April 1, on the website of the ACVOeyeexam.org. Registration ends May 16th. Once registered online, the owner/agent can locate a participating ophthalmologist in their area and contact that doctor to schedule an appointment, during the month of May. Appointment dates and times may vary depending on the facility and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The ACVO apologizes for any inconvenience our criteria for inclusion in the Service Dog Eye Exam Program may impose and we thank you for your interest.
The following non-profit organizations have supported to this event, the National Service Dog Eye Exam Day: American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, state veterinary medical associations in the U.S. and Canada, American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives, Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians Society, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, American Association of Detection Dogs, North American Police Dog Association, National Narcotic Detection Dog Association, Patriot Paws Service Dogs, Paws with a Cause, Department of Homeland Security and Service Dogs of America.
Regarding the qualifications for active working dogs or those in training:
The complimentary eye exam is provided to service dogs that have been formally trained (and have the corresponding paperwork) or have been certified by a nationally recognized service dog program. The purpose for the criteria is twofold. 
First, ACVO is developing a database that can be used in the future to identify potential eye problems associated with the jobs that certain groups of service dogs perform. To make the data useful they must carefully set criteria for participants. Second, over the past several years ACVO has had some individuals claim their dog was a service dog just to take advantage of the eye exam. ACVO diplomates generously donate their time and resources to provide eye exams for service dogs. These resources are limited and if nonqualified dogs fill the limited time slots allotted, then a qualified dog may be excluded.
Be Happy!
Happy Easter to Pet Parents and Their Pets
Petguardianangel and Petsafetyblog wish all a Happy Easter
I was just thinking the fun we had as children growing up and having Easter egg hunts on Easter Sunday. All the preparations ahead of time dying eggs, coloring them and creating delightful Easter baskets with goodies galore. Please keep in mind that dogs love chocolate, but do not give them any because it can be fatal. You do not want to experience a tragedy that could have been avoided. Give them one of their treats they love instead.
Just because we are not children anymore does not mean that this tradition should stop, and I am quite positive that it is still a celebration that will go on … Happy Easter , and Be Happy!
Save Money by Purchasing Pet Insurance
Have you ever noticed when you are among pet lovers and the subject of pet insurance comes into the discussion? There will be some pet parents that will say, “I’ve been thinking about pet insurance, but just have not done anything about it,” 
then there are the ones that say, “I just cannot afford it, it is too expensive,” or, “I’ll think about it later.” I can understand this attitude because I had not heard about pet insurance with any of my previous dogs, or the one I now have. Sure wish I did know, because all through those many years I could have saved myself some money by realizing that there was a choice. Now it is too late for me to purchase pet medical insurance because my dog is too old, and has existing medical problems.
Years ago, veterinarian expenses were not as steep as they are today, and the financial burden would not have had to be as devastating as it is now. Purchasing pet insurance lowers financial worries in maintaining your dog’s health in knowing that you can afford to keep them healthy by having insurance. Pets have a way in showing their own love and affection, just as pet parents share their love and understanding of the choices made to benefit them and their pet. Many choices of various health plans will cover sickness, injury, and other problems associated in maintaining your pet’s health. Visits to the Veterinary Clinic can turn out to be quite expensive depending on what problems that are involved. If possible, do yourself a favor by adding pet insurance to your financial responsibilities when they are puppies or kittens. When you decide on what plan you feel will benefit you and your pet, be 
sure and inquire about what they offer towards any emergencies that could arise while your puppy is still young, or even when they are older. Accidents can happen and you want to know in advance what is covered. Deciding later to purchase pet insurance, keep in mind that pets are insured up to a certain age, if pet insurance was not purchased when they were young. The insurance companies determine that, so check them out for the various plans they offer and you will be delighted that you made the right choice. There are some insurance companies that will cover more than one pet with discounts, so check that out as well. Be Happy!