Archive for January, 2010
Should I Buy Pet Insurance?
Posted by admin in Pet Insurance Reviews on January 25, 2010
I have a one-year-old, spayed female lab. Overall, she is very healthy (despite the occasional ear infection from swimming). As a young dog, however, she has experienced some "bumps and bruises." After a run of bad luck — giardia, kennel cough, and a broken toenail requiring anesthesia — I am seriously considering acquiring pet insurance. I have done plenty of research and confused myself thoroughly. Is it worth it?
Some articles suggest that putting money away into savings is essentially the same thing and that pet insurance is not cost-effective. Other articles suggest that it is well worth it and cost effective over time for most animals. I’ve read numerous reviews of insurance companies suggesting they nit-pick in order to avoid reimbursement and jack up rates after the first year or after an incident or illness.
You tell me, is it worth it?
Thank you.
She is up to date on all shots — the kennel cough was a blip. The vet explained that occasionally the vaccine doesn’t take — same thing in the human world.
Saving up money in a bank account only helps for lesser expensive treatments. It is not helpful at all if you have $200 saved up and receive a $2000 vet bill, which is why I think pet insurance is worth it.
Yes, lots of people say the insurance company "denied the claim for no reason" but this is because they didn’t fully understand their policy which seems to be the biggest problem people have. You should really read the policy and understand what is and is not covered before signing up.
So it seems your dog is sort of accident-prone, so I’d definitely recommend pet insurance, especially because she is young — she has a whole life of possible accidents ahead of her. Obviously anything related to giardia, kennel cough, and future broken toenails will probably not be covered.
Though it’s kind of a lot of reading, this site has some really good information about what to look for in a plan: http://www.pet-insurance-university.com/pet_insurance_guide_lesson7.html
My own recommendation for a company is Trupanion. They have very few exclusions and limitations – no claim limits per year, per claim, or per incident, just a lifetime limit. Also they don’t exclude breeds or hereditary conditions — the only exclusion is hip dysplasia (which coverage has to be added on before the pet turns 1).
They cover 90% of the bill with no benefits schedules, and you can choose a $0 deductible which is what I would recommend.
Also there is no increase in premiums due to pet aging, so since your dog is young, you’d get locked in at the lower premium.
They cover conditions for life, so unlike some companies, they will not consider a condition preexisting just because your policy renewed.
In all, yes pet insurance is worth it if you know exactly what you are getting.
Is pet health insurance a good idea for my fam?
Posted by admin in Veterinary Pet Insurance on January 25, 2010
As long as we have owned pets, my parents have never provided veterinary care for them. As a result, my bird died recently. I think it’s unfair (and illegal, right?) to neglect to give someone in need health care, so I told my mom I was considering putting my last bird up for adoption just in case it got sick in the future.
I guess she felt a little bad about what happened to my last bird because she went to Petco and asked about their medical insurance program. Now I don’t know if she’s going to go along with the program (it’s called "Trupanion", anyone here familiar?), but the fact that she even did that is a HUGE step.
My problem is, I have NO experience in signing up for these kinds of things, nor do my parents (although I imagine this will be solely my mom’s decision since my dad is so careless) so I don’t know what to look for in a plan. We have one dog and a bird, and MIGHT get a small rodent in the future. Can anybody make any recommendations or give any advice?
Yes, pet health insurance is a great idea. Having good pet insurance takes the "I can’t afford that" nonsense out the the equation when facing a costly surgery or procedure. I have 4 dogs and 2 cats who all have health insurance. I use Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) http://www.petinsurance.com. I pay approximately $200 per year (per animal) for coverage. My Doberman recently tore her ACL and had $2,600 surgery. VPI reimbursed me $1,400. My Corgi developed allergies and had a $535 allergy test. VPI reimbursed me $345. Ideally, you should get insurance as soon as you get the animal. I know that the older pets get, the more expensive the premiums are for the insurance, if they agree to insure the animal at all. When working at a veterinarian’s office, I had the chance to review several different pet insurance plans, and they are all different in terms of cost and coverage. Do some Internet research or check with your vet, finding the right company and right plan can save you hundreds when facing costly procedures.
Where can I find a sample business plan for a pet store?
I need to write a business plan for college and I’d love to find some samples. It can be either animal/reptile breeding, pet supply(online or retail business) or pet store. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
Hi Melissa…it is difficult to provide a business plan for pet store businesses since these always are so different from one another.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=+pet+store+business+plan&btnG=Search
Can my 8 week old puppy meet my friend’s 2 year old dog?
Posted by admin in Dog Vacinations on January 25, 2010
I have a golden retriever puppy who is 8 weeks old. My best friend has a golden retriever who is 2 years old. Her dog is great with puppy’s and is very calm. She has had ALL of her vacinations and is perfectly healthy. Can they meet in a safe envirnment like my house or my friends?
yes you can let them meet inside, just be careful the two year old doesnt hurt your puppy, she would do it by accident because sometimes big dogs try to play with the puppies and they accidentaly hurt them
the whole vet rule about waiting till your puppy is twelve weeks is only for dogs that you dont know extremely well, that could possibly not be healthy
Can you install a dog door in a sliding patio door?
we have a sliding patio door without a screen is it possible to put a Dog Door in it somehow?
Yes, we have one. We bought it at home depot for around a $100. Its a piece of glass that connects to the other side of where your door opens at. You install it and it has the latch for your door to lock into it. It already has the doggie door in it. The have 3 different sizes small, medium and large.
How do you get dog insurance?
Posted by admin in Dog Insurance on January 25, 2010
I looked everywhere but I still don’t know how or where to get Dog Insurance.
Typically, you can sign up right online at the insurance provider’s website. They also usually make their customer service phone number easy to find, and you can call customer service and they will sign you up.
For Trupanion Pet Insurance for example, you go to their main website and fill out the information about your dog or cat and click on "Generate Quote" and then you will get a free quote. You can continue the steps and filling out the rest of the form to actually enroll with insurance.
Pet Health Insurance: a Way to Care your Pets
Posted by admin in Veterinary Pet Insurance on January 24, 2010
Owning a pet is one of the most common features that can be seen in almost all our households. And for most pet owners pets are a part of their family. But at the same time it has become one of the most expensive affairs. It is because of the treatment or the care they may need during their lifetime. Apart from the day-to-day costs of feeding and keeping your pet in good condition, there are many unplanned costs that include vets’ fees during operations and accidents, which you might find difficult to cover. Because of this, it’s a good idea to buy a pet health insurance policy which will protect both you and your pet. Pet health care insurance is a policy where the insurer will pay you for the covered costs of the treatment of your pets and in the return you have to shell out a certain sum of premium to the insurer at regular intervals.
There are different insurance companies that offer various health insurance policies and you can opt for the best policy that will suit your needs and family status. There are different health insurance plans for cats, for dogs and for your other pets. Policies vary from one company to other company.
And also the rate of premiums varies from company to company. Usually the policies under veterinary pet health insurance are cheaper for dogs and cats but little higher for other pets such as horses, rabbits etc. So before handing over your premiums to an insurer who provides pet health insurance, it is important for you to do a detailed research of all these information. Hence we suggest you to shop around a little. Now with online facilities on pet health insurance in UK it is easier to search and shop.
It is imperative to keep in mind that most pet care health insurances available in the market do not pay for routine check ups like worming, flea control nor is it likely to cover the pre-existing medical conditions that your pet has been suffering.
Apart from that, for some diseases and treatments that may need a long time, say more than a year, it is necessary to renew the policy at the end of the year. If not, you will loose your claim and the policy may end all together. The best time to buy a pet health insurance for your pet is when it is little, say for instance, 8 weeks old, because it is difficult to get maximum cover at the middle age. Thus according to the pets you own its high time for you to buy a dogs health insurance or cat health insurance or any other pet insurance as soon as possible.
Jenny Black
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/pet-health-insurance-a-way-to-care-your-pets-75491.html
Florida’s Pet Health Insurance
Valparaiso FL. Florida is located in Florida’s Okaloosa County. There are approximately 6,408 people living in the city of Valparaiso Florida equaling approximately 2000 households. The average income per household in Valparaiso Florida is approximately $39,521. Approximately 31% of the families in Valparaiso Florida and 6.7% of the general population in Valparaiso Florida are living below the poverty level.
Pet owners, who have recently brought their pets to Florida, should be aware of the potential medical issues involved with exposing their pets to strange surroundings, infectious diseases, and usual climate conditions, new external and internal parasites, infectious diseases, and emotional distress. Many of the parasites in diseases Florida has to offer are not all that different found in the rest of the country except the warm climates increase the amount of time your pet is exposed.
Pet owners have recently moved to Florida need to give their pets plenty of time to adjust to their new surroundings. To prevent losing their pets whenever they leave the house they should be on a leash or in a fenced yard.
Rabies is a terrible disease that is transferable from animals to humans. The most effective preventative medicine for rabies is a yearly vaccine. Every county in Florida has rules enforcing rabies vaccination for all pets. Owners should be aware that any pet that bites the human who has not had a rabies vaccine will be immediately euthanized. Pets should receive their first rabies vaccination when it is approximately 4 months old.
Dog owners should be aware of a disease called canine distemper. Canine distemper is virus that can be found all over the world that can be effectively controlled with a vaccination. Pet owners living in Florida should be aware that the canine distemper virus is present year-round in the state. The canine distemper virus travels through the air. Although treatment for canine distemper is available it is difficult, expensive, and has a low success rate. Dog should be first vaccinated for canine distemper as puppies and giving booster vaccinations for the rest of their adult life.
Parvovirus infection is an extremely contagious viral disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract of dogs of all ages. Dive to contract parvovirus infection generally die within two to three days if the condition is left untreated. Preventing parvovirus infection is done with a simple vaccination administered by her local veterinarian. Florida has reported many cases of parvovirus infection in recent years.
Because of Florida’s warm, moist, climate cats and dogs are able to pick up the case of internal worms and internal parasites year-round. Internal parasites found in dogs and cats include hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. A simple worming regimen is used to flush the worms from a pet’s body. Because workers are potentially toxic to pets if administered improperly you should consult your veterinarian before putting your pet on a worming schedule.
Heartworms are large roundworms that live in the right side of the dog’s heart. Heartworms cause a significant amount of internal damage. Early diagnosis is the best way to ensure survival other pet that has contracted heartworm disease. Medication given on a daily and/or monthly schedule that a starter when the dog is just three months of age is the best way to ensure that your dog never suffers from heartworm disease. Because Florida has a mosquito population that is present year-round dog should be medicated against heartworm disease throughout the year. Florida dog owner should also bring their family dog to a veterinarian for a heartworm test every six months.
Because of the hurricanes that can sweep up and down Florida’s coastline pet owners in Florida should consider purchasing a pet health insurance plan that will protect their pets in event of a hurricane. This plan should cover any medical costs the Pat might acquire from stress or injury and owner should consider purchasing a plan that would cover the expense of boarding their pets in case of evacuation.
Janice Sherwood
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/floridas-pet-health-insurance-670995.html
The Necessity Of Dog Insurance
Posted by admin in Dog Insurance on January 24, 2010
Unfortunately, in todays world it is not difficult for a pet dog to get injured. Dogs were not designed to live in an urban environment and the common trappings of city life can yield some unfortunate incidents. These incidents may result in a trip to the vets to have the dog properly taken care of. However, such a trip is not free and can run into an expensive bill. Of course, one could defer this expense by simply purchasing adequate dog insurance designed to provide a financial safety net no different that which is provided by human health insurance coverage.
There are those who might laugh at the mere mention of Dog Insurance designed to cover any costs associated with illnesses that the pooch may suffer from. It is true that the mention of dog insurance will yield a reaction of laughter from some people mainly because the concept of dog insurance is a relatively new concept. Since people generally associate medical insurance with humans, it may seem odd that insurance can be purchased for a pet as well. The problem exists is that people take that moment of smirking and use it to dismiss the serious possibility of a life threatening illness effecting a loyal pet and the need for an expensive life threatening operation being required to save the poor pets life.
Another reason that people may not take the need for dog insurance seriously is because most people are unaware of the costs that can be associated with a visit to the vet. Most people will usually take their dog into the vets office for common shots, check ups. Dental visits, etc. While these visits are not free, they are also relatively inexpensive. As such, people develop the notion that vet visits and procedures are simply not expensive. (There is also the unfortunate situation of people not being aware of the costs of vet visits because they never take their dog in for yearly check ups) Such a notion is wildly inaccurate as any complicated procedure will yield expensive vet bills. So, the purchasing dog insurance is not so silly after all, particularly if it ends up saving a person a great deal of money.
A dog is a loving and loyal animal and should not be put at risk. By not taking the proper precautions to cover any financial impediments to providing proper medical care to the pet, then one is exhibiting a form of animal cruelty by default. Do not place a loving and loyal pet at risk, seek out a provider of dog insurance and have a blanket coverage plan put in place to keep the animal protected against any potential medical threats.
Craig Thornburrow
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/the-necessity-of-dog-insurance-95241.html
How to Choose a Dog Carrier for Your Canine Friend
If you have a dog and if you are a frequent traveler within the country or internationally and would want to carry your dog with you then what you really need are dog carriers. You can purchase fabricated dog cages or made to order.
the country or internationally and would want to carry your dog with you then what you really need are dog carriers. You can purchase fabricated dog cages or made to order.
There are several different types of dog carriers available in the market and choosing the right one for your dog can be quite difficult. Here are some shopping tips that will help you choose or find the right dog cages for your favorite companion:
1. Check the design: The first thing to check is the design of the dog carriers. Start from the front door and check if it is spring loaded or not. Some of the dog carriers have doors that can snap shut on your dog’s tail or paw and injure him. The next thing to look out for is the latches. You need to ensure that the latches for the dog cages are in place and should be secure. It is recommended to choose the metal pin latches over the plastic latches as the former are more durable and stronger. Another type of latch is the dial latch, which is also strong enough although they might be a little tricky to work with and at times might just get stuck.
2. There are certain types of dog carriers that can open from the top, the front as well as from the sides. There are times when the moment you arrive at your new destination, your dog might want to get out of his carrier. At that point using the front door to take him out can be challenging and hence a top side flap or a side door can be extremely handy.
3. Material: Most of the dog carriers are made of plastic and hence they are easy to clean and last longer. Most of the plastic dog carriers available in top pet stores have been approved by various airlines and will have a label reinforcing the fact.
4. Soft carriers: There are different types of dog carriers and meant for short travels. These dog cages are not approved by the airlines and hence it will not be a good idea to carry your dog in it if you are traveling by air.
5. Cardboard carriers: There are certain dog carriers that are made from card board and are much less sturdy and durable than the plastic ones. If these dog cages become wet then they can easily get destroyed or broken. It is recommended that you refrain from using them.
6. One of the good quality dog cages include the collapsible dog carriers, which are good to work with and are durable too.
7. Ensure that the dog carriers have enough ventilation for your dog and he should not feel uncomfortable or get suffocated within it.
8. You need to also ensure that the dog carriers can hold food and water bowls as attachments.
The most important thing is that your dog should feel secure and comfortable during the ride or flight and hence choosing top-of-the-line dog carriers is important.
Mark Stimpson
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-choose-a-dog-carrier-for-your-canine-friend-689532.html
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