Archive for March, 2010
PLEASE HELP! Question about pet insurance..debating between petplan, embrace, aspca?
Posted by admin in Pet Insurance Reviews on March 22, 2010
I want one that not only covers illness and emergencies, but regular check-ups as well (deworming pills, vaccines, regular doctor visits, stool sample, x-rays, etc).
do embrace, petplan, and aspca cover all of this? Also, how come on insurance review websites…it shoes like $10 for the monthly fee but when i go on the actual website, it’s like $20-40?
Lastly-I need to get my pup vaccinated asap, once i sign-up for insurance, can i use it right away??
i’d appreciate any help, thanks so much!!!!
Stay away from Banfield as you are restricted in who can offer the dog care.
I would go with VPI or ASPCA.
Pet Insurance is costly but anything under 50 dollars a month that covers annual exam,vaccines,fecal,heartworm/flea and tick prevention is well worth it.
The insurance should also offer some coverage for blood work, urinalysis, mass removals,spay/neuter and dentistries.
The more expensive the plan the more services they will allow you.
How insurance works
You sign up and download insurance forms.
The vet fills out the form and you pay for the services that were rendered.
You submit the insurance claim and them a few weeks later you get a hefty check for reimbersment.
Its not as easy as human health insurance as you are responsible for payment but you will be reimbersed.
It is so worth it
So many clients kick themselves too late as they should of got the insurance earlier.
Why do people believe that veterinary care should be free? That vets don’t care if they charge for services?
Posted by admin in Veterinary Pet Insurance on March 22, 2010
For the last 15 years practicing veterinary medicine, mostly in an emergency clinic setting, I have listened to people complain about the costs associated with caring for their pets. If you choose to own a pet, you are responsible for the costs of taking care of it, not the veterinarian. It is unfair to blame veterinarians because we charge for our services. I am constantly being berated as not caring, when the only reason that I do what I do is because I DO care. A dentist who just graduated from 3 years of dental school makes twice what I make after 15 years of experience and more education, but no one questions their right to make a living. I offer care for your pet. I cannot afford to pay for your pet’s care, if you are unwilling or unable to do so. Take responsibility for the choices you make in life, if you choose to own a pet, purchase pet health insurance or understand the limits of what will be done if your pet becomes ill. Please don’t blame the veterinarian!
Let’s put this in perspective…human doctor, specialist in a SINGLE species, has numerous other doctors to refer to and consult with who in turn commonly only deal with certain body parts/systems. Human doctors commonly have no language barrier to deal with, are supported by company insurance plans, and have journal upon journal, study upon study to base their diagnoses and treatment plans on.
Then we have vets, who are supposed to be specialists to all species, who are not supported by workplace insurance plans, who have to provide all their own diagnostic equipment, and who have patients that cannot speak or otherwise communicate with them.
Frankly, I think vets have a hugely raw deal…they are expected to know more educationally speaking (dealing with all the different species), provide more (machinery/exam equipment, essentially they are all ‘hospitals’) and operate with less information (pets cannot speak to their symptoms). Further they deal with human caregivers who either lie, or are too stupid to have noticed that Fluffy is ailing for weeks if not months, and oh yeah, I forgot, they are supposed to be miracle workers who bring animals back from the dead (primarily due to caregiver incompetence).
I would suggest you make a chart explaining the direct correlation between human and pet costs. Explain that diagnostic tests are far more commonly required because pets cannot speak to their symptoms. I would tell your clientel from the begining what emergency care costs, and explain this during the puppy/kitten exam so they are prepared, and suggest that they either purchase pet insurance, set aside a certain sum in a monthly bank account, or get a credit card (held in reserve) specifically for pet emergencies.
The reality is, most folks never look at the cost of even ANNUAL pet care, let alone emergency lifesaving care. I personally recommend those that get a new pet do as recommended above, and if in fact you choose not to get pet insurance (something I am not a fan of…) then set the annual limit that your animal is worth BEFORE the animal gets sick. Having a credit card saved strictly for Fido/FiFi emergencies is a great way to deal with this.
As to the idiots who require but do not appreciate your services, unfortunately they will not allow us to euth the stupid people, we can only tolerate them, and pity their animals.
Lorinne (wildlife rehabber who CHERISHES her vets).
Where can I get a pet adoption plan sheet?
I don’t need an application I just need a website that’ll help me organinze my notes on what kind of pet I want to adopt. Any ideas please and thank you.
Ive think you can get one at the link below. They say they don’t have any at present but I’ve been told if you give them your email address then they will tell you where to go. Don’t quote me on this, I sort of remember someone telling me. good luck.
How much does all of this dog vacination cost at Petsmart?
Posted by admin in Dog Vacinations on March 22, 2010
I just got a puppy with NONE of her shots. If I took her to the vet and got all of the necessary vacinations/shots, how much would it cost for each individual shot? I’m thinking of taking her to the vet inside of Petsmart, called Banfield. It’s in Richmond, California.
I know that I absolutely need the Rabies shot and the DHLPP, but are there any others that should know of?
Don’t know about California. But, as a pup, she should be checked out by a reputable vet. The initial shots are usually a SERIES given over a few weeks. The check up (In VA) costs about $100 or so. Petsmart is probably fine and will most likely cost less. Get a Bordatella shot as well – its an airborn virus she can pick up at any dog park.
When she is older, check out 1-800-Pet-Meds.com. I have 4 dogs and in VA, I can administer the DHLPP myself. I saved $220 in Vet fees and paid $22.00 total for the vaccines from pet meds. The only shot in VA required to be administered by a Vet (and they have to report it to the State) is the rabies vaccine. I am not sure if you can get bordatella vaccine from pet mets without a vet signing off. I need to check this out myself.
I just took my 4 dogs to the local shelter last month and paid $40 total to vaccinate all of them against Rabies for the next 3 years. This saved me the vet fees which include the office visit and all the other fees. Yippie!
Good luck and enjoy that pup!
What is the best way to make a homemade Dog Door?
I have a door that goes from outside into my garage and i want to put a Dog door in that door, Then put my dogs crate right up against the Dog Door. So she can come in the crate if she wants to sleep, and go out of the crate if she needs to use the bathroom but i want it so that cold air isn’t always blowing into the crate.
Make a cut out in the door or wall or wherever the dog is going to be going through. Then get 2 hinges that swing both ways so the door can swing in either direction. Attach the hinges to the top of the door one close to each corner. Then take some old carpet or blanket and staple gun it to both sides of the door leaving about 1/2 inch hanging over each open edge. Make sure the door can still open and shut but the extra blanket or carpet will seal the door when it’s closed. Good luck!
dOG INSURANCE?
Posted by admin in Dog Insurance on March 22, 2010
What website can you get Dog Insurance that covers sickness, accidents, yearly check-ups, dental, etc?
theres also another place its called Care credit.com
you can use it not only for yourself and your family but as well as your pets if the vet you go to accepts that type of card! GOOD LUCK
Life Insurance: Do you Really Need It?
Posted by admin in Veterinary Pet Insurance on March 14, 2010
These days, it seems there are insurance policies available for just about everything: car insurance, home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, life insurance – the list appears to be endless. Some types of insurance, such as car insurance, are required by law if you intend to drive on the public highway, but for most people other forms of insurance are an optional extra.
However, it’s important to note that arranging insurance policies for other lifestyle items can provide you with peace of mind should something unfortunate happen. For example, taking out home-contents insurance can help cover the cost of replacing your household goods, while pet insurance can cover the cost of veterinary bills and treatments. But perhaps one of the most important ‘optional’ insurances you should consider is life insurance.
Whilst no one likes to think about death, life insurance – sometimes known as life assurance or term assurance – is a policy which pays a lump sum in the event of the policyholder’s death, helping to protect loved ones and dependents against financial burden. Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is never an easy thing to do, and the added financial burden can make it increasingly difficult to cope. However, a life insurance policy can help cover such costs as mortgage repayments, salary replacement and childcare costs, paying off debts or even providing for future education for the kids. Moreover it can help ensure your family can maintain the standard of living to which they were accustomed to.
Life insurance comes in various forms, the most common being level term, decreasing term, critical illness and family income benefit policies. Most are available as both single and joint life policies, with most policies including benefits such as paying out on the diagnosis of a terminal illness. If you’re considering life insurance now, or in the future, it’s important to understand what each type of policy provides.
- Level term insurance is the most common form of life insurance and is designed to pay out a lump sum of money in the event of the policyholder’s death. The policy runs for a fixed term, normally a minimum of 10 years, and the sum assured is guaranteed, and remains unchanged throughout the life of the policy.
- Decreasing term life insurance is also known as mortgage protection cover and is regularly used to protect capital and interest payments on a mortgage. The sum assured decreases during the duration of the policy.
- Critical Illness insurance pays a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specified illness, or suffer loss of limb and can be added to term insurance policies. The sum paid out by this policy can be used for any purpose.
- Family Income Benefit insurance pays a regular tax free income for your dependants throughout the remainder of the policy term. Payouts on this type of life insurance can be structured to correspond with changes in inflation, although benefits usually remain constant.
With the cost of life insurance premiums plummeting in recent years due to improved life expectancy and increased competition between policy providers, arranging a life insurance policy needn’t mean breaking the bank or compromising on cover. Financial comparison sites can help you to find the best deals on life insurance – from premium prices to levels of cover – and with only a few clicks, you can insure and safeguard your family’s future for when you’re no longer around.
Andrew Regan
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/life-insurance-do-you-really-need-it-120720.html
What You Should Know Before Getting Pet Health Insurance
Pet health insurance is gaining popularity because of the drastic changes it has gone through in the past years. One of those changes is the cost of the policies. Right now pet policies are very affordable and very competitive plus the fact that the coverage of the policies is becoming more and more comprehensive. More pet owners are opting to insure their pets.
Because of the popularity it has been gaining in the last few years some people are asking questions that need to be answered by the industry to quell all doubts of its policyholders. If you are one of those who are planning to get a pet health insurance, ask is there is:
- a discounted plan that still offers a comprehensive coverage? This may vary a lot especially on the company that you are getting it from. Some companies offer policies that allow multiple pets to have basic accident coverage while some companies offer a high rate for a premium plan. To know more about plan coverage shops around for different providers.
- a number of accredited veterinarians? Since these plans and policies are pretty much patterned after the ones humans use, the accreditation of vets is highly dependent on the plan and the company.
- a set waiting periods? Just like a regular insurance policy there is a waiting period before your policy takes effect, you would have to bear in mind the start and end dates of your coverage.
- a set of exclusions in the policies? Commonly, the exclusions of pet insurance policies are prevailing health disorders, hereditary diseases and long term trauma but there are still those who do not include these conditions. It is better to choose the latter because you will never know what the pet will experience later on.
- coverage on routine wellness? There are policies that include routine checkups, vaccination and testing for heart worm which can be the case for some animals.
- neutering and spaying? Many companies offer policies that include reproductive health and population control for your pets, however, these are the most utilized service of pet owners.
- prescription coverage? This is just as important as all the other pet services that can be covered by a policy since the technology for caring for your pet is also increasing in demand. Of course, like all prescription coverage it can be very costly to the owner.
- deductible to be paid? Since pet health insurance policies are pretty much like a human’s there are deductibles that you would have to pay eventually. Just look into the details of the policy to know exactly how much the deductible is and remember that the smaller the deductible the higher the premium.
- kinds of caps in pet insurance? Usually there are certain “caps” or limits to the kind of illness or incident that your pet may get into that a company will pay for. For example a broken bone may have a slightly higher cap that a non-fatal poisoning or vice versa, it all depends on your policy. Check the details from your company to know the different caps.
- a number of reliable pet health insurance companies? The best thing to do is to research about it and to ask around from different pet owners for recommendations. There is no straightforward answer to the question because no company provides a definitive solution to your pets needs. They all vary in the coverage. The best thing to do is to research on different companies that provide pet health insurance and look into the reputation that they’ve built with their policyholders.
Jadon Sluck
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-you-should-know-before-getting-pet-health-insurance-737732.html
Insurance Coverage: What You Need and What You Don’t Need
Posted by admin in Dog Insurance on March 14, 2010
Each year, your homeowner’s insurance policy renews. Do you review it each year or do you simply sign the premium check and send it off in the mail? Reviewing your coverage each year may be a bit of a chore, but it’s a necessary one. After all, you may be paying for coverage that you don’t need or underinsuring your valuables. Wouldn’t you rather find out now instead of after a catastrophe?
Insurance Coverages You Need: If you haven’t updated your insurance coverage in some time, your home may be vastly underinsured. For example, if your home is worth $150,000 on the real estate market, how much insurance should you carry? $150,000? $75,000? $300,000? While your mortgage broker may require a specific amount of insurance (usually the value of the mortgage), the real answer depends on how much it would cost to rebuild the home. If it will cost $200,000 to rebuild your home, then you will need at least that much coverage; otherwise, you’ll come up short.
In general, you will need enough insurance to cover: rebuilding your home, replacing your personal property, paying for temporary living expenses during repairs, and covering your liability to others.
When it comes to covering your rebuilding your home, multiply the square footage of your home by local “per square foot” construction costs. Contact the local building association, a realtor, or your insurance agent to obtain the local construction cost figure. Insuring your possessions is trickier than simply saying, “I’ll take $50,000 in coverage.” First, go room through room and document your belongings. Include dollar figures of how much it would cost to replace each item. Make sure that your policy uses “replacement cost” rather than “actual cash value.” In addition, be aware of the limitations of your policy. For example, fine jewelry, fur, silverware, artwork, coin collections, electronics, cash, and guns (as well as other items) often have maximum limits. If you have valuables exceeding these limits, you will need to obtain an endorsement or rider.
Buy enough liability to cover your assets. For example, if you have $1 million in savings and other assets, yet only have $300,000 in liability insurance and are involved in a liability lawsuit, the plaintiff may pursue your additional assets above and beyond your liability limits.
If you live in an area where the risk of floods or earthquakes is of concern, you may want to consider optional flood or earthquake insurance as these perils are excluded from typical insurance policies. In addition, if you have a swimming pool or a dog, you might need additional coverage addressing these increased risks.
Insurance Coverages You Don’t Need: Reviewing your policy each year helps ensure that you aren’t paying for coverages you do not need. For example, if you had purchased a rider adding coverage because you owned a pit bull and the dog has since died, you can drop coverage. Likewise, if you’ve sold your jewelry or art collection, why continue to insure it with an expensive rider? Look at your coverages, endorsements, riders, and limits with an eye for whether that coverage is still necessary. In addition, look at the dollar figures. A few years ago, it may have made sense to pay an extra $100 per year to add a rider protecting your computer from household mishaps, but now that you can buy a comparable computer for a few hundred dollars as opposed to thousands, the coverage may no longer be worth the price.
Finally, while examining your insurance policy, schedule a consultation with your insurance company or agent and ask how you can reduce your costs while maintaining adequate coverage. For example, by installing deadbolt locks or a security system, you may reap a large discount.
Mark Decherd
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/insurance-coverage-what-you-need-and-what-you-dont-need-686510.html
How to Use Dog Separation Anxiety Training to Help Dogs With Separation Anxiety
Don’t you just hate it when your dog barks non-stop while you’re gone? Separation anxiety in dogs is often the reason dogs chew up furniture and clothing, and even claw doors and windows when they’re alone. By using dog separation anxiety training, you can often solve this problem.
You have two goals with this training. The first is to make your dog less dependent on you, and the second is to teach him that being by himself isn’t a bad thing.
Basics Of Dog Separation Anxiety Training
It’s important that your dog know his place in the family pecking order. The dog should be at the bottom of the family heap, not the top. Even if your dog sees you as the pack leader, it’s important that he doesn’t rank himself socially above the other members of the family. Everyone in your home should be involved in dog training so that your dog understands that he needs to obey everyone in the house, not just you.
Your dog shouldn’t get too attached to you. We’ve all seen the 90-pound dogs who always want to curl up in someone’s lap. It’s funny at first, but it gets old fast. It’s best to train your dog to sit or stay about three feet from you. He needs to learn that he doesn’t have to be in constant contact with you to be happy.
Don’t let your dog sleep in the bed with you. If he’s already doing this, first train him to sleep at the foot of your bed. Then encourage him to sleep in his own doggie bed, with the eventual goal of moving his bed out of your bedroom. This teaches him to become more independent of you.
Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise to burn up the extra energy he has. A long walk in the morning and again in the evening goes a long way toward keeping your dog on an even keel emotionally.
This sounds harsh, but don’t make a big scene when you come home. Encouraging your dog to jump around, barking in excitement when you return, is only reinforcing the idea that he can’t be happy unless you’re there. It’s best to ignore your dog for twenty minutes or so before you leave, and again when you return.
Teaching Dogs With Separation Anxiety To Be Happy When They’re Alone
Work on teaching your dog the basic “sit,”, “relax,” and “stay” commands. He needs to know these basic commands so you can work on these steps.
Find a reason to leave the room if you’re watching tv. Use the “sit-stay” command, and then leave. At first come right back, and reward your dog with a tasty treat if he stayed and didn’t follow you. Gradually increase the time that you’re gone. Do this many times a day, so that your dog learns that when you leave, you do come back. He also learns that if he sits and waits patiently for you, he gets rewarded.
You’ll also want to find a room in your house where your dog can’t destroy anything. Put your dog in there with a few favorite toys that he only gets when he’s by himself. Stay with him a little while, and then leave without any fuss, and close the door behind you. Come back before he gets upset, and reward him with a food treat. Repeat this as often during the day as you can, gradually increasing the amount of time you’re gone. Be sure to put his toys up when you’re done.
What your dog is learning now is that he gets fun toys when you’re gone, and a treat when you return. This is teaching him that being away from you isn’t so bad after all.
Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and apply it. You’ll want to look for a good dog training course, so you can avoid making mistakes as you use dog separation anxiety training to solve your dog behavior problems.
Darlene Norris
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-use-dog-separation-anxiety-training-to-help-dogs-with-separation-anxiety-740728.html
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