The Bad Air Sponge

Recent studies have shown that over half of all Canadian households have at least one pet; usually either a cat or a dog. However, in North America, less than 1% of all pets are insured. Thus, the question one has to ask is: Why aren’t our beloved pets benefiting from pet medical insurance?

Let’s face it; all pet owners love and cherish their pets. Therefore, just as you would have coverage for you and your family members, why wouldn’t you take out pet medical insurance for your pet? The policy you choose is as important to the maintenance and overall health of your pet as it is to you.

Each year, about one out of every three domestic pets will have an unexpected injury or illness that will require veterinary care. Sometimes, a simple checkup and/or treatment may be required. However, there may be other times when our pets may need expensive tests using additional diagnostic equipment that can also be just as costly.

Prescription drugs for pets are expensive. Since there are no government programs or subsidies in place to provide our furry friends with the care they need, pet insurance provides us with a way to cover these unexpected costs.

As with most insurance companies, the premiums vary. For example, while there are different policies depending on your pet’s breed; some may include annual check-ups and the required vaccinations, while others may include spaying and neutering; and death benefits. Others may just include accident and illness.

Pet medical insurance covers all unexpected health costs for your pet, up to the limit on your policy. On the other hand, with our own health insurance, our government plan covers only our basic care needs.

Due to the fact that pet insurance is kind of a niche insurance market for older pets, it is the kittens and puppies that do not have as much risk of becoming ill as will older pets as they age. But consider that while puppies and kittens may not fall ill as easily as older pets, young pets are just like young children. They lack full coordination and are more likely to experience injuries or get into trouble. So too, younger pets also lack perception and judgment that comes from experience.

While most pet insurance claims arise from costs related to illness, puppies and kittens are more likely to become injured in accidents. Of course, prevention is always important and taking out pet medical insurance while they are still young will afford you peace of mind should any serious illness develop or any accident occur.

If you have an outdoor pet, or pets that spend time inside and outside, it is likely they can come into contact with things that indoor pets may not. This could include traffic, ticks, and exposure to other animals. However, when we think of the unexpected, accidents come to mind first. According to statistics, 75% of pet medical claims are illness related. Indoor pets are not any less vulnerable to illness than outdoor pets. Your Wheezy may still fall ill from a variety of ailments such as allergens in the home, and having pet insurance is the only way to ensure she gets the treatment she needs to fully recover.

You know the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Keep your pet active through exercise as well as a proper diet. Research the breed; the more you know about your pet, the better equipped you will be to prevent any onset of illness or disease. Pet medical insurance is vital to the health and care of your “best friend.”

Liane Wood is a chartered insurance professional and registered insurance broker specializing in personal and small business insurance. For more information on pet insurance, be sure to visit: www.insurance-rates.ca/pet-insurance-rates.html

As a pet owner, you may have had an unexpected emergency that required immediate medical attention for your pet. If so, you may have incurred expenses which you hadn’t planned for, nor find it difficult to comprehend.

Cost of medical treatment for dogs and cats can be exorbitant. It is estimated that veterinary costs have increased over 70%. To this end, here are some case studies that will bring home the point that pet insurance is not only necessary, but a cost-effective necessity.

• Polly is a seven-year-old-cat. She was diagnosed with a Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, which is quite common among cats. She requires lab work, diagnostic testing, and medications to treat the infection. Cost: $1,500.00

• A 12-year-old Shar Pei named Dominic is diagnosed with a malignant tumor, and requires medical treatment. Cost: $950.00

• Hazel, an eight-year-old Siamese cat has an eye infection that requires medical attention as well as prescription medication. Cost: $170.00

• A six-year-old Retriever named Bailey has recently experienced an allergic reaction that left him with inflamed bumps in his neck and throat. If he had not been treated, he would have succumbed. Treatment for Bailey ensued and he survived. Cost: $2,096.00

• Apollo is a three-year-old domestic short haired cat who ate a pair of his owner’s nylons. Removing the offending material from his stomach required surgery. Cost: $1,332.40

As you can see, veterinary treatments can run into the thousands. Now let’s take a look at the average costs for certain illnesses and/or accidents that may afflict your pet:

Dogs:
• Cancer treatments - $3,600
• Hip dysplasia - $2,400
• Ingestion of foreign bodies - $2,100
• Motor vehicle accidents - $3,300
• Bladder stones - $1,200

Cats:
• Fractured legs - $2,300
• Ingestion of foreign bodies - $1,200
• Infection (not eye) - $1,000
• Eye infection - $250

When you look at these figures, you might be persuaded not to purchase or adopt a pet, right? But this is the downside to not having pet insurance; the upside is that with pet insurance you need not worry about the cost of treating your pet – the benefits derived from pet insurance coverage will take care of all your pet’s needs.

You may wish to bookmark my site listed below where you will be able to peruse the many benefits offered, as well as examples of claim calculations which will give you an idea as to the premiums, deductibles, and amount paid. This is a comprehensive site that will help you choose the best coverage for your beloved pet.

Liane Wood is a chartered insurance professional and registered insurance broker specializing in personal and small business insurance. For more information on pet insurance, be sure to visit: www.insurance-rates.ca/pet-insurance-rates.html

Whether you are looking to buy a budgie, already have a budgie or even own multiple budgies, health is of utmost importance. A budgie can go downhill really quickly if it gets ill, so it is really important to know what a healthy budgie looks like and to watch for any signs that may be pointing to the bird being slightly unwell or even very ill.

A healthy budgerigar is easily seen by it being active and chirpy, with bright, clear eyes and well preened feathers. He (or she) will also have a healthy appetite, so always check to see that the bird is eating and drinking well. The bird should also have a clean vent, with no fecal matter (poop) sticking to it and his breathing should be quick and quiet.

Now that we’ve determined what a healthy budgerigar should be like, let’s see what signs there are that your budgie might be feeling under the weather or unwell.

Your bird may become unusually quiet, sit fluffed up at the bottom of the cage, stop eating and drinking. Its eyes could become sore, his feet can get swollen. The breathing could become noisy and seem like it’s a lot of hard work for the budgie. It could develop a visible lump (possible tumour), or it’s legs and beak could get crusty and sore (possible scaly face).

Other things to watch for are scruffy looking feathers, major loss of feathers or a dirty vent. Do note that budgies are very good at hiding illness so they really need to be watched closely.

If you should at any time find that your bird is exhibiting symptoms like this, please
always try to get advice from an avian vet if possible, or even a breeder if you can find one as they will usually be able to help you decide which steps to take to help get the bird better again.

Anna-Marie Stewart keeps and breeds pet budgerigars. Visit Adorable Budgies for information, pictures and forum adorablebudgies.co.uk

There is no doubt Beagles grow old. Along with their growing age, their health deteriorates too. No matter how well they are taken cared of, the risk of developing diseases is always present. Some diseases affecting older dogs can also affect young ones. One of these diseases is canine arthritis.

Our skeletal system is composed of bones, cartilage and ligaments. These organs provide body framework, protect the internal organ and provide a full range of motion. This is the same with dogs. Skeletal system is essential in promoting normal health condition among dogs. When one of these bones or joints is damaged, the dog’s normal activity will surely be hindered.

Canine arthritis occurs when there is an inflammation in the joints of a dog. Dogs of all sizes, breeds and ages can develop arthritis though older dogs are more prone to this disease. Canine arthritis is categorized into two; degenerative joint disease and inflammatory joint disease.

Degenerative joint disease, also called osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that protects the bones that make up the joint is damaged. Cartilage is damaged when there is a normal stress on abnormal joints or abnormal stress on normal joints. Degenerative joint disease is further subdivided into two; primary and secondary. Primary degenerative disease has no known cause. On the other hand, secondary disease can be the result of hip dysplasia, patella luxation (loose kneecap), osteochondritis dissecans, trauma and ruptured cruciate (knee) ligaments.

Inflammatory joint disease is another type of canine arthritis. It is caused either by infection or immune-mediated diseases. This type of arthritis usually affecting multiple joints is accompanied by fever, anorexia and all-over stiffness. Inflammatory joint disease is further subdivided into two; infectious and immune-mediated diseases. Bacteria causes infectious disease while immune-mediated disease is caused by weakness in the immune system. This type of arthritis can also be hereditary.

Signs of arthritis in Beagles include reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play. Gradual limping and swelling around a joint can also be seen. Your dog will display tenderness when flexing a joint and may hold its breath or stop panting when an affected joint is used. Beagles affected with canine arthritis will also suffer from loss of appetite.

Severe arthritis is often times treated with surgical procedures. But mild cases of canine arthritis may not need surgery. Non-surgical treatment includes painkillers, exercise, rest and diet. It is important for dog owners to carefully read the product label of dog foods to check its content. But careful choosing is not enough yet. The amount of food and frequency of feeding should be regulated as well to prevent obesity. Exercise is another important step to prevent obesity in dogs. But Beagles with arthritis should only have limited and gentle exercise. They should also be prohibited from doing strenuous activities.

Richard Cussons is a writer with tons of knowledge about dogs. Learn useful facts about Beagle training at this site for Beagles