The main reason that pet owners are not completely buying into the pet insurance and pet cover plans is due to the many myths surrounding the same. However, these myths are just that, myths, and should not come in the way of you investing in a dog health insurance plan. Simply going over the various benefits that pet cover and a dog health insurance plan will provide for your beloved companion will help eliminate any doubts you may have about pet insurance.

Here are some common myths about pet insurance and pet cover plans:

Pet insurance is unnecessary: This is a common misconception held by most pet owners when it comes to cat or dog health insurance. Most pet owners feel they will never need pet insurance. However, your pet can fall ill or get hurt anytime. The veterinary bills during emergencies can soar very fast. In such a situation a cat or dog health insurance will help you manage the finances and also ensure your pet gets the care he needs.

Pet insurance is costly: Today there are numerous plans available when it comes to dog health insurance. Hence, the cost should not come in the way of you investing in a pet cover. There are also options to customise the pet insurance plan which enables you to ensure the cat or dog health insurance fits your budget. If you are still unsure, opt for the various pet insurance reviews that are available and select the one that is rated the best by both experts and pet owners.

Pet insurance is only available for healthy and young pets: This is a common misconception held by majority pet owners. However, today’s pet covers and dog health insurance schemes have various plans suited to pets of all ages, including pets with a health condition. Pet insurance reviews will help you realise that the market is flooded with a variety of pet covers for pets of all age groups.

Pet insurance does not allow you to go to a veterinarian of your choice: Today, most pet covers and cat and dog health insurance plans are flexible and do not limit you to visit a few vets only. You can visit any licensed veterinarian, including specialists and emergency care clinics. Most dog health insurance providers will not even require referrals or claim forms signed by the vets.

Pet insurance covers emergencies only: Today pet insurance and pet cover plans are not limited to emergency medical treatment only. You can also include wellness cover in your dog health insurance. Generally a wellness cover includes standard vaccines, spaying or neutering, and an annual exam as well as dental cleaning, additional vaccines, flea treatments, etc.

Complex reimbursement process: It is no longer complicated to fill out forms and claims to avail reimbursements on your vet bills. The turnaround time of most dog health insurance providers is also usually not more than two weeks.

 But have you ever thought about how your lifestyle might impact on your pet and how to recognise the signals?

 What makes cats stressed?

Cats are pretty self-sufficient creatures that like to be able to roam around, explore, avoid problem situations and help themselves to food and water. They like privacy and a quiet environment. They do not like change, so moving house, or the arrival of a new pet or a baby can disorientate and depress and stress a cat.

 In today’s domestic situations, cats often have to live in confined spaces in units and are restricted to indoors. Their owners justifiably fear for their safety on busy streets, so are not comfortable with giving them access to outdoor areas and even if they do have a protected area, it is often very limited. Some cats have to share space with other pets.

 Since cats are more reserved than dogs, you have to look carefully signs of stress. Behaviours to look for are:

• Scratching
• aggression towards other pets
• loss of appetite
• over grooming
• urinating and soiling
• listlessness and general withdrawal
• decreased level of activity.

What makes dogs stressed?

Dogs are more outgoing than cats and in many ways better at communicating stress and unhappiness. They can’t tell you what is causing it, but they can certainly let you know that things are not the way they would like them to be. The easiest one to identify is separation anxiety when a puppy is introduced to a new home and new people. Even a more mature dog may react adversely to a change of environment.

 Puppies are like children. Early experiences will impact on future behavior. Socialisation is very important to dogs. Unlike cats they are not loners and crave companionship and happy interaction with humans and other pets. Scary encounters can result in nervous behavior and aggression. So it is very important that early experience is positive and that a benign environment is maintained.

Dogs in confined spaces will experience similar problems as cats. While cats will exercise themselves given enough space, dogs need more activity. Some dogs will exhibit signs of stress after a spell in a boarding kennel. There are also fear reactions – thunder, lightning, fireworks that can set a dog off. Illness, hospitalisation and ageing can all produce behavioural changes. Most of all, dogs need attention and lots of love, Deny them this and you’ll end up with an unhappy pet.

What to do about pet stress

If your pet exhibits signs of stress you need to remedy it as best you can. Your vet can recommend remedial systems and preparations. If you or a member of your family is suffering stress, you would not hesitate to seek medical help. Your pet is not ‘just a cat, or just a dog’. They are part of your family and deserve the same consideration as the other members of your household. So consult your vet about pet stress.

Just as our needs change as we get older, so do the needs of your pet when it comes to feeding and exercise routines.

Tips for keeping your senior pet happy and healthy

• Provide a nutritious and balanced diet, most importantly to maintain kidney and heart health.  Pet foods for senior cats and dogs should have reduced levels of phosphorous and sodium.
• To aid digestion, consider feeding several meals a day, rather than one big serving.
• Maintain regular exercise to keep muscle tone, and keep bones and joints strong.
• Make sure they have comfortable and warm bedding.  Many older pets suffer from arthritis and muscle stiffness.
• Control fleas proactively.
• Brush and groom your pet to help stimulate the skin to produce natural oils.  Senior cats often have difficulty grooming
  themselves.
• Bladder muscles can weaken too.  Make sure your pet is let outside promptly and frequently to avoid accidents.
• Make sure there is lots of clean, fresh water.

Diseases are more prevalent in senior pets, and the earlier they are detected the better the chances of successfully managing them.  Ask your vet about scheduling a twice yearly physical examination and lab tests to screen for common diseases.

Look out for symptoms such as those below, and make sure they are attended to as soon as possible:

• Pain
• Weight gain or loss
• Increased drinking or urinating
• Reluctance to exercise, climb stairs
• Reduced appetite
• Coughing, difficulty breathing
• Hearing loss, poor vision
• Difficulty chewing, poor digestion
• Poor coat, brittle nails
• Confusion or disorientation

Remember prevention is better than cure!

The hound often trips over his own ears, stands on them and drags them through his food, owner Phil Jeffries, said.   His amazing ears have been insured for £30,000!

Ready for take off!

Heavy rains and warm termperatures create breeding grounds for parasites and insects.  Check for flea infestations, ticks and bites from insects.

Wild weather can also cause stress for a lot of pets.  Lightening, thunder can really frighten a lot of pets.  It’s important to make sure they are safe and secure.  They shouldn’t be able to escape, and they also need to be warm and protected from the elements.  Pet’s experience anxiety just like humans.  Anxiety in its turn can cause physical ailments.  So it pays to keep them protected, it’s just another way to avoid an expensive trip to the vet. 

Well a Mrs Clark from the United Kingdom offers to join paws in marriage – for just 150 pounds.  But apparently for some pet lovers, that is not enough.  They like to create a day to remember, with chauffeur driven cars, nibblies, and even a professional photographer to mark the occasion.

As well as weddings between different species (cats and dogs), being a modern registrar, Mrs Clark offers same-sex civil ceremonies, but she draws the line at marrying owners to their pets.

Apparently whilst most of those joined in matrimony are dogs, she has wed plenty of cats too, but has most recently joined two rabbits in matrimony.  Their special day was marked with a wedding breakfast of carrots.

A typical pet wedding will start with a champagne breakfast for the human guests, while the bridal party are treated to milk and water.  When the service begins the bride is walked or carried over a bridge to the pagoda in the centre of the garden, where the groom is nervously waiting.

After they are pronounced husband and wife, they have their photos taken for the wedding album, which is then followed by a bowl of treats to celebrate.

All pets receive a certificate at the end of the ceremony, but I don’t think this would have standing in a court of law, for instance, if there was to be an unfortunate divorce. 

What next?

 “Somewhat overweight, balding middle aged male, good at his job but not much else. Seeks attractive lively woman for cosy intimate evenings?” Oh no.o.o.…

 Well, at least I had my lovely Labrador Jessie for company. Jessie, who is always happy to see me, always smiling, looking up at me adoringly, or at my feet content to watch whatever program I choose. “Not like a wife”, I kept telling myself.

 When I moved to a house close to the water, Jessie and I would go on regular walks, and she loved to have a dip to cool off.  Labradors are very sociable and Jessie would not only go up to other dogs and have a good old sniff, she also liked to say hello to their owners.

 One day she decided to have good sniff of a cute little Maltese terrier. The owner, an attractive woman in a neat pair of cut-off jeans and T shirt stopped and stroked and patted Jessie. “What a gorgeous Labrador”, she cooed, “I just love them. I grew up with Labradors, they were always our family’s favourites. I would have one now but I live in a unit and can’t keep a big dog.” Then she added; “How do you manage, do you have house with a yard?”

 I couldn’t take my eyes off this lady, especially her jeans. Suddenly I felt embarrassed and at a loss for words. It had been such a long time since I had felt so instantly attracted to a woman. I stumbled through the next few minutes of conversation, which revolved around doggy matters and the fact that I had recently moved into a house just minutes from where we were walking.

 Then suddenly, I got the shock of my life when she said; “Oh you’re so lucky to live around here! Why don’t we have a coffee at the marina and then maybe you’ll take me to see your new place.” By then Jessie and Alice’s little dog were firm friends and over a cup of coffee my reticence abated somewhat. Of course, as well as Alice’s gorgeous smile there were those jeans.

 We strolled home to my place, the dogs frolicking all the way. Once home we chatted for hours, shared a bottle of wine, got some take-away and took it all from there.

 I still wonder what a gorgeous woman like Alice saw in this portly, balding, middle aged bloke. I still tell myself that she fell in love with my Labrador not me, but now that she’s moved in, I don’t really mind which of us is her favourite, as long as she never gets rid of those jeans…

 My advice? If you’re lonely, try walking your dog and the cuter your dog, the better your chances!

Foods to avoid:

Some food types will not only upset your pet’s digestive system, they can be absolutely fatal, so avoid them completely.

• Cooked bones and chicken bones
• Chocolate
• Alcohol
• Milk (forget the myth that cats love milk – it’s bad for them)
• Cheese
• Salted meats like ham
• Onions and garlic – can be fatal
• Caffeine
• Avocados
• Raisins and grapes
• Tuna – dangerous for cats except special canned tuna for cats
• Tomato leaves and stems
• Rhubarb leaves – poisonous
• Sugary items
• Nuts and fruit stones and apple cores

Carbohydrates:

While not dangerous to pets, they do not need them. Many pet food products include a lot of carbohydrates, primarily because it bulks them up, but dogs and cats thrive on a high protein diet and don’t need carbs.

Foods to give:

A healthy diet will help your dog remain healthy and happy. They don’t have an acute sense of taste and are quite happy with a few basic foods.

• Raw meat –human grade meat. Pet mince and processed pet products may contain preservatives
• Raw bones about twice a week – not small enough for pet to choke on
• Raw chicken wings and necks
• Canned sardines, tuna and salmon, but not every day
• Cooked vegetables but no onions
• Pasta in limited amounts (see Carbohydrates above).
• Plentiful water must be always available.

While it’s tempting to indulge your pet, it’s not a good idea to feed them scraps from the table. It compromises their diet and upsets balance and quantity, as well as influencing their behaviour.

• Pit Bull Terrier Breeds, includes the American Pit Bull Terrier
•  Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino (Argentinian fighting dog)
• Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian fighting dog)
• Perro de Presa Canario
• Any dog that is any part restricted breed, declared by a Council under Division 6 of the Companion Animals Act
• Any other dog of a breed, kind or description prescribed by the Companion Animals Regulation
  
• If you own a restricted  breed

Effective from 13 January 2006, owners of a restricted dog must ensure that the following requirements are complied with. Severe penalties may be imposed and/or the dog may be seized if the requirements are not met:

• Distinctive collar

The dog must at all times wear a durable, secure, red and yellow striped collar, which complies with the Companion Animal Regulations.

• Lead and muzzle

Whenever the dog is outside its enclosure, it must be on a lead to prevent people, especially children, from having access to the dog and it must wear a muzzle to prevent it from biting any person or animal.

•  Responsible control

The dog must be in the control of a competent person with the leash being held or secured. One person handling more than two dogs is not considered adequate control if either or both are restricted.

•  Registration

All dogs must be identified by microchip and registered on the Companion Animals Register.

•  Supervision

The dog must not at any time be in the sole charge of a person under age 18.

•  Signage

One or more signs must be displayed on the property showing the words “Warning Dangerous Dog,” The sign must be able to be seen from the boundaries of the property and comply with requirements set out in the Regulations.

The Pros

Your cat or dog will be safe in a reputable kennel. They are in a secure environment and can’t escape and go walkabout or meet with an accident. They will be regularly fed quality food. A good kennel will offer grooming and training and encourage socialisation. While the environment may be unfamiliar, it will have a routine that is designed for the pet’s wellbeing. If they are well fed and exercised and have a warm, comfortable place to sleep, they will settle down. The staff are animal lovers and understand that pets need love and attention. While they can’t replace you, they are experienced at building relationships of trust and kindness to which your pet can respond. And just think of the joyful reunion when you come to pick your pet up!

The Cons

One of the issues you have to recognise is that the unfamiliar environment and routine will undoubtedly cause your pet stress. They may refuse to eat at first and become generally disengaged. You have to accept that your pet cannot be as happy in a boarding situation as at home, but it is only for a relatively short while and animals have very little sense of time.

Boarding with other animals exposes them to the possibility of picking up some illness. Kennel cough is the most common, but contrary to popular belief, it is not only animals that have been boarded who contract this respiratory infection. The reason it is known as kennel cough is because it is infectious and with many animals in one place, the odds are greater that an animal that has not been vaccinated could contract it. Before you put your pet in a kennel, ask your vet about vaccination. Prevention is always better than cure.

Most important, however, is the choice of a kennel. If can get a recommendation from your vet, an animal trainer, or someone who has had first-hand experience, that is a good start.

What to look for in a boarding kennel

If you don’t have a recommendation, look for:

• Certification, Accreditation, Quality Assurance, Awards and so
• Make an appointment to inspect the kennel personally, ask questions, don’t hold back. Your pet is worth the trouble.
• Look at the areas where to animals are kept. Are they clean, well ventilated and pleasant? Is there enough room for your pet to move around?
• Is there an exercise area?
• Are the staff well presented, friendly and polite? Are the staffing numbers adequate for the number of dogs boarded at one time?

How to prepare for your pet’s stay

• Take any regular medications with you, along with vaccination records and any other medical information that may be needed.
• Take any toys or activity items that might be favourites, eg a blanket, cushion, ball or squeaky toy.
• Let the staff know if your pet has any particular fears or habits, so that they understand him.

Your pet may have some behavioural problems when he first comes home. Don’t be alarmed, keep an eye for health issues, otherwise just give him the good old TLC he is used to and “she’ll be right”!