Jun
20
pet health
Jon Arnold asked:


You would not even consider the prospect of not having health insurance on members of your family. If you need annual checkups, regular shots for the kids, or that occasional unfortunate trip to the emergency room, you are very thankful that you have health insurance for your family members.

But considering that, is it so strange to think of getting a pet health insurance policy for Rover or Whiskers, who are for all intents and purposes, genuine members of your family as well? These days, the aspect of having a pet health insurance program for your dog or cat or whatever pet you have is not only not strange, it is something that money-conscious consumers are looking at more frequently, since this is something that is saving money for consumers who love their pets.

Think about it – your dog or cat is like a member of your family. You talk to them, they give you unquestioned love in return, but how closely do you watch their health? Do you take them to the vet for annual checkups, or is the only time they see the vet is when they need some kind of emergency health care or that worms or rabies booster shot? If you are like the vast majority of people, your answer is the latter, and you rarely if ever take your pet dog or pet cat to the vet unless there is obviously something wrong with them. And like with people, by the time a problem becomes “obvious”, it is far too late to take any kind of effective preventive measures to make sure a minor problem does not escalate into a major and perhaps life-threatening problem.

Pet health insurance programs come in a variety of types and are available through separate companies and may also be offered by your regular vet. You can usually decide what kind and how much coverage to provide for your pet. At the most basic level, a policy would cover regular checkups and shots, while some of the more comprehensive insurance policies would also cover elective and non-elective surgeries, overnight stays, and sometimes may even cover extended stays at a pet boarding house.

The benefit of having a pet health insurance policy is that these are all covered, and depending on the policy you elect to get, may not even have a deductible, or the deductible amount would be very minor. Even if you get a policy with a deductible, the cost savings over paying each time for each and every procedure is dramatic, plus your pet will be healthier because you will not hesitate to take them to the vet to have something checked out if it appears something may be wrong with them. In the long run, you will have saved money and your pet will be healthier without being a major strain on your wallet.

While pet health care insurance may seem like something that only movie stars get for their Hollywood pets, pet health insurance is becoming more mainstream and is being offered for very reasonable prices. If your pet is really a part of your family as most dogs and cats and other pets are, this is something you may want to look into for the long-term enjoyment of having your pet around as part of your family.



Create a video blog
pet health
Laurie Lindsay asked:


Many of us have concerns over whether or not to neuter our dog. We worry that perhaps the dog will suffer some sort of sexual identity crisis or that there will be excessive weight gain. We wonder if our dog will become lazy and depressed. Some are concerned about the cost of neutering. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the neutering of your male dog, hopefully this article will help to alleviate some or all of your fears. The benefits of neutering far outweigh any arguments against it. Neutering is beneficial to dogs for a variety of reasons.

1. Dogs that have been neutered show a reduced sexual interest in females after approximately six to 12 months.

2. Should stop episodes of aggression towards other male dogs.

3. In 60 per cent of cases, inter-male aggression is reduced, as is mounting of people.

4. Roaming (i.e. running away from home) is also reduced in about 90 per cent of cases.

5. Territorial urine marking in the house, if it occurs, is reduced in half the cases.

The health effects of neutering are quite significant.

6. There is a reduced incidence of perianal adenomas (i.e. tumours of the rectal area) and testicular tumours are completely eliminated.

7. There is also a reduced incidence of perineal hernias.

8 With neutering, the incidence of many prostatic diseases, such a prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis, are greatly reduced, as is the incidence of prostatic cancer. Without neutering, the incidence of these problems is quite high.

It is important to realize that neutering does not change a dog’s personality nor does it affect a working dog’s ability to perform. Neutering may contribute slightly to obesity (i.e. in about 10 per cent of cases) or reduced physical activity.

Neutering does not affect a dog’s natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by *** hormones.

Pets don’t have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet’s basic personality. He doesn’t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.

The cost of neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of the pet, your veterinarian’s fees, and a number of other variables. But whatever the actual price, neuter surgery is a one-time cost, a relatively small cost when compared to all the benefits. Most importantly, it’s a very small price to pay for the health of your dog and the prevention of the births of more unwanted pets.



Caffeinated Content for WordPress
Jun
10
pet health
Lori Matthews asked:


Since most Americans are more concerned about our health than we’ve ever been, we should have equal concern for our pets … especially regarding the ingredients in their food. In theory, we would want the ingredients in our pets’ food to be acceptable for human consumption. If byproducts are no longer tolerated in our food, why should they be tolerated in our pets’ food? We’re also starting to realize that our pets need daily supplements just like we do, in order to take care of their bodies for the inevitable woes of aging. In the span of an animal’s life, an early start at good health ensures less vulnerability to degenerative diseases, joints that are less likely to creak with pain and a healthier heart. We love our pets and we want them to live with us for as long as possible.

The very first thing we usually encounter as new pet owners is the issue of food. What should we snatch off the shelves and what should we run away from? Introducing a young animal to the world of food should be a very delicate and sensitive process. We must monitor closely how much food we give our new pet versus how much they are eating. We should be stringent about how quickly we increase the amount of food because we always run the risk of overfeeding.

It’s also important to be weary of dyes, chemicals, artificial preservatives as much as possible. For example, BHA … one of the most common synthetic antioxidant preservatives mainly used to prevent food discoloration and rancidity … has been found in scientific studies to cause stomach cancer in lab rats at certain doses. In lesser doses, the preservative doesn’t have a cancerous effect but there is no telling what BHA can do to the body in small doses over long periods of time.

Protein is crucial in a pet’s natural development. Look for foods with whole ingredients such as meat, eggs, fish and dairy rather than byproducts. Unbleached rice is also one of the most digestible carbohydrates and supplies a wonderful source of energy for your pet. Corn and wheat, on the other hand, are much harder to digest. It’s also a really good idea to look for antioxidants. In recent years, we have become much more conscious of our antioxidant intake, so why shouldn’t we have the same attitude towards our pets? Free radicals also wage war on their bodies so let’s fight off those rascals so that we can all live longer together!

Treats can be used to enhance the human-animal bond and to reward pets on good deeds and behavior. They’re a fantastic training tool. Our whole philosophy on giving treats is that if we’re going to reward our pets, why not reward their taste buds, their minds and their bodies? The idea is to bestow treats with a purpose, not just a biscuit stuffed with artificial flavor and vacant calories. Did you know that there are edible dog bones out there made with so called “edible” plastic? The companies claim this is perfectly safe. Best believe there are plenty of bones out there with other questionable ingredients.

When you are feeding premium pet food, it only makes sense to feed wholesome, premium treats and bones.



Kansieo.com
pet health
Carmel Baird asked:


A Pet Insurance Policy, Makes Sense For You And Your Pet

Pet Insurance is not a new, it has been around for some time. People quite often don’t think about insuring their pets until something comes up and they find themselves with a Vet’s bill that is quite large or their pet may need an operation and a stay in the animal hospital that they need to take out a loan for.

I was fortunate to find a book called Pet Insurance Secrets Revealed and it helped me in more ways than one with what to look for and what to ask when I was looking for my pet’s health insurance.

Like any insurance policy you need to do some research. *What type of cover is available? *Are regular Vet check-ups covered? *Will hospital stays and surgery be covered? *Will that be covered in total or will you have to pay a percentage?

Today there are more and more insurance companies taking up the pet health care insurance so there will be a choice for you and it will be worth your while to look at them all carefully. The fine print must be checked out thoroughly.

I know I was not aware that different breeds of pets have traits that are hereditary until I read Pet Insurance Secrets Revealed. I found there are different pet insurance packages designed for different pets. Some breeds of dogs have these traits that may be excluded in a policy for you if you have that breed of dog. Make sure you check the clause regarding the age of your petas this will have a bearing on the pet insurance policy too. Look at the exclusions very carefully as the conditions that may affect your pet will probably be the ones that could be excluded from the policies.

It is no good having a pet insurance policy that doesn’t cover your normal trips to the Vet, you want one that will provide you with the best possible and affordable coverage.

Remember, as with most insurance, there are deductibles. This applies to pet insurance too. So it will apply to your pet’s health insurance too, high deductibles,lower premiums. If you can afford the higher premiums, that may be a better option, not so much to pay out at the time of treatment.

A good place to start checking out pet insurance policies is to search online. With most insurance you don’t need to be pressured, so researching on the Internet is a good way to find out what is available.



Website content
pet health
Laurie Lindsay asked:


We all have questions and concerns about our pets. This article is about cancer in dogs and hopefully answers any pet health questions you may have.

1. Skin - Skin tumors are very common in older dogs, but much less common in cats. Most skin tumors in cats are malignant, but in dogs they are often benign. All skin tumors should be examined by your veterinarian.

2. ****** - Fifty percent of all ****** tumors in dogs and 85% of all ****** tumors in cats are malignant. Spaying your pet between 6 and 12 months of age will greatly reduce the risk of ****** cancer. Surgery is the treatment of choice for this type of cancer.

3. Head & Neck - Cancer of the mouth is common in dogs and less common in cats. A mass on the gums, bleeding, odor, or difficult eating are signs to watch for. Many swellings are malignant, so early aggressive treatment is essential. Cancer may develop inside the nose of both cats and dogs. Bleeding from the nose, difficulty breathing, or ****** swelling may occur.

4. Lymphoma - Lymphoma is a common form of cancer in dogs and cats. It is characterized by enlargement of one or many lymph nodes in the body. A virus causes most of these cancers in cats. Chemotherapy is frequently effective in controlling this type of cancer.

5. Feline Leukemia Complex - The feline leukemia virus is contagious among cats and will occasionally cause true cancer. There is no proof that it is contagious to humans. While a great deal of research is ongoing, no consistently effective treatment is presently available for virus-positive cats.

6. ********* - Testicular tumors are rare in cats and common in dogs, especially those with retained testes. Most of these cancers are curable with surgery.

7. Abdominal Tumors - Tumors inside the abdomen are common. It is difficult to make an early diagnosis. Weight loss and abdominal enlargement are common signs of these tumors.

8. Bone - Bone tumors are most commonly seen in large breed dogs and rarely in cats. The leg bones, near joints, are the most common sites. Persistent lameness and swelling of the leg is an early sign of disease.

Common Signs of Cancer in Pets

* Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow

* Sores that do not heal

* Weight loss

* Loss of appetite

* Bleeding or discharge from any body opening

* Offensive odor

* Difficulty eating or swallowing

* Hesitance to exercise or loss of stamina

* Persistent lameness or stiffness

* Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

Many of the above signs are also seen with noncancerous conditions but still warrant prompt attention by your veterinarian to determine the cause. Cancer is frequently treatable, and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.

Each cancer requires individual care. Your veterinarian may use surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, cryosurgery (freezing), hyperthermia (heating) or immunotherapy to effectively treat cancers. Combination therapy is commonly employed.

What is the Success Rate?

This depends strongly on the type and extent of the cancer as well as the aggressiveness of therapy. Some cancers can be cured, and almost all patients can be helped to some degree. Your veterinarian will have a better chance to control or cure your pet’s cancer if it is detected early.



Website content