Outdoor Creatures

Why Take Out A Pet Insurance (outdoor creatures) Policy?

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By Nicholas Hunt

 It’s obvious that you need insurance on your home and car, your health and even your life. But what about another important aspect of your life - your pet?

Pet insurance has grown in popularity as people have realized that health care costs for animals are often as exorbitant as hospital bills for people. Whether you’re worried about a chronic health condition like hip dysplasia (common in large dogs) or a random accident, it’s important to plan ahead for unforeseen medical costs for all types of pets.

You may be able to get pet insurance through your homeowners’ or car insurance; many companies offer pet insurance as an ‘add on’. It might be cheaper to go through your existing insurance company, as people with multiple policies through the same organization often receive discounts. If your provider does not have pet insurance, many specialty companies can help - ask your veterinarian to recommend a responsible company.

Whomever you purchase pet insurance from, you will need to make some basic decisions about what type of policy best suits your needs. Usually, there are two basic options: a base plan, which covers your pet in times of extreme illness or injury, and a routine care option, which helps pay for regular vet check-ups as well as major care costs. Some plans will pay for treatments like pet acupuncture and dermatology, while others only cover basic vet visits and common tests. Be sure to ask if your plan covers dental care.

As far as pricing, different plans carry different premiums and give varying amounts of coverage per injury. Some plans have a maximum yearly or lifetime coverage limit, a point at which they will stop paying for any treatment. Be sure you know the specific financial details of whichever plan you select - the last thing you want during a time of a pet crisis is an unpleasant surprise on your bill.

Keep in mind, just like human health insurance, pet insurance almost never covers pre-existing conditions. Some providers also have a maximum age for eligibility. Because of this, it’s important to get your pet covered as early as possible, so that any illness they may develop as they age will be fully covered. Also note that most pet insurance policies don’t go into effect right away; it may be anywhere from three days to a full month from application before your dog or cat is covered.

Whatever policy you choose, you will rest easier knowing you’re prepared for the worst.

Nicholas writes on discount pet insurance, and related topics like horse insurance.

Foods Your Pets Should Avoid
By Mitch Endick

 If your pets are anything like mine, they may come off as omnivores. My Akita mix is likely to eat anything that does not eat him first. One of my cats has acquired a taste for tomato bisque and all of my dogs enjoy green pepper, zucchini and lettuce. As for my horse, she would drink all of my beer if she had the chance.

There is not much harm in feeding our pets human foods. However, there are some foods that our animal friends should definitely avoid. In addition to foods, certain plants can be downright deadly for our pets.

Chocolate and Pets Do Not Mix

Chocolate has long been considered a human food that dogs should avoid, and with good reason. Chocolate contains a chemical known as theobromine. Theobromine is similar in chemical composition to caffeine and is tolerated by humans in small amounts and is used as a therapeutic drug for certain medical conditions. Like many types of stimulate chemicals, theobromine can be harmful to humans to large doses. When it comes to animals, theobromine poses a significant health risk.

Though the danger to dogs is widely known, theobromine also poses a risk to cats and horses and other domestic pets. The metabolic process for cats, dogs and horses is significantly slower than it is for humans. An animals inability to quickly metabolize theobromine allows toxic levels of the chemical to buildup. Symptoms can range from diarrhea to muscle spasms and vomiting.

No antidote exists for treating theobromine poisoning and it is important to seek immediate veterinary help for any pet who has ingested chocolate. The vet can administer a variety of treatment options that can help reverse the toxic effects of theobromine. The key is to not wait until your pet starts to exhibit symptoms. Seek professional veterinary services immediately.

Since caffeine is similar to theobromine, avoid exposing your pet to sources of caffeine like coffee, tea, coffee beans and tea leaves.

Vegetables and Fruits to Avoid

In addition to chocolate, there are variety of fruit and vegetables that are potentially harmful to domestic pets. Just a few of the fruits and vegetables that your pet should avoid include onions, avocados, mushrooms, grapes and raisons. There are a number of fruit seeds that can cause toxicity problems for your pet including, but not limited to apple seeds, peach and apricot pits, cherry and avocados pits, and mustard seeds.

Fruit seeds and pits contain various levels of cyanide compounds. Though the amount of cyanide may not be fatal to your pet, the effects can be serious enough to require veterinary care. The best advice is to play it safe and avoid exposing your pets to these foods. Onions and similar foods such as leeks and scallions are not poisonous but can cause digestive problems and anemia in some animals so it is best to avoid them.

Candy is Sweet but Not for Your Pet

Sugar and candy may seem like a harmless treat for your pet. Problems can arise when the candy contains any type of artificial sweetener such as Xylitol. Some candy may contain cacao-based ingredients which can expose your pet to toxic levels of theobromine. If you choose to indulge your pet with the occasional sweet, make certain of the ingredients and do so only in moderation.

Other Foods to Avoid

Dogs love peanut butter and giving them peanuts in moderation can make for a tasty treat. While peanuts do not pose a risk for most dogs, other varieties of nuts should be avoided. Among the nut varieties that you should not give to your pet include macadamias and walnuts. If you have walnut trees on your property or walk your dog where walnut trees grow, make sure your dog does not ingest the nut meat or the shells. Either can cause moderate to severe digestive problems that may not show for a day or two.

The best rule of thumb when it comes to your pets and food is when in doubt, throw it out. Take a look around the kitchen and make sure that you pet-proof cabinets and pantries. It is much easier to prevent exposure to harmful foods than it is to see your pet suffer.

If you are ever in doubt about your pets health, seek professional veterinary help immediately.

Mitch Endick is a staff writer for the quality online store FineWebStores.com.

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How to Help Dog With Itchy Skin
By Amy Nutt

 Dog allergies are fairly common and can be the cause of dry, itchy skin. If your dog is scratching a lot, he could be suffering from environmental allergens like pollen and dust, or even from inflammation caused by flea bites. Another source of itching could be the shampoo or grooming products used on your pooch.

This is because a dog’s skin is ten times more sensitive his caretaker’s. This makes them highly susceptible to the irritants found in their surroundings.

Getting to the heart of the matter may take a multi-pronged approach due to the numerous causes for canine itching. Making time to do this however, will be essential in diagnosing and subsequently curing your dog’s skin ailment.

Proper Grooming

While dogs often run away from the dreaded bath or flea dip, most do not mind being brushed. This is because loving pet parents who know what they’re doing can make it an enjoyable experience. With the proper products, habitual grooming may even make a dogs skin healthier. Keeping the skin healthy is one significant way to keep itchiness to a minimum.

If you find you rarely have time to groom (or don’t know how to do it properly) take your doggie to a pro.

Groomers use products that help a dog maintain a healthy coat, which is gained from healthy skin.

Provide a Skin Protective Diet

Just like human beings, dogs may be susceptible to food allergies. Even organic pet food or treats can have ingredients in them that cause the dog’s skin to be dry and flaky.

To uncover the offending item, try changing the foods your pet eats. If and when you find the suspect ingredient, remove it from your pet’s diet. This could in turn alleviate your dog’s dry itch.

Also, be sure to scan future purchases to ensure new products are free of this particular allergen.

Bathing and Dipping

Some dog owners may be over washing their pet, which can lead to dryness, especially if the products being used are chemically based. This is due to the fact that many chemicals found in maintenance products can be extremely harsh to a dog’s skin. However, even with organic pet products, over washing is not a good idea.

Washing once a month is always best.

If fleas are the cause of the itching, then a dip could be the solution. Taking your pet to the vet would be the best course of action, but if you insist on doing the dip yourself, look into organic products that won’t irritate the dog’s skin further. As a matter of fact, if your pet suffers from chronic dry, itchy skin, you should look into an organic line of grooming and maintenance product anyway.

Remember to use lukewarm water when bathing your pet as well and towel dry your dog as opposed to blow drying him or her. These all important steps will continue to keep the skin from over-drying.

When to visit the vet

Realistically speaking, your dog itchiness can be a reaction to any number of things, including the mange. If you have tried to figure out the source of your dog’s condition and come up empty, it may be time to take them to the veterinarian.

A vet can do a ton of diagnostics that will aid them in determining the factors that are contributing to the skin problem.

They will also be able to employ a variety of solutions, like steroid injections, topical or oral cortisone and/or antihistamines.

Once you uncover what is behind yours dogs dry and itching skin, you can take the steps necessary to protect them. The health of your dog and his quality of life could very well depend on what you do in the regard and your loyal and adoring companion is worth all the effort.

Find all wholesale dog supplies for your canine friend; from dog shampoo to dog itchy skin remedies.

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Thursday, September 25th, 2008 at 6:00 am and is filed under pets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.