Love your pet MORE than yourself.
We as humans tend to take some creative license with our own health care. but your pets cannot make the choice for some junk food or a salad, so you have to select a healthy diet for them. We hope you find some great advice and tips on our site.
Pet Health Tips
Loving your pet means caring about your pet's health. The health of your pet can depend upon its age, breed and environment.
One area of pet health that most people can relate to is arthritis. Like humans, pets can get arthritic. Arthritis is particularly common in dogs. Like people, dogs' joins are lubricated by synovial fluid, which decreases over time; joints can become rough and painful. Warmth is the simplest treatment for arthritis in pets. Heating a confined area in which they rest is one way of easing arthritis pain and improving pet health. One in three dogs may develop arthritis at some point.
As with people, a joint injury makes it more likely that arthritis will develop in that joint. However, while a human will not develop arthritis in an injured joint for at least five years, pet health statistics show that a dog may develop arthritis in as few as five weeks.
Dogs and cats can also contract arthritis from infection or tick bites. This is inflammatory arthritis, the pet health equivalent of rheumatoid arthritis in humans. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather are also more prone to arthritis.
Various pet foods have been developed to promote pet health. Minerals and nutrients are used instead of medicine to treat most pet health issues, including arthritis. Nutritionally appropriate food, shelter, and a comfortable sleeping area are all conducive to pet health.
In addition to arthritis, pets are subject to various diseases carried by fleas and ticks. Many people are unaware that pets can have an allergic reaction to flea saliva. This is true of both dogs and cats, though it is rare in puppies and kittens. Treatment is by reducing exposure to fleas, using flea powders and sprays, or even injections. Flea baths have very limited protection ability, but can provide quick relief for a sensitive pet.
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A Look At Pet Health Insurance
By: Susan Koranki
If you're a pet owner you probably know how high, even routine, veterinary bill can be. If your precious 'furchild' becomes suddenly ill or gets injured, the costs can be much higher.
Although the US lags behind most of Europe in terms of how many domestic pets are covered by pet health insurance, it is beginning to catch up. More and more pet owners are realizing just how important good pet insurance can be!
Think about it for a minute if Fido were to be seriously injured or fall ill tomorrow, would you be able to afford a veterinary bill for $1500, $2000 or $3000 plus? If not, you could find yourself faced with a heartbreaking, life-or-death decision. No pet lover ever want to find themselves in that situation.
If you have pet health insurance you (and your pet) can be spared the agony and heartbreak of being unable to afford critically important veterinary care in a time of crisis. Just as your own medical cover/health plan is there for you when you fall ill, Fido's health insurance will be there for him.
There are many different pet health insurance companies, all offering plans that are similar in the respect that they all require annual premiums, have deductibles and offer a range of different coverage options to suit individual needs.
However, there are also many differences between policies, and before deciding which pet insurance company to go with, it's a very good idea to pay attention to the small print and ask questions. The following list is an example of the kind of things to look for (it's not a comprehensive list though, it's up to you to do your homework!)
Some pet insurance policies have age limits, both minimum and maximum, and they can vary considerably between providers.
There can be different waiting periods' (the time it takes for your coverage to come into effect) from one provider to the next
There are different attitudes and regulations concerning the cover (or lack of) for pre-existing conditions
Some pet health insurance providers may exclude certain breeds (often larger breeds) who are prone to particular hereditary or congenital illnesses or problems
In some cases a policy may cover routine procedures such as vaccinations, annual wellness checks and/or routine preventative care, neutering & spaying etc. Others may charge a wellness rider' or have additional charges for this type of care
You may find you're limited to choosing a veterinarian or veterinary hospital from a list of approved providers', or you may be free to pick whomever you want.
Always check to see if a particular pet health care policy covers dental care, eye care and prescriptions.
If you have several pets, ask the pet insurance provider if they offer a discount for multiple pets. Always check to see if the pet insurance provider you're considering, offers any 'extras' such as an informative newsletter, or even discounts on pet supplies/service.
You can get a lot of information about the different pet health insurance companies and their policies by checking online. You can also get free quotes and even register from the comfort of your own home. How easy is that!
Pet health insurance is a growing trend in the US today and rightly so. If your pet was to become suddenly, and seriously, ill or injured, having a comprehensive pet health insurance plan in place could make all the difference in the world.
A pet health insurance policy can help you live up to the commitment you made to provide your pet with good veterinary care, and to keep him healthy and safe. Good health care is not a luxury, it's a necessity, and pet health insurance can make it easy to provide.
Unless you have considerable savings, and are happy to dip into them, unexpected veterinary costs could cause you a good deal of hardship and heartache. Even if you DO have the money, would you really want to spend it on high vet bills when you could be paying a modest, annual sum instead?
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How To Keep Your Dog Healthy And In Shape
With every dog comes the responsibility that owners must take in order to give that dog a happy, healthy home. Sometimes dogs may not get the care they deserve because their owners are too busy with their own day to day activities.
There are so many things that you can do to keep your dog healthy and in shape, it just takes a little time and effort on your part. Id like to share with you a few quick and easy ways that I have found help to keep my dogs in shape and healthy.
Hopefully youll be able to take my advice and build upon it to provide your pet a happy and healthy lifestyle. One of the most important ways, in my opinion, to keep your dog healthy and in shape is by having them get plenty of exercise. My wife and I love to take our dogs for walks not only because its a great opportunity for them to get the exercise they need, but it gives my wife and I another great opportunity to chat about anything that may be on our minds. Its a great bonding time for us and for the dogs, plus the benefit of getting exercise at the same time. We usually try to take a couple 30 minute walks each day.
There are other ways that you can help your dog get the exercise he or she needs. Playing fetch with tennis balls and other dog toys, going to the lake for a swim, and my personal favorite, grouse hunting, are other great ways for getting exercise. The important thing to remember is that daily exercise helps promote good health.
Another way of keeping your dog healthy is a healthy diet. Ive had great luck with our dogs health by maintaining consistency in what they are being fed. Ive learned that sticking with a good brand of dry dog food is generally a good way to have a healthy diet and its typically not advised to switch brands too often. Switching brands can sometimes upset your pets digestive pattern and can be disruptive to their overall eating habits. We tend to stay away from excess treats and other rawhides because they too can sometimes be upsetting to a dogs overall digestive process. So in many cases, being consistent when it comes to your dogs diet can be a great way to keep your dog healthy.
The final tip for keeping your dog healthy is also related to your dogs diet, not what type of diet, but the portioning of your dogs diet. We recently switched our dogs to a two-a-day meal plan which means theyre being fed once in the morning, and once in the late afternoon. They are still receiving the same portion size, but its split up into two separate meals. This has proven to be very effective, and our dogs appear to be much more energetic and have also trimmed some excess weight off the edges. I am not claiming that this is the right type of diet for your dog, nor am I saying you should feed your dogs in this manner. Obviously, every dog is unique and it may or may not be suitable for your dog, so you should consult your veterinarian first before trying this type of feeding schedule.
These are just a few tips for keeping your dog in shape and require little, if any, time to carry out. Combine these with the day to day love and affection that you show your dogs, and theyll be well on their way to being a happy and healthy pet.
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