Pet health care still ranks important when money is tight.

Seattle, WA (Vocus) August 9, 2010

Despite the economic downturn, spending on pets continues to increase, and veterinary care is at the top of the list. Pet owners are looking for ways to ease the financial burden of high veterinary bills, and are increasingly turning to pet insurance. Trupanion, a pet insurance company, has doubled in size each year for the last three years, as many pet owners start seeing pet health coverage as a necessity rather than a perk. Pet owners are looking for a simple plan that covers everything – accident, illness, medication, and lab work – and are finding it at Trupanion.

Pet industry spending grew 4.63% between 2008 and 2009 and is expected to grow another 5.53% in 2010, according to a report by the American Pet Products Association, showing that pet owners are still increasing their spending in categories like food, supplies, grooming, boarding, and veterinary care.

However, a report released by the Commerce Department Tuesday showed flat personal spending in June and the weakest income in nine months. A 9.5% unemployment rate adds to the lack of disposable income, and those who are employed are not making any more than they did last year, according to the report.

Yet, a study by BNResearch titled “Perceptions and Attitudes of Pet Owners: The Impact of the Bond” showed that 76% of pet owners would spend any amount to keep their pet healthy, and 52% of pet owners would always do what a vet recommends, regardless of cost. It seems as if pet owners are shelling out more for their pets than for themselves.

“In tough economic times, pet owners are searching for ways to bridge the gap between the increasing costs of quality pet care and their ability to pay, particularly when an unexpected major illness or injury occurs,” says Howard Rubin, Chief Operating Officer at Trupanion and founding CEO of the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues. “It decreases the financial strain and emotional stress a pet owner feels if the unthinkable happens.”

According to the APPA, dog owners spend an average of $219 on veterinary visits annually and cat owners spend an average of $175. Veterinary care is the second highest spending category behind food, with $12.04 billion spent in 2009.

Pet owners make up a majority of the population, with 62% of U.S. households owning a pet. If they continue to spend as they have been, this could be good news for the economy.

About Trupanion™
Trupanion™ pet insurance offers cat insurance and dog insurance in the United States and Canada. Trupanion™ is self-underwritten by the American Pet Insurance Company, allowing Trupanion™ to offer a simple, customizable pet insurance policy with no payout limits and 90% coverage of veterinary bills. Enrolled pets receive lifetime coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if they get sick or are injured, with no incident, annual or lifetime limit. Trupanion’s mission is to deliver fast, simple and user-friendly financial support to pet owners. For more information about Trupanion™, call 800-569-7913 or visit http://www.TrupanionPetInsurance.com.

About the North American Pet Health Insurance Association
Trupanion™ is a founding member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). Founded in 2007, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association is committed to educating and promoting the values and benefits of quality pet health insurance to North American pet owners, the general public, and the veterinary community. As an association, we are committed to high standards and transparency in all of our actions and products. To learn more, visit the North American Pet Health Insurance Association website at http://www.naphia.org.

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Source:  PR Web

© 2010 – 2011, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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The most common causes for vet visits and how to avoid them.

(Vocus/PRWEB ) May 27, 2009 — Avoiding common diseases in pets is not only possible but by being proactive, you can save a great deal of money in medical expenses, says leading veterinarian Dr. Arnold Goldman, president of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation (www.petsafetyct.org) and director of the Connecticut State Animal Response Team.

Dr. Goldman explains, “There are very serious pet health issues that can be completely avoided or minimized with a little common sense and proactive attention by owners. You can save thousands of dollars, and keep your companion healthy and safe.”

The top reasons for costly veterinary visits, according to The CVMF, and how to avoid them include:

Motor vehicle trauma:

• Use a six foot leash — not a flexilead, when outside, especially near roads.
• Do not rely on an electric fence. They may be inoperative when you least expect it.
• Do not rely on your belief that your pet will never leave your yard. It takes just one squirrel to lead to serious injury and needless pain. Trauma care costs may exceed $5000.00

Arthritis:

• Keep your dog and cat lean (obesity can cause arthritis, as well as diabetes and other ailments).
• Avoid running with your pet on pavement
• Do not force dogs with “specialized” conformation to perform like a wolf (for example: toy breeds dogs cannot run alongside their owners).

Gastroenteritis:

• Use a leash at ALL times.
• Do not allow eating things off the ground,
• Do not vary diet or feed people food.
• Do not allow your dog to make contact with other dogs’ stools or where parasites may be present. (This is common at dog parks, many doggy day cares and wherever dogs congregate).

Skin Disease:

• Practice strict tick and flea control.
• When the dog has a history of skin disease, see your veterinarian early for preventative measures such as antihistamines to avoid more costly interventions later.
• Most often ear disease is linked to allergic disease, so see your veterinarian early for ear discomfort.

Periodontal Disease:

• Train puppies that brushing is normal — start early.
• Brush the teeth and gums. You must train them to accept it. Teach them this is not optional.
• Allow regular professional dental cleanings from age two on.
• 85 percent of dogs and cats have moderate to severe periodontal disease due to not brushing or cleaning. It leads to many other ailments, all of which cost more to treat than prevent.

Bloat:

• Feed two equal meals daily of a measured amount.
• Avoid exercise after eating.
• Be aware of signs of bloat (non-productive vomiting, abdominal distention).

In addition to those common issues, Dr. Goldman says “The ideal way to avoid health problems is by early detection and prevention — just like with people — with twice-yearly physical exams after age seven. And always examine your pet regularly at home for lumps and other abnormalities to try to catch things early. Weigh your pet regularly. Any changes should be reported to your veterinarian.”

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation mission is to be a safety net for domestic animals and to enhance their health and welfare while promoting the human-companion animal bond (www.petsafetyct.org).

Media contact:
Rodi Rosensweig
203/270-8929

Source:  PR Web Press Release Newswire

© 2009 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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Even though it may be an obvious fact, dogs have four feet. These four feet have no protection. As the caregivers for our companions, we need to take special care of our pets feet to ensure their pads do not become overcalloused or tender.

Be careful not to overexercise your pet, ensuring that they do not get blisters or split pads. Exercise should start slowly and increase gradually. It is not a wise idea to exercise your dog by forcing it to run alongside a bicycle or car, as you cannot readily check for exaustion or foot problems. Your exercise program should end by checking the condition of your pets feet.

Grooming is an essential part of the care of our pets feet. Ensure your dog gets it’s nails clipped regularily. Overgrown nails will curl into the dogs pads. Nails can also split if not clipped. Long nails can also cause a dog’s feet to spread or splay. Trimming the hair around the pads can also reduce the amount debris that can get lodged between the pads which will cause injury.

After walks or exercise run your fingers over and between the pads checking for stuck materials such as rocks, gum, thorns, glass, impacted snow/ice, etc. Also check for sore spots. As you get to know your dog, check for spreading or splaying. In older dogs conditions such as arthritis may cause splaying.

At certain times of the year there may be bio-hazzards on the ground from people using fertilizers, weed killers, or chemicals used for ice or snow removal. It may be wise to wash your dogs feet with warm water and baking soda regularily after your walk or exercise period.

If your pets feet are sore, reduce exercise and bathe the feet. If the condition persists consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your pets feet are their means of mobility.

Terrie Simpson has been involved in the dog world for over 28 years and has achieved numerous awards with her Springer Spaniels in tracking and obedience. Over that time, she has amassed a good amount of knowledge about how to keep a dog healthy. She is now happy to give back by sharing her experience with other dog owners. Terrie is a contributing writer for the K9 Kourier – a weekly dog health care ezine. To signup for the K9 Kourier and receive a free $47 gift visit http://www.k9kourier.com.

© 2008 – 2010, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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According to the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, the U.S. spent a total of $10.1 billion on vet care in 2007.   For the average dog, estimated annual vet expenses were about $670 in 2007. 

Don’t worry though!  There are ways you can reduce the cost of your dog’s veterinary care such as focusing on preventive care:

• Get your dog into a routine of having good hygiene – Brushing your dog’s teeth at minimum 3 times a week, will help to prevent gum tooth decay and gum disease (which don’t forget, can also spread to the rest of the body)

• Make sure your dog gets a proper diet and exercise – Just like people, obesity leads to other medical problems such as: diabetes, heart disease and more.  Dogs that eat high-quality foods are found to eat less than those eating cheaper brands.  This is because the high-quality foods contain more nutrients that dogs need. 

•  Stay up to date on your dog’s vaccinations

• Get your dog spayed or neutered as early as possible to prevent other medication problems such as increased levels of aggression or breast cancer.  You can save money on having this procedure done through your local animal shelter, rather than getting it done by your vet

• Create a dog safe home and backyard – Just like how you would do to keep children in the home safe, you need to do the same for dogs.  Keep medications and chemicals in a safe out of reach area and make sure that any poisonous plants you may have in your backyard are fenced off

Spending time preventive care will help you to extend the life of your dog, thereby increasing your long-term savings. 

© 2008, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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There are ways to cut corners on the costs associated with being a dog owner.  Believe it or not, you can save on your dog’s food, healthcare, insurance, as well as find ways to get discounts!

Buy More, Save More!

• Saving on dog food doesn’t mean buying a cheaper brand of dog food for your dog.  What you can do is buy in bulk, so that you’re still able to give your dog the quality dog food that was recommended by your vet.  You can determine which option would be less expensive based on the unit cost per pound of dog food

• To prevent your dog’s food from getting spoiled, you can:

  • Keep it in an air tight container

  • Share the dog food with a friend or family member who uses the same brand of dog food as you, so that the savings can be split

•  Also, dogs that each high-quality foods tend to eat less than those eating cheaper brands

Giving Your Dog the Proper Health Care

• Just like how people stay healthy by getting the proper diet and exercise, dogs stay healthy that very same way

•  Take your dog for annual checkups and to get all of its vaccinations needed

• Don’t forget that dental care is also part of your dog’s health.  You can save on getting them professionally cleaned, by frequently brushing your dog’s teeth

• You can also save on your dog’s grooming, by doing the bathing and trimming yourself too!

• Keep in mind that if you got your dog from a shelter, the procedure for getting it spayed or neutered is usually done for free.  However, if you got your dog elsewhere, you can usually have it done at your local animal shelter for a lesser cost than if you were to have it done by a vet.  We recommend that you contact your local animal shelter for more information

•  If your dog is in need of surgery, think twice about it, because surgery may not be the only solution.  Consult your vet to see if there are non-surgical treatments available, or if light exercise would help alleviate the problem, or if pain medication is a temporary option

Getting Your Dog Discounts

• According to Consumer Reports, if you bring in multiple pets to the vet during one visit, more than 60% of vets will discount services, whereas only about 50% will give discounts to senior citizen pet owners

• Put on your calendar animal awareness periods, because some vets and other pet businesses may be offering specials then.  Awareness periods include:

  • February: National Pet Dental Month

  • 2^nd Week of May: National Pet Week

  • October: National Pet Wellness Month

• Consider using generic equivalents of name brand medications.  Also ask your vet if they have any sample medications for what they’re prescribing to your dog

• Ask your vet for a price match on prescriptions you find cheaper elsewhere

 Getting Your Dog Insurance

• Getting your dog health insurance can save you money on cost preventive medications and treatment for illnesses and injuries.  Getting your dog insurance with higher deductibles, helps to reduce the premiums, which in turn would be more practical insurance plan for many budgets

© 2008, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.

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