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Although there are a large number of pet owners in the States, most do not see a reason to have pet insurance. We don’t hesitate to purchase health insurance for ourselves; so we should do the same for our pets.

This is an often overlooked area and thought to be superfluous by some; this attitude quickly changes when these pet owners are presented with the bills for treatment. With everything around us increasing in cost, it is not surprising that vet fees have also risen as well. People with pet insurance have witnessed this rise in the form of premium increases.

The rising cost of protection is one point to consider but are there any others? The problem is that domestic animals are often more liable to be involved in an accident or become sick; when this happens, the cost of treatment may even cause financial strain.

When a situation like this happens many people find themselves in an awkward position; the last thing you want to think about is how you will pay for your animal to have urgent treatment.

I remember a few years ago when the vet told me that it would cost at least 1,000 dollars to save my dog; I have to admit to asking myself at the time if we could justify the expense. Medical science cannot cure everything and pets are vulnerable too; there are no guarantees as complications are not uncommon.

The average person does not always consider the costs involved with owning a pet; no-one wants this to cause them financial problems. If you are over-extended at the bank, you may be forced into borrowing money.

Financial difficulties are the number one reason why pets do not receive proper attention; this is assured if you have a pet insurance policy because you will not to worry how much the treatment will cost. The choice is yours, large vet bills or a pet healthcare insurance policy; plans are still affordable, especially when you consider the alternative.

Various pet healthcare insurance options are available; discounts are often available should you decide to place all household pets all on one policy to reduce the monthly cost. A loving pet owner should really be thinking about the level of healthcare in place for their pet; perhaps the advice here will help you make the decision you have been agonizing over.

Heartworm is a serious concern for pet owners, and you need to choose the heartworm prevention medication you give to your pet with care.

For example, Proheart Six, a heartworm prevention medicine released in 2001 with one injection administered every six months. Seemingly providing a worry free way of taking care of heartworm prevention twice yearly, it came under close scrutiny from the FDA in the USA after more than 5,000 reports of adverse reactions were received, including 415 deaths.

ProHeart 6 caused many more deaths and adverse reactions than monthly heartworm treatments, according to the FDA. Reactions to ProHeart 6 led to 138 deaths each year, while reactions to Sentinel and Heartgard heartworm protection were as few as six per year.

As with most all medications, the possibility of an allergic reaction from the heartworm control is present and could cause death of the pet.

The FDA 2004 study showed that Revolution had a total of over 8500 adverse reactions and 36 deaths each year; the average number of reactions was about the same as for ProHeart 6, but since the latter is newer to the market, ProHeart 6 has a death rate thrice as high.

Revolution is not necessarily unsafe. The high numbers of deaths are partially due to its very widespread use, however you should still educate yourself on the facts. Only 214 negative reactions were caused by Interceptor for canines, which is eight times less than Revolution. Interceptor averages a mere nine deaths per year, compared to ProHeart Six’s average of 138.

Interceptor heartworm protection had only 84 deaths recorded between 1995 and 2004. Ivermectin is the active ingredient in Heartgard heartworm protection, which led to an average of six deaths and 355 adverse reactions each year.

Causing the very least amount of allergic reactions or deaths was Sentinel, a flea, parasite and heartworm protection medication. Statistics show that information gathered in the years of 1999 through 2004 that Sentinel heartworm prevention for dogs resulted in 900 reactions which is an average of 233 as opposed to Revolution heartworm treatment for dogs which had 1,737 reactions with a total of 25 deaths averaging to be 6 annually.

Proheart 6 should only be used as a preventative heartworm control for your dog and never be used if a heartworm infection has already presented itself. Your vet may still recommend Proheart 6 as many still believe it to be safe. However other vets only provide the monthly heartworm prevention and treatment option as they feel that it is safer. As of 2007, the heartworm protection medicine was still on the market despite the fact that Proheart 6 was recalled three years before in September of 2004.

We realize your pet is a member of the family and not a statistic in a dogs heartworm protection table, but be reassured that these are the results of millions of dogs being given the drugs worldwide. Speak to your vet if you are at all concerned, but do choose a prevention.

The devastating effect of heartworms in dogs should not be underestimated. Your pet can be spared pain and health problems with a simple monthly heartworm preventive medicine.

When you decide to make the leap and get a puppy, you didn’t realize that you were actually getting a child. Like children, puppies need to be taught and socialized. Being cute and cuddly, they can still make their fair share of mischief, and if not trained properly, the will grow up into a less than cuddly full-grown dog.

Since you have your heart set on a boxer, let’s take a few minutes to learn about boxer puppy training. One of the main things that you will want to teach your puppy is to listen to you. This is where a lot of trouble starts. When a dog does what he pleases no matter what you say, he needs help and so do you.

In order to make the relationship between you and your puppy the best it can be, you are going to have to start early. A puppy will listen if he is rewarded and as time gradually passes, he will keep listening even if it is because he thinks he will be receiving a treat.

This is fine to start out but cut down on them as he learns more and do not give him a treat every time. Taking your puppy out and around the neighborhood will give him a chance to explore his new home. Let him meet the neighbors, children included, so he will get used to being around people.

Establishing the rules and then enforcing them is the key to good boxer puppy training. If you stray from his normal routine, know that he will have the same reaction as children have when distracted. He will tend to forget what he is supposed to be doing.

One idea is to establish an area in your home that only belongs to your puppy. It will be the spot he’s sent to for time outs when he misbehaves. It will need to be some place that is quiet and private where you keep his toys and bed. It will also be a haven where he can retreat if need be. Keep his toys in a container that you can put away when he is in time out.

Chewing on inappropriate things is one of the main problems that puppies experience when being trained. Everyone knows that puppies love to chew on things, and given half a chance, they will chew on the wrong things. This is another reason for establishing a place that is the puppy’s area. It should be free of anything that isn’t the puppy’s things. Everything located in this area is his to chew on to his heart’s content.

Should the unmentionable happen and you catch him chewing your shoes or your favorite sweater, immediately take it from him and scold him. Replace it with something of his. A bone or a toy will do and when he takes it, praise him. This tells him that you are not pleased with him when he has your shoe in his mouth but you are pleased when he chews his toys. You and your new puppy can have a special relationship that lasts a lifetime if you establish the rules at the beginning and stick to them.

For anyone that has the slightest doubt that Chinese imported pet food ingredients are still dangerous, I urge you to read the New York Times online article titled Impact of the Heparin Drug Scare. The most compelling Chinese import fear factor is within the photo included in the article of a heparin lab in China.

The Times photograph speaks a thousand words. The FDA has linked 19 American deaths to the drug heparin - a popular drug used as a blood thinner in surgery and dialysis. Anyone would assume that the manufacturing of an FDA approved drug would be performed in a sterile lab by scientists in white lab coats and masks. However, the Times photo proves otherwise. Knowing these conditions for manufacturing a human drug, imagine the manufacturing conditions of pet food ingredients in China. It sends chills up your spine.

If you do nothing more for the safety of your pet - please find out if any ingredient in their food or treats comes from China. The risk from inferior quality imported Chinese products has been proven time and time again. Recalls continue on Chinese imports affecting every industry. There is no easy fix for manufacturing conditions in China. There is no easy fix to change importing regulations and testing requirements on imports. The ONLY easy fix for pet owners is to call the manufacturer and ask if any imported ingredients are used in their products. Canada and New Zealand are common providers of pet food ingredients, however the risk of imports from these countries are little to none. Chinese imports on the other hand is completely different.

When calling your pet’s food or treat manufacturer, ask them specifically if any ingredient in the product originates in China. Most pet food manufacturers do not like sharing this information with petsumers. This information is not proprietary and you deserve to know it. Push on and insist for an answer to this vitally important question - that could be life saving for your dog or cat.

Have you ever considered getting dog insurance to cover the medical expenses and veterinarian care that your dog or puppy may need in the near future? The truth is that most pet owners do not consider taking out dog health insurance until they experience an unplanned visit to the veterinarian to treat an injury or illness, which ends up costing hundreds or thousands of dollars.

How easy would it be your dog or puppy to break his leg? It happens every day, regardless if these pets stay indoors or are allowed to roam free in the yard. And can you guess how much it will cost you out-of-pocket? The average veterinarian costs for a broken bone is around $900. The monthly premium for dog insurance is pennies compared to such an expense for medical care.

Dog Insurance Coverage

As with any insurance plan, the types of coverage offered and the prices for these premiums will vary from company to company. However, you can expect the top dog insurance plans to offer coverage on the following veterinarian services:

Spaying/Neutering: Unless you are a serious breeder then it is only ethical that you have your dog spayed or neutered. Your dog health insurance plan may cover up to 100% of the cost. And remember, having your dog fixed helps keep animal population under control and reduces the chances of dogs roaming the streets looking for a mate, often resulting in injuries due to fighting or other accidents.

Prescription Flea Control: Most dogs remain flea-free with Frontline and similar flea control products that are available over the counter at your veterinarian (or at pet stores or online). But a few dogs have ongoing problems with fleas such that prescription flea meds may be required. Most dog health insurance plans cover these prescription flea control meds.

Annual Veterinary Examination: This is essential for all dogs, even if you think your dog is in peak health. The annual checkup can identify illness and disease before it progresses into something much worse, so that treatment can start at the earliest opportunity. Many dog insurance policies cover the annual veterinary examination costs.

Heartworm Medication: Should your dog be diagnosed with heartworms, the medication needed may also be covered by most dog insurance plans.

Pathology Lab Fees: Blood tests and other lab work is covered by most dog insurance. You never know when blood work will be needed, and it is important in quickly identifying serious conditions such as heartworm and dog diabetes.

Teeth Cleaning: Some dogs need their teeth cleaned under anaesthetic on a semi-regular basis. Other dogs may never need this procedure. But how do you know? Your dog may need his/her teeth cleaned, and if you have dog insurance, you’ll probably be covered for this.

Hospitalization Fees: Accidents and illnesses do have a habit of occurring when you least expect them. And they can be very expensive, as already noted. There is also the possiblity of complications of other procedures, such as de-sexing procedures or even teeth cleaning. Complications of surgery may require that your dog have blood transfusions or be monitored in intensive care. Now that’s a big expense. So instead of being landed with an exorbitant vet bill, your dog insurance will cover you.

Ringworm, a very common form of skin disease, can affect both dogs and cats. Although its name implies otherwise, this skin disease isn’t caused by any type of worm at all.

Ringworm is actually caused by fungi known as Dermatophytes. This fungus feeds on dead tissues found in the surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal.

With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like clippers, bedding, or another animal that already has the disease. The ringworm fungi also can be picked up from your yard. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way.

If you have kittens or cats that are under a year old in your home, you should always exercise caution, as they are more susceptible to the ringworm fungus. Kittens can easily contract the disease, especially if you allow them to go outside. They can easily come in contact with a contaminated object or another animal that has the disease.

Young cats and kittens take time to build up their immune system and in the meantime are more apt to get a common disease such as ringworm.

The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to touch it, as it will hurt your cat.

If you notice any of the above symptoms with your pet, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your vet. If the vet diagnosis your cat with ringworm, he may prescribe ointment or tablets. What he describes however, will determine how serious the ringworm is.

If he prescribes tablets for your cat, you should give them with meals. Ointment on the other hand, is normally spread into the coat, topically. You should always use what your vet prescribes on a daily basis, to ensure that your cat heals. The healing process will take time, around six weeks or more.

Cats that have ringworm are very infectious. If you have children in the house, you should keep them away from your pet. Whenever you handle your cat, always use gloves. Ringworm is very contagious, and you should always use caution.

Even though it’s a mild disease, ringworm can result in serious problems due to the slow recovery time and fact that it’s contagious.

Something I’ve noticed lately with pet food advertising - ‘Made with Real Beef’ or ‘Made with Real Chicken’. What? Like there’s fake Beef and fake Chicken? Unfortunately when it comes to pet food - yep, there definitely is fake meat! And most pet owners have gotten wise to some of the hugely inferior meat ingredients that go into pet foods - so the marketing wizards of pet food have changed their tactics. They know we know.

What they are counting is, is that pet owners don’t learn more. They are counting on most pet owners won’t flip the bag or can of pet food over - checking to see of there is by-products or chemical preservatives in the ingredient list. They are also counting on AAFCO and the FDA to keep the existing pet food regulations - allowing them to use fake meats and make false claims on their labels (AAFCO regulation PF7a - allows a pet food label to “include an unqualified claim, directly or indirectly”). This means that ‘real beef’ on the label doesn’t have to mean real beef is inside the pet food.

They know we know so now they are aiming their pet food advertising to what they think we want to hear. We have to raise the bar, we learn more. Our pets are more important than pet food marketing tricks or the moments it takes to read a pet food ingredient list. The pet food ingredient by-product - and all its variations such as chicken by-product meal, beef by-product meal, meat and bone meal, and so on - are left over animal parts not suitable for use in human food (chicken feet, intestines, spleens, and worse). Avoiding pet foods that contain by-products is just a start to finding a healthy pet food - read the ingredients on every food or treat you give your dog and/or cat!

Many people don’t realize that dental hygiene is as important for dogs as it is for human beings. Just like with people, dogs’ teeth can gather plaque after a meal. As plaque builds up and hardens, it becomes a coarse brown substance called tartar.

When this tartar accumulates it can work its way under the gums and cause painful infections and gum disease. This process goes on in the mouths of our dogs just like it does in people. You brush your teeth every day, probably several times. What does your dog do?

Consider Brushing His Teeth

Talk to your Vet and he or she will probably recommend that you try to brush you dog’s teeth at least a couple of times a week to keep the buildup of tartar at a minimum. You can find specially designed toothbrushes and toothpaste just for dogs at most pet supply stores.

A dog’s sense of taste and smell is far more acute than that of a human so keep in mind that the zesty, tingly, mint taste of toothpastes for people will be extremely unpleasant to a dog. Try brushing Fido’s teeth with Crest just once and it will likely be the last time he lets you anywhere near him with a toothbrush. Always use the specially designed doggie toothpaste.

Dental Chew

Some people don’t have the time or patience to brush their dogs’ teeth on a regular basis. If you’re one of these, you’ll want to care for Chopper’s choppers in another way. A dog’s natural tendency to chew is a built-in dental care mechanism. Dog biscuits break into small chunks when chewed and rub against the teeth, providing a cleaning service.

There’s no substitute for brushing your dog’s teeth as part of his dental care, but if you can’t do that, make sure he gets some sort of crunchy dog biscuit on a regular basis.

Mouth Diseases

Dogs without access to proper dental care or crunchy teeth cleaning foods will run the risk of several types of mouth disease. These can be as mild as gingivitis (a gum disease that results in swollen, inflamed gums) and as serious as a bacterial infection that may spread through the dog’s bloodstream causing damage to vital organs. You owe it to yourself and your dog to take care of his teeth.

Doggie Dentistry

Dental services are available for dogs, just like they are for you. A dog’s teeth can be filled, capped, and extracted if necessary, just like ours. The best course of action, however, is to avoid the need for such services by properly caring for your dog’s teeth.

If you can possibly avoid the unnecessary pain and discomfort for your friend, you should do so. Preventative dental care can save you money as well since most canine dental procedures can be quite costly.

When the warm weather comes, Pug owners everywhere should be ready to protect their dogs from ticks. Known scientifically as “Rhipicephalus Sanquineus”, these blood-sucking bugs can carry disease. Ticks can infect humans with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, cause paralysis, and can even kill our precious Pugs.

Quite simply, ticks are parasites that live on the blood of their victims. Ticks have been blamed for causing the spread of disease among both people and dogs. In fact, they were shown to be behind the famous mass deaths of military dogs during the Vietnam War.

Although there are several different species of ticks (wood tick, brown Pug tick, etc.), a tick by any other name is still a tick. Because of resistance to insecticides, the tick is one of the most difficult external parasites to control.

The female tick will lay up to five thousands eggs in the crevices of a kennel, baseboard, or under the carpeting in the home. Eggs are never deposited upon the host animal. After twenty to thirty days have elapsed, the eggs hatch and become larvae. The larvae then seek out a host Pug, gorge themselves on his blood, then drop off again to hide.

Six to twenty-three days later, the larvae molt and become eight-legged nymphs. The nymphs obtain another blood meal from a Pug, drop off again and go into hiding. Twelve to twenty-nine days later, the nymph tick molts and becomes an adult. As an adult, it once more seeks the Pug, engorges blood, and mates.

It’s pretty amazing but an adult tick can last for three years inside with out sucking the blood of a host. That’s pretty alarming and can be sad news for Pug dog owners, as this means you can have ticks lurking in ambush in the house or in the yard.

Once the tick finds its way outside, it will climb up into a bush, tall grass or a tree to lay in wait for a new host. A perfect opportunity for a tick is when a Pug dog walks under a branch or goes potty in tall grass. A tick can jump pretty far as well.

A tick inside a home will hang out in dark, hidden places awaiting a chance to latch-on to a host. Here’s a shocking fact, but a tick inside the house can hang out for up to three months lying in wait for a Pug or person to walk by. And when the trap is sprung, and your dog or you walk by, the tick can instantly “wake up” and spring onto the victim in a blink of the eye.

When it comes to air travel, many people hit the sky every day. Some people need to make a business trip, other visits to friends or family, others are on vacation, and some are a ski moving. If you move, there is a good chance that you might need to take your pet with you. If so, you will find that you are subject to a whole new set of rules of air transport. Before leaving for the airport with your pet or pets in tow, it is advisable to formularize yourself with these rules.

The first step to travel in the air, with a pet is to make sure they are still allowed. Some animals are allowed to be on airplanes, but that does not mean that all airlines will allow it. If you plan to travel with your pet, you should inform your airline that information from the outset. This is vital because not all airlines will allow you to save an animal on board. Therefore, if you do not check with your airline before heading to the airport, you may be unable to board your flight.

When travelling with a pet, you need to keep pets inside. This means that if you are travelling with an animal, like a dog or a cat, animal probably need to be in a carrier. When you buy an animal carrier, it is important to know that not all carriers are allowed on board. If you are going to keep their animals in the cabin with you, rather than having your animal treated as checked baggage, be sure your pet’s air does not adversely affect other passengers. Your pet should not block the aisle carrier forms or invade other areas of the passenger seat. In addition to these general rules and restrictions, it is possible that each airline has its own set of rules for animal’s airline.

Almost all airlines require that your pets have the proper documentation for its admission into their planes. They most commonly include information on the health of their pets. Most airlines require that your pet be subjected to a medical evaluation before being transported by air. This information is not only used to ensure that the animal is healthy enough to fly, but is also used to ensure that they are adequately protected by the vaccine. Proper vaccination not only protects your pet, but other passengers and airline staff.

Once you have received clearance from the airline, which you wish to fly on, purchased the appropriate pet equipment, and obtained the proper health checks for your pet, you will need to wait until your day of travel. On that day, you may want to arrive at the airport a little bit earlier than recommended. This will help to ensure that you could quickly straighten out a problem, without having to miss your flight, should one arise.

When you and your pet arrive at the airport, whether it be early or not, you will both be required to go through airport security. Your pet will be required to pass through a metal detector, just like everyone else. If you are using a pet carrier, it is also likely that your pet carrier will be subject to examination. This examination most commonly includes being sent though the x-ray machine with your carryon luggage; however, it is important to note that your pet will not have to go through the x-ray machine; the metal detector should be enough.

As previously mentioned, not all airlines allow their passengers to fly with their pets, even in the cabin or below deck. That is why it is advised that you determine whether or not your pet can fly with you, ahead of time. In addition to different air travel rules, you may also find that some airlines charged extra fees for pet passengers. In the event that you are charged, you will be notified of this charge ahead of time.