Is Pet Insurance the Solution to Rising Vet Costs? Compare Plans
If you are finding that you are spending a nice chunk of your hard-earned dollars on pet care, you are not alone. According to the Dallas Morning News:
...owners are expected to spend a record $43 billion on their pets this year, $2 billion more than last year, according to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
About 67 percent of U.S. households own a pet, and chances are they spend half their pet costs on vet visits and over-the-counter medicine, the survey said.
Whereas a new toy for our pets may be optional, medical care is a necessity and it isn't getting any cheaper. The Dallas News article recommends pet insurance, as does WP's Taming Costly Vet Bills:
If your cat comes down with pneumonia, the bill could run $1,900. Cancer therapy for a dog averages nearly $3,600. James Busby, veterinarian and author of How to Afford Veterinary Care Without Mortgaging the Kids recommends that pet owners ask upfront about all treatment options and costs, including for routine care. For example, many vets vaccinate dogs every year. But according to an American Animal Hospital Association study, adult dogs need most shots only once every three years.
The typical insurance premium for a dog is about $40 per month -- that's $5,280 if a dog lives 11 years, the average canine life span in the United States. Policies usually cover illness and accidents, although some insurers provide only accident protection. A few policies cover preventive care, such as regular checkups and vaccines.
Payouts depend on the insurer, but it's common for companies to foot 80 percent of the bill. To compare the benefits, co-payments and deductibles of major pet insurers, go to http://www.petinsurancereview.com.
New book releases at Amazon in the past few weeks:
Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned
by Cathy Scott
Publication Date: June 16, 2008
includes nearly 200 heroic rescues, heartwarming reunions, and stories of selfless efforts of strangers brought together by a disaster to save animals at the Best Friends Animal Society triage center because their owners were unable to. The stories and photos included in this book will bring the experience of pet victims to life for the reader.
Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet's Health
by Louise Dvm Murray
Release Date: June 24, 2008
From an experienced and highly respected authority in the veterinary world comes a comprehensive must-have guide to everything you need to know to ensure high-quality health care for your beloved animal companions.
A Soldier's Best Friend: Scout Dogs and Their Handlers in the Vietnam War
by John C Burnam
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Burnam is a man with a mission: to garner recognition for the 4,000 dogs and their 10,000 or so handlers who served in the Vietnam War. Burnam was one of the latter; his instructive book is a combination war memoir, a history of the use of American war dog teams in Vietnam and a plea for the construction of a National War Dog Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Up to 20 percent of dogs of all ages and breeds suffer from noise phobias so severe that their people seek professional help for them, writes veterinary behaviorist Bonnie Beaver in her book Canine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians. (Cats can also develop fears of certain noises, but they usually just run and hide rather than engaging in destructive behavior.) Thunder and fireworks are the most common causes of noise phobias, but dogs can develop a fear of any sound: the rustling of a garbage bag, the beep of a microwave oven or the whir of a ceiling fan.
The article recommends "Dog Appeasing Pheromone products, designed to emit comforting and familiar scents to canines, and the Storm Defender Cape, a close-fitting wrap with a metallic lining that reduces a dog's sensitivity to the static charge buildup that occurs before a thunderstorm."
Herbal Medicine for Pets -- Natural Pet Care for Cats and Dogs
Wild animals are thought to heal themselves by eating plants that they are drawn to intuitively in their surrounding environment. Herbs and plants have healing powers, and many modern medicines are plant derivatives. This science has been around for eons. Here are two books on the subject.
Veterinary Herbal Medicine
By Dr. Susan Wynn and Dr. Barbara Fougere
Written by two prominent veterinarians, this full-color reference offers practical, evidence-based guidance on using more than 120 medicinal plants, including how to formulate herbal remedies to treat common disease conditions. A body-systems based review explores herbal medicine in context, offering information on toxicology, drug interactions, quality control, and other key topics.
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets
By Mary Wulff-Tilford and Gregory L. Tilford
This comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to find, prepare, and use herbs to treat common pet ailments. The book covers North American herbs, including Western, Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs that grow in North America. It also provides detailed information on each herb.
Some of these books are available in Kindle Edition--download in less than a minute. Don't have one? Information about the wireless reader Kindle is one click away.
Some of these books are available in Kindle Edition--download in less than a minute. Don't have one? Information about the wireless reader Kindle is one click away.
This food photography team shows you easy-to-follow techniques, using a zipper lock bag and common candies and snack items. Includes fun ideas for holidays. No baking skills or fancy pastry equipment is required.
Have you ever given your pet a massage? Ours love it.
If your hands and arms get tired doing massages, try a Pet Massager. It is healthy for your pet--relieves sore muscles, relaxes tension, and stimulates oil glands for a healthier skin and coat.
Has a quiet motor in case your pet is skittish. For more information: Pet Massager
Start reading Grieving the Death of a Pet in under a minute with the Kindle edition, using the portable wireless reading device. Don't have one? Information about the wireless reader Kindle is one click away.
"Dr. Trout has given us a lifetime in one day as he takes us on his rounds as a veterinary surgeon. With equal parts, wit, wisdom, and great kindness, he offers a rare look into the mind and heart of a remarkable man. He is the vet every animal owner wants and the advocate every animal deserves when it comes to facing the complexities and often expensive options of diagnostics and treatment. This is a man who loves his job, and everyone benefits: the animals in his care, their often lovable but sometimes infuriating owners, and, lastly, the reader, who is lucky enough to go along for the literary ride."
Eco Dog: Healthy Living for Your Pet--Nontoxic Tips for Pet Care
Wonder whether your pet's food is toxic? Pet toys, grooming products, accessories? A new paperback just out should give you some insight into this troubling problem. Eco Dog: Healthy Living for Your Pet is a comprehensive guide to nontoxic and planet-friendly dog care, including shopping tips, all natural alternatives and more.
Live in the Fantasy Pet World of The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack
Reality is overrated. Live out your craziest fantasies (no, not that kind) and create your own virtual pet world with The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack
Just imagine. You can:
Adopt dogs, cats, birds, and guinea pigs for your Sims to play with.
Your Sims' pets have their own genetics. Cross different breeds to create designer pets or make new ones and register them to appear in Create-A-Pet as a unique pedigree.
Pick your Sims' pet's personality! Is your pet gifted or goofy, hyper or lazy? You decide!
Choose career tracks for your Sims' pets. Skilled pets can work their way up to be Pet Show Biz Stars, part of an elite security Pet Corps, or a heroic Rescue pet.
Show off your pets! Share your favorite Sim pets with other players through an online exchange.
The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack is of course available in a multitude of popular game platforms.
If your kitty cat's behavior is making you scratch your head, or tear out your hair, hopefully Psycho Kitty will offer some insight. This new paperback is written by cat expert Pam Johnson-Bennett and is filled with interesting kitty case studies as well as do-it-yourself therapy techniques.
Is Pet Insurance the Solution to Rising Vet Costs? Compare Plans
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