Embrace Pet Insurance Blog

Dont' you like my poll?

Many people have told me that they love the results from polls but so far, it seems that not many of you actually like voting in them.

I know that lots of people visit this blog yet few of you are voting. Is there a technical reason for this or you didn't know it was there (look on the right hand side) or you just thought that many other people are already voting or the questions are too lame...? Do tell, I can take it!

I'd love to fix whatever is keeping you from voting so let me know via the comments or an email if there's anything I can do to help the process along.

Thanks!

Easter is coming

And so is the chocolate. I have to admit that I scoffed down a number of Mini Eggs yesterday on the sly so I started my Easter early. They really are the bees knees!

Talking of chocolate, it's a good time to remember that dogs should not eat chocolate - never ever, not ever! For a good example of what can happen when dogs get into the good stuff, check out this blog entry from ER Geek about the three naughty daschunds who helped themselves to the cooking chocolate. It could have been a nasty end for the three elderly dogs but our intrepid vet saved the day, thank goodness. Here's how she explains the effect chocolate has on dogs:

The reason chocolate is toxic is that it contains caffeine and a drug called theobromine – these are both central nervous stimulants and dogs are much more sensitive to them than humans. The caffeine causes hyperactivity and a high heart rate, but the real problem here is the theobromine. In high enough doses, it causes cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), seizures, and even death. (Caffeine toxicity can be a real problem in higher doses, such as ingestion of over-the-counter stimulants.)

And here is the treatment:

Make them vomit, then activated charcoal (doses repeated every 3-4 hours), IV fluids, keep bladders empty (urinary catheters if needed – the theobromine can actually be reabsorbed from the bladder if the bladder is allowed to be full).

It reminded me of the time that one of our two Cavalier King Charles spaniels ate all the chocolate I had brought back from England (several pounds) and had to be admitted into the vet hospital to get over the heart palpitations she suffered. I

Take care with those easter eggs this weekend.

Here's an interesting thought - if you were to list the top seven best inventions to help people and their pets, what would they be?

Perhaps quilted dog coats if you live in a cool climate? Perhaps a microchip if your cat goes outside? Perhaps doggie daycare if you both work out of the home during the day? Perhaps the software that makes an accordian sound when your cat steps on your keyboard? I'm sure I could go on and on.

Here's an article that does a nice job of isolating out the key inventions and talking about how they came about. In no particular order, here's what the author lists and discusses:

1. Dog Biscuits (late 19th century)
2. Extruded Dog Food (1957)
3. Kitty Litter (1947)
4. The Kong Toy
5. Habitrail Habitats (1970s)
6. Premium Dog and Cat Foods (1939)
7. Flea and Tick Medications

What do you think is the best invention for dogs and cats? Do tell in the comments?

PS. The article was written by Dr. Marty Becker, who is the veterinary contributor to "Good Morning America" and hosts "Top Vets Talk Pets" on www.healthradionetwork.com. He is also coauthor of "Chicken Soup For The Horse Lover's Soul."

WSJ article on dog knee problems

In the April 11, 2006 Wall Street Journal, there was a fascinating article on knee problems in dogs also known as a ruptured cruciate ligament. ("This Joint Problem Makes Dogs, Owners, Weak In the Knees: A Human Jock's Ailment Also Plagues Pooches; An $80 Pet's $6,000 Bill" By Kevin Helliker - subscription required)

I keep coming across this issue a lot in my investigation of pet insurance but I have to admit, I didn't know much about it until I read this article.

Being an athlete is a well-known risk factor for cruciate-ligament injury. A larger -- but lesser-known -- risk factor is being a dog. The number of dog knees undergoing cruciate-ligament repair each year in America is estimated to now exceed 1.2 million. That's about five times the number of human procedures -- even though humans outnumber dogs in the U.S. by nearly five to one. And it's not as though dogs have more knees: The joint on their front legs are elbows that aren't vulnerable to the problem.

Even more interesting is that the treatment is quite controversial...

Today, cruciate-ligament repairs are the most common surgical procedures for injured or diseased dogs. And inside veterinary medicine, controversy is raging over the best treatments.

A relatively new technique, called tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, or TPLO, involves breaking and resetting the tibia, the long bone below the knee, in such a way as to obviate the need for a cruciate ligament. The surgery costs from about $2,500 to $5,000 per knee. That's about twice the cost of the conventional procedure, which like the human equivalent involves constructing a replacement ligament.

Many respected academic veterinary experts believe that TPLO offers a faster and fuller return of function. But published proof of that theory is lacking, prompting some to avoid the procedure. For instance, surgeons don't perform it at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, says Gail Smith, chairman of the department of clinical research. He calls TPLO "a fashionable procedure."

Still, TPLO now is used for an estimated 50% of cruciate-ligament procedures in the U.S., and by all accounts that percentage is growing.

That's a lot of surgeries and a lot of what people would wish they had pet insurance for.

Looking to set up a grooming business?

Setting up a grooming business can be complicated especially if you are trying to find an appropriate location so why not have a mobile clinic?

I was browsing for high end food at WagginTails and accidentally typed in WagnTails and discovered this company that converts over vans into mobile groomers. It costs in the range of $60,000 for a converted van so it's not cheap but I would think it pretty comparable to leasing space plus all the equipment required. And your clients don't have to go anywhere - a plus for those dogs and cats that don't transport well. All they need to do is get out to your driveway.

It looks really cool to me. Maybe when Barnes gets groomed for the summer, I'll get a mobile pet groomer to come out here.

How will you get your next cat or dog?

So here are the results from our first poll. I'm not surprised that so many people plan to get their next cat or dog from a local rescue shelter, are you?

Adopt from a rescue shelter: 50%

Buy from a breeder: 13%

A friend's litter: 13%

Not sure: 25%

The Hartville Group announces new product

The Hartville Group just announced a new product - it's an accident-only product similar (presumably) to Pethealth's existing accident-only product.

According to their year end 2005 results conference call, they were looking for a lower priced option to complement their current portfolio of products. I don't see it avaiable on their website yet but I am sure that if you called them up, they'd sell it to you. It's probably in the $10 per month range for a dog but you'd have to check with the company.

Bark, woof, grrr, wag wag...

Ever wondered what your dog is saying to you? I am always wondering. I'm sure dogs are trying to say something meaningful to me but I'm too dense to know what it is.

Well, a British researcher is doing her thesis on dog communication. I'm sure she'll work it out, she already did her masters in cat purring.

New poll feature

I just discovered how to do polls on my blog so check it out to the right. It looks a bit rough at the moment but I'll tinker with the format over time and get it looking just right.

Let me know if you have any polling questions. Let's have some fun with this.

(I thought the picture might liven up the topic a bit)

Holistic dog and cat foods

I am sure that changing Barnes's cat food to a more wholesome brand has made the world of difference to his current good kidney health - fingers crossed it continues on for years.

So, I'm always interested in reading more about the direction cat and dog food is going these days. Seems to me it is turning towards higher end and more natural foods and so I was interested to see this article NATURAL BREAKTHROUGHS - Next generation holistic foods for companion animals in Pet Professional, a Canadian magazine covering "information and inspiration for Canada's pet industry " (it's free to subscribe to if you are interested)

The foods and additives covered in the article are:

• Hemp - hemp oil "contains the perfect overlay of essential fatty acids required for health... and the seeds offer exceptional nutritional properties as they include a perfectly balanced composition of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and a rich protein complement in the seed meat"
• Honey - "honey contains antioxidants and flavonoids. Antioxidants are essential for immobilizing free radicals, which contribute to tissue ageing and several types of cancer. Flavonoids help to thin the blood, inhibiting aggregation of blood platelets that contribute to the formation of blood clots and the deposition of atherosclerotic deposits in blood vessels."
• Saskatoons - sweet, distinctively flavoured fruit with subtle almond overtones and are an excellent source of manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, copper and carotene. "Saskatoons could be considered a better source of calcium than red meats, vegetables and cereals." Notably Saskatoon fruit are also rich in Vitamin C.
• bovine colustrum powder - "Now available for use as a food supplement in companion animals, bovine colostrum powder is isolated from milk during the first thirty-six hour period after giving birth. In an effort to prepare offspring for a lifetime of invasion by various microorganisms and environmental toxins, colostrum comes loaded with: immunoglobulins, growth factors, antibodies, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids." (don't ask me how the get this to sell commercially) ,
• Seabuckthorn - "seabuckthorn and its byproducts contain biologically active substances with pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular and immune systems, promoting anti-senility and anti-inflammation."
• Aloe Vera - "when consumed in the form of a juice, aloe vera has been shown to stimulate the immune system, act as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, and promote cell growth. It is because of these properties and the fact it has no adverse side effects, aloe vera is highly sought after as a arthritic treatment alternative."