Embrace Pet Insurance Blog

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

February is Pet Dental Health Month at Embrace Pet Insurance

It's that time of year again - time to feel guilty for not brushing your dog or cat's teeth! Or maybe you already do - good for you if so.

I know, it's so hard to take good care of your dog or cat's teeth but don't worry, this month we'll have some really good alternatives presented by Dr Patrick Mahaney and maybe even some video from an Embraced pet parent as he learns how to get his wiggly dog to sit still for teeth cleaning.

We'll also have some video from Dr Riggs on what a dental cleaning under anesthesia looks like.

I can't wait!

In the meantime, check out the American Veterinary Medical Association's page on Pet Dental Health Month - it's a good one!

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, February 01, 2012 at 12:42 PM in pet health | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Embrace Pet Insurance is having a career open house

We hear all the time that people would love to work at Embrace, and that's before they come visit us at the Embrace offices.

So, with that in mind, we thought it would be fun to have an open house for people who might be considering looking for a job or actually looking, to come and visit with Embracers at our offices to see what we're all about. No pressure, no bull, just us being ourselves with our dogs :)

Here are the details - RSVP on our Facebook page too

Date: Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 5-7pm

Location: 23625 Commerce Park, Suite 150, Beachwood, OH 44122 (round the back)

Are you curious what it’s really like behind the scenes at Embrace Pet Insurance? Then come check out our Open House on Thursday February 9th, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

As a growing company, we’re planning on adding Embracers (aka employees) to various departments, including customer service, claims, marketing and IT, so here’s your chance to see if our culture is a good fit for you.

Even if you just love pets, want to learn about a local business, or put a face to a name, feel free to stop by and meet the Embrace family. We’ll provide snacks and bevs, and giveaway a $50 gift card from PetSmart. Leashed cats and dogs welcome.

Here’s a sneak peek of how we “Embraced” the workplace:

Pet-friendly office (Come meet Cooper the Puggle, our official greeter)
Embracers have the option to work from home
Yoga classes are available in office
Casual dress code (We love our slippers)
Excellent benefits including pet insurance

Need we say more? Hope to see you there!

PS. Don’t forget your resume or business card.

Posted by Laura on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Embrace Pet Insurance covers behavioral issues

Embrace Pet Insurance policies do cover the medical treatment of behavioral issues as long as your dog or cat didn't show clinical signs of the condition before the end of the waiting period. Your policy does not cover behavioral consultations or training sessions though.

Let's have a few example:

Your dog develops a fear of thunderstorms and loud noises 6 months after you insure him. Medical treatment for this condition, such as drug therapy, and coverage of any injuries your dog might cause himself during a period of anxiety is covered

Your dog eats chicken bones as a puppy before she was insured. Three months into her policy, she eats your TV remote, which has to be removed surgically - this is covered. The previous incident is considered normal puppy behavior and not signs of a behavioral issue.

A follow on from the prior example. Say 8 months into your dog's policy period, she eats rocks in the garden and has to have those surgically removed. The condition is covered; however, your policy only covers one removal during the policy year and since you have already had the other removal earlier on in the policy term, this one is over the maximum allowed.

Your cat starts to pee anywhere but in the litter box after she was insured for 2 years. Medical treatments such as diagnostic tests and medication are covered

Does that help understand how behavioral issues are covered by Embrace?

Posted by Laura on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Is it possible to train a cat to walk on a leash?

We shall see!

When we think of the term "pet behavior", we think of issues, like chewing or inappropriate urination or freaking out in a thunderstorm, not something more positive like getting your cat to walk on a leash. So I am taking up the challenge of training my cats to walk on a leash.

I have two indoor cats, Rocket and Rosie, who are 2.5 years old and have never gone outside. Here's a quick video introduction to them.

I know they'd like to go outside but I'm committed to keeping them out of harm's way so we asked JoyKatz if we could test out some of their beautiful handmade walking jackets for cats.

So, here are the kittens getting their harness put on.

And here they are wandering around with their harnesses.

As you can tell, it is going to take a while for them (Rosie in particular) to get used to the harnesses and associate them with a fun walk outside. It doesn't help that I'm in Cleveland and it's cold and snowy outside, and will be for a while. Perhaps we'll have to practise in the garage.

I'll post every now and then with their progress and next time, I'll show you the harness in more detail and how it works.

Thank you to JoyKatz for supplying these two Walking Jackets - they are very smart and well made indeed, and to Erin for taking some of the video.

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 09:48 AM in Ask Laura, Embraced pets, passion for pets, pet products & services | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Guest Post: Why Are Our Pets So Stressed?

Did you know your cats and dogs stress about things maybe as much as you do?

Dr. Rex Riggs has a very interesting take on this month's topic of Pet Behavior. Do we cause the stress in our pets' lives? What do you think?

Dr. Rex Riggs is the owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is a veterinarian, and an Advisory Board member of Embrace Pet Insurance.
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We live in a complex hurry up world. There is stress everywhere in our life. We are running here and there, often not taking the time to enjoy fully what we are doing before going to the next task at hand.

Did anyone take the dog for a walk? Did anyone see the cat today? Why did the cat pee in the living room again today? The dog got into the trash again. What makes the dog want to chew everything? Damn animals!!

Guess what…our animals are often a reflection of us and our moods. If we are stressed, so are our animals. We live in a world of antianxiety, antidepressant meds due to our self-inflicted stress and now it is overflowing to our pets.

One of the most common behavior problems I see in our hospital is anxiety. It can be anxiety over separation from their owners, or to loud noises such as thunderstorms or fireworks or just generalized anxiety. I think that much of this comes from a reflection of our hectic lives. Our pets are often a mirror of us. Maybe they are telling us to slow down and smell the roses a bit? You know, dogs and cats are smarter than what we give them credit for.

A definite factor is overbreeding in our purebreds. This goes for both dogs and cats. It seems the more popular a breed gets the more anxiety problems (and other hereditary problems) we see. We need to be more selective on the breeders we use. There are more and more breeders that breed for temperament. Search them out. Unless you are going to show your animal, you don’t need an AKC certified dog. Those dogs are bred for cosmetic traits and often come with hidden undesirable behavior traits. Make sure you see both of the parents. If they are “normal” and nice animals chances the offspring have a better chance of having the same desirable traits. Remember…. “The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree”.

We have a plethora of treatment for anxiety in dogs just like in people. We use many of the same drugs as is used in people. Prozac, clomipramine, buspar, and amitriptyline are just a few. Just as in people some are very effective and some are not so, but it depends on each individual and the circumstances. Talk to you veterinarian about these drugs and other options.

An interesting new therapy for use is called Thundershirts. They are based on the weighted blankets that are used to calm autistic children. In my hands, I see about a 70% response rate in helping calm my patients. It is not a panacea, but it can help.

We also have some very good behavior veterinarians. These people can be a lifesaver, literally,
for some animals. Do not confuse with trainers. Trainers are great at what they do, but do not have the professional veterinary training that these board certified people do. We have an excellent one at The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.

So I will leave you a thought provoking quote by the Dali Lama:

Dr. Rex Riggs grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Dr Riggs is co-owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is also on the board of the North Central Region of Canine Companions of Independence, a board member of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and Small Animal Practitioner Advancement Board at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Riggs lives in Lewis Center, OH with his wife Nancy, their dogs Maggie and cat Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

Posted by Laura on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 10:07 PM in Dr Riggs, passion for pets, pet behavior | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Top 10 Pet-related Trends 2012

Did you know that that spending on pets in 2011 topped $50 billion for the first time? That's a lot of dog collars, don't you think!

Actually, we spend on everything from pet accessories and food to veterinary care and services such as boarding and pet sitting. To put $50 billion in perspective, the pet industry tops the book publishing ($31 billion) and women’s clothing ($41 billion) industries by a healthy margin.

Want to know what is driving pet spending in 2012? Hop on over to the Embrace site for an in-depth look at pet-related trends for 2012.

Related Posts:
Pet Industry Trends 2012
Pet Industry Trends 2011
Pet Industry Trends 2010
Pet Industry Trends 2009
Pet Industry Trends 2008
Pet Industry Trends 2007
Pet Industry Trends 2006

About the author: Laura Bennett FSA CFA is the CEO and Co-Founder of Embrace Pet Insurance. Her career working in the insurance industry has taken her from Toronto, Canada and Dublin Ireland to the US, where she obtained her MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Laura was the first pet insurance actuary in the United States and was named to the Society of Actuaries Top 100 Actuarial Pioneers for her ground-breaking work in pet insurance. Laura strongly believes in furthering awareness of pet insurance across North America and leads that work in her third year as Chairman of the Board of NAPHIA, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. Laura also writes a blog on pet-related issues, the Embrace Pet Insurance blog.

Posted by Laura on Tuesday, January 03, 2012 at 07:48 AM in fun facts, media, passion for pets, pet insurance news, pet products & services | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday, January 02, 2012

Job Opening: 8 month Internship at Embrace Pet Insurance

Seems like we always have a job opening of one sort or another at Embrace and here's our latest position here in Beachwood OH, posted on Craigslist:

The Embrace Pet Insurance claims group is growing fast and we have need for a smart, adaptable intern who is up for learning something new and loves a challenge. You will be helping the Claims Administation group manage the incoming claims queue, help the adjusters gather medical histories for Embraced cats and dogs, and maybe even process a few claims along the way too - it depends on how adventurous and good at learning you are.

Claims at Embrace is where the rubber hits the road at Embrace and how we get our 9+/10 customer ratings so we're looking for a detail-oriented and tech-savvy individual who wants to work in a non-traditional work environment (casual dress, yoga, and dogs and cats in the office, amongst other things). You must also be tech savvy, have exceptional communication skills (both verbal and written), and flexible. We will teach you the rest.

An ongoing or complete college degree with 3.4+ GPA and/or experience as a veterinary technician in diverse clinical environments is highly desirable. A positive attitude also goes a long way around here.

This position runs from January to August 2012 and pays $8/hr. To apply, send your resume and cover letter, plus your thoughts on how you see pet insurance benefiting pet owners to Laura Bennett via Craigslist email (include the words "Claims Intern" in title)

Know anyone on the east side of Cleveland looking for a great resume builder? Send them my way!

Posted by Laura on Monday, January 02, 2012 at 09:59 PM in Embrace Pet Insurance, Jobs with Embrace | Permalink | Comments (0)

January is Dog & Cat Behavior Month at Embrace Pet Insurance

Perhaps you are reminiscing about how good your cat or dog was in 2011? Or perhaps there were some "behavioral episodes" during the year that could be worked on in 2012. I'm thinking of our neighbor's dog hoofing it down the road with glee while neighbor cursed loudly chasing after her.

This month, we're talking about all aspects of dog and cat behavior - from teaching my cats to walk on a leash (no idea how that's going to go) to medical issues caused by behavioral issues such as rock eating and separation anxiety.

Do you have any questions or situations to share with us? We can explore any topics you would like to discuss.

In the meantime, here are two dogs that taught themselves to slide in the snow - oh the joy of it!

Posted by Laura on Monday, January 02, 2012 at 03:42 PM in pet behavior, pet health | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Guest Post: Three Holistic New Year's Resolutions for your Dog and Cat

With 2012 fast approaching, we will all spend a lot of time making (and breaking) new year's resolutions for ourselves but have you ever thought about new year's resolutions for your dog or cat?

Dr Patrick Mahaney and I chat about his top three holistic resolutions you might consider for your cats and dogs.

Three New Year's Resolutions For Your Dog or Cat

What are your new year's resolutions for your dogs and cats?

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Dr. Mahaney is a veterinarian from the University of Pennsylvania and a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, having been inspired by his own chronic pain from Intervertebral Disc Disease to provide accupuncture to his veterinary clients. In addition to Dr Mahaney's house call integrative veterinary medicine business, California Pet Acupuncture and Wellness, he sees patients on an in-clinic basis at Veterinary Cancer Group in Culver City, CA.

Dr Mahaney writes a veterinary column (Patrick's Blog) for www.PatrickMahaney.com and contributes to a variety of media, including Perez Hilton's TeddyHilton.com, Fido Friendly, Veterinary Practice News, Healthy Pets and People with Dr Patrick on OutImpactRadio.com, and MSNBC Sunday with Alex Witt and Career Day. His first book, The Uncomfortable Vet, will be available in 2012 through Havenhurst Books.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Small Dog Claim Example: Pug has breathing issues

It's not just big dogs that have problems due to their size, smaller dogs can too. From luxating patellas to collapsing tracheas, health issues can become serious fast.

Consider the case of Weasley the Pug living in Valhalla, NY who has Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome or breathing problems due to the shape of his nose. Brachycephalic dogs (those with the smooshed-in noses) often have issues and in Weasley's case, it added up to over $5,000 earlier this year.

Date	Status	Diagnosis	Claim	Paid
7/9/2010	Deduct	Syncope	76.00	0.00
11/22/2010	Paid	Tracheal Foreign Body	549.40	95.20
2/11/2011	Paid	Complication of Elongated Soft Palate	2,835.00	2,193.60
2/17/2011	Paid	Bronchial Collapse, Bronchoscopy	1,786.88	1,429.50
3/3/2011	Paid	Acute Onset Rhinitis	68.00	44.00
			5,315.28	3,762.30

Weasely's coverage included a $500 annual deductible, $5,000 annual maximum, 80% reimbursement percentage but no take-home drug coverage and cost $28.41 a month.

Weasley was only 1 year old when this condition started - it's good news he had the Embrace policy in place early before this condition showed up.

Posted by Laura on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 09:02 AM in Embrace case studies, pet stories | Permalink | Comments (0)