Embrace Pet Insurance Blog: pet health

pet health

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 (0)

Monday, January 02, 2012

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 13, 2011

Guest Post: very big dog versus very small dog

Today, Dr. Rex Riggs talks about aspects to think about when considering very big dogs versus very small dogs. 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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What kind of dog should I get? Should I get a purebred or one from the pound? Should I get a large or small dog? What do you think doc?? These are questions I hear everyday, and I like people asking them. You should put a lot of thought of just what type and size of dog you will get because... that decision will be with you for many, many years.

The first two questions tend to be more personal choices. Many people grew up with or have admired a certain breed and that influences their choice. Some people want to “save an animal”, and opt for dogs from our many shelters and rescue groups. Every breed has a rescue group now days and you can find a rescue group for any breed you want, so you can get your favorite breed and save an animal at the same time. Just remember, purebred dogs do tend to have more congenital and heredity problems then mixed breed dogs, so research the breed you want so you won’t have any surprises.

So what about the big dogs? And with some I do mean BIG dogs. I have a number of patients that weigh in excess of 150lbs!! One hundred and fifty pounds of dog takes up some major space. The thing I like most about big dogs is that most are just big, goofy, happy dogs. They almost all have a pleasant personality. But they are big. Tails are often at coffee table height so nothing breakable please - the table can be cleared in one happy moment. Big dogs can also reach just about anything on kitchen counters also so your teenagers need to put things away.

Healthwise, big dogs do have issues. They are more prone to boney problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow problems and ACL tears of there knees. So keep them lean! Remember that weight reduction is the number one pain reliever in dogs and people.

Large breed puppies need to be fed foods that have no more then 25% protein. Research done at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, showed a much higher incidence of boney defects in puppies fed higher protein food. So…. the trend of high protein no grain foods, would not be a good choice for these dogs.

Speaking of food, they eat a lot and poop a lot. So think of any space constraints you might have and the expense of feeding your new beast. Big dogs just cost more to own. This is true for drugs and heartworm and tick medications, so just be prepared.

Lastly…these big companions just don’t live as long as the should. The bigger the dog the shorter their lifespan. Some giant breeds life expectancy is only 8 years, where many small dogs can live into their late teens.

So what about small dogs? Well, they do live longer. The oldest dog I ever saw was a terrier mix that was 23 years old and meaner then a snake! I would say the average for the small dogs is 13 to 15 years, so you want to pick your puppy wisely.

Small dogs also have their potential problems. Where many of big dogs problems are a fact of weight and affect the musculoskeletal systems, small dogs can have problems due to underdevelopment. Liver, kidney and heart problem can be common in some small breeds. Dental disease is often more of a problem as well. So research your breeds!

On the plus side, smaller dogs take up less room, so are better for apartment dwellers. They cost less to “maintain” as far as food and medication costs go. They are also more portable and maybe easier to spoil, but that is up to debate I am sure.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Life with a Maine Coon, or three

Continuing December's theme of dog and cat extremes, Maine Coon Embracer, Joan W. of La Crescenta, CA, tells us about life with her big cats, Main Coons.

Our Maine Coon experience began early one Friday morning, when a big kitten, probably 4 months old, forcibly shouldered his way through our kitchen door while my husband was trying to go out. Arms full, and trying to keep the door closed with one foot, Russell was yelling “Wait! Stop! Aargh!” when I ran in. I grabbed the filthy kitten, “unfolded” him and discovered he was white with round black polka dots. Since we did not want to add another cat to our household, I made arrangements at work to bring him in on Monday so we could find him a home. Later, we washed him and got his shots. My husband and I spent the rest of the weekend gardening.

The kitten, whom we temporarily (and inevitably) named Spot, would sit under whatever bush we were pruning and, when we sat down, would run over, jump onto our laps and throw his arms around our necks. Very endearing to say the least.

To make a long story short, we ended up keeping Spot, who became my inseparable best pal. He gave everyone hugs and liked to climb into people’s arms where he would either go completely limp, like a bag of furry cement; or climb up to hang around their necks like a spotted stole. He’d jump into my arms, and would jump through a hoop. At night he’d curl up behind me and put his arms around either side of my neck and rest his chin on my cheek. At age 10, he was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)— an enlarged heart, which produces blood clots. Just 5 months later, a clot broke loose and he died very suddenly. We were heartbroken.

When asked what breed Spot was, we said he was a Spotted Rumpus. But actually, Spot was believed to be a Maine Coon mix: he trilled, was huge and friendly, very playful, followed me everywhere, had furry feet and a great tail.

By visiting cat shows, we learned that Maine Coons also tended to go limp when you picked them up, a trait we thought was typical of a Ragdoll. And we learned HCM is also common to Maine Coons. Fear of HCM prompted us to go to a breeder rather than adopt from a rescue—we wanted to be sure that our new family member was tested for the HCM gene, because we just couldn’t go through that kind of loss again. So that’s how we got our first registered Maine Coon, Heffalump.

Earlier in the year, we’d adopted a Bengal girl, named Kachin. We thought she’d be a playful nut—a successor to our old male Siamese whom we’d lost a few months before Spot. Turns out that Kachin was more of a lap leopard. But Heffalump was a play-monster! While he was very loving, he could not get enough of playing. Since he was wearing Kachin out, we decided to get another Maine Coon who could keep up with him. We couldn’t decide between two available kittens, so we got both.

So now we have 3 Maine Coon boys: Heffalump, aged 1-1/2 years, a bicolor blue smoke (grey) and white; and two 4-month old half-siblings: Chumley, a bicolor red tabby & white; and Smedley, and a white and cameo (pale red) “van” (white with colored “hat” and tail). Both Smedley and Chumley have one circular polka dot on their shoulder blades, so they are clearly of Spotted Rumpus heritage.

Probably the first thing you notice about them is their size. Maine Coons are big. Then the tail, which is long, full and magnificent. It’s said Maine Coons are sometimes called “The tail with the cat attached.” For me, though, it’s the huge paws with the furry toes that provide absolutely no traction. This last trait enhances the natural goofiness of Maine Coon males, as well as my boys’ natural klutziness. Attempted leaps onto a counter often fail at the launch, when their back feet slip out from under them, resulting in assorted splats and crashes.

They’re all really playful—Smedley most of all—but also very loving. They go from attacking anything that moves to purring limply in your arms in a heartbeat. They’re also really smart and have astonishingly acute hearing. They can hear the opening of the drawer with their feather toy from the other end of the house—and they can distinguish that drawer from the other seemingly identical drawers next to it.

Although Maine Coons are said to be generally terrestrial because they’re so big, they can and do get “big air” and will leap around until they’re exhausted. Heffalump also likes to play tug of war, and to drag around the house whoever is at the other end of the feather wand. A favorite game is to hide—either hunkered down within the pillows at the head of our bed or ducked down inside their cardboard airplane—and leap out and surprise us or each other.

Smedley and Chumley are pretty creative in entertaining themselves: They have a track ball toy—the type with the open track and the cardboard scratch pad in the center—but rather than just bat the ball around the track, they will put one paw into the track, and then run around in circles pushing the ball around in front of them. One day, Chumley and Smedley decided to chase each other—around my husband, who was working in our home office. Did they simply circle the chair on the floor? Of course not! They got up onto his lap, and—since he was sitting somewhat forward in his chair—they chased each other around and around his waist.

Despite their playful nature, they are not destructive; in fact, they’re very well behaved and have great dispositions. Like most cats, they like their routines. Heffalump likes to “help” my husband get ready in the morning—he attends him in the bathroom, sitting in one basin while Russell shaves in the other. After a shower, Heffalump jumps into the still-wet tub and sits for a while. Chumley and Smedley like to sleep under the covers and, though still small, take up an enormous amount of room; their innate limpness makes it really hard to dislodge them. Heffalump, meanwhile, immobilizes my feet for most of the night, except when he comes up for a stealthy midnight cuddle (he kneads my throat, while burying his nose into my neck: both uncomfortable and charming at the same time). I’m not sure why he sneaks up in the middle of the night for this: does he think I won’t recognize him?

What else can I say? They eat a lot. Their fur is not as easy-care as I’ve read. Heffalump’s fur tangles easily—in fact, often immediately after combing. Static is a problem, too. So if you get a Maine Coon, you need to get them used to daily combing. A small price to pay, though, for a life-long friend who will joyfully meet you at the door every evening, sit beside you while you read or putter, keep you warm at night… and maybe even throw his arms around your neck and give you a hug.

Posted by Laura on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 08:24 AM in passion for pets, pet health | Permalink | Comments (3)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Big Dog Claim Example: Neopolitan Mastiff's torn cruciate ligament

Young Neapolitan Mastiff Bane was on vacation, loving life and playing with another family dog when his vacation took a turn. After a game of chase Bane began limping. With big dogs, come big problems: Bane’s poor mum had to drive 2 hours to find a veterinary hospital that could fit all 160 lbs of cuddlebug into their x-ray machine!

The results: a torn ACL. Bane’s knee would need to be surgically repaired.

One $3,125.41 knee surgery later and Bane is on the mend. We’re certainly glad we could help pay for his costs and get this handsome guy back into the game.

Bane’s Claim:

Total invoices: $3,125.41

Covered amount: $3,050.29* -$200 deductible = $2,850.29

80% reimbursement: $2,280.23

Bane’s plan has $7,719.77 remaining in this policy term, on the off chance that he has another accident. This is good news, as ACL issues are much more common once a dog has injured one ACL. A second repair in this term would not have an additional deductible.

*prescriptions were not included in Bane’s policy, so pain relievers were exempted from the reimbursement

A note from Bane’s Mom:

As stressful as it was (driving two hours to a hospital that could fit him into an x-ray machine, and getting the surgery that he needed) Embrace was there every step of the way and made the process very fast and easy. The claim form is a breeze to fill out and send back, and within a few days, I received my reimbursement. They also reimbursed me for Bane's follow-up x-ray. No questions asked! I even got a personal email from them checking up on Bane during his recovery. Thank you Embrace for making Bane's surgery possible! We are all very happy with the outcome and will be lifetime customers!

Posted by Laura on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 10:56 PM in Embrace Pet Insurance, Embraced pets, pet health | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, December 04, 2011

December is Extremes Month - Big & Little Dogs & Cats

I'm changing up our featured topic yet again. This month, we're going to focus on the health issues that large and small dogs and cats are prone to.

Larger or smaller cat or dog breeds often have health conditions such as hip dysplasia (large dogs), luxating patellas (small dogs), and heart problems (both big and small cats) and is something you should be aware of if you have these types of pets.

Talking of big and small, how about these from the Guinness World Records:

The tallest dog ever is Giant George, a Great Dane, who measured 1 m 9 cm (43 in) tall on 15 February 2010 and is owned by David Nasser of Tucson, Arizona, USA.

The smallest dog living, in terms of height, is a long-haired, female Chihuahua called Boo Boo, who measured 10.16 cm (4 in) tall on 12 May 2007 and is owned by Lana Elswick of Raceland, Kentucky, United States.

The tallest domestic cat is Savannah Islands Trouble who is 48.3 cm (19 in) tall. He is owned by Debby Maraspini (USA) and was measured at the Silver Cats Cat Show, Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, USA, on 30 October 2011.

The smallest cat on record was a male blue point Himalayan-Persian, named Tinker Toy that measured only 7 cm (2.75 in) tall and 19 cm (7.5 in) long when full grown (aged 2.5 years). The unusually tiny feline was owned by Katrina and Scott Forbes (USA) of Taylorville, Illinois, USA.

If your cat or dog had a world record, what would it be? Loudest purr? Longest game of fetch ever?

Posted by Laura on Sunday, December 04, 2011 at 10:51 PM in pet health | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Winter Dangers: Protecting Our Pets Against the Extreme Cold

I received a question come up about the real cold and dogs - you know, the kind where your nose hairs freeze when you go outside. Here's the Q&A for your reading pleasure.

Q: I would like to see more on the dangers to our pets from minus temps like we had in the Denver area last January. Our dog would go out and start limping after just a few moments. What should you do and what should you be watching out for in sub zero temps? Our pets need to go out--but what can we do to protect them from such extreme cold?

A: I asked a variety of folks to answer this one - from veterinarians to people with dogs in cold climes, and here's what they had to say.

From Dr Riggs:

What I was taught was that dogs feet are less likely to be prone to get frostbitten. The reasons are that the dogs feet are protected more by the fur around the pads and the thick leather like pads also help to insulate. The dogs temp is higher then humans, 102 vs 98.6, thus also helping then keep warm. I think the most important thing is that when cold, dog's blood is not shunted away from their feet keeping them warm. In people when we get cold, our blood is shunted away from our extremities to keep the core warm , thus our feet and hands get cold.

Sled dogs wear booties more for abrasion protection, but can help to keep them warm. Just make sure snow does not get down inside the boot.

From a long-time resident of the Denver area:

Always shovel them an area to go potty and be extra careful you are using de-icer that is safe for pets. Salt can be very irritating to them.

Check their paws when they come inside and remove any packed ice and snow that has accumulated between the pads while they were out.

MuttLuks are awesome and I highly recommend them for dogs who are truly sensitive to cold on their feet. http://www.muttluks.com/home.php

There is also a paste wax sort of thing you can put on the pads that will help keep them safe from salt and non-pet safe de-icers while out on their walks. http://musherssecret.net/testimonials.html

From Dr Carleton:

I think all my advice would be more or less the common sense recommendations. For example, dogs who get cold feet can wear booties which will help; sweaters and coats for the small, thin haired breeds.

When very cold, only short periods of outdoor time. If a dog is being housed outdoors, I would recommend a heated dog house with a lot of warm bedding in it...

I always suggest dog coats for those breeds that do not have their own natural wooly coats (think min pins for example) to keep them warm.

Do you have any suggestions for people living in the coldest climates?

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 11:03 PM in Ask Laura, Dr Carleton, Dr Riggs, pet health | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Guest Post: Winter Dangers for your Pets

Dr Patrick Mahaney might live in California, but he knows a thing or two about health dangers your pets might face this winter season.
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Seasonal changes create altered patterns of daylight, temperature, and humidity. Besides cold and snow, winter is especially dangerous for pets due to the repeated dispersing of toxins serving to facilitate human acclimation to averse weather.

How can your pets thrive this winter despite all of mother nature and man’s contributions to the seemingly continuous seasonal assault? As a responsible caretaker, you must educate yourself on winter hazards and proactively protect your pet in every conceivable situation.

Cold

The transition from fall into winter brings darker days and chilly temperatures capable of adversely affecting your pet’s external and internal body systems. Exposure to cold can cause hypothermia or frostbite, both of which require immediate veterinary care.

Hypothermia occurs when your pet’s body temperature reduces precipitously below normal (higher than that of humans, ranging from 100-102.5 +/- 0.5). Core temperature reduction associated with hypothermia causes decreased blood perfusion to the extremities (feet, ears, etc) to maintain sufficient supply to the vital organs (heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, liver). Insufficient blood flow to the extremities slows down a pet’s mobility, reduces tissue oxygenation, and makes body parts cold to the touch and appear pale pink to blue.

Frostbite occurs when the periphery suffers prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures. Body tissues begin to decompose and become gangrenous, which is painful and requires extensive (and costly) medical treatments.

Exposure to moisture increases your pet’s heat loss and contributes to hypothermia and frostbite. When rain, sleet, snow, and ice contact the skin, heat more easily escapes the body. A healthy pelt of hair or a coat of water resistant material can repeal some of nature’s assault, but only for a limited time.

A pet should never be kept exclusively outdoors in a cold environment. Always provide a thermoregulated shelter in your house, garage, or outdoors with comfortable bedding and a fresh water station. Water freezes when temperatures drop below 32 F, so ensure that a bowl shaped ice cube doesn’t become your pet’s only available hydration source.

Heat

When outdoor temperatures drops, on goes the indoor heat. Unfortunately, most heating systems carry potential health hazards for your pet.

Vents, electric blankets, and fireside snoozing spots all can cause thermal skin burns. Never permit your pet to come into close or prolonged contact with such seemingly cozy thermoregulatory sources. Kerosene and other fuels emit toxic vapors and create safety hazards for pets and people alike. Avoid using these fuel-based sources to warm your home environment.

Ventilation units can harbor dangerous bacteria, mold, and other toxins that aerosolize upon activation. These are inhaled by your pet and cause respiratory, liver, and other organ system damage. Make sure to perform maintenance and clean filters as recommended by manufacturers guidelines.

Juvenile, geriatric, and sick animals are more prone to the detriments of cold and heat than your average, healthy adult. Pets at the extremes of age and wellness are less able to remove themselves from harsh environments and less efficiently acclimate to environmental changes. Make sure give extra attention to the needs of youngsters, seniors, and ailing pets during wintry months.

Salt

Winter’s chill also creates hazardous transportation conditions caused by accumulation of ice, sleet, and snow. To manage our treacherous drives and walks, humans commonly turn to rock salt, which is toxic to your pets’ exterior and interior.

Drying or irritation occurs when salt contacts the skin’s surface. Prolonged or frequent exposure increases the likelihood of tissue damage. Salt ingestion contributes to a variety of gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting, diarrhea, and inappetence. Life threatening metabolic and cardiovascular imbalances occur as a result of electrolyte abnormalities associated with salt consumption.

Avoid bringing your dog to salt seeded settings. Around your home, use sand or products that are labeled as safe for pets (Safe Paw, Morton’s Safe-T-Pet, etc) instead of salt.

Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol)

This tasty danger is actually a year round pet threat. In preparation for cold weather, anti-freeze is often changed or refreshed in an automobile. Ethylene Glycol is the active ingredient in anti-freeze and only a small amount must be consumed to cause life threatening kidney failure.

Any spillage in a location accessible to your pet could attract an exploring tongue for a sample of the sweet tasting substance. Keep up with regular vehicular maintenance to prevent leakage of anti-freeze and other toxic substances (oil, engine fluids, etc).

Have your car serviced by a licensed professional in a location away from your home. Forego conventional antifreeze for pet safe products (Sierra, other).

Even if you take steps to pet proof your outdoor environment from the dangers of ethylene glycol, a visitor’s car could leave behind an unwelcome green dribble on your driveway. Additionally, a casual stroll through a parking lot may harbor liquid catastrophe. Always walk your pet on a leash under close supervision of a responsible individual during wintery outings to restrict access to ingestible toxins.

Prevention is best means of keeping your pet from suffering the effects of topical or oral toxin exposure. Dedicate yourself to pet safety this winter and during all seasons. A single seemingly minor oversight could lead to otherwise preventable life threatening illness or injury.

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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.

Posted by Laura on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 09:14 AM in Dr Mahaney, pet health | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Claim Example: winter danger - toxic plant ingestion

One of the more common winter dangers is bored cats and dogs eating indoor plants they should not. The foliage looks like an interesting snack - why not!

Common examples are: poinsettia (those gorgeous Christmas plants with red leaves that look like flowers), which can cause mild irritation; holly and mistletoe, which are moderately toxic; and lilies and Amaryllis (also known as the belladonna lily - not good), which can cause death. You really need to know your plants.

Here's a recent claim for Marley, a Pekingese puppy, who ate a mildly toxic house plant. All the costs went towards Marley's $500 annual deductible ($28.34 a month premium).

ITEM	Billed
Exam	$43.00
Rads	$150.00
Rads Addl	$60.00
Sucralfate x 7	$19.50
	$272.50

Sucralfate is used to treat toxin ingestion and in this case, this was all the treatment Marley needed to get back to good health, thank goodness.

Posted by Laura on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 10:06 AM in Embrace case studies, pet health | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday, November 14, 2011

Winter dangers lurking in your own back yard

At least once a year we get a claim for a dog injured while playing in the snow—in his or her own back yard. In January, poor Eli was playing in a mere foot of snow, but hit the buried landscape border with his leg and sliced it open. Ouch! A $312.33 vet visit wasn’t the ideal way to ring in the new year.

In the same month, Dallas the Boxer was playing with her pops when she collided with a large branch that was buried in snow. The branch caused a great deal of damage to her leg, requiring multiple sutures, a drain, antibiotics, and nursing care for a whopping $814.14. Holy smokes that was an expensive stick!

Has your cat or dog got into trouble while romping in the snow?

Posted by Laura on Monday, November 14, 2011 at 09:36 PM in Embrace case studies, pet health | Permalink | Comments (0)

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