Embrace Pet Insurance Blog

August is Obesity Month at Embrace Pet Insurance

Actually, at the Embrace office, we've all been focusing on wellness and living healthier so I think that since last year, the humans in the office lost quite a few pounds on average.

Not sure about the Embrace pets but then, they mostly didn't really need it. At least, that's what we tell ourselves...

Obesity is a huge topic  in pet health (pun intended). It's not just us humans that need to watch our weight so we don't get sick; it's the same for pets as well.

This month we'll talk about the conditions that can arise from being an overweight dog and cat. About a third of all cats and dogs are overweight and obese, and this exposes them to many diseases and joint pain; even cancer.

Here's Dr. Ron DeHaven, AVMA chief executive officer, encouraging pet owners to make a New Year’s resolution for their pets. Dr. DeHaven explains that your veterinarian can help you easily slim down your pet for a longer, happier and healthier life.

There is also a lot you can do to help your dog or cat lose weight. Track what they eat - including what you feed from the table or as a treat. Count calories! I know it sounds so "human" but it works.

Is your dog or cat overweight? Do others note your pet's "big bones" and you think she's just fine? We'd love to hear more about what you are trying to help your pet lose weight - you are definitely not alone.

Related Obesity Posts:
August is Obesity Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Claim Example: bilateral hip dysplasia surgery in a Golden Retriever
How many calories a dog or cat should eat a day?
What does a healthy dog really look like?
National Holistic Pet Day

Claim Example: cataract surgery in a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Gunner is a 4 year old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog who was diagnosed with Juvenile Cataracts this year. Juvenile Cataracts is a hereditary condition that strikes a number of breeds at younger ages.

As you may know, Embrace Pet Insurance covers hereditary or breed specific conditions as long as there are no clinical signs of the condition before the end of the waiting period.

The costs for the cataract treatment can add up. Here are the totals for Gunner's treatment so far. Note that the prescription drug coverage was not selected for Gunner's policy so take home drugs such as Otomax were not covered by his policy.

Date	Diagnosis	Status	Claim Amount	Paid
1/17/2011	Juvenile Cataracts	Deduct	$121.28	$0.00
1/21/2011	Cataracts	Paid	$194.00	$16.65
4/13/2011	Unilateral Cataract Surgery	Paid	$1,637.00	$1,381.50
5/24/2011	Post Op Recheck Exam	Deduct	$77.00	$0.00
			$2,029.28	$1,398.15

Here are the specifics on Gunner's surgery costs (FYI, he lives in Oregon)

ITEM	BILLED AMOUNT	COVERAGE TYPE	COVERED IN POLICY?	COVERED CHARGES
Catheter	$30.00	IL	Y	$30.00
Fluid Admin	$35.00	IL	Y	$35.00
Anesthesia	$225.00	IL	Y	$225.00
Antitbiotics	$18.00	IL	Y	$18.00
Dexamethasone Inj	$15.00	IL	Y	$15.00
Unilateral Cataract Surgery	$1,200.00	IL	Y	$1,200.00
NeoPolyDex Opth	$15.00	DD	N	$0.00
Diclofenac Sod Opth Sol	$30.00	DD	N	$0.00
PolyB Trimethoprim Opth Sol	$8.00	DD	N	$0.00
E-Collar	$12.00	IL	Y	$12.00
Cipro	$27.00	DD	N	$0.00
Tramadol	$10.00	DD	N	$0.00
Acepromazine	$12.00	DD	N	$0.00
	$1,637.00			$1,535.00

Gunner's claim payout was calculated as follows (the deductible having already been satisfied this year):

STEP 1: Calculate Potential Refund
Billed Amount:				$1,637.00
Covered Charges:	(see attached detail)			$1,535.00
Annual deductible remaining				$0.00
	subtotal			$1,535.00
Copay 10%	(your copayment)			$153.50
Potential Refund				$1,381.50
STEP 2: Compare potential refund against your annual maximums
Annual Maximum				$10,000.00
Prior refunds for this policy year				$16.65
Coverage remaining				$9,983.35
Your total refund is:				$1,381.50

Has your dog or cat had cataract surgery? How did it go?

Related Posts:
July is Eye Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Guest Post: Why are my dog’s eyes turning gray?
Claim Example: cataract surgery in a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 

Guest Post: Why are my dog’s eyes turning gray?

Today we have a guest post from Dr Jennifer Coate, an associate of Dr Rex Riggs who has regularly guest posted on the Embrace blog.

Dr Coate talks about what causes a dog's eyes to turn gray and if it is something to be concerned about or not.
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Many times our clients notice their older pet’s eyes are starting to have a bluish-gray haze and they assume that their old dog is going blind. But what is really happening in the eye?

The pupil of the eye is normally black. What you are seeing in the pupil is the lens, which lies just behind the pupil. Just like in a camera or eye glasses, the lens is a clear structure used to focus images as they pass into the eye to your pet’s retina.

Today, I am only discussing diseases that cause the lens to look gray, hazy, or even white. If the surface or any of the front chamber of the eye looks cloudy, or if the eye is red, having discharge, or bothering the dog you should have it checked by a veterinarian immediately.

There are 2 main things that will cause your pet’s lens to look cloudy - cataracts and lenticular nuclear sclerosis.

Despite its long name, lenticular nuclear sclerosis (often referred to as lenticular sclerosis or nuclear sclerosis) is simply a normal aging change of the lens. The lens is made up of fibers that get denser as the animal ages. Nuclear sclerosis occurs when the fibers in the center of the lens become so dense that it appears cloudy. This happens in every aging pet - - as early as 6 years of age in the dogs and 9 years of age in the cat. This change rarely affects the vision of the pet beyond a mild decrease in their ability to focus on close up items, especially in dim lighting. The vision change is almost never noticed by the pet owner and there is no need to treat lenticular sclerosis.

A cataract on the other hand is any opacity of the lens that prevents light from passing through the lens to the retina. Cataracts can involve a small portion of the lens causing the pet to have a blind spot, or be more severe involving the entire lens causing the eye to be blind. There are many causes linked to cataracts. The most common cause of cataracts in dogs is a genetic predisposition - they were born with a tendency to develop cataracts at some point in life. Hereditary cataracts occur in many dog breeds including miniature poodles, cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzers, golden retrievers, Boston terriers, and Siberian huskies. Hereditary cataracts have also been reported in Persian, Himalayan, and Birman cats, although in cats they are usually born with the cataract.

Other causes of cataracts include age related formation, congenital (born with it), inflammation of the eye, diets, toxins, trauma, and diabetes. Most diabetic dogs, although not diabetic cats, will develop cataracts. In fact, I have diagnosed diabetes in several patients after the astute owners noticed that their dog’s eyes suddenly looked hazy.

Besides causing blindness, cataracts can cause other problems with the eye. A lens with cataracts can fall out of place causing pain, inflammation, and even glaucoma, an increase in the pressure of the eye that can be very painful and can permanently damage the eye. A cataract can also become so severe the lens will leak which can then cause severe inflammation within the eye (uveitis) and glaucoma.

If you notice any changes in your pet’s eyes or vision, you should have them evaluated by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian can look to see if it is truly the lens verses other portions of the eye that are affected. They can usually differentiate between lenticular sclerosis and cataracts during a physical exam using an ophthalmoscope. In some cases, they may need to dilate the pupil to better visualize the lens or do other tests. This may include checking eye pressure to check for uveitis or glaucoma or doing blood work to look for disease such as diabetes.

If your pet is found to have cataracts, your veterinarian can discuss with you the best treatment options. If an underlying cause is found, such as diabetes, initially treatment will be geared towards correcting that. Many dogs can live happily with the decreased vision form cataracts, even blindness and will need no treatment. If the cataract is causing problems, or if you wish to preserve vision, your pet can be referred to an ophthalmologist to have surgery to replace the lens with a prosthetic lens.

Related Posts:
July is Eye Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Guest Post: Why are my dog’s eyes turning gray?
Claim Example: cataract surgery in a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Other posts by Dr Riggs & his associates

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Dr. Jennifer Coate grew up in Celina, Ohio and received her DVM from Ohio State University. She has performed research at the James Cancer Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, and the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine in areas ranging from cancer gene expression to creating a molecular model for the FIV virus. Dr. Coate has been the surgeon for the non-profit animal shelter, Citizens for Humane Action, spaying and neutering rescued animals for adoption. She joined the Best Friends staff in the summer of 2008.

Dr. Coate lives with her husband, Matt, in Hilliard. They have a very energetic Jack Russel-Beagle Mix named Mitchell and two cats, Dusty & George. Dr. Coate spends most of her free time renovating her house. She also enjoys long walks with Mitchell.

July is Eye Month at Embrace Pet Insurance

Eyes are funny things. They can look quite awful but be just fine (see a guest post coming up later this month) or they can harbor a persistent virus that can result in the pets' eye having to be removed (my cat Simon nearly lost his eye to a herpes virus once).

This month, we'll be looking at some eye conditions you might not know about and some you do, plus some claim examples.

Have you ever had vet bills for your cat or dog's eye condition?

Related Posts:
July is Eye Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Guest Post: Why are my dog’s eyes turning gray?
Claim Example: cataract surgery in a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Claim Example: Dog Gastroenteritis Emergency

Poor Sid Vicious! He's a mixed breed dog that needed an emergency visit to the vet for gastroenteritis. Here are the costs involved with a 3 day, 2 night stay in the intensive care unit.

DATE	ITEM	COVERED CHARGES
4/2/2011	Emer Exam	$72.44
4/2/2011	ER Nova Stat Profile	$24.66
4/2/2011	Emer Services	$15.41
4/2/2011	Rads -Abdomen	$109.94
4/2/2011	Emer Services	$41.10
4/2/2011	Primary Care Giardia Snap Test	$31.85
4/2/2011	US/SA Abdomen	$205.50
4/2/2011	Emer Services Special Procedures	$51.38
4/2/2011	Parvo Test Kit	$25.69
4/2/2011	A/C Drugs and Supplies	$38.63
4/2/2011	Metronidazole x 4	$4.88
4/2/2011	Maropitant Inj	$23.78
4/3/2011	ER Hosp Services	$20.55
4/2/2011	ICU Hosp	$72.70
4/3/2011	Waste	$5.65
4/3/2011	Venipuncture-Proc/Supplies	$11.30
4/3/2011	IV Pump	$6.17
4/3/2011	Drugs and Supplies	$13.10
4/3/2011	US/SA Abdomen Recheck	$165.43
4/3/2011	Emer Services Special Procedures	$51.38
4/3/2011	Rads -Abdomen Recheck	$89.39
4/4/2011	ER Hosp	$25.69
4/4/2011	ER Hosp Services	$20.55
4/4/2011	ER Level 1	$30.00
4/4/2011	Fluid Pump	$6.17
Total		$1,163.34

You can see the veterinarians had to rule out a variety of conditions using various diagnostic tests, some of which had to be repeated:

• Parvo (blood work)
• Giardia (blood work)
• ingestion of a foreign body (X-rays aka radiographs)
• organ and intestinal abnormalities (ultrasound)

Sid Vicious' premiums are $273.79 a year for $300 annual deductible, $10,000 annual maximum, and 20% coinsurance. His claim payout was as follows (the deductible was already taken care of this year):

STEP 1: Calculate Potential Refund
Billed Amount:				$1,163.34
Covered Charges:	(see attached detail)			$1,163.34
Annual deductible remaining				$0.00
	subtotal			$1,163.34
Copay 20%	(your copayment)			$232.67
Potential Refund				$930.67
STEP 2: Compare potential refund against your annual maximums
Annual Maximum				$10,000.00
Prior refunds for this policy year				$457.39
Coverage remaining				$9,542.61
Your total refund is:				$930.67

Have you had a surprise visit to the emerg with a gastrointestinal issue for your dog or cat?

Related Posts:
June is Gastrointestinal Month at Embrace
Guest Post: The Harmful Side of Animal-Sourced Dog Chews
What does that ever-so-generic term Colitis mean anyway?
Claim Example: Gastroenteritis Emergency in Savoy IL

Guest Post: The Harmful Side of Animal-Sourced Dog Chews

Here's a guest post from Dr. Rex Riggs on the topic of dog chews - the ones sourced from animal body parts that aren't used for other purposes. 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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Bully sticks, pig’s ears, cow hooves, marrow bones, rawhides and antlers.  Sounds like a yummy smorgasbord for your dog, doesn’t it?  I bet many of you use these treats to satisfy your dog’s chewing and keeping them occupied; but should you?  Have you ever given deep thought to these animal “pieces parts” that we give to our pets??

First where do these things come from and why are they used as chew toys? I think it is obvious that these are all parts of animals that we eat.  Not that we want to think about it but these are waste byproducts from the meat industry.  Some entrepreneur decided this would be an easy way to make money so…. a new industry was born.

• Cow hooves and pigs ears are what the name implies. 
• Marrow bones are from the long bones of cows and pigs.
• Rawhides are the skin of cows. 
• Antlers come from either deer or elk. 
• So what do you think bully sticks are?  Think about this one.  Give up?  They are bull penises! Hmm.

There are some dangers with all of these items. All of these have the potential and can cause intestinal obstructions, but equally important are the dangers that come from the way these are processed.  They are first soaked for hours in a caustic lye solution to digest the undesirables off the skin and then to remove the lye the skin is then soaked in bleach solution.  Sounds yummy. Many of the rawhides come from China where they have been known to use arsenic compounds to preserve them. 

There is no regulation of rawhides or pigs ears.  You really have no idea where these come from.

Marrow bones and antlers cause many broken teeth.  A good rule of thumb is if you don’t want me to hit you in the kneecap with it, your dog should not be chewing on it. I can not tell you how many expensive extractions are the result of dogs chewing bones.

Another concern of mine is the potential introduction and spread of disease to naive areas.  Many of the elk antlers come from Wyoming where the elk migrate and drop their antlers each year. These are collected in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, by Boy Scouts who sell them to support their troop. Many are used to make decorative pieces but others end up as chew toys. Wyoming has a devastating disease call Chronic Wasting Disease and is caused by a small protein subpart called a prion.  Prions have the potential to be in antlers and other body parts and thus may be introduced into deer populations in other parts of the country.  Much like the devastating Ash Borror that was introduced into my state of Ohio in firewood brought in from Michigan, the infestation is quickly depleting the Ash trees in the state. . 

My biggest concern though with all these chew toys is the potential for passing harmful bacteria to your pet and YOU.  There have been many cases of Salmonella and E. Coli contaminations directly linked to rawhides, pig’s ears and other animal product toys. The FDA has published an advisory warning of this risk and urges those who come in contact with them to wash their hands thoroughly.

Sorry for the disgusting facts in this blog, but hopefully I have educated you, so you can pick the safest products for your beloved pet.

Related Posts:
June is Gastrointestinal Month at Embrace
Guest Post: The Harmful Side of Animal-Sourced Dog Chews
What does that ever-so-generic term Colitis mean anyway?

Other posts by Dr Riggs

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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 two cats Franklin and Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

Guest Post: Allergies in Pets

Today, we have a guest post from Dr. Rex Riggs on the topic of allergies. Ironically, Dr. Riggs is allergic to cats! But he does talk about how allergies happen and what can be done about them. 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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Allergies. I hate allergies. I have tree pollen allergies in the spring. I have grass allergies in the summer and house dust mite allergies all winter long. To cap it all off, I have cat allergies all year long! Oh well, it is what it is.

And What Exactly Are Allergies?

Allergies are bad for everyone including our pets. 

First we need to define just what an allergy is. There are some misunderstandings about what the immune system is actually doing. Our immune system is there to protect against evil enemies. Sometimes it goes too far. Allergies are abnormal immune system reactions, to things that are usually harmless.

Most people think that allergies happen when are immune system is suppressed. Quite the opposite.

Allergies are an exaggerated immune response or hypersensitivity, to specific things, called allergens. The allergens can be to pollen, dander, molds, dust mites etc. It often takes years for people and pets to “develop” allergies. Each time we are exposed to an allergen our bodies develop T-helper cells, a type of white blood cell. These T-helper cells will recognize a particular allergen and next time it sees that same allergen it attacks.

After multiple exposures to the same allergen, it can trigger an exaggerated response and we have signs of allergies. So, it is not the pollen that is “causing” the problem, it is our own immune system that is overachieving.

How Do Allergies in Pets Compare to Allergies in People?

In people, the cells coming into fight the allergen causes mainly a release of histamines. The histamines will cause swelling and congestion in our respiratory system or causes us to itch. So what do we do? We take Benadryl, Allegra or Claritin which are all anti-histamines which will counter act the histamines.

This is one of the major differences between human and pets.

Dogs and cats only release a fraction of the histamines we do. Probably only 10 to 20% of the amount. Hence that is why antihistamines only work in about 20% of our pets. Not to say antihistamine are not useful in veterinary medicine, but we need to combine them with other medications, such as fatty acids and steroids.

The other major difference is that allergies in people are most often manifested by respiratory signs with itching and gastrointestinal signs less prevalent. In our pets, their primary signs deal with their skin, with the gastrointestinal tract being affected less often.

Treating Allergies

Often when the word steroids come up, people get concerned. Steroids are not bad, if use in moderation and not given long term.

The steroids we use in animals is not the same ones the body builders and athletes abuse. Those are called anabolic steroids. They build up things such as muscle. The corticosteroids we use are catabolic steroids which will decrease reactions and with long term use actually tear down tissues. That is why using them 1 to 2 times a year is ok but if needed more often, we look for other treatments.

Which Pets Get Allergies?

Certain breeds of dogs are affected more often with allergies. Purebred dogs are much more likely to be affected, due to recessive genes being expressed by closer breedings. The more popular a breed, the more likely we are to see allergies. The top four allergic breeds in our practice are Golden Reteivers, Bichons, Labrador Retrievers and West Highland Terriers.

Can Allergies Be Cured?

Everyone wants a cure for allergies, but it is not possible. You will always have the T-helper cells primed to attack. So we just try to decrease the response, and we are very successful in most cases with treatment tailored to each individual animal.

So don’t be discouraged. The vet might need to try a number of different treatments before they find what works for your pet, but they will find the “cure” for your pet.

Related Posts:
May is Allergy Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Guest Post: Allergies in Pets
Can dogs be allergic to bee and yellow jacket stings?
Claim Example: allergies in a dog
Other posts by Dr Riggs

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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 two cats Franklin and Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.

May is Allergy Month at Embrace Pet Insurance

When it comes to claims at Embrace, allergies are often the most difficult to deal with.

That's because sometimes the pet parent does not know her pet possibly has allergies when she submits a claim for an ear infection or a skin hot spot. One symptom such as an ear infection doesn't necessarily mean allergies but multiple symptoms over time certainly increases the chance.

Skin allergy symptoms include:

• otitis externa (ear infection)
• pyoderma (a bacterial infection of the skin)
• dermatitis (inflammation of the skin)
• chewing on itchy paws
• constant licking of skin
• allergic reactions to external causes such as fleas or bee stings

A full 11% of the Embrace pet insurance claims submitted today were from one of these symptoms. It's that common.

Allergies are the body's reaction to usually harmless substances that don't normally bother most dogs and cats. The good news is that once you know what the substance is that causes the reaction, you can do something about it. The bad news is that it's often not easy to work out what that substance is.

We'll explore the topic of allergies further this month.

In the meantime, do you have a pet with allergies? How have you coped?

Related Posts:
May is Allergy Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Guest Post: Allergies in Pets
Can dogs be allergic to bee and yellow jacket stings?
Claim Example: allergies in a dog

Pet Cancer Story: Ally the Labrador with Lung Cancer

Another dog cancer story, this time from Anna, who writes about her dog Ally, who died of lung cancer.
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We got your pet insurance on our puppy after the very painful loss of our 8 year old Lab,Ally, in 2008. She had lung cancer and we did treat as we are very lucky to have the #1 Animal Hospital in America(Countryside) in our town. We were then referred to Tufts Hospital in Grafton Ma where we also got wonderful, advanced treatment.

We treated Ally for months before she went to heaven and we know her case taught many vets how to better treat in the future. Her tumor was so close to her heart it was, unfortunately, inoperable.

We also learned the importance of feeding our canine babies and ourselves organic food.

We were lucky and could afford Ally's treatments but many folks cannot so we tell everyone to get Embrace so you can focus on caring for your sick baby and not the financial burden.

There are so many new treatments for canine cancer it's amazing and many support groups for pet parents too!

So, to any parents out there going through this now, know there is great treatment, great support and your baby can possibly be healed so don't give up!

Related Posts:
April is Cancer Month at Embrace Pet Insurance
Claim Example: b cell neoplasm (rectal tumor) in Dachshund
Guest Post: cancer treatment for cats and dogs versus people
Claim example: lymphoma in 3 year old mixed breed cat
Other Pet Cancer Stories

Introducing Mama Elephant and Her Baby - National Hairball Awareness Day

With three cats in the house, we're had our fair share of goopy hairballs suddenly discovered under foot or hidden away in the guest room, only to be discovered when showing your mother-in-law to her sleeping quarters (oops!)

When Furminator asked if I'd be interested in joining in with National Hairball Awareness Day, I thought it a fun way to highlight something that can be quite a problem for people with cats. We've certainly paid out some gastrointestinal claims related to the issue.

Luckily, my cats Rocket, Rosie and Lily all have short fur but:

a) they all still have hairball issues every now and then, and
b) I remember back to when I used to have long-haired cats... which is why I now have short-haired cats

Here's a creation I made from the fur from 1 day of grooming the 3 cats with our 2 Furminators (one kindly donated to me by Furminator).

Mama Elephant Holding Her Baby

Do you like her? I think she's kind of cute - she just sort of popped out of the fur (that and the fact that my youngest daughter loves elephants.)

My two girls, Ellie and Erin, had a lot of fun helping with the grooming and fur gathering, loading it into ziploc bags for future use (goodness knows what their teachers must think we do in our family for fun).

Seriously though, how do you prevent furballs? I've generally had good success with 2 methods - food and grooming.

I've found that if I feed high quality cat food with lots of protein and as "natural" as I can afford, that helps keep the cats fur shiny and healthy. Somehow, it doesn't seem to clog up their insides as much as if it's a bit lank and greasy, which I find I get with lesser quality foods.

Also, grooming just preempts the soft underfur that would be shed being swallowed - best to remove in advance. I really do love my Furminator (and you can't beat that name!) and now I am delighted to have a new model that has the ability to push off the fur with a push button instead of grabbing it off. That's definitely a nice enhancement.

By the way, Rocket and Rosie found Mama Elephant after her photo shoot and totally destroyed her, her furry demeanor being much too fascinating to hold back.

The girls were very disappointed but I think I know where I might get some more fur to play with, don't you?

Disclosure: as I mentioned, I got a free Furminator for participating in this fun day. I added it to my growing collection - the purple-for-Embrace is a nice touch