Insurance for Fido and Fluffy

By: Kate McCaffery 

I would love to have been in the room the first time someone tried to sell pet medical insurance. I can picture it... "You want me to insure my dog??"

In truth though, it's a good idea. (In my opinion, anyway.) There are certain expenses that are a given when you take on the responsibility of pet ownership. Food is one. Veterinary fees (vaccinations and annual doses of flea and heartworm meds) are another. Both are part of the cost of doing business.

When you own a pet too, unless you're wealthy with absolutely solid sources of excess cash flow, I'd add pet insurance to that list as well.

Now some people will say you should take the $20 or $40 each month you'd spend on premiums and put it into a bank account instead. If you're flush enough that a sudden vet bill won't hurt you, this might make sense.

That said, even the healthiest animals eventually run into problems. Those people I know who are actually long time buyers of pet insurance say the product is worth it – in almost every case nearly all of their fees have come back to them at some point.

"With the advances in veterinary medicine today, anything that can be done to a human can be done to your pet," says Randy Valpy, president and CEO of Pet Secure. "Of course, with that comes associated costs and those costs have been increasing."

When you have insurance too, it can cover more than one claim. (By comparison, that reserve bank account – if it hasn't already been drawn on to fix the roof or replace the car's transmission – can be drawn down pretty quickly and once the funds are gone, that's it.) A healthy large dog, for example, is prone to getting hip dysplasia as it gets older. The surgery for each hip costs around $3,000. After the first goes, the second usually follows within a year.

Like cars too, some animals are just absolute lemons. My last pet, Oscar the ferret, was probably the smartest of all the critters I've owned but he was definitely the sickest, coming close to death at least four times during his rather short life. (We think he may have been a cat in his past life that got ripped off – he brought his extra nine lives with him into this one.)

In addition to accidents or ailments, pets swallow things. "A lot of the foreign body cases we get are quite interesting. We've had a boxer that swallowed a 12-inch ruler and it got stuck sideways. You could see it pushing on the skin on either side," says Valpy. "You should see some of these x-rays. Dogs have swallowed knives. Fortunately they swallow them with the handle first so it doesn't do a lot of damage." Stones, golf balls and car keys are other favorites.

Given the anecdotal evidence I have about pet insurance payouts and my own firsthand knowledge of how tremendously expensive vet bills can be, I was really interested in speaking with Valpy. (Insurance companies are rarely in the business of doing anything that doesn't somehow turn a profit.)

It turns out that Pet Secure, formerly known as Pet Plan in Canada – a name they licensed from one of the world's largest pet insurance companies in the UK – has been in business since 1989. The company didn't turn a profit until 2003.

At the time, he says the company's owners were looking at the European model – pet insurance has been around in the UK since 1947. Roughly 20 per cent of pets there are insured. In Canada, only one per cent of animals are covered.

Fun fact: The first pet insurance policy was issued for a horse in Sweden in 1898. (Today, although Pet Plan in the UK has an eqUANINE XXX, most horses are covered in the agricultural market.) In Sweden, more than 40 per cent of the population's two or three million pets are insured.

So why only cats and dogs? Again, thinking like an insurance writer, I assumed it was simply not profitable to insure my pet ferrets. (My vet once joked that they are probably the most expensive animals to keep if you were measuring on a cost per pound basis.)

As usual though, the answer was a little more nuanced. In order to adjudicate claims, the company needs to have animal health technologists and veterinarians on staff. To cover other pets or animals, it needs to add additional staff with more specialized knowledge to process claims.

There are no hard figures but Valpy says thousands of pets are put to sleep every year unnecessarily. Many could go on to live a healthy life if their owners could afford treatment.

Not having insurance can mean racking up large credit card bills or the need to dip into savings for other goals such as a house downpayment.

Not having the funds for a vet bill "can really prevent you from reaching other goals," agrees Valpy. "None of us wants to make an insurance claim. It's the same with your pet. You don't want your pet to get sick or hit by a car but we sure like to have the insurance when something does happen because it eases financial strain."


Kate McCaffery is a freelance writer in Toronto, Ontario. Visit mccaffery.ca/kate2.0/ for more information.

Our Petscure pet insurance team attended the 2011 AAHA/OVMA conference in Toronto, last week.

Our Territory Managers, our Business Development Representatives, our Chief Veterinarian Dr. Lynn Webster and our President & CEO, Randy Valpy were all in attendance, to learn about the advancements in veterinary medicine and in the vet community.

The tradeshow hosted over 200 exhibitors showcasing products and services, including our friends Dr. Liz O'Brien and Judi Cannon promoting Care for Cats - 2011 Year of the Cat, sponsored by Petsecure pet insurance. (www.careforcats.ca) 

Today is National Puppy Day! Learn how to care for your new puppy and what this day is all about!  Plus, get some helpful hints from Petsecure pet insurance's in-house Chief Veterinarian, Dr Webster!

Celebrating March 23rd as National Puppy Day!

National Puppy Day was founded in 2006 to help bring global awareness about puppy mills, and 'to celebrate the magic and unconditional love our puppies bring to our lives'.

Puppy Care

Do you wish your new pup came with a manual? Are you hoping to find a 'What to Expect When You're Expecting... a New Puppy in Your Home' book? Check out this great article from Petsecure's Pet Healthipedia for some great tips and information about caring for your puppy!

http://content.petsecure.com/dogs/puppy-care/2882/ 

Ask-A-Vet with Dr Lynn Webster

Our Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Lynn Webster, keeps Petsecure pet insurance connected to vet practices and the vet community. His wealth of knowledge helps Petsecure pet insurance with products, ongoing claims and advice to members, such as:

Dear Dr. Webster, We have a new puppy - an 8 week old golden poodle who's adorable, which we got from the breeder at 7 weeks. We're crate-training her and she's doing very well with the toilet training. However, she's gotten into the habit of biting us all the time, especially our youngest daughter. We tell her a firm NO, but nothing works. Would you have any suggestions?

Also, what are the signs to look for that she's ready to be let out freely in the rest of the house? She now spends most of her time in her crate, her play area in the mudroom and the backyard.

Dr. Webster says: It is normal for puppies to nip and chew as they get there teeth. All you can do is give one thing to play and chew and keep it simple. Discourage her from biting and she will stop in time. It usually takes a few months to completely train a pup. I would give her access to more space in the house on a limited and progressive basis in an area where least damage can be done.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pup, email Dr Webster at: askavet@petsecure.com

For more information about your pup's health, training or caring needs, visit Petsecure's Pet Healthipedia.

For some, the most common ways of managing pain or healing disease is through modern medicine. A visit to the doctor, a drug prescription along with a healthy diet and exercise may be a solution to better health.  For others, who suffer from aching joints, tight muscles, back pain or serious illness, a drug prescription may not be enough.

Humans have discovered other forms of therapy that focus on healing problematic areas using manual therapy. Over the years, these types of therapies have been proven to help our furry loved ones as well.

As alternative therapy became increasingly recommended by the veterinarian community to help heal animals, Petsecure pet health insurance recognized the importance of this type of therapy and offers this type of coverage to all their members. 

Here are some of the most common types of alternative therapies for pets:

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Similar to human treatment, physiotherapy is used for prevention and rehabilitation of injured muscles and joints.  Physiotherapy is usually recommended for tissue injuries, fractures and trauma or after surgery. The techniques used to help heal the wounded area include stretches, heat and ice treatment, ultrasound and underwater treadmill activity to help strengthen the muscles with little strain or pressure.

Physiotherapy is used to help alleviate discomfort caused by hip dysplasia, arthritis, joint deformities, back pain and spinal surgery. 

CHIROPRACTIC

Chiropractic therapy focuses on aligning the vertebrae so that the rest of the body, from nerves to muscles and joints, performs in its ideal state.

Chiropractic therapy may be required if your pet is showing signs such as discomfort while sitting, sensitivity to touch or abnormal posture while standing.

One technique used to help the veterinary chiropractor with treatment is with the help of a new instrument called the ‘Activator’. This spring loaded instrument, similar to a syringe in appearance, when deployed gives a shock-like feel to help set the alignment in place.

Through repeated treatments and specific stretches, chiropractic therapy helps to relieve tension and realign the body.

MASSAGE

Massage therapy is a versatile treatment used for relieving discomfort, aiding in metabolic and other digestive conditions and soothing after abuse or trauma. 

Massage therapy encourages healing through blood flow, tension relief, loosened muscles and stimulated nerves.

Overtired and overworked muscles are manipulated using either long and slow strokes or deep pressure strokes. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, sometimes hot and cold treatments are incorporated to help loosen muscles, reduce swelling or relieve tension, all in an effort to regain a healthy strong status.

It’s important to note, massage therapy doesn’t heal disease. It simply offers relief. In some cases, a veterinary massage therapist may incorporate acupuncture for further treatment of pain relief.

 ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture derives from traditional Chinese medicine and has been in existence for over 3,500 years. By using smooth, thin needles, inserted into specific pressure points in the affected area, the nerves become stimulated, increasing blood flow and redirecting energy within the body to heal itself.  

Because it offers short term relief, acupuncture does require repeated treatments and is usually combined with massage therapy and physiotherapy, depending on the veterinarian.  

Hip dysplasia, digestive conditions and epilepsy are some conditions that have been treated with acupuncture.  Studies have shown positive changes in a pet’s personality after acupuncture treatments; however research is ongoing to determine the effectiveness of this treatment in relation to the healing process.  

Other forms of Alternative Therapy

There are two less common forms of alternative therapies that are worth noting, due to their increasing popularity and recent research.

Homeopathy is a more organic way of treating an unhealthy body. It focuses on balancing energy levels within the body so that the body can heal itself. By consuming plants, herbs, vitamins and minerals and following a natural diet and eliminating processed foods, some believe that this is an effective and safer way of treating disease.

VetStem RC Regenerative Cell Therapy is being researched due to its controversial findings. Stem Cell Therapy involves extracting valuable cells from a pet’s harvested fat and given back to the pet to help heal their disease. This treatment is used to help mobility in arthritis sufferers and in pets with joint and ligament injuries. 

Some researchers believe this is a risky procedure as there are no guarantees that the regenerated cells are indeed healthy and therefore may cause more harm than good.

Alternative therapy aids in the healing process of your pet’s health. Each form of therapy requires repeated treatment which can range from months to years, depending on the severity of your pet’s condition.

Alternative therapy requires a recommendation from a veterinarian to determine which form of therapy is best for your pet’s condition. To learn more about alternative therapy for your pet, contact your veterinarian.

To learn more about Alternative Therapy coverage with Petsecure pet health insurance, visit: www.petsecure.com

Today, as we celebrate St Patrick’s Day, we thought we’d also take this time to celebrate some of our favourite Irish dog breeds.  

Meet some of the most popular Irish breeds insured with Petsecure pet insurance (and one not so common breed)!  All with a history and background of work and companionship, they can make great pets for the right family! 

Most Common Irish Breeds insured by Petsecure pet insurance.  

Irish Setter (Red and White)

The Irish Setter is an energetic breed and can be difficult to train, though excellent with children and non-aggressive. The name ‘setter’ refers to its common crouching stance when prey is near, whereas ‘red’ or ‘white’, in the name, refers to the colour of if its coat. 

Irish Setters are known for roaming, therefore being confined to an apartment will make the Setter hyperactive and destructive. They do much better with room to run!

Some common ailments of the Irish Setter are hip dysplasia, bloat, metabolic bone disease, perianal fistulae, melanoma and osteosarcoma.

Irish Wolfhound

The Irish Wolfhound dates back to 100BC. One of the first purebred dogs, the Irish Wolfhound is known to have travelled with Christopher Columbus.

The Irish Wolfhound has a laid back personality, is very quiet, rarely barks and is a true gentle giant. The Wolfhound is a dog of great dignity and cannot bear to be laughed at.  

Similar to other Irish breeds, some common ailments the Irish Wolfhound are bloat, metabolic bone disease, cardiomyopathy, and osteosarcoma.

Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel has been known since the 1800s. It’s known as the clown of the dog world, upbeat, cheerful, great with kids and has a great sense of humour.

The Irish Water Spaniel, of course, loves water. Their feet are webbed and their coat is oily and repels water.

The Irish Water Spaniel can be prone to hip dysplasia, follicular dysplasia and severe skin and thyroid problems. 

A Not so Common Irish Breed insured by Petsecure pet insurance.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier

The Glen of Imaal Terrier became recognized by the CKC only recently in 2009. Due to its height and size, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is a good ‘ground’ dog and was used to chase badgers and fox.

Its short, bowed legs were ideal for working the dog wheel – a treadmill device used to churn butter or turn meat on a fire.

The Glen of Imaal Terrier is easy-going, excellent with children, intelligent and good natured. This is a dog with lots of pep and little bark. Its coat is non-shedding, making it an ideal breed for families with allergies. 

Unlike other Irish breeds, the Glen of Imaal Terrier is a fairly healthy breed and generally doesn’t suffer from the common ailments as the others.

For more information about dog and cat breeds or to find out what type of breed is best suited for your family, visit: www.pethealthipedia.com