Spring and Allergies in your furry friends
By Dr. Colleen Skavinsky, Chief Veterinary Officer

Spring has sprung across our great land. Sunny skies, tulips and crocuses...and itchy ears. Or itchy bellies. Or itchy paws. Dogs and cats can develop hay fever or seasonal allergies just like ourselves. Unlike people, who are prone to runny noses and stuffy sinuses, pets are more likely to show signs associated with skin lesions and ear infections when suffering from this condition.

Atopy is the term we use when we are describing an allergy to different particles in the environment. The severity is often related to changing seasons. Pets may become allergic to pollens, moulds, and dust particles (often dust mite "bits"). We used to categorize atopy as the inhalant-form of allergies.

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Knee Injuries:
Cruciate Ligament in Dogs
By Dr. Colleen Skavinsky, Chief Veterinary Officer

The stifle, also known as the knee joint, is truly a wonder of bio-mechanical engineering. The thigh bone (femur) is connected to the shin bone (tibia and fibula) by a number of tendons and ligaments, including the cruciate ligaments. The bones are separated by two little cartilage cushions known as the menisci (singular form-meniscus). The cruciate (cross) ligaments inside the stifle help to stabilize and coordinate the hind leg during normal motion. The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is equivalent to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. Cranial cruciate ligament injuries are one of the most common orthopedic conditions we see in dogs.

There are a number of factors involved in the development of cranial cruciate problems. Dogs appear to injure the cruciate ligament during activity. The normal stabilizing mechanisms within the knee are strained by sudden twists or turns to the point of partial tearing or true rupture. Playing with Kongs or other toys that bounce at unpredictable angles may cause this type of strain. Dogs who slip on stairs, trip in gopher holes, or slip on ice are at risk for knee injuries.

Actual trauma, however, actually accounts for a minority of ligament ruptures in dogs. More commonly, a degenerative process weakens the ligament over time until it eventually tears and ruptures. Progressive degeneration of the ligament has been attributed to a variety of factors. Dogs who are obese and inactive are four times more likely to rupture the cranial cruciate ligament. Conformation can play a role in dogs who do not possess normal angulation in the joints of the hind leg. Certain breeds may have a genetic predisposition to cruciate injuries: Rottweiler, Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland, and Boxer. The disease process in affected breeds may explain why these dogs have a 40 to 60% chance of tearing the cruciate ligament in the other leg within two years.

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Your Pet’s Dental Health Matters Too!
By Dr. Colleen Skavinsky, Chief Veterinary Officer

Have you ever caught your dog brushing his teeth?  Your kitty flossing?  Wouldn’t it be great if our pets could manage their own dental health?  Unfortunately, they can’t.  As pet parents, we are solely responsible for keeping Chopper’s choppers clean and his breath as un-doggy as possible.  Kitty’s red gums can be a serious sign of oral pain. Dental disease is a concern in cats and dogs alike.

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), an astounding 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by the time they are three years old.Dental disease affects not just oral health, but also can contribute to heart, liver, and kidney problems.  Researchers have found that small breed dogs and cats will live 15-20% longer if they receive routine dental care as needed throughout their lifetime.  Even large-breed dogs may live 10-15% longer.

Dogs can get cavities, but they are generally more likely to have periodontal disease.  Cats develop oral resorptive lesions that can look like cavities but, in reality, are more painful.

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Happy New Year!

Nothing like the beginning of a new year to get us excited for what’s to come! Goals in place? Check. New Year’s resolutions made? Check. Petsecure pet insurance’s first 2012 issue of eTails? Check!

Here’s what we are talking about this month:

Do you know if your dog is obese? Dr. Colleen Skavinsky, Chief Veterinary Officer discusses Obesity in Your Dog and what you need to know the next time you visit your veterinarian.

Also, we’ll discuss Allergies in Your Cat and help to debunk the myths!

Thousands of dogs and cats are living much healthier lives today, as we review our Top Claims paid in 2011.

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The Holidays are here!

We’re wrapping up 2011 with one of our busiest seasons! 

In this issue of eTails, Dr. Colleen Skavinsky, our Chief Veterinary Officer, shares her Holiday Safety Tips to ensure you and your furry friend have a safe and happy holiday season.

 Dr. Skavinsky has also contributed to our Holiday Gift Guide, offering up some great gift ideas for your dog or cat!

 Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook, where all month we’re talking about our Petsecure Gift Giveaway – uniquely designed Petsecure gifts free for you and your family!

 If you're looking for a fun way to send a holiday greeting to a pet lover in your life, check out our blog for some great holiday eCards!

From our Petsecure family to yours; have a safe and Happy Holiday!

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It's been over two years in the making and we're very excited to have launched our new operating system (PAWS) this month. There have been a few bumps along the way as our team has moved over to the new software but soon we'll be able to share some of the new enhancements this system has to offer you! (Hint: Access to your Petsecure Account 24/7!)

In this e-newsletter, you'll find information about:

• Our Top Claims for 2010 - find out what our largest claim was for!

• Do you think Periodontal Disease only affects humans? Think again! In support of February's Pet Dental Health Month we're talking about ways to prevent the disease, the symptoms you should look for and how to care for your pet's oral health.

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The snow has fallen, the city is decorated and the shops are buzzing! The holidays are fast approaching and Petsecure wants to make sure you and your pets are prepared!

In this Holiday issue of eTails, you'll find some fun and unique gift ideas for the dogs, cats and pet lovers in your life in our Holiday Gift Guide! Your pets are sure to enjoy these Petsecure favourites!

Our Holiday Safety Tips article has some great tips to keep your pet safe and out of trouble while decorating and preparing for visitors and fun throughout the month.

Looking for the perfect gift for the pet lover on your list? Why not give the gift of security, peace of mind and healthcare all wrapped up into one with Petsecure's Holiday Gift Cards. Available in any denomination, our gift cards are the perfect gift for a current Petsecure member or a great start for an uninsured pet parent!

From our 'doghouse' to yours, we wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Happy holidays!

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Welcome to Spring!

Warmer weather, longer days and very wet paws can only mean one thing. Yup! You guessed it, spring has officially sprung! We're very excited about this season and so are the pets in our lives. Who doesn't love a warmer walk around the block or getting back to the dog park? We're also very excited about some upcoming shows Petsecure is attending, including Woofstock June 12-13 and Paw's in Motion in Winnipeg, MB on June 27.

Looking ahead, we have lots in store for our members and our Facebook fans this year. If you haven't yet become our fan on Facebook be sure to check it out at www.facebook.com/petsecure today! We ask loads of questions to pet parents, run fun monthly contests and we're always blogging about one thing or another. Are you a Twitter user? Follow us at www.twitter.com/petsecure for even more updates!

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Welcome to Winter!

The season has changed, the snow is falling and everyone is getting ready for the holiday season. It's the time of year to reflect on this year's success and look forward to 2010.

This past year, we celebrated our 20th anniversary of offering pet health insurance in Canada and had a busy year doing so. We launched our Petsecure blog, Facebook page and reached the $100 million mark in claims paid!
2009 was also jammed packed with other exciting events, including Pet Parent's Day in April, our 4th annual Pet Health Insurance Month in September and Pet Cancer Awareness Month in November. These events were such a success, that we can't wait to do them all again (plus many more) next year!

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The Colour of Fall is Upon Us!

As the weather changes and the leaves start to turn, we are reminded that the lazy days of summer have passed and it's back to work, school and routine. With fall, comes the spook-tacular night of Halloween, and what better way to celebrate than by dressing up your pet? Upload your photos to our Facebook page for your chance to win! More details are below.

We are very excited to announce the winner of Petsecure's grand prize contest for Pet Health Insurance Month - Samantha Kraft-Roy from Petawawa, Ontario and her Jack Russell/Bichon Frise Winston. Our grand prize was valued at over $4,000, including 1 year of coverage with Petsecure, a 40" Sony LCD TV, plus other great prizes. More details will be posted on our website shortly. Congratulations Samantha!

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Welcome To Spring!

Spring is here! You can almost smell the morning dew and the flowers starting to bloom. You and your pet are restless from the long winter months and are ready to play Frisbee in the park! To keep from getting too restless during the cold winter season we stay busy by exhibiting at various conferences, sponsoring events and being here to help take the financial pressure off you while protecting your furry loved one so that you are both All taken care of....more>>