Should You Get Pet Insurance for Your Pet?

Today's article is a bit different, rather than talking about any kind of exotic pet, I want to mention some concerns regarding medical costs of cats and dogs. I often encounter people who have an ailing pet and are looking for free help. The Internet in general is not a good place to turn for free veterinarian help, you never know if the person is really qualified to answer and often times symptoms really need to be seen first hand by a real vet, one who can do something to help the suffering cat or dog. Pet Insurance is a good way for some people to be able to pay for emergency pet care rather than saving up thousands of dollars to cover these expenses.

Does your pet have pet insurance? If you live in Canada or the United States the answer is probably “No”, however if you live in Europe there is a good chance your pet is insured as the percentage of insured pets in different European countries is between 12% and 50%.

If your pet is not insured you may be one of the many people scrambling for cash if something happens to your pet. If you belong to any online forums, or question and answer sites (such as WebAnswers or Yahoo!) you may have seen questions from frantic owners looking for free veterinarian help for their sick or injured pet. Many people will even say “Help, I cannot afford to take my pet to the veterinarian”. Sadly in some of these situations it is clear that the pet really needs proper veterinarian attention and may die without it.

Knowing the potential for a pet to get injured why take the risk? 

Pet Insurance is available from many different companies in North America, one of which is 24PetWatch pet insurance. 24PetWatch Pet Insurance offers pet insurance for cats and dogs and covers injury or illness, with different plans to suit different pet insurance needs. Studies have shown that one in three pets will need emergency treatment and two out of three will experience a major health problem during their lifetime. All of this adds up to over $10 billion being spent in North America on pet health care.

Some of the things to consider are that your pet could be hit by a car, poisoned, get cancer, have hip dysplasia, get in a fight with another pet or animal, or could get sick.

The time to get insurance is before problems occur as pre-existing conditions are not covered and pets as young as 8 weeks old are eligible to be enrolled (there is a 14 day waiting period).

24PetWatch pet insurance has different pet insurance programs for different needs and insures cats and dogs, they even has a special program called TenantCare for pet owners who live in rental properties.

With 24PetWatch pet insurance you can still go to your regular vet, or any licensed veterinarian you choose.

Discounts are given if you enroll more than one pet in one of 24PetWatch pet insurance's programs.

If you are a pet owner and are concerned with the high cost of medical bills then joining a pet insurance program to get Health Insurance for your Pets may be a good idea.

Can you Trust Buying Pet Medications Online?

You should also be aware that many over the counter products, and particularly those for fleas and ticks, are not always safe for pets. Sadly there are many websites dedicated to warning pet owners about the risks of over the counter pet medications (including flea collars) to the extent that some pets have even died as the result of their owners using the products correctly. Concerns with over the counter flea and tick medications are that the ingredients are known to cause allergic, and sometimes fatal, reactions in some pets.

As such pet owners are now turning to their vet for safer medications to control fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks are not only annoying but also be aware fleas can spread tapeworms and ticks can spread Lyme disease.

Many pet owners are looking online for savings on pet medications, particularly in the areas of flea and tick control, but there are also other pet medications are now available online from various companies. One thing you may not be aware of is that a lot of these online companies are not run by veterinarians and that they are often pharmacies for people.

VetApprovedRX is one of the few online companies where an actual veterinarian is involved. As such if you are going to order your pet's medications online you are much safer to consider this company than some of the others. Also their prices are great!

This is not to say that pet medications sold by all online companies are risky, but why take any risks?

As a bonus with an order of $39 (or more) from VetApprovedRX you are entitled to a free online veterinarian consultation in case you have any questions about your pet, its medications, or general pet care questions.

When buying any pet medications it is important to know the weight of your pet, do not guess. To find out how much your pet weighs step on a weigh scale while holding your pet. Note the weight. Put the pet down and note the weight. Calculate the difference and that is how much your pet weighs. Write it down rather than assuming you will remember it.

Ordering pet medications from your veterinarian, or online from a veterinarian run company, is a lot safer than ordering them from an unknown source or pharmacy not operated by a person with veterinary knowledge of pets.

VetApprovedRX sells Advantage II, K9 Advantix, Frontline, Capstar, and all your other favorite cat and dog medications and health products.

If your cat or dog has fleas, or you are worried about ticks, or are looking for great deals on other pet medications, please check out VetApprovedRX.   Use the link below to get a great deal on Frontline Plus.

Be aware that in many cases cat medication is not safe for dogs, and visa versa, unless otherwise indicated.

Get Frontline Plus FREE Dose! Buy 6 doses, and get 1 additional dose. FREE Shipping Everyday!

Pets Reduce Our Stress, How We Can Reduce Their Stress

Studies have shown that owning a pet can reduce stress in people.  Indeed even doing simple things such as stroking your cat, or watching fish in an aquarium, can have a positive effect on us, reducing our blood pressure and making us feel better.

Sadly a poorly cared for pet will live in a world of stress.  While most cats and dogs shed fur, did you know that when stressed they tend to shed more?  This is often noted in animal shelters where pets shed a lot due to the stress of being confined or living with so many other animals.

Studies have shown that dogs kept on chains are often aggressive and tend to be more prone to biting than dogs who are loose in their fenced yard.  In fact some animal shelters will not even adopt a dog to an owner who intends to keep it on a chain for this very reason.  If you do not have a fully fenced yard you might want to consider a good dog run.

Dogs who are not properly exercised, or mentally stimulated, often become destructive.  Destructive behavior is a sign of stress.  If an owner is wise they will select the dog breed that best suits their lifestyle rather than just getting the first cute puppy they see, or getting a particular breed because it looks cool.

©artwork by B Nelson

Some dog breeds, such as the Shih Tzu, tend to be happy-go-lucky, and do well in most homes, however they would not be a good mix in a very active home as they are a more laid back type of dog.

Smarter dog breeds benefit by having things to do, even such as having challenging toys to play with when their owner is not home.

Even cats can have stress.  Cats are pretty laid back, they sleep a lot, but in a chaotic home a cat may be stressed.  Cat owners are also wise to remember that cats do naturally use their claws, and should have a scratching post for this purpose.  Cats who are stressed tend to shed more, and some cats may start urinating around the house, Feliway is a great product to help reduce stress in cats.



Consider our small caged pets too.  They suffer from stress!  One of the biggest causers of stress in small pets is the fact that sometimes they are left in their cage for days, handled rarely, and their needs are not really met in this way.  It is important that our caged pets receive mental stimulation, which can be provided by taking them out regularly, and by making sure they have toys in their cage too.  Small pets often like things to chew on, and love tubes, so why not get them a tube they can chew on?

Birds are prone to stress, they are actually quite intelligent and do not like to be left alone.  Birds should be kept where they can see activity, and they do require daily interaction, especially parrots!

Keep an eye out for new toys and products to help keep our pets healthy and happy, it is up to us to make sure they are not stressed because stress shortens their lives.

Unique All Natural Pet Food Companies

Recently I was reviewing some pet food companies that I had previously not been aware of.  Two of these companies were specifically good for pet owners who want to cook for their pets but do not have the time, or who want to feel more involved in the preparation of their pet's food.

While both these companies offer choices for cat and dog owners, both have more selections for dogs than cats. 

These really cool pet food companies are Red Moon Custom Pet Foods and Sojos - Sojourner Farms - Pet Foods. 

Both Red Moon Custom Pet Foods and Sojos All Natural Pet Foods focus on healthy and natural ingredients.  They recognize that many other pet foods use cheap filler and some even contain ingredients (such as Ethoxyquin) that are linked to causing health problems.  These companies wanted to offer a better product in terms of healthy ingredients but went another step further.

Red Moon Custom Pet Foods went in the direction of allowing people to pick a base product and then to customize it with a list of ingredients that can benefit pets in different ways.  For people who are unsure what base to start with Red Moon Custom Pet Foods asks people a few basic questions about their pet, including its age and health concerns.  With dogs they also ask about its size.  They usually suggest a few different base products so owners can pick the type of meat they want.  Once owners have selected other ingredients to add the company makes the food and ships it out fresh.

Sojos All Natural Pet Foods took the direction of making a base product that contains all the harder to find ingredients that pets require to ensure they get their vitamins and minerals and so forth and sending that to the consumer allowing the pet owner to add raw meat and vegetables of their choice.  They also have a complete mix for people who do not want to add the meat and vegetables.  Their food is sold in a freeze dried form and is rehydrated with water so it is always fresh. 

Both of these pet foods are available in Canada and the USA.  While Sojos food can be found in some stores, online at their own site, or via other online suppliers such as Only Natural Pet Stores, Red Moon is custom made pet food so it is only available online.

Check here for coupons and deals on Sojos All Natural Pet Foods.
And check here for discounts and deals from Red Moon Custom Pet Foods.

Remember when you select an all natural pet food you avoid chemicals that can be linked to cancer and other problems that are so common in our beloved pets.

Review of the Northern Lights Wolf Center

The Northern Lights Wolf Center is located between Golden, BC, and Revelstoke, being closer to Golden. It is about a 10 minute drive off the highway. 

While driving from Golden to Revelstoke this past summer (July 2012) we saw signs "Wolves", and "Wolf Puppies" and made a plan to stop there on the way home (we were on vacation to Vancouver).

To be honest were expecting something different so were slightly disappointed in the Northern Lights Wolf Center however overall we were still glad we stopped. We expect to see wolves moving around in a more wild setting but it was hot summer day and they were snoozing in cages. The cages themselves were not too bad. 

They did have wolf puppies but the puppies were a few months old when we saw them, actually we only saw one and it was asleep. I would suggest anyone looking to see younger puppies to visit earlier in the year, perhaps May or June.

We were impressed with the interpretive displays, they had lots of information on wolves and other Canadian wildlife. They also had lots of information regarding various petitions supporting protection for wildlife.

Additionally the Northern Lights Wolf Center had information on the Karelian Bear Dogs, and owned a couple of such dogs too. These dogs are used to teach bears to stay away from human areas and as such the goal would be to avoid fewer bear problems which sometimes result in bears being shot and killed. 

Apparently they do also have “walks with wolves” available in which a person could get better pictures than we got. They are open daily, even in the winter, but I would advise you check the weather and road conditions before making a trip in the winter.

As far as roadside zoos and attractions go, I would rate this one as fair. I would say it is worth stopping at if you are driving through the area and like wolves. The enclosures were pretty good, they had trees, shade, shelter, and interesting areas for the wolves. Had I seen any signs of cruelty or suffering I would not encourage any visitors to this wolf center. The people are clearly trying to do what they think is right; offering education, and are not just in it for the money.

I want to add that keeping wolves as pets is not a good idea.  If you are somebody who wants a wolf for this reason you should have a proper facility similar to the one at the Northern Lights Wolf Center, allowing the wolves to live at least somewhat naturally.

White Tigers, Cruel Man Made Mutants

Did you know that there are no wild white tigers?  Although zoos often refer to white tigers as Royal White Bengal Tigers, this is not actually a species of tiger.  The white tigers you see on display in zoos today are not even purebreds, they are crosses between Siberian Tigers and Bengal Tigers.  They are also greatly inbred, the gene for white is recessive so white tigers are often created by breeding father to daughter, mother to son, and brother to sister. 

As with most inbred animals there are always more genetic health problems.  The gene that makes them white is linked to eye problems.  White tigers always have poor vision, making them more dependent on their handler.  In some cases this is easy to see as they may be cross eyed, in other cases the problem is in regards to how their eyes are wired to their brain.   Some tiger trainers prefer white tigers because their poor vision makes them easier to train, they are more dependent on their handler than a tiger with normal health vision.

photo source

White tigers are often born with spinal deformities, cleft pallets (a mouth deformity), and organ problems.  It is not uncommon for them to die shortly after birth.

Although not all zoos in the United States are members of the American Zoological Association (AZA), this group passed a ban in 2011 prohibiting members from breeding white tigers.

Although I realize many of you might want to see these beautiful animals it is best to not support the zoos that have white tigers.  There is no ethical reason for breeding them.  In fact many of the people who try to breed white tigers "dispose" of the tiger cubs born with normal orange colored fur.  The only reason they breed white tigers is for greed, vanity, and profit.  It must be stopped.

If you see white tigers in your local zoo be sure to express your displeasure with the intentional breeding programs that some zoos have adopted to make more of these sickly animals.

Further Reading on White Tigers

Breeding White Tigers does not Help Tigers

Big Cat Rescue - White Tigers

Costs of Owning a Pet Tiger

Released Pet Turtles Living in Stanley Park

Red-Eared Slider Turtles are native to the southern United States, so what are they doing in a pond in Canada?  On a recent trip to Vancouver, we saw several of these turtles swimming and resting on rocks and logs in Vancouver's Stanley Park.  Although they looked quite at home in the Lost Lagoon, they did not belong there.

Red-eared sliders got their name because of the red marking behind their eyes (which can also  be yellow), and the fact that when scared they just “slide” off the rock or log and disappear into the water.

When we were at the Lost Lagoon we saw several, if we had a better camera we could have taken a picture of at several turtles piled up on a log together, but as it happened we were still able to get a few pictures of the turtles closer up. As cold blooded animals, reptiles need to rest in the sun to get warm and to digest their food.

Red-eared slider turtles need water to eat, and are omnivores, often eating more meat as youngsters, and more plant matter as adults.

Red-eared slider turtles are sometimes kept as pets, but it is illegal to catch one in the park and take it home, as it is also against the law to release an unwanted pet turtle into the park. They are considered an invasive species and should never be released anywhere into the wild.  Again these turtles are not native to the area, or Canada in general, so the only reason they are in the Lost Lagoon in Vancouver's Stanley Park is because at one point they would have been introduced, either by pet owners who discarded unwanted animals in the park, or having somehow escaped from captivity.

Female red-eared slider turtles grow slightly larger than males, reaching just over one foot in length (30 cm). They can live up to 30 years, a major consideration for anyone thinking of getting one as a pet.

Although often seen for sale it is illegal in the United States to sell a turtle with a shell under 4 inches in length.  If you see somebody with turtles of this size for sale please report them, as most will not survive and we should try to stop people from putting the lives of animals at risk just to make a few dollars.

Click here to see more pictures of these turtles.