For Our Furry Friends

Now Offering Canine and Feline Iridology

2018-01-24T13:54:00.000-08:00

"Are you at a loss regarding the direction you should take to improve or maintain your health or the health of your loved one to include your furry family members?" asks Marcia Briseno, founder of Wholelife Wellness in Albuquerque which now offers canine and feline iridology consultations.

Iridology provides a non-invasive, painless and economical means of looking into the body and can be used in conjunction with any other system of analysis available. "Knowing your iris structure helps improve your genetic line through nutrition and lifestyle modifications," says Brisneno.

According to Brisneno, iridology is an external eye analysis that reveals one's current level of health and genetic predispositions. "The eyes has a reflex connection to tissues and organs in the body via the nervous system," she explains. "Visual information is sent to the brain from the eyes by way of the optic nervous system. In the same manner, information is sent to the eyes about the overall condition of our organs and tissues in the body."

Wholelife Wellness offers a two-visit Human External Eye Analysis for $105 and two-visit Canine/Feline External Eye Analysis for $45 ($35 if clear photos for the iris and whites of the eyes are provided)

Marcia Briseno

For more information, call 505-582-9296 or email health@holistic-wellnessonline.com
Website: https://www.holistic-wellnessonline.com/

Is CBD For Your Pet?

2017-10-19T09:25:00.001-07:00

By now, most people have heard about the many health & wellness benefits of CBD hemp oil. CBD and the other naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the hemp plant have been shown to provide people with relief for a variety of debilitating ailments, but did you also know that CBD is good for your dogs, cats and other household pets?

CBD for your Pet

More and more people are discovering the myriad benefits of sharing pure CBD hemp oil with their four legged family members. How exactly does CBD work for your pet? The same way it works for you. CBD activates receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
Did you know, all mammals have an ECS?

In fact, a recent study conducted by the University of Oxford found that- “CBD binds to these receptors for a longer duration (in dogs), and evokes long-lasting therapeutic response without causing toxic effects.”

The ECS plays a role in nearly every physiological system in you and your pet’s body. Although the ECS affects a wide variety of biological processes, many experts believe its overall function is to regulate homeostasis. It is for this reason that thousands of pet owners are using CBD. It is helping them to manage a broad spectrum of health and behavioral issues affecting their pets. A few of the reported benefits of giving pure CBD hemp oil to your pet include: assisting with hip and joint mobility, aiding their digestive tract, supporting their immune system, increasing appetite and soothing pets that suffer from separation anxiety.

Not just CBD that your Pet needs

Receptra Naturals also includes MCT oil in our pet products. This combination of MCT oil and full-plant hemp extract offers an excellent source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for your pets. These are essential fatty acids, meaning your dog or cat cannot produce them naturally and must obtain from other sources. A good balance of these fatty acids is critical for the health & wellness of your pet. According to a recent article in PetFoodIndustry.com, “After years of research, Purina experts have discovered that fatty acids derived from MCT oil can be used as an energy source for the brain.”
Currently the benefits of giving CBD hemp oil to household pets remain largely anecdotal. The strong safety profile of CBD should put the concerns of most curious pet owners at ease. The most common side effect of CBD is that your pet may get a little drowsy. Whether your pet suffers from a specific ailment or you simply want to improve their overall health and wellness, give them the quality of life they deserve with CBD.

Want to give it a try? Read more about this wonderful plant on their website, Receptra Naturals.

Your dog (or cat) will love this! Seaweed calcium now available for animals and pets

2015-10-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

If you're a pet owner, you'll be interested to know that we've just introduced a remarkable nutritional supplement called Health Ranger's Seaweed Calcium for Animals and Pets. Although formulated specifically for animals, this is human-grade calcium of the highest quality.
Calcium is a major structural component of bones and teeth and is an essential dietary mineral for your pet. However, most low-end calcium supplements come from limestone, ground up oyster shells, or bone meal – all of which are difficult for dogs, cats and most other animals to fully digest. (And often contaminated with lead, too...)

The calcium content of bone meal, for example, is contained within relatively large particles of bone that appear as jagged tiles when viewed under a microscope. These particles are very slow to digest, and they pass through the body before much of the calcium can be fully absorbed.

Furthermore, the density of bone meal particles varies, so you never know exactly how much bioavailable calcium is in each teaspoon or cup, which makes it very difficult to measure servings accurately.

Health Ranger's Seaweed Calcium for Animals and Pets offers a huge advantage over bone meal and other forms of calcium. Being from a vegetable source makes it much easier for dogs, cats and other animals to digest. And being 100% derived from natural seaweed, it contains a full spectrum of bioavailable calcium from plants.

It's on sale now at the Natural News Store. To place an order, you can click on this link now.
Unlike some seaweed brands that are sourced from heavily-polluted China, the naturally calcified seaweed we use is harvested from a pristine ocean source off the coast of Ireland, where seaweed has long been used to treat a variety of maladies.
In these saltwaters, where the North Atlantic Ocean meets the Celtic Sea, there grows a small red seaweed called Lithothamnium, which is composed of a wide variety of essential nutrients. In addition to calcium, it also contains sulphur, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, zinc, selenium and magnesium, all of which help boost calcium absorption into the bones.

As with everything the Natural News Store sells, it's also laboratory verified for safety and purity. And of course it's non-GMO.

With Health Ranger's Seaweed Calcium for Animals and Pets, you can be sure your furry friends are getting all the calcium and essential minerals that they need, in the world's most easy-to-digest and bioavailable form. Supplement your pet's health and happiness by clicking on this link now.

- Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.

Pet Bed-Buddies

2015-01-16T07:42:00.000-08:00

Is Sleeping Together Healthy?

Erik J. Martin

There was a time when Eliska, a three-pound Prague ratter, would curl up and sleep next to owner Krista DeAngelis, and most of the time, she and the dog enjoyed a peaceful night’s slumber.

www.advancedanesthesiaspecialsits.wordpress.com

Then DeAngelis married, and her husband banned the dog from the bed for fear of unintentionally squashing Eliska in his sleep. After enduring a few sleepless nights of canine whining and barking, the Salt Lake City couple successfully curbed their pet’s protests by simply spraying Eliska with a misting bottle every time she acted up.

After two nights of this routine, the pocket-sized pooch was fully trained to sleep by herself in another room.
“I originally thought letting my dog sleep in my bed was a good idea,” says DeAngelis, a communications director at Westminster College. “But I realized that they can keep you up when they rustle around, wake you up if they have to go out and sometimes go to the bathroom in the bed if you don’t wake up.”

Make a Good Choice

“Having your pet sleep in the bed with you is a personal choice,” says holistic Veterinarian Patrick Mahaney, of California Pet Acupuncture & Wellness, in West Hollywood. By discouraging this behavior, “Your pet will be less likely to confuse your bed with theirs, and therefore prevent potential territory-related problems.” By failing to discourage it, “You not only face the possibility of behavioral problems, you could also face adverse effects to your own sleep and health,” he notes.

Staying in close contact makes it easier to pick up fleas, ticks or skin mites a pet may carry, and can worsen allergies. ~ Roger Valentine, holistic veterinarian

 According to results published in a survey of 300 sleep disorder patients conducted by Dr. John Shepard, then medical director of the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, in Rochester, Minnesota, nearly 60 percent of the pet owners in the study slept with their pets inside the bedroom. Twenty-two percent of the patients were likely to have pets sleeping on the bed with them. Plus, 53 percent said their sleep was disrupted to some extent every night. Twenty-one percent and 7 percent of their dogs and cats, respectively, snored.

Yet, a British study of 420 UK cat owners conducted by the nonprofit Cats Protection revealed that 44 percent of respondents (including 51 percent of women polled) said they enjoyed a better night’s sleep with a cat in bed with them than with a human companion. Benefits listed included an absence of snoring, more space on the bed and soothing purrs.

A pet’s companionship can reduce levels of stress hormones while enabling people to deal with their emotions and stressful situations.
~ American Heart Association journal, Hypertension

 “The advantages of letting your pet share your bed include companionship, warmth and a sense of security,” advises Mahaney. Among the drawbacks, he notes lack of space for people to sleep, interruption of normal sleep patterns and the pet’s confusion about its expected place to sleep.

Nip Problems in the Bud

To break a pet of a bed-sleeping habit, Mahaney recommends applying persistence, consistency and the following tips:

• Establish a separate area or bed for the pet to sleep. A cat or dog bed can be as simple as a clean, soft blanket placed nearby.

• Use positive reinforcement techniques. Offer a tiny training treat, “gooddog” clicker noise or praise when the animal is comfortably resting in its own bed, to reinforce this desirable behavior.

• Immediately address any territorial aggression when co-sleeping with a pet, such as growling or nipping. First, authoritatively say, “No!” Then put the pet on the floor or into its own bed and give the command to sit and stay.

• If problematic behavior persists, seek consultation with a veterinary behavior specialist.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

If a family member decides to share a bed with a pet, Mahaney offers the following recommendations:

• Let it sleep on top of the covers, instead of under them.

• Be aware of the need to remove environmental debris, including fecal material, on its coat before bedtime.

• Give the dog an opportunity to void itself within a reasonable time frame before going to sleep. A typical healthy dog should not have to get up in the middle of the night to urinate or defecate.

• Allow a cat the opportunity to exit the bedroom throughout the night to play, eat, drink and use the litter box. Cats are nocturnal animals and are more likely to be active during lights out.

 Erik J. Martin regularly contributes to WebVet.com, from which this was adapted.

This article appears in the December 2014 issue of Natural Awakenings

Guide Dogs Are Truly Amazing- Secret Life of Dogs

2015-01-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

Deaf dog flips at Riverview Christian School

2014-11-20T06:46:00.000-08:00

By Zachary Laux
Times Staff Writer

Riverview Christian School students and staff hold hoops for Angelyne the Amazing Deaf Cattle Dog to jump through. (Zachary Laux / Fort Morgan Times)

Students at Riverview Christian School near Brush "oohed" and "awed" as the dog performed tricks. The Australian cattle dog sought out treats, jumped for tennis balls and even jumped through a series of hoops, all without the use of her ears. The dog is deaf.

Dog trainer Eric Melvin brought Angelyne the Amazing DEAF Cattle Dog, to the Morgan County school Tuesday, not only to show off the ticks she can do, but to teach students important life lessons. Melvin and Angelyne are both originally from Colorado and have traveled the United States performing tricks and speaking to students. Their lessons aim to teach students about acceptance, the value of practice and how to overcome challenges.

Eric Melvin scratches the belly of his dog, Angelyne. (Zachary Laux

Melvin and Angelyne have been presenting to groups for about seven years and reached two major milestones in that time. Melvin and Angelyne passed their 400th presentation and hit 400 volunteer hours.
Melvin told students at Riverview Tuesday that meeting Angelyne was one of the best things to ever come into his life. But it was also unexpected, or perhaps it was fate.

"Angelyne was a gift to me," Melvin said. "I chose her because I am supposed to be here. I am supposed to do this work."

Melvin met Angelyne in Fort Collins after reading a newspaper ad reporting a litter of seven puppies were born.

Melvin said at about eight weeks old, the unnamed puppy that would later become known as Angelyne behaved differently.

Continue to read more about the amazing deaf dog, Angelyne

17 Benefits of Having an Animal as Your Best Friend

2014-06-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

by Catharine Symblème
Why Are Animal Friends Better Than Human Friends?
Sometimes, relationships with humans are … well, complicated. Talk too little, and our human friends might think we’re hiding something. Talk too much, and we’re a bore. If we’re seen in public with a human friend’s significant other, it could get us in a lot of hot water. And of course, there’s trying to schedule time to see our human friends, or worse, putting up with their bratty kids while we’re trying to have a decent conversation over sushi.

Let’s face it; our real best friends are animals. Here’s why:

1. Animal friends always laugh at our jokes,

2. Listen attentively to our complaints,

3. And tell us exactly what they think about them.

4. We never have to worry about carrying on a conversation with our animal friends,

5. Or finding someone to help out at work.

6. Our animal friends always have our back if things get crazy,

7. And are there to comfort us when our hearts get broken.

8. Animal friends make sure we don’t miss a workout,

9. And act as a mode of transportation if the car breaks down.

10. At our next party, if the DJ flakes out, our animal friends are there to get the music going,

11. Get things moving on the dance floor,

12. And intercept any unwanted advances.

13. Our animal friends won’t even ruin our party by talking about politics or religion.

14. Sometimes we can get our animal friends to bring us the newspaper,

15. Especially if there’s food involved.

16. Did I mention that animal friends are great workout buddies?

17. They ask so little in return; just give ‘em a pat now and then, and they’re happy.

Featured photo credit: Ângela Antunes via flickr.com

Catharine Symblème

Catharine Symblème is the founder and owner of Our Deaf Dogs, a local dog walking and pet sitting business in Alamosa, Colorado. She is a regular blogger on money, work, and productivity at Lifehack.org, and a Dog Expert at Dogs.Answers.com. If you would like to invite Catharine to contribute content to your blog or website, please contact her at catharine.symbleme@gmail.com or call 719-937-1815.

Introduction to Animal Communication

2013-10-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder what your animal companions are thinking? Do you talk to your animals and wish that they would respond in kind? Well, they are!!! You just need to learn to "hear" them.

In this class, we will learn the basics of how to tap into our innate abilities for telepathic communication and how to "tune into" what your animals are saying.

DATE: Sunday, October 6, 2013
TIME: 1pm - 5 pm
COST: $30.00
PLACE: Institute for Spiritual Advancement (IFSA)
4176 E. Florida Ave. (at Ash) Denver, CO 80222

Reservations Requested - Bette Heller (303) 898-8962 or Bettescr@comcast.net

Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring photograph(s) of living animal(s) that they would like to communicate with.

Bette Heller has been communicating with animals since 1998. She offers communications with animals, living and in spirit. Her goal is to help people and their animal companions attain a greater understanding of each other and live together in peace and harmony.

Heather Thompson has been communicating with animals since 2008. She is an energy worker and does a variety of energy work on humans and animals, remotely and in person. She is a Reiki/Master Teacher, Medical Intuitive, and a Reflexology Teacher.

The Soul of Our Pets

2013-05-10T11:10:00.001-07:00

by Slade Roberson

This week, we lost a beloved family member, my mother’s cat Hannah, who was twenty years old.
With all the strays that have come to us, and the older cats we’ve adopted from other people over the years, Hannah was unique in that she was the one who was adopted from her feline mother shortly after being weaned, lived two full decades in love and abundance, and peacefully left this world in Mama’s arms.

As my friend Seth describes it: “a life loved to completion.”

Driving home, pulling into Mama’s neighborhood, a tiny bright orange fox crossed the street right in front of us. This was only the second time in my entire life that I’ve seen a wild fox in person. In suburbia, it’s not a common occurrence. No one else in the world saw it but the two of us. Only minutes after leaving the vet, the timing was special.

One of my life long friends and animal lovers, Catherine, shared the meaning of Native American fox medicine. It meant a lot to my mother, who interpreted the sighting as Hannah’s confirmation that she had safely made her transition.

This is the happiest ending any of us will ever get. And boy, does this reality suck when you’re living through it. It feels like a bill that has finally come due on years of joy.
It’s worth it.

In honor of all our “angels with fur,” here are some of my thoughts, feelings, and beliefs about familiars.

Image credit Matt Richards via Creative Commons on Flickr

What is a Familiar?
Some of our pets are guardians incarnated in animal form.
In Wicca, the elevated relationship between human and animal souls is called a familiar. This is not to be confused with an animal totem or a “spirit animal.”

In a literal, tangible way, there are no relationships on earth that teach us more about the benevolent spirit entities who attend us in this life than our animal familiars. Not all our pets or domesticated animals are familiars — the designation is special and unique.

The cat familiar is the most popular or well-known — the “classic” — but this spiritual relationship is not limited to pagan faiths or to any particular species of animal.

I believe:

When you connect to an animal as your familiar, your love elevates her spirit to the human sphere of consciousness. You willfully lift the soul of your animal companion up to our level. You know the ones you’ve done this with — they stand out clearly among your pet/caretaker connections; they become more human than animal.

As a kid it greatly disturbed me that most Christians tried to teach us that animals do not have souls. There could be no doubt to me, that, if there are souls to be had at all, period, by any living entity, then animals have souls. And familiars have a spirit markedly different from wild animals.

Like a spirit guide, ancestor, or guardian angel might do for you, you become the patron of this creature’s spirit. Unlike a human child who emerges from your physical body, but has an independent soul — and so only requires a temporary dependence — you bring your animal familiar into your spiritual body. You lend a piece of your aura to her — she actually becomes part of your soul.

Your animal familiars are the most obvious, visible form of “guardian angel.” They may even be the only kind of spirit guide that manifests a form you can easily perceive.

When she leaves her physical body behind, her spirit remains tethered to yours in a unique way.
You are here to learn how to love, how to transcend suffering, and how to experience joy.

Your animal familiars are pure, unconditional love incarnate. They are “sure things” — their love transcends human judgment. Anyone — no matter their physical appearance, personality, handicaps, abilities, talents, grace, or lack thereof — can have this relationship.

The miracle you have manifested with your familiar in this lifetime is one of your greatest love lessons learned. It can never be reversed. It will never go away. She is your guardian and guide for good. Her form will one day change, but then she will become a small piece of your love — your power — that is no longer bound to the physical world.

© 2006-2013, Slade Roberson. Communicating with Spirit Shift Your Spirits | Automatic Intuition

New Group Not Going to the Dogs This Time

2013-05-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

Written by Ruth Heide- Alamosa Courier Editor

Cats Alive!, a new feline assistance group, hopes to reduce the number of feral cats in the San Luis Valley. "There's no place in the San Luis Valley, nothing organized, no organization that is doing this," said one of the Cats Alive! founders, Donna Ditmore. "That's why I got into this."

Ditmore was born and raised in the San Luis Valley and her heart goes out to the hundreds of cats who seek shelter and food in dumpsters, barns, and abandoned buildings. She said she heard about one abandoned building in a nearby county where there were 300 feral cats. She and other volunteers in Cats Alive!, which is in the process of obtaining nonprofit tax-exempt status, hope to trap, spay/neuter and release feral and abandonded cats as well as medically treat them and provide food and shelter for them.

From left-Marilyn Flynn, Synthia Trujillo, Carol Bradshaw, Donna K.Ditmore, Vera Ballew & Carrie Basinger

The group hopes to acquire grant funding to hire a veterinarian to assist with their mission. "At this time, we are limited in what we can do for feral abandoned cats," Ditmore said. "When we get our vet, we will be able to help people spay and neuter cats because there are a lot of abandonded cats."
Cats Alive! does not intend to build a shelter but will try to assist the animals where they are and eventually reduce their number through spaying and neutering the adults.

Volunteer Vera Ballew is working on the paperwork for the group's 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. She stressed that until the nonprofit status is secured, the group cannot ask for donations. People can assist the group on an unsolicated basis, but the group cannot ask for donations yet.

Up to the this point, people throughout the valley have used their own money to spay or neuter feral cats, but there has not been an organized effort, Ditmore explained. Some of the initial Cats Alive! volunteers include Carrie Kenney Basinger, Marilyn Flynn, Synthia Trujillo and Carol Bradshaw.

They know of instances where feral cats have had kittens that froze to death because they did not have adequate shelter and they want to change that. Nature has also taken its course in reducing the cat population in some places where foxes have been killing them. Cats Alive! volunteers want to reduce the cat population, too, but in a different way, through spaying and neutering.

"We want to reduce the number of wild and abandoned cats in the San Luis Valley," Ballew said. "To do that we plan to capture, spay/neuter and release the wild cats, feral cats. We hope to transfer tame cats to shelters where they can be adopted as pets or to individuals. In the future, we hope to be able to help pet owners get discounted costs for spaying/neutering. We also want to educate the public. Our primary focus is reducing numbers by spay/neuter, education and relocation."

"It's going to take time but if we stick together, we can do it." Bradshaw said. "I am excited about it."

Those who wish to learn more about this new group may contact Donna Ditmore at 719-589-5952.

Cat Haiku

2011-06-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

The food in my bowl
is old, and, more to the point,
Contains no tuna.

So you want to play?
Will I claw at dancing string?
Your ankle's closer.

There's no dignity
In being sick, which is why
I don't tell you where.

Seeking solitude
I am locked in the closet.
     For once I need you.

Tiny can, dumped in
Plastic bowl, Presentation:
     One star; service: none.

Am I in your way?
You seem to have it backwards:
     This pillow's taken.

Your mouth is moving;
Up and down, emitting noise.
     I've lost interest.

The dog wags his tail.
Seeking approval. See mine?
     Different message.

My brain: walnut-sized.
Yours: largest among primates.
    Yet, who leaves for work?

Most problems can be
ignored. The more difficult
     Ones can be slept through

My affection is conditional
     Don't stand up.
     It's your lap I love.

Cats can't steal the breath
of children. But if my tail's
    Pulled again, I'll learn.

    I don't mind being
Teased, any more than you mind
    A skin graft of two.

   So call this thing
Your"cat carrier." I call
These my "blades of death."

Toy mice, dancing yarn
Meowing sounds. I'm convinced
   You're and idiot.

Author Unknown

What Do You Feed Your Pet?

2011-04-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

A Holistic Approach
Just like us, all pets need LOVE, quality nutrition, sleep, clean air, fresh water, exercise, sunshine, and both positive mental and emotional surroundings. A holistic approach to wellness encompasses the entire being. The outside of the body is a direct reflection of what is happening internally. Wellness occurs when the physical body is in harmony with the spirit and with nature.

Nutrition -The Key to Good Health
Each day our pets need to have all the necessary nutrients in proper balance to achieve good health. Proteins, carbohydrates, essential oils and fatty acids along with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and trace elements have become the mantra for good health. We know boosting the immune system with high quality foods and supplements can help keep our loved ones strong and resistant to disease and degeneration.

So, why are we seeing so many of our loving friends succumb to cancer, tumors, skin lesions, hair loss, diabetes, kidney failure, leukemia, parasites and immune deficiency disorders?

In the past, we assumed our pets were getting everything they needed in the "store-bought" foods we fed them. We believed if the labels claimed these foods were "complete and balanced", that they were adequate to keep our loved ones healthy.

The Truth is that most pet foods on the market today, do little more than just sustain life. It may be hard to believe, but even premium pet foods contain inexpensive, processed fillers as well as potentially harmful additives and coloring agents. Label reading can be deceiving. There is virtually no regulation when it comes to the quality of ingredients used in the products we have come to know today!

Awareness is the key. Please read labels with a discerning eye!! The first ingredients are the primary components of that food. They are then listed in descending order. You could be feeding your pet a diet consisting primarily of corn, wheat, rice, or even by products. Any of these coupled with chemicals, coloring agents, artificial preservatives and dyes found in most foods could be creating some serious health risks. We no longer blindly accept them into our food choice, so why should we permit them in our pets' lives either? This is why a great, natural diet along with the appropriate supplementation is so important!

I have been using Spot's Stew for my cats for a number of years now. They absolutely love this stuff and are always waiting patiently every morning for it. There is nothing artificial in this product. No by-products. No Fillers. No chemicals or preservatives. Just totally balanced and wholesome.

Ingredients for Spot's Stew for Cats
Whole chicken
Carrots
Yellow squash
Zucchini
Celery
Green Peas
Turkey
Green beans
Chicken liver
Garlic
Kelp
Vitamins and minerals

Don't you owe it to your furry friends to have the best food and the best quality of life?

Self-Insure Your Pets Instead of Buying Insurance

2010-12-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

If you've ever been stung by a stiff bill from the vet, pet insurance can seem mighty appealing. But socking away one dollar per day on your own may be just as effective, and unused money doesn't go to waste.

Image via Average Jane.
Guest writer Sierra Black posits at the Get Rich Slowly personal finance blog that, despite her experiences with a terminally ill cat that she loved dearly, she can't bring herself to fork over the funds for pet insurance. Her logical alternative is to put away the average cost of insurance in a savings account instead:

Pet insurance costs about $1 a day. That's $365 a year. My cat's medical care typically costs about $300 a year. I can readily save that money myself.

Routine care isn't covered. While an accident or serious illness could suddenly befall my cat, routine care is the bulk of expenses I have ever paid for a cat. It's true that a sudden illness could escalate those costs dramatically. This just happened to Monster as he was dying. After 15 years of cat tending, though, I have a decent sense of how much it costs on a day-to-day basis, and how common these expensive accidents or illnesses really are.

As West notes, it takes the discipline and willpower to actually do this, rather than spend the savings stream on fancy drinks. But if you can automate the withdrawal, you've basically got your own pet insurance that will cover most every cost.

Send an email to Kevin Purdy, the author of this post, at kevin@lifehacker.com.

Dachshund Owners May Have Dearest Pet Insurance Claims

2010-12-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

Those who have Dachshunds will have to make the biggest pet insurance claims, it has been suggested.

This is because research carried out by Sainsbury's Finance has discovered this dog is the most expensive for vets to treat at £543 per claim, which is 61 per cent above the average.

For those wondering what the cheapest dog to have in terms of expense is, the answer is the Whippet, with the typical treatment costing only £175.

The Chow Chow and the Italian Spinione were also in the top three dearest pooches to treat and so owners of these types of canines may want to ensure they have the right level of cover available.

Other findings from the organisation have shown 56 per cent of vets have had to put down animals in the last five years because owners cannot afford to pay for surgery.

Fiona Smith, from the Chestnut Veterinary Group, recently told people not give their animals chocolate this Christmas.

Posted by Penelope Fitzgerald, UIA Insurance News

SPCA Offers Free Pet Insurance With Adoption

2010-12-08T21:48:00.000-08:00

By Rebecca Aldous - North Shore Outlook

As of last week, any pet adopted from B.C. SPCAs will come with six weeks of complimentary pet insurance.

Petsecure Pet Health Insurance has partnered with the 37 SPCA branches to offer up to $500 of insurance to new pet owners. The company is also donating more than $140,000 to aid the SPCA’s work with homeless, abused, injured and neglected animals.

So far about half of the people who adopted animals from West Vancouver’s SPCA branch took the free insurance, branch employee Ashley Lane said. Insurance is a good idea because animals can become stressed during their transition into a new home, she said. It is also beneficial in case they escape their new surroundings, which could lead to accidents, Lane noted.

Choosing a Pet Insurance Policy

2010-11-21T20:14:00.000-08:00

by Joan Shin

Companies selling pet insurance in the U.S. include Veterinary Pet Insurance, Pethealth Inc., The Hartville Group, Pets Best Insurance, Embrace Pet Insurance, PetFirst Healthcare, PetPartners and Petplan USA.

These companies generally offer a few levels of policies ranging from $5 to $30 a month on average for a healthy pet. The cost varies depending on the extent of coverage, benefit limits, deductibles and co-payments. Dogs are generally more expensive to insure than cats.

Coverage varies according to company and plan as well. For example, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance's most basic "safety plan" covers only treatment for injuries such as broken bones, bee stings and burns. At the other end of the spectrum, Embrace Pet Insurance's policies, which can be customized, cover cancer treatment and alternative therapy like acupuncture.

When shopping around for a policy, find out exactly what the policy covers and what the exclusions are.

Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions and many exclude hereditary conditions, which purebred cats and dogs are more likely to have, or limit coverage for older animals.

Here are some additional questions to ask the insurance company:
• Are my claim payments based on my vet bill or the insurance company's benefit schedule?
• Are drug and dental coverage included?
• Will my premium go up over time, as I file claims, or my pet gets older?
• How will I be reimbursed? Do I pay the vet and then submit the bill, or will the vet handle billing?
• Does the plan cover chronic or recurring conditions?
• What are the financial limits of coverage? How are they applied?
If your pet is advanced in years, in poor health, or if you do not want to subject the animal to a major surgical procedure, insurance may not be a worthwhile investment. Talk to your vet about your pet's health and query insurance companies about the limits of coverage before purchasing a policy.

Do you Need Pet Insurance?

2010-11-13T11:16:00.000-08:00

By Joan Shin

When David Quilty of Santa Monica, California, took his cat Damon to the vet for a checkup, he didn't expect to spend $1,000 to get two of Damon's teeth pulled because of cavities.
"It was quite a shock," Quilty says. "It's the biggest expense we've ever had on him, and the cat is 13 years old."

Like Quilty, many pet owners are concerned by the rising cost of pet health care, which is partially the result of advances in veterinary medicine. Some are looking to pet health care insurance as one way to cope.

"The medical treatments and technologies being used for humans are now being used for pets," says Laura Bennett, chief executive officer and co-founder of Embrace Pet Insurance. Chemotherapy, heart surgery and MRIs are becoming more common in the pet world. But advanced treatments and surgeries can cost thousands of dollars.

Some pet owners facing an animal's serious illness or injury will choose to euthanize -- put the animal down -- for financial reasons. Or they will decide on a less expensive treatment for an injured animal.
"If they have a fracture that they can't afford to get stabilized -- can't afford to go to the orthopedic surgeon to plate it -- they might choose amputation rather than fix the fracture," says Dr. Lauren Adams of Emory Animal Hospital.

Such tough decisions are more likely in rural areas, Adams says, noting her clients in Decatur, Georgia, usually are able to pay for any specialized treatments that their pets may need.
Statistics show that people are willing to foot the growing medical bills for their beloved pets. U.S. pet owners spent $10.5 billion on vet care in 2005, compared to $7.2 billion in 2000, according to the Pet Industry Strategic Outlook report from Dillon Media LLC, a marketing and research firm.

Statistics vary on the percentage of pet owners in the U.S. who insure their pets. A 2004 survey by the American Animal Hospital Association estimated that three percent of pet owners carried insurance. That's far lower than in Sweden, where nearly 50 percent of pet owners insure their animals, according to market research publisher Packaged Facts.

Pet health insurance may be worth considering as a way to prepare for unexpected medical expenses. What's not always clear is whether it is cost-effective. Regardless, some pet care practitioners say such insurance may simply give owners peace of mind or help them make decisions about their pet's future that are not influenced by financial considerations.

When Pet Insurance Makes Sense
Storm was running along the fence in the yard when the neighbor's dog caught hold of his leg and tried pulling him under the fence. Storm's leg was severely mangled, and he needed three operations and regular X-rays. Embrace Pet Insurance has reimbursed Kern for most of her bills. She has a 20 percent deductible, and so far the company has paid about $3,000.

For Pet Lovers Around the World

2010-11-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

I am starting this blog for all of us animal lovers. Whether it be a cat, dog, rabbit, monkey, snake or whatever you resonate with.

Since I was never blessed with children, I have always had pets, mostly cats, in my life. I have moved a lot and unfortunately, have lost a few friends along the way, but strays always find their way into my life.

This is a picture of Ginger, a tabby that found his way into our life while living on the flats in southern Colorado. He is about a year and half here. We have moved again and he on the chase for the red and white ball next to the box. He is such a joy and brings laughter to my life many times. Therefore, my pet's health is important to me and I only feed him Science Diet for dry food.

I will be researching different types of pet insurance and why we may or may not need this expense for our loved ones.

Till next time