trupanion has always been great to me and my little rescue -Maryann K.

Matilda

Thank you for making Matilda’s surgery worry free. You guys are great. My puppy is back to living the life of a very loved dog. One of the best things I ever invested in much love! -Alejandra

Remember that time I had a bad customer service experience w/ @Trupanion? #MeNeither. #firstclass -@Jman_TX

After what happened with our Mugs we have all three of our dogs insured with TRUPANION and the service is real good! -Gary P.

I would recommend this insurance to anybody that has an animal. Is a peace of mind. -Sylvi H.

Our dog just had surgery and Trupanion has been amazing! -Bobbi Jo G.

Trupanion has paid each time our Scottie has been ill. Seems like a great value to us. -Michael B.

Best program out there – saved us 7000.00 in surgery bills for our dog…keep up the great program and exceptionally friendly service!!!! Jean G.

Lil Miss Drama

I am a new Trupanion customer and just wanted to say thank you for being such a great company!! -Kirsten A.

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I was absolutely mesmerized by MP. He is an 85lb, 6 year old Belgian Malinois who started working for the Anchorage Police Department in 2008. Later in the day, I would see MP again when the police department was trying to convince some car thieves to come out of a vacant apartment they had holed up in after running from the police. MP’s bark seemed to really help persuade the suspects to come out willingly.

The officer handling MP told me about how the dog lives with his family. It associates with his children and participates in the family like a normal dog. Then he goes to work and becomes a police officer.

Earlier this year, on March 14^th, a dog just like MP, but working for the FBI in New York, was killed my a man named Kurt Meyers. This dog was significantly younger than MP, he was a 2 year old German Shepherd named Ape.

The authorities were pursuing Kurt Meyers because he had killed 4 people earlier in the week. He knew they were coming for him and he holed up in a bar armed and ready to shoot at the police. Fitted with a bullet proof vest and a camera so that he could assess the situation for the FBI Ape went in first.

Ape was shot almost immediately. An FBI Medic was on the scene and tried fervently to save his life, but was unable. The FBI described Ape’s work as “heroic.” He was only the second canine to be killed in the line working for the FBI  his name has been etched into the wall at the FBI Headquarters in Quantico, VA.

Kurt Meyers was killed as well.

It came out in the days after Ape’s killing that it was only a misdemeanor in the state of New York to kill a police dog.  The New York State legislature acted quickly and it is now a felony. Here in Alaska, where I live, it is a class C Felony. However, it is only a felony in 22 states. In other states, such as Oklahoma, the penalty is stronger for killing someone’s pet than killing a police dog.

These laws need to change. Police dogs should be seen as police officers in the eyes of the law that they are working to maintain. Just like MP, these dogs are family members to humans and go to work everyday to serve us. We hope that you’ll share this article with a few of your friends and Follow this link to contact your legislators and tell them that this must happen!

Josh Brown is a dog lover, trainer and breeder in Anchorage, AK. He owns Far North Kennel and breeds German Shepherd Puppies. Josh writes a Dog Blog with training and behavioral tips for owners of all breeds.

Benadryl for Bites and Stings

Dogs, just like humans, get stings and insect bites, especially during the spring and summer. Depending on the location of the bite, the critter that inflicted it and your pet’s sensitivity, this could be a minor irritation or an emergency.

If the bite or sting is located in the region of the neck and throat, monitor your dog carefully for signs of breathing difficulty. The most common place of injury for a dog is the face and muzzle because they bite at insects. Once a dog is bitten, swelling typically ensues. It is usually not very painful, but can cause severe itching. Be sure to monitor the swollen area carefully to make sure your dog can eat and breathe as he should.

Other Uses for Benadryl

Benadryl can be used in most instances of bites and stings. It can be used to treat seasonal and non-seasonal allergies, vomiting, motion sickness and muscle tremors. Seasonal allergies are very common in the spring when forestry equipment is being used in nearby wooded areas. Use of Benadryl is safe and will calm the allergic reaction. It can also prevent extreme swelling. If your dog is nursing or pregnant, you should avoid using Benadryl unless advised to do so by your veterinarian. The most common side effect from giving your dog Benadryl is drowsiness; sedation may be mild to moderate. Other side effects for dogs include dry mouth and the inability to urinate. Potential side effects that are less common include loss of appetite, diarrhea or vomiting.

When to Avoid Using Benadryl

Dogs with prostatic disease, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma and hyperthyroidism should not be given Benadryl. If your dog takes any medications for pain or other sedatives, interactions should be discussed with your vet prior to administering this antihistamine. Working animals such as police dogs, sight dogs and hearing dogs should not be given this type of medication. Your vet will be able to tell you the appropriate dose and frequency for your dog’s weight, age, and health.

While Benadryl can be safe and effective, always check with your veterinarian before using it or if you have any concerns.

Michelle is a blogger and current freelancer for a forestry equipment company. She’s written about almost every topic under the sun, and loves constantly learning about new subjects and industries while she’s writing. Whenever she’s able to step away from her computer she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs.

Max is a 10 year old golden retriever. He was adopted into our family on December 6, 2012. Last Christmas we decided that instead of buying presents that we didn’t really want or need, to adopt this little fella instead. He came from the Richmond Animal Protection Society. A couple of years ago my wife and I adopted our first golden retriever (Cody).

In December, Heather was driving to her office which happens to be close to a rescue group! She saw a volunteer walking a golden and she had to stop in of course. She fell in love with his face right away. I brought Cody the following day and they hit it off like long lost brothers. I knew from that moment we were getting another golden.

Max is quite the character! I don’t think he knows he is 10 years old. He has to be one of the most happiest, energetic, loving snuggler anyone has ever met. He loves all animals and children. He is also goes by “Mischievous Max” & Maxamoose!

We just got back from his first vacation with us. Cannon Beach, OR.

We loved it!

Thanks Dalls for sharing the newest addition to your family with us! What a sweet old boy!

Learn more on how to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week.

Trupanion’s Dr. Kerri Marshall visiting one of the many dogs available for adoption at McKamey Animal Center.

Trupanion, the leading provider of pet insurance in North America, today announced the launch of a new shelter program that provides 30 days of coverage for shelter pets adopted from McKamey Animal Center.

The program offers adopters the financial peace of mind that veterinary costs associated with unexpected injuries or illnesses their new pet may develop after leaving the shelter will be covered by Trupanion at 90 percent.

“We see so many pets come into our shelter because their owners can’t afford the care they need, and it’s heartbreaking to see these families broken up because of finances,” said Karen Walsh, Executive Director of McKamey Animal Center. “This program helps us take that financial burden off of our adopters, so these families can stay together forever.”

Every pet at McKamey Animal Center is examined by the shelter’s veterinary team, who provide detailed medical records of any treatment received during their shelter stay. These records help determine any pre-existing conditions the pet may have. All conditions not considered pre-existing will be covered at 90%, less a $250 deductible, with no payout limits per year, per condition, or over the lifetime of the pet. And there are no waiting periods – coverage starts immediately.

Shelters are provided with all the materials they need to easily implement the promotion into their adoption protocols. Shelter employees are not expected to sell or be experts on the Trupanion plan, but are instead asked to refer the pet owner to call Trupanion or visit the website.

Shelters in the program also receive four dollars for every promotional certificate activated by a new pet owner. So far, McKamey Animal Center has received $564 from Trupanion to help animals waiting for adoption in the Chattanooga community.

Trupanion hopes to expand the shelter program all across the United States and Canada within the next several months. The following requirements must be met for shelter participation:

• 501(c)3 status
• Average of 2,000 or more dogs and/or cats rehomed annually
• Veterinarian on staff
• Ability to provide the following medical care to all pets before adoption:
  • Physical exam
  • FELV/FIV or heartworm test
  • Routine vaccines
  • Internal parasite control
  • Spay/neuter
  • An accepted behavior assessment program

If you are interested in more information on how to get involved with Trupanion’s shelter program, call Trupanion’s shelter support team at 877.589.1836.

About McKamey Animal Center
McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, TN, first opened its doors to the city’s homeless pet population in July 2008. A leader in animal welfare both locally and nationally, the nonprofit shelter’s mission is to enhance the lives of companion animals and people by encouraging a culture of responsibility and compassion. As an open admission facility, the Center provides animal services and care for any animal in the city of Chattanooga regardless of age, breed, health, and temperament. McKamey has a number of thriving programs to benefit companion animals and people including adoption, foster, rescue, trap-neuter-return for feral cats, and humane education. For more information on McKamey Animal Center, or to support their lifesaving work, please visit www.mckameyanimalcenter.org.

To get a better idea of how the pet insurance industry works in general, visit our Pet Insurance 101 Infographic.

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When a pet is bitten by a rattlesnake, they will need immediate veterinary care, regardless if they have been vaccinated. Buddy was taken to the emergency clinic where he received fluid therapy and antivenin. He was closely monitored and was hospitalized overnight to ensure his recovery.

Shoutout to our pet insurance company @Trupanion for helping us give Lilly-cat good care. -@jwcornish

Thanks to pet insurance company @Trupanion for helping make Lefty’s care at MAH possible! -@muskokavet

Rocko

Here is my Rocko who has been covered by Trupanion since his adoption on Christmas of 2009 and been insured since 2010. He loves that he treat him like our child (which he is) and grateful for good pet insurance for those just in case moments in life… -Stella C.

Ayla

this is Ayla. she’s almost fully healed from emergency surgery in March. i’m so grateful we have TruPanion! -Erin B.

Paco

Thank you Trupanion for helping us nurse our beloved Paco back to health! Your team is amazing, service incredible and the compassion you showed us during our difficult journey made all the difference. I am a fan and will recommend Trupanion to all my friends. Our little pug is getting much better thanks to your help! Thousand, thousand thanks! – the Hudak family. Here’s a pic of Paco giving his thank you! -Monica H.

Ginger and Augie

Don’t normally give a sound bite for companies. In the past the only one I loved was Lifelock. But we started Trupanion insurance for our 2 Corgies a couple of years ago. About a month ago our 7 yr old suffered a leg injury. Trupanion was absolutely true to their word, paying 90% of an almost $4000 surgery and care bill after our deductible. A pet emergency that would have bankrupted us became, money wise, a small pain. Than you Trupanion. -Robert H.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms out there!