With the current economy, we are all looking for ways to save money. It is hard to make ends meet and cutting costs is a priority for everyone. However, short-term gains may result in long-term negative consequences for your pet. Take a look at our handy tips and see where you can save and where to invest for the long-term health of your pet. 

 Stop and think the next time you buy your pet’s food. Look at the label. What’s really in there? Is there corn, wheat gluten, brewer’s rice and other fillers? Are there names you can’t pronounce such as ethoxyquin? What are they doing in your pet’s food anyway? 

Your pet’s food label should list fresh ingredients such as meat, fish, vegetables and healthy omega 3 fats. Invest in a high quality brand and you’ll find that instead of spending more on the high quality brand you’re actually SAVING money because you’ll end up using about ½ the recommended amounts (it takes a lot more food to fill up a pet using food that is loaded with fillers) AND the long-term benefits to your pet are immeasurable. Please visit the Animal Protection Institute to learn more about pet food and how it is prepared.

Avoid purchasing those cleverly marketed, commercially prepared treats that make you think you are actually doing good for your pet. You know—the ones in pretty shapes and colors (e.g. orange carrot-shaped treats made to give you the impression you are giving your pet a carrot) or with dogs begging on the front of the package. Don’t be fooled either by those “all natural” economy packs (sold at the big warehouse stores). Many of these “all natural” jerky treats are manufactured with harsh chemicals and contaminants. Pets can get upset tummies and health problems from eating them.  The “bargain” treat bag can actually end up costing you money because of the long-term health consequences on your pet. 

Instead, use fresh ingredients right from your kitchen. There are lots of affordable, healthy options.  For dogs, give them apple slices, baby carrots, a slice of potato, a piece of hardboiled egg or a piece of fresh, LEAN meat. Your cat would much prefer a piece of salmon or fish anyday over a treat that looks like fish made with corn flour, by-products and syrup.

Veterinary bills will most likely be the single largest expense for your pet. By far though, the highest veterinary bills arise from emergency, unplanned visits. You can actually keep your veterinary bills under control by planning ahead and making smart choices NOW! With a bad economy comes bad decisions that can have permanent effects on your pet’s quality of life and longevity. How many of us have thought about switching to a lower cost food, skipping on the vet exam or delaying much needed laboratory work for our pets??? DON’T! A penny saved today will not result in a pound tomorrow—just the opposite. There are plenty of other healthy ways you can save—e.g. drinking less coffee, bringing lunch to work, cutting back on alcohol, candy bars or cigarettes and still do your best for your pet.

Exercise! Exercise with your pet and you will see the dollars flow in over the years. Want to know one of the main reasons pets end up at the veterinary office with emergency, unplanned visits? Well, many of the them have diabetes, cancer, joint problems, liver problems—all have strong correlations with obesity and being overfed and underexcercised. Obesity, lack of exercise is not just a matter of style or looks—it is a matter of good health. Take out a feather or laser toy for your cat— go for a walk with your dog and everybody benefits! Not only will you save money on your veterinary bills but you will build a stronger bond with your pet and give them a happier, healthier life!

]]> http://www.carepaw.com/2011/07/06/more-ways-to-save-money-on-your-pet/feed/ 0 http://www.carepaw.com/2011/04/02/20-questions-to-help-you-choose-a-pet-insurance-provider/ http://www.carepaw.com/2011/04/02/20-questions-to-help-you-choose-a-pet-insurance-provider/#comments Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:03:08 +0000 admin http://www.carepaw.com/?p=388 It can be tough to sift through the legal jargon included in many pet insurance informational packets. After you do some research online and find a few companies you might  like to work with, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Use this list of questions to find the level of care that’s just right for you and your pet.

1. Is the company licensed in your state? Which of their policies are available in your state?

2. Does the company have a good reputation? What do the Better Business Bureau or other independent organizations have to say about it? How long has the company been around?

3. Are the policies and information provided reasonably easy to understand? Are the people you talk to

knowledgeable and helpful?

4. Does the company offer customer service during reasonable hours?

5. Can you see any veterinarian you want?

6. Have premiums increased over the past few years?

If so, by how much?

7. What happens to coverage and premiums as your pet gets older?

8. Are there any reasons you wouldn’t be able to renew your policy?

9. What type of coverage and co-insurance does the policy require?

10. Is there a “usual and customary charges” clause? How are those limits determined?

11. What kinds of care are excluded or limited? Are congenital or hereditary diseases covered? What

about cancer? Is dental care covered?

12. Are conditions diagnosed within one year excluded as preexisting conditions the next?

13. Are benefits available for wellness or preventive care for your pet?

14. Can you choose a deductible? Can you change the deductible from year to year? Is the deductible

annual or is it applied to each medical incident?

15. Are the waiting periods before coverage begins reasonable?

16. Is there a maximum age for enrollment?

17. Are there limits per incident, per year, per lifetime, or per body system? What are those limits?

18. Is a physical examination required for enrollment or renewal?

19. How quickly are claims processed and paid?

20. Are there any billing fees or discounts?

If you would like to learn more about Advanced Animal Care Center please click here…

For starters, it is important to understand that what is “best” can vary from one pet to another, just as what food is good for one person may not be good for another. One dog may feel just fine on a certain brand of pet food, while another one scratches and itches, tearing his fur out. One cat may like a certain brand of cat food, while the other one refuses to eat it.

So…the first step in establishing your pet’s nutrition plan is acknowledging that you will have to do some needs-based fact finding and that if you have multiple pets, you may not be able to feed all of your pets the same pet food. This can be challenging at times, but not impossible. Once you see the benefits of giving your pet the right food based on your individual pet’s needs, you will be rewarded for your extra effort.

The phrase “pet nutrition” implies something beyond just providing pet food for energy. It means that you are providing pet food that your pet’s body can utilize and benefit from. For example, candy provides calories but is it really nutritious? Those adorable, artificially colored pet treats that are made to look like human treats such as popcorn are gobbled up by your dog, but does that mean it is really good for them…and could it even be potentially harmful?

The fact is that you want your pet’s food to provide the most benefits possible: promotes good health, is convenient, easy to use, is economical and most of all, that your pet likes the taste. Unfortunately, not all of these pet nutrition variables may come to play and you will have to make some compromises.

When it comes to optimizing pet nutrition, one fact prevails: you get what you pay for. If standard grade meat/poultry is $3.00 a pound and a 20lb bag of dog food costs $25 — you do the math-how much meat vs. corn fillers do you actually think is in the food? So, if you want to keep your pet healthy and use a nutritious food, chances are you are going to have to pay more for it. The tradeoff though is that you will pay for a lot fewer visits to the veterinarian because so much of your pet’s well-being is due to the food you are using. Pet nutrition can greatly impact the course and quality of a pet’s life, as much, if not more than genetics.

So when it comes to pet nutrition, Rule #1 when selecting a food for your cat or dog, is to READ THE LABEL! Many people use a pet food because their neighbor said it was good, or their breeder used it previously, or breed club said it was good or even because the veterinarian recommended it. With no disrespect intended to whoever might have recommended it, YOU are the one responsible for your pet’s well-being and YOU alone should read the label and understand what you are giving your pet. Many pet owners lament years later after giving their pet the wrong food that they wish they had “known this before.” The label is required by law for you and your pet’s protection, so please take the time to read it.

A good pet food should contain meat, poultry or fish clearly identifiable in the first ingredients. It should contain ingredients that you have heard of such as peas, carrots, fish, etc. Ideally, it should contain a variety of nutritious ingredients such as lean meat, vegetables and omega 3 fatty acids. There should be a nice balance between protein, fiber, fats and carbohydrates. Even if a pet food says it is “organic” or holistic or hypoallergenic, doesn’t mean that it is the right food for your pet. Depending upon your pet’s individual health concerns, one diet may be more suitable than another. For example, many “hypoallergenic” diets are extremely high in carbohydrates promoting yeast overgrowth and many organic brands contain flour and soy which contribute to allergies and urinary tract infections. Remember, base your decision on the ingredients and your pet’s health concerns, not on the beautiful pet featured on the pet food product.

Personalized telephone consultations are available to give your pet a custom-tailored dietary plan.  If you are using a prescription diet, we can help you develop a natural alternative.  Click here to learn more

Some pet food ingredients you should try to avoid include:

Grains — such as corn, corn gluten meal, ground corn, wheat gluten, wheat flour or any other flour-while some pets do just fine on high quality brands that contain grains, many pets do not digest them properly and develop allergies, UTIs and chronic health problems. If your pet has a lot of gas, this is a sure sign he or she is not digesting the pet food properly and may be having difficulty with the grains.

Brewer’s Rice — A processed rice product that represents the milled fragments of rice kernels that have been separated from the whole grain rice. This is a lower cost rice product that lacks the nutrients found in its counterpart whole brown rice.

Ethoxyquin — chemical preservative found in some pet foods used to extend the shelf life and ultimately the overall profitability of the food. Ethoxyquin has been banned from most human foods due to its cancer-causing properties. Try to find foods that are preserved with Vitamin C or E (mixed tocopherols).

Meat and Poultry by-products — Byproducts are much less expensive and digestible than the muscle meat found in higher quality brands. Ingredients vary from batch to batch but can include heads, feet, bone, etc.–not the steak and chicken breast you are seeing in the commercials.

Potato Product — a cheap byproduct of food processing of potatoes for human use. The potato “product” does not have the same nutritional benefit of a fresh whole potato. As a general rule, any food labeled as a “product” in the description, e.g. “egg product” or “byproduct” isn’t going to have the same level of pet nutrition for your cat or dog as the whole food itself.

Peanut Hulls, Beet Pulp, Soybean Hulls — used as an inexpensive filler with little or no nutritional value. Provides fiber and is often used in “reduced calorie” pet foods so that the dog or cat feels satiated. It is better to use green beans, canned pumpkin or other natural sources of fiber to help your pet lose weight.

There are many high quality pet foods offering superior pet nutrition available today. Some pets may require a special, “prescription” diet and there are pet nutritionists and holistic veterinarians available who can help you determine the best food for your pet. With just a little extra effort in reading labels and becoming educated about your pet’s food and the benefits of pet nutrition, you can greatly help your pet to live a longer and healthier life.

Click here to learn more about Advanced Animal Care Center

260 Evergreen Avenue

Huntington Station, NY, 11746

Phone:  (631) 367-7387      Fax:(631) 367-7414      advancedcareforpets.com

Signs Help Determine When Pet Needs a Vet

Anyone who has ever pulled out a credit card at the emergency clinic for something that wasn’t an emergency comes away wishing for a better knowledge of what constitutes an urgent situation — and what doesn’t. But as big an “ouch” as a nonemergency can be to the budget, it’s a lot better than the opposite situation: an emergency that goes untreated until it’s too late for your pet.

But how can you tell? The signs of a healthy pet are pretty apparent to an observant pet owner: bright, clear eyes with no sign of discharge; clean ears, free of buildup or smell; a mouth not overpowered by its odor, with pink gums free of infection; a nose that appears moist, with no discharge; a shiny coat, with unblemished skin below that snaps back easily when pulled away from the shoulders. A healthy attitude, a healthy appetite and normal thirst are part of the package, too, without signs of intestinal upset. No lameness, no swelling. No heavy panting.

Anything to the contrary is reason for concern. But is it an emergency?

The first way to start finding out is with a thermometer. Pet thermometers are available at pet-supply stores or you can use one designed for humans. Just be sure to put the latter in a special place so there are no mix-ups.

To take your pet’s temperature, put a little water-based lubricant on the tip of the thermometer and insert it in the animal’s fanny. After a minute or so, remove and check the temperature. Normal is between 100 and 102.5 for dogs and cats; anything below 99 or above 103 is worth checking with a veterinarian, day or night.

Some other trouble indicators include seizure, fainting or collapse, as well as any suspected poisoning, including antifreeze, rodent or snail bait, or human medication. Snake or spider bites, too, demand immediate attention. Cats in particular can be fatally sensitive to insecticides (such as flea-control medications that are safe for dogs), petroleum-based products or medications such as Tylenol.

Sometimes situations that might not seem urgent really are, even such as mild eye injuries or allergic reactions — swelling around the face or hives. A single incident of vomiting or diarrhea is probably nothing, but anything more than two or three times within an hour or so could indicate a serious problem. Other signs of possible serious conditions are breathing problems, chronic coughing, or difficulties urinating or defecating, especially in cats.

Animals can sometimes seem fine after accidents, such as being hit by a car, exposed to extreme heat or cold, or being cut or bitten. Beware! Your pet may have internal problems that may be lethal if not attended to quickly.

There are also situations that may not be life-threatening but are certainly painful enough to warrant immediate veterinary attention. Some of the signs of an animal in pain include panting, labored breathing, lethargy or restlessness, loss of appetite, aggression, hiding or crying out. While it may be possible to wait until your regular veterinarian is available, put yourself in your pet’s place. Don’t let your pet suffer!

Make best use of this column by saving it in your phone book and writing the phone number of your regular veterinarian and the phone number and directions to the nearest emergency clinic on it, so all the information is ready when you need it. And always remember: When in doubt, call a veterinarian.

It’s better to make a trip you needn’t have than to miss the one you should have made.

Click here to learn more about quality holistic pet care and other valuable pet health information.

EPA Warning About Topical Flea Products

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased restrictions and cautioned consumers to use extra care when applying topical flea treatments.

We understand how important it is to use flea and tick prevention, and wish to remind you that many diseases arising from NOT using flea and tick preventatives can cause serious, even deadly consequences. We, are not advising that all clients should stop using them, rather, that caution should be taken and that each pet’s specific situation should be evaluated.

What we are recommending is that you review the EPA advisory below and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss the best options for your pet. Of special concern are cats, certain breeds of dogs and any immune-compromised or sick pets.

Here is the press release issued by the Environmental Protection Agency:

EPA to Increase Restrictions on Flea and Tick Products

Cautions Consumers to Use Products with Extra Care

Release date: 03/17/2010

WASHINGTON – Due to a significant increase in adverse incidents, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking a series of actions to increase the safety of spot-on pesticide products for flea and tick control for cats and dogs. Immediately, EPA will begin reviewing labels to determine which ones need stronger and clearer labeling statements. Next, EPA will develop more stringent testing and evaluation requirements for both existing and new products. EPA expects these steps will help prevent adverse reactions. In dogs and cats that can include skin effects, such as irritation, redness, or gastrointestinal problems that include vomiting or diarrhea, or effects to the nervous system, such as trembling, appearing depressed or seizures—from pet spot-on products.

“EPA is committed to better protecting the health and safety of pets and families in all communities across our nation,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “New restrictions will be placed on these products, and pet owners need to carefully read and follow all labeling before exposing your pet to a pesticide.”

Following the 2008 increase in incident reports, EPA received additional information from the pet spot-on pesticide registrants and others and began an intensive evaluation of these products. Today, EPA is reporting the results of this evaluation, and taking steps to address the spike in reported incidents.

Among immediate actions that EPA will pursue are:

· Requiring manufacturers of spot-on pesticide products to improve labeling, making instructions clearer to prevent product misuse.

· Requiring more precise label instructions to ensure proper dosage per pet weight.

· Requiring clear markings to differentiate between dog and cat products, and disallowing similar brand names for dog and cat products. Similar names may have led to misuse.

· Requiring additional changes for specific products, as needed, based on product-specific evaluations.

· When new products are registered, granting only conditional, time-limited registrations to allow for post-marketing product surveillance. If there are incidents of concern associated with the product, EPA will take appropriate regulatory action.

· Restricting the use of certain inert ingredients that EPA finds may contribute to the incidents.

· Launching a consumer information campaign to explain new label directions and to help users avoid making medication errors.

In addition, to improve the regulatory oversight of pet products, EPA will require more standardized post-market surveillance reporting on adverse effects, require submission of more sales information so the agency can better evaluate incident rates, and bring up-to-date the scientific data requirements on pre- and post-market testing so they are more in line with the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements.

Flea and tick products can be appropriate treatments for protecting pets and public health because fleas and ticks can transmit disease to animals and humans. While most people use the products with no harm to their pets, the agency’s analysis determined that smaller dogs tend to be disproportionately affected by some products and that the exposure of cats to some dog products is a concern.

People should carefully follow label directions and monitor their pets for any signs of an adverse reaction after application, particularly when using these products for the first time.

EPA recommends that owners consult a veterinarian about the best way to protect their pets from fleas and ticks or whether pesticides are needed, especially before using any product on weak, aged, medicated, sick, pregnant or nursing pets, or on pets that have previously shown signs of sensitivity to pesticide products.

EPA is coordinating these actions with Health Canada as Canada also identified similar concerns about the use of spot-on flea and tick products last year, and with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

The agency is inviting public comment on how best to implement these new measures. A Federal Register notice announcing the opening of a docket will be published on March 19, 2010. The docket number is EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0229.

More information on pet products and safety tips: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/pets.htm

Thank you for being an Advanced Animal Care Center Client. We look forward to continuing to provide you with quality holistic pet care and valuable pet health information.

The Doctor Is In! Convenient Holistic Veterinary Care By Phone

Dr. Michel Selmer, is now available for telephone consultations to help you with your pet. He  will review your pet’s medical records and provide you with advice regarding the best conventional and holistic veterinary treatment options. This is an especially convenient way to receive medical advice if you have a very busy schedule or don’t have access to a holistic veterinarian in your area.

Dr. Michel Selmer has over 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine and is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the Vice President of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association and was voted the Best Veterinarian in 2010 on Long Island. Dr. Selmer has a special interest in nutrition, and other holistic medical therapies and is dedicated to giving his patients the best that veterinary medicine can offer. Of course, he is an expert in general veterinary medicine too.

This 30 minute medical appointment is recommended if you:

1) Would like a second opinion about your pet’s health condition or veterinary treatments

2) If your pet has unusual symptoms and a diagnoses is unclear

3) If your pet is not responding to conventional veterinary care and you would like an additional holistic medical perspective

4) A personalized, focused discussion of your pet’s medical prognsosis without having to stress your pet with car transport

Please note that these services are non medical and integrate effectively with conventional veterinary medical treatment.

Schedule a telephone consultation by emailing Dr. Selmer at drselmer@optonline.net.  Be sure to check your email as we will contact you BY EMAIL regarding consultation times.

Please be assured that we will give your pet the utmost concern and that your request will be responded to in a very timely manner.  Consultation times are scheduled within 2-5 business days following the time you sign up.  If it is a weekend, holiday and/or you require emergency assistance, please sign up for an emergency/afterhours appointment.  These appointments are given the highest priority and we will do everything possible to conduct your appointment within 48 hours.

For those who choose to think for themselves

What makes this difficult is that billions of dollars are spent to convince you, your breeder, your vet, your government (all levels), and most of your pet owning friends, that you must vaccinate your animal every year, feed only scientifically 100% balanced nutritional pet food, etc. Are you irresponsible if you do not follow the orthodox “wisdom” of caring for your animal?  If you don’t follow the conventional wisdom on how to care for your pet, will you be causing harm to your animal?

The growth of interest in “natural” foods and “alternative” medicine is a sure sign that people are slowly rejecting the way we have been taught to do things.

Diet and Supplements

There simply is no commercially produced food that can substitute for a basic home prepared diet.  It’s what nature intended and you know it just doesn’t pay to fool with Mother Nature.

I have been helping my patients discover a health, vitality, and joy in life that their owners never thought possible, simply by having them alter what they eat, which supplements they were given, and how they exercised. Yet I always assumed that the genetic part of our story had already been written. Like most of us, I believed the genes we inherited from our parents were the cards we were dealt. But I began to discover that we have an enormous power to improve our pet’s lives, even when it comes to their genes. True, we can’t do anything about which chromosomes they got from their parents; we can’t add new genes to the mix or eradicate old ones. But the genes they got at conception are only the beginning of the story. I believe that we have the capacity to turn up the volume on some genes and silence others with nutrition, vastly improving our capacity to provide our pet’s good health and happiness.

In this era of the Internet there is an overwhelming amount of credible and not-so-credible information. It is nearly impossible to decipher the truth from fiction. Therapeutic Nutrition is broadly defined as the use of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, co-factors, enzymes, anti-oxidants, and phytonutrients, to support the body’s immune and healing systems, thereby altering the course and outcome of a disease process. It can be used as a preventative, or can be used as a therapy. It does not focus on food types, calories nor minimum daily requirements, but rather on metabolic and physiological effects of foods on the body’s healing and immune systems. Unlike drugs, nutritional products are not designed to address symptoms or diseases, they are designed to “feed” and “fuel” the cells of the body, using or calling upon the cells’ inherent ability to heal and achieve wellness. The goals of therapeutic nutrition fall within 3 broad categories, which directly help to enhance wellness.
1. The supply of appropriate absorbable  nutrients
2. The reduction of inflammation
3. The enhancement of elimination of toxins
The pet food industry attempted to regulate and standardize commercially prepared pet foods. This method is based upon the chemical content and analysis of food, the actual levels of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and moisture. The regulatory methodology is accomplished via the guaranteed analysis of the food. To qualify as a pet food, the following 4 categories must be listed on the label: crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture. Veterinarians were able to put together a mixture containing coal, shoes, and crankcase oil. When chemically analyzed, this mixture met the minimum requirements of pet food. So, it is not only the chemical composition of pet foods that is important, but the bioavailability of the raw ingredients used.
I have affirmed that optimum nutrition helps slow the onset and progression of chronic disease because it restores balance and promotes healing by supporting the metabolic pathways that energize the healing system. In addition, it helps reduce the inflammation that predisposes an animal to disease. Its use, either alone or in combination with appropriate medication, contributes to the day-to-day wellness of the animal.

Metabolic Testing is based upon the principle that changes occur in the blood before symptoms appear. Since Metabolic Testing identifies nutrient requirements and early warning signs of impending disease, it is the perfect tool to incorporate into an animal’s health care. It provides proactive and early warning opportunities to detect and improve health through specific and tailored nutritional therapies. Clinical Analysis of the Metabolic Testing has affirmed that optimum nutrition helps slow the onset and progression of chronic disease because it restores balance and promotes healing by supporting the metabolic pathways that energize the healing system. In addition, it helps reduce the inflammation that predisposes an animal to disease. Its use, either alone or in combination with appropriate medication, contributes to the day-to-day wellness of your pet.

Vaccinations

There is a deep, ingrained belief that we must follow conventional vaccination practices to protect our animals.  Unfortunately, once vaccinated there are no 100% guarantees that an animal will not contract that disease. The conventional community, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, is seriously reviewing the subject and coming to the conclusion that present practices are may be flawed.

My vaccination protocol. This is welcome news and should be taken with you to your vet should you need reinforcement against over-vaccination.

I would like to make you aware that all 27 veterinary schools in North America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats.

Some of this information will present an ethical & economic challenge to vets, and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs. those concerned about potential side effects.

Politics, traditions, or the doctor’s economic well-being should not be a factor in medical decision

Dogs’ and Cats’ immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it most likely produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet (ie: canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not “boosted.”

Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune system related diseases. There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines.

Puppies receive antibodies through their mothers milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced. Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccinations given less than 3 weeks apart may SUPPRESS the immune system. A series of vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age. Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year 4 mo) will provide lifetime immunity.

Veterinary medicine

The “Western” world has produced some of the finest medicine in the world. Modern science has provided some outstanding tools for diagnostic purposes, treatment of symptoms and supportive care. Conventional medicine views the body as a mechanical device and seeks to put a label on a problem through symptomatic description. Treatment is generally by surgery, drugs or both. Veterinarians are superbly schooled in the use of these conventional modalities. What seems to have been pushed aside is the old primary rule of medicine “Firstly, do no harm.”

I have learned to question some of what I have been taught and have gone on to trying to become a “healer” in the true sense of the word. I seek to determine the underlying cause of the symptom and may use one or several modalities to support and revitalize the body’s own method of healing. Do you truly believe that we can provide you a “magic bullet” to readily cure your animals’ problems? Suppressing the symptom does not mean that a cure has been affected.

There is no substitute for fresh, wholesome food, clean water, exercise, plenty of fresh air and avoidance of chemicals and drugs to the greatest extent possible.

The Good: Many options now exist that make the cost of insuring your pet’s health quite affordable.  Policies range from less than $300 to over $600 per year.

The Bad: You usually get what you pay for!  Policies that promise the world for peanuts and seem too good to be true almost certainly are.  Insurance companies are in business to make money, not to help pets.

The Good:  At this time, pet health insurance companies don’t restrict your choice of veterinarians or try to dictate what you can spend on services.

The Bad:  Many companies severely limit what conditions they cover or how much they will reimburse.  First example: One major company won’t cover any condition it deems genetic or congenital in nature. Second example: Another company will pay for a lifelong condition the year it is diagnosed, but excludes it the following years. Third example: Another company another limits the payment per illness to only $500.  READ THE FINE PRINT!

The Good: You don’t have to shop around for a veterinarian who “accepts” your policy.  Virtually any national company will cover you for service done by any licensed veterinarian.  (Plus, most veterinarians don’t charge for helping submit your claim.)

The Bad: You have to pay the veterinary and hospital fees up front and then seek reimbursement from your insurer.

The Good: Having the right policy could make the difference in a life-and-death decision.  If you enroll your pet at a young age, it’s possible to have coverage that lasts your pet’s entire life.

The Bad: If you wait until a condition is already diagnosed, or “forget” to renew on time, you probably won’t be covered.

The Ugly: Insurance companies are in business to make money.  Many companies have come and gone over the years – emphasis on “gone.”  Those that make it are the ones that make the most money.  Those that offer the best “deal” may mean well, but not be able to live up to their promises when you really need them.  As in every contract, read the fine print and research the company before you send money!

Still Confused? For more information, including specifics on companies offering pet health insurance, check out Pet Insurance Review at http://www.petinsurancereview.com/

A puppy is a baby dog. Like many other species of babies, baby dogs are built to appeal deeply to the emotions of adults. The normal human response to a baby is a deep desire to nurture the young one. This is good for the survival of babies. However, it’s not good for you in making the best decisions about adopting a new dog. This creature in a baby suit is a real live dog concealing 10 to 15 years of serious responsibility, including emotional highs and lows, more expense than most people would believe, changing your life, and hard work that tends to come without the opportunity to plan. Thus the first thing to know about selecting a puppy is to stay away from puppies while you research! Don’t lay eyeballs on a puppy until all the questions have been answered and you are as sure as you can possibly be that you are ready to take on this responsibility. Puppy adoptions are usually made without proper preparation. The type of research for the right refrigerator doesn’t work with puppies. And let’s remember, we are talking about DOGS, because there is a dog inside that puppy who will take over the body in just months! Then will your housetraining and puppy-biting of humans be solved? Maybe some puppy problems will be solved, if you’ve done your homework, though it’s definitely no sure thing. But adolescence makes it obvious that puppyhood was, well, child’s play. Many dogs lose their homes in this phase when the body is nearly full-sized and the brain requires a knowledgeable human’s management and training. After adolescence, the dog matures, and if there’s any aggression lurking in there, you may have a dog you absolutely cannot control. Female dogs are often fairly mature by age two years, males by age three. Small dogs may mature younger. Aggression is a problem with any size dog, but the large dogs are the ones who seriously hurt people, and on rare occasions kill. Small dogs more frequently lose their homes over housetraining, which takes longer and may never reach the reliability it can in large dogs. Larger dogs lose homes over destructively chewing human possessions, knocking people down, and biting humans. Adopting a puppy you are not equipped to raise, train, and manage for the dog’s entire lifespan is not fair to the puppy. Doing that keeps the dog from having a chance to be adopted by someone who would provide lifelong care. Every aspect of responsible dog ownership turns on the adoption of the dog in the first place. So when you consider any particular puppy for yourself, ask “Am I the right person to take care of this dog for the next 10 to 15 years? Do I know the strengths, weaknesses, habits and needs of this kind of dog? Do I want a puppy for now, or do I want to become a person with a dog family member I will care for until death?” You can see that questions like these are impossible to answer objectively when cuddling and cooing over a cute puppy. So stay away from puppies while you carefully consider getting one.

Skipping Puppyhood

One way to get the baby stars out of your eyes is to skip past puppyhood to the adult dog. You could go to the adolescent dog, if you’re a glutton for punishment. You need to be a pretty good trainer to happily handle an adolescent dog, or have good training help available quickly. It’s best to have both. Adolescence involves jumping up on people, dragging you on the leash, the major destructive chewing stage, sexual maturity, and a temperament that may change when the dog finishes maturing and from day to day in the meantime. Proper training of a puppy is complicated and requires that you seriously know what you’re doing. Proper training of an adolescent is all that, plus the potential of being dangerous. Don’t forget that the puppy you adopt will be an adolescent in a matter of months. Experts and those who diligently work with experts to raise their puppies can make adolescence go more smoothly by correct handling of the puppy before adolescent age is reached. But that’s not usually what happens when owners don’t make carefully considered decisions in puppy adoption. Anybody who’s ever been in love with an incompatible person—due to differences in values or serious personality conflicts—knows that “love is not enough” to make a marriage work. Love is not enough to raise a puppy successfully, either. To succeed in your home, the puppy has to have a sound temperament that falls within the parameters of your resources, early-life handling that has not done irreparable damage beyond your ability to cope, and correct handling from you. Being a different species, a puppy requires far different handling than what works to raise a human baby. Thus, many people do better skipping the complicated puppy stage and the mercurial adolescent stage to go straight to having a grown dog. If your motive is to save a dog, here’s where it happens. The puppy you pass by will surely be adopted by someone else. The adult dog very well may not be. The adult dog has a mature temperament that can be much more accurately assessed. Size, coat grooming, activity level and most other aspects of what you will need to be able to handle to live with that dog are apparent in the adult. In the puppy, these factors are carefully hidden, like the legendary warriors hiding in the gift of the magnificent Trojan horse statue. Through the miracle of growth, all the traits of an adult dog are cleverly compacted into that soft little puppy body. No wonder we’re fooled. Everybody loves puppies, but do consider skipping puppyhood. A whole lot of good things happen when people are willing to adopt adult dogs. You and the dog will both be winners if you make this choice. It’s a much better and safer choice than a puppy when adopting a dog to live with young children, too.

Where are the Puppies?

Shelters place puppies in homes easily. Some have such demand for puppies that they transport them from other states and even from other countries in order to have puppies on hand for adoption. One concern with shelter puppies is the risk to the puppies’ health and temperaments from going through such a system at critical development stages. You get the same problems that happen with pet shop puppies. Pet shop puppies have also been transported, and like shelter puppies they have been exposed to illness from other dogs. They have had unfortunate experiences that will damage them for life. Some of these puppies will succeed as companion dogs. The risk is high, though, of early death because they can’t survive what they have been through, along with health and temperament problems due to their genetics and exposures. The most humane way to raise and place puppies is very personal. A good breeder makes extremely careful choices, knows what she is doing with all phases of the process, and breeds only the number of puppies she can properly handle. A good breeder’s puppies are healthy and your risk of extreme veterinary expenses (beyond the puppy well-baby checks, vaccinations, and spay/neuter at the right time) is greatly reduced. Your risk of the puppy dying soon after adoption is much lower than with shelter and pet shop puppies, too. The good breeder will want to know you well enough to determine that you’re able to give the puppy a good home. You should also want to know her well enough to determine that you can trust her. This means you and the breeder need to have a relationship. The puppy will have a lifelong safety net, since the good breeder will help one of her puppies at any age if the puppy needs a new home. When you have questions after adopting your dog—and you should!—the good breeder will make herself available to answer them. The breeder knows a lot about her dogs, because she knows their mothers and fathers and aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins. You may be surprised how much it comes to mean to you that you can know the dogs who are related to your puppy. When the time comes that you lose your dog to death, you can go back to that family to adopt your next dog. The good breeder and her peers in the breed will be there to help you find the next dog. One of the mercies of losing a dog comes when it is possible to have another, if our life circumstances allow us to take up that responsibility all over again. Good breeders help make this possible. Keep in mind that the good breeder who takes care of any puppy she has produced if the dog ever needs a new home, throughout life, is going to have adult dogs available for adoption from time to time, too. These are marvelous adoptions, with all the advantages of known genetics and history as well as missing the chaos of puppyhood. Don’t think of adding a puppy to your life as a “purchase.” You don’t buy “puppy flesh,” if you make a responsible decision. Instead, you adopt a companion animal. Wherever you get your puppy or dog, any money that changes hands is a separate matter from what really happens when you get a dog. A puppy is not a good gift. Imagine giving someone a human baby without knowing if they want one. Giving them a puppy or dog isn’t much different, except in degree. It’s a huge responsibility that each person must choose to take or not take. Good breeders do not knowingly sell dogs to be placed in their real homes by other people. It is important to preserve the link between the breeder and the dog so that whoever is caring for the dog can get the breeder’s help when needed.

What Research Works?

Mixed breed puppies can grow into wonderful dogs. The healthiest mixes are those who are a cross between two purebred dogs. This is a hybrid and may have some genetic benefits. It will likely have the most extreme temperament traits of both breeds, though, so you need to research both breeds diligently and make sure you can handle all the possibilities. Most people are better off with a puppy from an established breed. The best breeders are found there, too. A mixed breed puppy is not a good choice for a first-time dog owner or for any situation where the dog’s temperament is extremely important. The major situation in which people make this mistake is adopting a mixed breed puppy to live with children, especially young children. You need the best possible temperament for that situation, not an unknown. If the children are younger than school age, it’s better to adopt an adult dog, or wait until they are older. A baby dog growing up with baby humans quite often doesn’t keep that home because of what happens to the puppy at critical development stages. Little kids cause pain and fear to puppies, and the puppies don’t react strongly enough for the parents to realize what terrible damage is happening. As the puppies mature into their adult instincts, they start protecting themselves because the parents didn’t know enough to protect them. This is a critical problem with any puppy, but when you don’t know what size the dog will grow to, how much guarding instinct, how reactive, and many other traits, the mix becomes a bigger risk. And of course there probably won’t be a good breeder to help you, because the best breeders do not breed mixes. If you want a mixed-breed dog, skipping puppyhood with your adoption will greatly improve both your chances and the dog’s chances of a successful life. Before deciding on any breed (or mix of breeds), spend significant time in personal, direct contact with dogs of that breed and people knowledgeable about them. Stay away from puppies! Puppies are not supposed to be at dog shows, so dog shows can be one place to research. Going to one dog show is not doing enough homework to choose a breed. It’s just one step. Buy a catalog to help you identify breeders you may wish to approach when they are not busy, to arrange a convenient time for a more educational meeting. Read about the breed, too, of course. Read more than one book, talk to as many people as you can who know the breed, and be sure to talk to rescue as well as breed club education officers. You can find the contact information for many of these people on the Internet, but Web surfing is not adequate research. You need to know so much more than you can find out that way. People like to talk about their dogs and to have other people admire them, so if you work at it, you can find the information you need from living and breathing people and dogs in person. When you have done this, it can be a reasonable option to get your dog from another geographical area. You should go there in person before committing to a dog, though.

The Bold Pup, the Shy Pup, the “Runt:” How to Choose

So now you’ve come down to a breed and a breeder, and a litter of puppies is available. How do you choose which to adopt? The best case is not to make that choice yourself. A good breeder knows her breed, the parents of these puppies and their relatives, and has studied these puppies as they’ve developed. She has also done her homework about YOU, and has a good idea what you can handle and what you need. You trust this breeder, right? Otherwise, what are you doing here? Leave! You need the right dog, and that dog is waiting for you somewhere. Don’t take the most available dog, the cheapest dog, the easiest dog to get quickly. Don’t let yourself down, and don’t let the right dog down, either. So, here you are with that breeder you trust. How to pick? Simple, she’ll pick your puppy. Of course you will have decided some things to guide her, such as whether you especially want or need one sex rather than the other and what training you plan to do with the pup. A pup destined to be a child’s playmate needs different traits than one who will be training for police work or high-powered dog sports. A pup you want to show, earn titles with, and breed needs many different attributes than a pup you will spay/neuter. Some wonderful dogs are unlikely to reproduce themselves well, or they have traits that will not interfere with your lifestyle but should not be bred on to become major aspects in the breed’s gene pool. Breeding dogs properly is a highly demanding calling and seldom profitable. Some people love it, while others would totally hate it. Living with intact male and female dogs of some breeds is a daunting task for many people. Giving up the pups is wrenching. Having mother dogs and puppies die in the birth process brings breeders terrible grief. Breeders who do the job well are heroes. Many of us would rather find other ways to serve humankind, while enjoying our dogs in a less complex lifestyle than breeding demands. Since the decision of whether or not to breed your dog often needs to be made at least tentatively when adopting a puppy, this is more research for you to do!

Deadlines Don’t Work

Getting a puppy for Christmas or Hanukkah is usually a terrible idea. You need the right puppy. The holidays are often the wrong time to find that puppy and also the wrong time to take on the extra work and lack of sleep that goes with adopting a new puppy. In the months following the holidays, a lot of people who didn’t do their research properly are giving up those puppies. This may well be the best time of year to adopt. Researching breeds is fun if you take your time. Doing it in a fever trying to get a dog on some schedule not only takes the fun out of it, but causes you to cut some critical corners. It takes time to meet people, talk to them, get to know them, and find the right opportunities to interact with and learn about the dogs. Remember that you’re forming relationships. You’re getting to know the other dog owners who will share a family tie of dogs with you. You’re finding out how these dogs smell, how they need their coats tended, what ear care they need, and how much money to set aside in a savings account for your dog’s veterinary expenses. Does this breed have a high incidence of hip dysplasia? What behaviors do you need to train? What activities is the breed well suited for, and which of those activities do you enjoy? The research takes you into the life you’ll be living with a dog of this breed (or breeds, in the case of a mix). It’s not preliminary time, but rather it’s the beginning of that life. It has its own rewards. Don’t skip past it or rush it. When selecting a dog, always remember the old saying “Marry in haste; repent at leisure.” Rushing ahead on emotion without doing the real-life research might accidentally find you the right dog. Your chances are reduced, though, and you miss too much of the good stuff!

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

Things the Pet Industry Won’t Tell You
1. Boarding
When Beverly Dame brought home her cocker spaniel, Wesley, after 12 days at a kennel near her home in Vermont, he had a gaping wound on his rear leg and was unable to climb stairs. Treatments cost her $231 on top of the $169 kennel fee. While the kennel owner denies any wrongdoing, he admits that grooming, not boarding, is the kennel’s main business.
Kennels don’t have to pass accreditation standards, nor are they rigorously monitored in most states. Inspections are left to local officials and can be spotty. How can you know if your pet will be housed in cramped, unhealthy conditions or four-star luxury? Ideally, you should pick one of the few kennels that not only are members of the American Boarding Kennels Association but also have been accredited by the group. Such kennels must comply with 200 strict standards, including providing an area where dogs can be exercised at least three times per day. You can find such kennels at www.abka.com.
If there are no accredited kennels in your vicinity, tour the facility before booking your pet there. Ask what health concerns pet supervisors are trained to detect — runny noses or urinary problems, for example. Also ask about warranties: Many kennels now offer warranty contracts that, for $2 to $5 per boarding, will reimburse owners for vet costs up to a certain amount — commonly $500 — for injuries a pet sustains while in a kennel’s care.

2. Trainers
Because all owners want a well-behaved pet — and some fear their dog may attack someone — many people fork over as much as $300 an hour for obedience lessons only to wind up with a dog that does little more than sit and stay.
Part of the problem is that anyone can call himself a trainer. “You’ll find trainers in pet stores, but sometimes you’ll discover they were a cashier last week and then they read a book on training,” says Babette Haggerty-Brennan, head trainer for Babette Haggerty’s School for Dogs in Palm Beach, Fla. Look for one who has graduated from a program such as the one conducted by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers; you can find such trainers at www.apdt.com. Also, ask how many years of experience a trainer has — training the family dog as a teenager doesn’t count — and how many dogs he’s trained. Then ask for client references.
Group classes through local pet stores and community centers can cost substantially less, and good programs let you observe a class for free before signing up. Check to see how many dogs are being trained — ideally, no more than five per trainer — and how sophisticated the commands are. Basic obedience commands, such as “sit,” “stay” and “down,” are fine for puppies, but older dogs should learn commands for leaving the kitchen, for example, or “drop it” to let go of items picked up on the street.

3. “I’m a breeder all right . . . of health problems for pets.”
All Ellen Szalinski wanted was a German shepherd puppy. What she got, after buying Bravo for $650 from a breeder, was a 4-pound, nine-week-old dog loaded with parasites and health problems. “As a consumer, I was an idiot,” says the publications manager at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital. The breeder had promised that the puppy would bulk up in a few weeks, but two years and about $5,000 later, Bravo had endured knee operations and been treated for cartilage abnormalities and ruptured ligaments. “For what I spent, I could have made a down payment on a condo,” Szalinski says, adding that Bravo is now healthy.
Poor nutrition and care during the first few weeks of life, while a puppy is still at the breeder’s, can cause sickness for months or even years. You can increase your odds of getting a healthy purebred by choosing breeders who use the services of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, an organization that tests everything from thyroids to kidneys to hips; you can learn about specific breeds’ health issues on OFA’s Web site, www.offa.org. Ask breeders for a trial period in which to assess the pup’s health and temperament. If you’re not satisfied, you can return the dog for a full refund. A breeder who says no likely doesn’t stand behind his animals.

4. “Ready for your annual cash-draining?”
Annual checkups should include a head-to-toe exam of a pet, along with vaccines, if necessary, and lab work for older pets. These exams can cost upwards of $150, and many vets tack on additional fees for such things as superfluous tests on a pet’s blood and urine. Also, veterinarians and researchers debate the necessity of giving vaccines such as parvo and distemper annually.
How can you avoid overcharges? When it’s time for an annual visit, ask the clinic to fax or e-mail an estimate and be prepared to discuss whether your pet needs the vaccines suggested, especially if it stays indoors. Ask about reduced rates on exams for additional pets; some vets offer discounts. Or go elsewhere: Organizations such as your local animal shelter, humane society or pet supplies store often provide services for a fraction of what a private-practice vet will charge.
Other services might be worth doing yourself — in particular, teeth cleaning. Toothbrushes designed in recent years that slip over a finger Finger Toothbrushes are much easier to run over a pet’s teeth than traditional pet toothbrushes.

5. “We can ‘insure’ that you’ll lose money.”
With the boom in pet care services and veterinary specialists, as well as advances in veterinary techniques in recent years, animals are undergoing more extensive and costly procedures to fix what ails them. That’s driving more owners to invest in pet insurance. A 2002 study of pet owners using AAHA hospitals found that one in 20 now carries pet health insurance, five times 1997’s figure.
Unfortunately, pet insurance woes can be similar to human insurance woes. Premiums can run as high as $6,000 over a pet’s lifetime, according to Consumer Reports, and preexisting conditions such as epilepsy or untreated hip dysplasia can disqualify your pet. If Sparky does qualify for a basic plan, reimbursements can be paltry, like a mere $10 per checkup.
If you shop well, however, insurance can sometimes be worthwhile. Emergency or surgery insurance plans cover large expenses for minimal premiums — often less than $10 a month, which isn’t bad when you consider that procedures for accidents or cancer treatment can easily run north of $3,000. Premier Pet Insurance (www.ppins.com) and Petshealth Care Plan (www.petshealthplan.com) offer low-cost programs that cover up to $8,000 a year in emergency care. Pet Assure (www.petassure.com) costs $99 a year per dog and $59 per cat and offers 25 percent off the cost of major surgeries and other pet services at thousands of vet offices nationwide. Even without insurance, though, you may have recourse for big-ticket expenses. Many vets, if you ask, will negotiate weekly or monthly payment plans.