“Is it worth it or do I just pay out of pocket?” — I used to ask myself the same question a few years ago when I first heard of pet insurance. For the record, I don't believe everyone needs pet insurance – far from it. However, I do believe that everyone who has a pet should at least research the industry and decide if it's right for them. There’s no doubt that we all want to take care of our pets in the best way and keep them safe. This is where the topic of Pet Insurance comes into place. There’s no right or wrong answer if you decide to enroll or not. It depends on health factors and also your financial circumstances. Some people like to pay out of pocket and others like having the insurance because it can allow them to be reimbursed or pay lower for some medical expenses. Check out this National Pet Study that talks about the pandemic and pet expenses during this time. If you’re looking for more information and even insights that you can use to compare services and what can it cover, this in-depth research on the best Pet Insurance companies can help you to see if this is a great option for your pet and your budget. Christina Baily Money.com
As a pet owner, you should be very concerned with stopping pet odors before they start, rather than just being concerned with handling the odors after they actually occur. In order to keep your house fresh you need to have the right cleaners available of course, but taking some time to carefully work towards avoiding situations when pet odors can actually occur, and this is where many pet owners start to have some problems. Your first step is to of course make sure that you properly train your pet. This will help you to ensure that you are not allowing your pet to take care of business in your home. If you have a cat, you need to ensure a litter box is readily accessible. For dogs, you need to follow a strict schedule of taking them outside so that they will be trained quickly. However, this is not the only way to help combat pet odors. You should ensure that pets are cleaned on a schedule as well. This will help to ensure that rolling around on the carpet, bed and any other surface does not rub pet odors onto the fabrics. This is something that is frequently overlooked. It is important that washing take place on an approximately weekly basis if your pet has long hair especially. However, this is only a guideline and obviously, some animals such as cats may not require grooming at all hardly. Looking into shaving parts of your animal as well is useful to help control odors as well. Particularly dogs that have medium to long hair have a problem with this. However, you need to be very careful in removing the hair to ensure that you do not harm your pet. Careful trimming around the stomach to ensure that you do not accidently cut your pet. This will help to ensure that there is no urine on your pet when they come back inside that can be dripped around your home. You should also look into making sure that any area where your pet sleeps is kept clean as well. Many people overlook keeping their pets bed clean, and this is a huge problem since it is one area where pet odors can pile up significantly. If you have any doubts about when the last time the bedding was washed, then it is time to do it again. Also, you should drop at least a cup of baking soda into the wash with the bedding to help neutralized any odors and keep it as fresh smelling as possible. As a final suggestion, you should ensure that you are keeping your carpets and rugs vacuumed regularly as well. Many times the dander and fur that your pets leave behind due to shedding can cause some serious problems when it comes to actually keeping odors out of your home. Also, when you vacuum the carpet, sprinkling a pet odor neutralizer onto the area before you do vacuum will help you to further remove all of the odors. This can be extremely helpful when you are trying to keep odors from being a problem since it will work to actually combat odors setting in, rather than only treating odors that already exist. As you can see, there are several different things that you can do to actively combat odors before they even start. Working towards the benefit of keeping your pets, and also keeping your home odor free is not always easy, but it certainly is possible if you are willing to put the work into it that is required. A smart pet owner will always look for ways to combat the odors before they begin, rather than just waiting until a significant problem has developed to begin treating the odors. For most pet owners, it is much easier to look for ways to combat odors before they begin, rather than dedicate the time to cleaning the odors after they occur.
For some these two notions might seem too far apart to present any similarities. But still, more than we know, dogs as object of our love or repulsion, affect our lifestyle. Each and every one of us has gone through at least one experience that included a dog. Whether sad or fortunate, these experiences exist and cannot be ignored. As every other marking moment emotions triggered by a dog at some point influent our ways from that moment on. Just for fun I want to show you what I mean by giving a rather unknown example to prove my point. Let’s say you are over 30 and tried already every diet in the world to loose a few ponds. And naturally, nothing worked. Well, one evening, rainy evening of course, you come across a little fluffy puppy abandoned just next to the garbage can in front of your house. You don’t necessarily like dogs, but this one seems different and so alone, maybe even a little sick, that you feel pity (you think) for him and take him in…just for the night. And then you keep him another night, and another one till he officially becomes your pet – you can’t deny it anymore. You walk him every day at fixed hours and, although you forgot all about your weight problem being too busy petting the little pet, you amazingly reached undreamed results in that particular problem. Surprised? You shouldn’t be, it’s known (by some at least) that regular daily 10 – 15 minutes walks are the best diet of all. Try them on your own and you might get bored and give up. But with a dog, the walks are a must, they have to be done, you can’t miss any of them. So, the little innocent dog not only made you a better person since you let him into your house (and heart), but also solved the problem you had that all your determination and lost money on diet products couldn’t solve. If I wasn’t convincing enough, just try it. Get a dog. And miraculously you will be a different person.
My Archie was a grand mal seizure dog and we had an 11 year amazing journey keeping him healthy, happy, and safe. I offer the following information as a guide to keeping your furry companion on a healthy track. REGISTER YOUR DOG WITH YOUR LOCAL VET Don't wait for an emergency. For additional information or advice on the following, consult your vet or pharmacist. VACCINATIONS AND WORMING Every dog should be protected against potentially fatal diseases. First vaccinations are given at about eight weeks. Puppies should not be allowed on the street or mix with other animals until your vet advises. Always keep your dog's vaccination certificates. You may need them in the future. Regular booster vaccinations are necessary, at least once a year. Roundworm and tapeworm (intestinal parasites) can affect dogs at any age, so they should be treated regularly for worms. Worms can cause sickness and diarrhoea in young animals but adult dogs may show no signs. Worming is easy, effective and costs little using a worming preparation obtained from your pharmacist, vet or pet shop. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Adult dogs should be wormed at least every 6 months. Pregnant bitches and bitches with young puppies should be wormed more frequently. It is essential that puppies are wormed when they are about 2 weeks old and then treated at regular intervals until they are at least 6 months old. Always seek veterinary advice before worming your puppy. GROOMING It is important to keep your dog clean by grooming at least once a week and bathing sporadically. Start at puppy stage so it becomes a pleasure not a chore. FLEAS If your dog gets fleas treat him with a reliable spray, dusting powder, or wash. Also clean the areas your dog uses and sleeps in. NEUTERING Unless you are sure you want your bitch to have puppies and you can find good homes for them, you should have her spayed. Your vet will also be able to give you details on hormonal control of seasons. Ask your vet about whether your dog should be neutered. DOGS AND THE LAW Dog owners and non-dog owners have the right to live side-by-side. There are, however, several rules which should be followed. Most are straightforward and many are concerned with safeguarding the environment - for the benefit of everybody. ALL DOGS MUST WEAR A COLLAR AND CLEARLY-DISPLAYED TAG The tag must bear the name and address of the dog's owner. LOCAL DOG CONTROL MEASURES The State of Massachusetts has powers to make Dog Control Orders as it relates to dog fouling, dog ban areas, dogs on leads, putting and keeping a dog on lead under supervision and multiple dog walking restrictions. Authorized local authorities can issue fixed penalty notices and/or seek prosecution where a fine may be given upon conviction. DANGEROUS DOGS Dogs bred for fighting, such as pit bull terriers, must be kept on a lead. STRAY DOGS You must keep your dog under control at all times. Make sure you know the telephone number for your local authority so that you can contact the dog warden if your dog goes missing. The local authority has the responsibility to collect strays and will charge you for kenneling a dog, so act quickly to ensure you aren't put to unnecessary expense. If a dog is not claimed within seven days the authority has the right to find him a new home, or destroy him. Going on holiday. When you give your dog to the person who will be caring for him while you are away, make sure you also give them the number of your local authority in case he strays. PENALTIES Penalties for breaking dog rules can be tough and in extreme cases may allow for the destruction of the dog. The courts and police have a range of powers to deal with offenders. For example, owners who allow their dogs to get dangerously out of control - can be imprisoned and/or fined. FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact your local dog warden at your local council office or contact the Municipal Animal Inspectors . WHAT ALL DOG OWNERS SHOULD KNOW Owning a dog brings great happiness but is also a lifelong responsibility to the dog. You will need to care for him properly and responsibly including staying within the law. This article gives some essential tips to current and prospective dog owners. DECIDING TO GET A DOG Before getting a dog, consider the following: LIFESTYLE Do you have the time, suitable accommodation and willingness to care properly for a dog? ENVIRONMENT Are there suitable facilities near you to exercise a dog? BUDGET Dogs need a nutritionally balanced diet and will have to visit the vet for vaccinations and possible emergencies. Do you need additional insurance to cover vet bills or in case your pet causes an accident or damage to property? Can your budget cope with these costs? TRAINING A well trained dog is a happy dog and, he will not be a nuisance to others if he's under control. You must never allow your dog to be dangerously out of control-he must not injure anyone or frighten anyone into thinking that they might be injured, it is an offense to let your dog behave in this way. WHEN DO I START? Preferably when he is a puppy. It's never too late to train but an older dog may need professional help from a dog training class. The American Kennel Club can supply a list of clubs or look in your local newspaper or ask at your vet or library. HOW DO I START? The basic first lessons are: · walk beside you on and off the lead "heel" · stay when told "sit" or "sit and stay" · come when called "come" · toilet training "potty" or "busy" CORRECTIONS AND REWARDS Dogs learn by linking actions and results so if you praise your dog immediately after he does something well, he'll learn to repeat it to get the same result. TOILET TRAINING Dog owners should not allow their pets to foul indiscriminately in public areas (see 'Dogs and the Law'). Toilet training at puppy stage is therefore vital. If, however, your dog should foil in a public place, be prepared to use a "poop-bag" to clean up the mess. How to start: A puppy goes to the toilet very frequently so begin by putting him outside in a suitable spot as soon as he seems to want to go. Keep repeating this and praise him when he finishes his business in the right place Regular times: Build up regular times to take him out - in the morning, after a meal and at night. Going on command : Once your puppy can use the garden, you need to train him to go on command there so he won't foul in undesirable places. Use a command word such as " busy " just as he is about to go to the toilet. Always use the same tone of voice and praise him when he has finished. Ideally your dog should be trained to "go at home", but when out in public places, remember to take a "poop-bag" and clean up after your dog. Many local authorities make these available and provide disposal bins in special dog walking areas. Your council is responsible for keeping public places clean, which means that any mess not cleared by dog owners becomes a cost to the community. 12 BASIC TIPS FOR RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP Train your dog in elementary obedience Feed your dog at regular times and with a nutritionally balanced diet. Feed your dog from his own dish. Keep your dog on a lead anywhere near a road, or where there are other animals. Train your dog not to foul in public places - if it does, "Scoop the poop"! Remember your dog's bark can be a nuisance. Provide your dog with his own bed. Never take your dog into a food shop - always tie its lead to a post. Keep your dog clean and regularly groomed. If you do not want your dog to have puppies, obtain advice from your vet. Make sure someone is caring for your dog when you go on holiday and that he knows the local dog warden's telephone number. Register your pet with a vet of your choice.
