Dog Owners know that a pet soon becomes a much-loved family member. It would be terrible to have to place a cash value on your pet’s life. If you do not have adequate Insurance you could be faced with that heart-rending decision. Do you want that extra trauma if your dog is sick or injured?

Increased veterinary fees and expenses mean you could be faced with a bill for hundreds or even thousands when your pet becomes unwell. The costs rise and pet owners without insurance are forced to decide how much they will spend to keep their best friend alive. It makes sense to take out a pet insurance policy to avoid major unforeseen expenses.

Like any other family insurance, pet insurance helps you put a small sum away now to avoid a hefty unexpected bill. There is a wide range of cost and cover options so it is a good idea to shop around online to see what is available to you.

Do you need pet insurance?

The answer is a resounding yes: apart from covering vet fees, policies also include your legal liability as a pet owner. If your pet causes a road accident, damages property or bites or scratches someone, you will be covered and the company will appoint lawyers to deal with the claim.

At the stage of getting a pet, most owners do not think about the inevitable unforeseen expenses of illness or accident. Even if your pet lives indoors there are still dangers. They may sustain an injury in the home, drink or eat something poisonous to them, or swallow a toy. And they can still fall prey to an illness or disease specific to their breed. Of course if your pet goes outdoors the possibilities of injury or infection are higher. Unless you can afford to set aside at least $1000 to cover vet bills every year, you should find that pet insurance is the better budget option.

Like most types of policy, pet insurance is a tradeoff between cost and cover. The cost will increase with the scope of cover.

Policy Cover

Like most types of policy, pet insurance is a tradeoff between cost and cover. The cost will increase with the scope of cover. The pet owner can usually choose whether to take inclusive cover that pays for everything from routine checkups and vaccinations to accidents and chronic illnesses, or a lower cost policy for major treatment and emergencies only. In addition you can cut the cost of either option by paying an excess - a set sum is your responsibility then the policy picks up the balance up to the policy limit. Most plans place limits on annual, per-incident, per-illness or lifetime costs.

Be sure to ask whether the policy covers existing conditions and breed specific ailments, such as hip dysplasia. Your pet’s age also affects the cover available: according to the breed you could find some companies will not offer cover after the age of eight to ten years old.

Cost

Payment options for pet insurance include flat fees or excesses or deductibles and/or co-payments. Insurance premiums are affected by age, health and breed, as well as the type of animal. You normally need to settle the bill first and then claim from the insurer, so it is worth setting aside an emergency fund for this. Ask whether premiums increase with the age of your pet. If you have more than one pet you can usually get a multi policy discount.

Choose an insurer

Once you decide on your budget and the type of cover required, you can look for a policy to suit you.

When you approach pet insurance companies these are some ideas to help your research:

List your pet insurance priorities and check each one off in turn. Do your due diligence on the chosen insurance company. Read consumer and professional reviews, focusing on how long they have been established and how fast they settle claims. You should be able to look at a sample policy summary before you buy. Check the benefits, maximum payments and the time limit for making claims. If you have a question, put it in writing and get a written reply so you can refer to it in the event of a claim.

Keep a file of all papers relating to your pet, starting with the adoption or purchase and include receipts and insurance papers to keep track of expense and ensure you claim your entitlement.

Pet insurance is an unavoidable expense but attention now can give your best friend a longer and healthier life, and extend the enjoyment and love you get from your relationship.

Adrienne Davis publishes Kevin’s Doggie Tips with regular Dog Tips Updates. Get moneysaving tips for pet owners at http://dogs.homebusinessadvisers.com

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Posted on July 3rd, 2008 by itbsuperrich
Filed under: pethealthinsurance.pet-insurance-zone.info | No Comments »

Getting a new pet can be a lot of fun. You can choose from a dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, rabbit, and the list goes on and on. No matter what pet you choose, you will need to outfit them with the latest and greatest in pet gear. If you shop smart, you should be able to find many of your items for cheap.

The key to getting a good deal on pet gear is to shop early. Buy your items before your pet comes home with you. That way you won’t be rushed to pay more for the necessary items. The following is a list of supplies needed for a new pet.

Health supplies- vitamins and medications. These are available through your vets office or pet health websites like petmeds.com.

Food- daily food, plus treats. Do a bit of research to find the best type of food for your pet. Don’t forget to have treats for good behavior or to add variety to your pet’s diet.

Toys- catnip for cats, exercise wheels for hamsters, and chew toys for dogs. Try to get a variety of pets to keep your pet entertained and happy.

Cages/Crates- a place for your pet to call home. Every pet needs their own personal space. Make sure to set up their area prior to bringing the pet home.

Grooming supplies- specific to your type of pet.

The specifics of course, depend on the type of pet that you choose. All animals need food and water daily, as well as a chance to exercise and play.

Finding the cheapest pet gear is easier than you think. Try shopping online for the biggest discounts. You can try the larger chains like petsmart.com or you can try smaller specialty shops. Don’t forget to try auction sites like EBay.com. I like to go to Couponchief.com for coupon codes for almost everything I buy. They have a section dedicated to pet gear, and you may be able to save quite a bit on your pet gear. Look for free shipping deals to help sweeten the deal.

A new pet can bring a lot of joy into a family. Don’t break your budget buying pet gear. Bargain shop for the best deals, and buy only what you need. You can always buy more toys and treats as you find a good deal, so don’t worry about buying out the store on the very first day.

Melanie Breeze, avid online shopper and user of http://CouponChief, is always shopping around for the best deals. You can find gardening http://www.couponchief.com discount coupon codes at CouponChief, all in one location. Always find a free coupon 1st before making ANY purchase!

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Posted on June 26th, 2008 by itbsuperrich
Filed under: pethealthinsurance.pet-insurance-zone.info | No Comments »

All of us dream of parenting the perfect dog, a pup that is a CGC or canine good citizen and is well behaved and dependable at all times. Well dreams do come true if the training is done with care and dedication. Remember pups learn from day one and need to be taught what is right, what is wrong, and proper socialization.

Pups are like children, they need constant supervision and training. Training a pup need not be an ordeal all you need to keep in mind are a few simple rules:

Until your pup learns you need to keep an eye on him at all times. When you cannot then you must crate him. Create a schedule for the pup this will help the pup settle down quickly. The schedule must include things like hourly bath rooming visits, eating times, rest periods, walks, play time, training, and so on. A pup that has a busy day has no time to be bored and get into mischief.

Teach the pup to respect you. Dogs live in packs and instinctively follow a leader. If you establish your leadership in no uncertain terms then training will become easy as the pup will obey you at all times and not challenge your authority.

Use only positive training methods. Never shout at, hit, or punish a dog. It is not just cruel but can lead to behavioral problems. Use of electric shocks, prong collars, sprays, and so on could hurt the animal.

Teach the pup “nothing in life is free.” This is a system that is widely acknowledged as a useful training tool. If you practice this, the pup will learn that to get something like love, a walk, or treat, he must behave well.

Teach the meaning of “No,” from day one. Do not encourage behaviors like jumping, mouthing, tug-o-war, barking, or running out of open gates and doors. Praise good behavior and ignore or walk away when there is bad behavior. The pup will learn that if he misbehaves he will loose his companion/playmate.

To correct a behavior you must catch the pup in the act and startle him by rattling a can of pebbles. Once you have done this make him correct his behavior and immediately offer him a treat and praise. Pups do not recall what happened earlier so scolding him after an event is of no use.

Always call/use his name positively. Never say “Bad TOM,” or “No Tom,” this will cause confusion and the pup will think that if you call his name then it is something bad. The pup must associate his name with happy events like hugs, petting, walks, treats, and such. If this happens he will come willingly when you call out his name.

Create a training schedule that is short and sweet say 10 minutes thrice a day. Long repetitive lessons can be boring and the pup will loose interest in learning. Make learning fun and use trick training to teach commands like sit, down, come and so on.

Bond with the pup and both of you will enjoy your lessons. The pup must look forward to spending time with you and not avoid you by running away or hiding. Be sure to socialize the pup early. Socialization is one of the most important lessons. The pup must learn to be around other animals, people, sounds, vehicles, and other activities. So, slowly introduce the pup when he is little to everyday activities and sounds. Take him to the mall/ park, introduce him to children and other pets, and make him unafraid of the vacuum and garden hose.

Learn all about crate training, leash walking, house breaking, as well as food training. These are kindergarten lessons that every pup must master. Know about all the idiosyncrasies as well as peculiarities of the breed this will give you valuable insights on how to successfully train the pup.

As a pet-parent you have many choices. You could choose to train the dog yourself or register at a professional training school. Training a dog has many stages: kindergarten, obedience training, doggy sports, showing and conformation, as well as other aspects like therapy dogs, hearing dogs, and so on. What level you choose to train depends on you as well as the learning abilities of your dog. As you know, different dogs like humans have varied talents. Choose well and both you and your pup will have fun times together.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/pet/ , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Pet Forum including topics on pet health, pet care and nutrition, grooming pet at home, dog, cat’s health issues and more. He also freelances for the premier Data Recovery site http://www.1888DataRecovery.com

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Posted on June 24th, 2008 by itbsuperrich
Filed under: pethealthinsurance.pet-insurance-zone.info | No Comments »