Got pet health insurance? It’s a must if you never want to choose between your money and your pet’s life

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When Tiffany Gere of Butler, New Jersey, was considering getting a new puppy recently, she called her pet health insurance company to ask about the cost of adding a new pet to her policy. The advice she received surprised her.

“They said to purchase (coverage) beforehand and call to activate it two weeks before I brought the puppy home,” she says. “It takes two weeks to go into effect, so that way the first vet visit would be covered.”

If you are planning to get a puppy or kitten soon, a young adult pet, or even a fully grown adult animal, pet health insurance can be a good buy. The uptick in companies offering pet health insurance (there are at least 11) has improved coverage, which in the past was criticized for caps on payouts, exclusions for hereditary or congenital conditions, or poor customer service. Competitive pressure means that companies have a greater variety of plans that meet the different needs of pet owners, from the person who wants emergency coverage only to the one who wants help with everyday expenses such as wellness exams, vaccinations and nail trims.

“When I did the math, it was stupid not to have a policy,” Gere says. “Here, a dental exam is $500 or more.”

Bix, a 15-month-old standard poodle who lives with Janine Adams of St. Louis, Missouri, has had several problems covered in his life so far. He had to have eight baby teeth pulled that didn’t fall out on their own. Then he chipped a couple of permanent teeth, which had to be sealed. He also got neutered, had some ear issues and had surgery for an eye condition called entropion.

“In his first year, we paid $744 in premiums and got back $1,406,” Adams says. “That doesn’t count the entropion surgery, which happened in his second year. We got back 90 percent of the $625 that cost.”

What’s covered can surprise you. One plan pays up to $500 for boarding if an owner is hospitalized for more than 48 hours, and up to $500 for ads and reward offers if a pet goes missing. Other costs that may be covered, depending on the plan, include microchipping, massage therapy, therapeutic diets prescribed by your veterinarian and pet activity monitors.

It’s always a good idea to check your policy to see if an incident is covered. Barbara Saunders of Berkeley, California, had an accident policy on a previous dog. She didn’t realize it covered instances of dogs ingesting foreign objects, and failed to use it on the two occasions when it would have paid off.

Submitting claims is easy in the digital age. There’s an app for that. Snap a photo of the invoice with your phone, and the app does the rest. Even without an app, taking a picture of the bill and emailing it is usually all you need to do. Depending on the company, reimbursement usually shows up in two to four weeks.

Gere decided to wait on getting a puppy, but she’s happy with the coverage she has on her collie, Jake. She pays approximately $100 a month for a wellness plan with a $200 deductible, and has been reimbursed $1,261 in the past year. It has paid for exams, bloodwork, medication, heartworm testing and prevention, flea control, and diagnostics and treatment for a urinary tract infection. If needed, her plan also covers laser therapy and acupuncture.

Concerned about the cost? You may work for a company that offers pet health insurance as a benefit. Some 5,000 employers provide it, including EMC, Hewlett-Packard, IKEA, Levi Strauss, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Xerox and Yahoo.

“What I love is that it takes the money out of veterinary decisions for Bix,” Adams says.

Q&A

Distemper still a

concern in dogs

Q: Does my dog really need a distemper vaccination? Dogs don’t really get that anymore, do they? -- via email

A: Distemper used to be the No. 1 killer of dogs. It may not be as common as it was in the bad old days before a vaccine was developed, but it definitely still exists. So far this year, there have been distemper outbreaks in shelters in California, Tennessee, Maryland and Missouri. My own little QT Pi is a distemper survivor from a shelter.

There’s good reason for distemper being one of the core vaccines all dogs should receive. More than half the adult dogs who get distemper die; in puppies who get the disease, the death rate can be as high as 80 percent. When we see distemper, it’s usually in dogs who haven’t been vaccinated.

Signs of distemper include fever, listlessness, eye and nasal discharge, a dry cough, vomiting, diarrhea and neurological signs. Even if a dog survives distemper, his nervous system and senses of sight, smell and hearing can be irreparably damaged. Some dogs survive distemper but are partially or totally paralyzed. A weakened immune system makes them more susceptible to pneumonia.

Another important reason for vaccinating dogs is that the distemper virus is highly contagious. It’s usually transmitted through contact with an infected dog’s mucus, watery secretions from the eyes or nose, urine or feces. It can also be airborne or carried on the bottoms of shoes. Wild canines such as coyotes or foxes can spread the distemper virus. A healthy but unvaccinated dog can contract distemper without ever coming in physical contact with an infected animal.

Puppies and young adult dogs are most susceptible to infection, but it’s not unheard of for older dogs to become infected. Most cases occur in young puppies who are 2 to 4 months old. The younger they are, the more severe the disease. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Three companies

issue food recalls

-- Several pet food manufacturers issued recalls last month. They include Hunk of Beef from Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food of Illinois, possibly contaminated with the drug pentobarbital; Against the Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner for Dogs from Against the Grain Pet Food, also for potential pentobarbital contamination; and Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Healthy Weight Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables, after some of the food was found to contain pieces of metal. Check company websites or call for the lot numbers of affected products. You can return them for a full refund.

-- You’re not imagining things if your dog’s personality seems to mirror your own. Researchers at Austria’s University of Vienna found that dogs not only recognize our emotions, they also tend to share them. In a study published last month in PLOS One, researchers measured heart rate, threat response and cortisol variability -- a measure of the ability to manage stress -- in 132 people and their dogs. People were assessed for personality hallmarks -- neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness -- and surveyed about their dogs’ personalities. The results? Relaxed people have relaxed, friendly dogs, while anxious or pessimistic people have dogs who are less able to cope with stress.

-- Jet-setting pets can soon relax in luxury at a new terminal just for them at New York City’s JFK International Airport. Known as The Ark, the completed facility will have a 20,000-square-foot resort for dogs and cats with massage therapy and “pawdicures,” plus a bone-shaped pool for dogs and a jungle gym for cats. A 24-hour veterinary clinic, 48 horse stalls, and an aviary are among the other amenities. Currently, the Equine & Livestock Export Center, Aviary In-Transit Quarantine and Pet Oasis, an animal wellness center, are open for business. The second and third phases open later this year. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

You don’t have to give up your dog, cat or other pet if you suffer from allergies. Here are some ways to cope

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

My husband’s allergies to our dogs were mild until last year. Now he has developed asthma and has a twice-daily routine of medication and an inhaler.

Allergies. They’re the bane of people who love pets but develop a runny nose, itchy throat and watery eyes in their presence -- or worse, coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.

It’s one thing to know from childhood that you’re allergic to dogs, cats or other animals, but when allergies develop later in life, after you’ve built a relationship with members of the animal kingdom, it’s hard to give them up.

The good news is that in many cases, you don’t have to. Medication and environmental changes can help you and your pet live comfortably together. Here are some ways to keep allergy symptoms at bay.

-- Bathe your pet frequently. It’s not fur or hair that causes allergies, but saliva, urine and dander (microscopic dead skin cells). These substances contain proteins that cause allergic reactions, and frequent bathing helps to remove them from fur. Our dogs are bathed weekly, and it helps. Some cats take well to baths, believe it or not, but if yours doesn’t, at least wipe him down with a damp cloth daily.

-- Shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after roughhousing with your dog or cuddling your cat.

-- Keep pets off the bed or out of the bedroom entirely. Reducing the presence of allergens in your sleeping area will help to ensure a good night’s rest. Instead, enjoy your pet’s presence while you’re both awake.

-- Clean often. Use HEPA air purifiers and filtering products. Use a double or microfilter bag in your vacuum. Have a family member wipe down the inside of your car after your pet has been in it, or take it to the car wash.

-- Redecorate. If possible, replace carpeting with hard flooring such as wood or tile. Limit floor coverings to machine-washable throw rugs (and use hot water on them). If you must have carpet, choose one with a low pile, and steam-clean it often. Steam-clean furniture as well. Declutter your home. The fewer items that collect allergens, the better.

-- Avoid being with your pet in small, enclosed areas such as veterinary exam rooms. Veterinarian Kathryn Primm (who is herself allergic to pets) has some clients with allergies who wait in the lobby or outdoors while their pets are being examined. “We have alerts on their charts; ‘client allergic to dogs,’” she says.

-- Consider the type and size of pet. It’s just common sense that a small dog produces less allergens than a big one, but did you know that female cats produce less allergens than males? If you are adding a pet to your family, these are factors to consider. Be aware that there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic pet. Some animals produce less allergens than others, but it varies by individual. You can’t assume that just because a pet has a certain type of coat or is a certain breed that you won’t react to him.

-- Consult a board-certified allergist. In the bad old days, allergists used to recommend getting rid of pets, but now most of them recognize the importance of the human-animal bond and will help you develop a treatment plan to manage your symptoms. For many people, immunotherapy (allergy shots) is an effective long-term treatment. They helped Elizabeth Tobey, who as a young child was so allergic she couldn’t have pets. “I had a series of allergy shots as a kid, and over time have built up some tolerance through exposure,” she says.

Q&A

Cat’s appetite

loss is worrisome

Q: My cat doesn’t seem very hungry anymore. What could be causing her loss of appetite? -- via email

A: All of us worry when our pets don’t eat. That’s especially true if their normal habit is to chow down with gusto. Pets who don’t eat lose energy, don’t feel good and can develop serious metabolic problems if it goes on for very long.

A lack of appetite can have many causes. It’s often the first sign of illness or, in some cases, the only sign. Cats, as you probably know, are masters at hiding sickness, and not eating may be the only clue they give. So a noticable change in appetite is one of the things you should let your veterinarian know about right away.

Appetite loss can also be a side effect of certain medications or pain from a condition such as dental disease, a mass in the mouth or inflammation of the jaw muscles that pets use to chew. Cats in renal failure often have decreased appetite. Sometimes pets simply don’t like the way their food tastes. Cats are notorious for developing aversions to certain foods.

A poor sense of smell can affect appetite. You’ve probably experienced that when you’ve had a bad cold. If your cat is getting on in years, her sense of smell may not be as good as it used to be. Or she may have an upper respiratory infection that is affecting her ability to smell.

Never assume that your cat will eat when she’s hungry. Just two or three days of not eating can cause your cat -- especially if she is overweight or stressed for some reason -- to develop a serious liver disease called hepatic lipidosis.

If your cat is experiencing decreased appetite, complete lack of appetite or changes in appetite, take her to your veterinarian for a checkup. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Cat news

you can use

-- Facts about cats you might not have known: Spayed cats live an average of 3.1 years longer than unspayed cats. Neutered cats live an average of 11.8 years longer than unneutered cats. Kidney disease is seven times more likely in cats than in dogs. The top three things people like about cats are that they like to play, they entertain themselves and they make people smile.

-- Grand champion Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn became only the second German shepherd dog -- and only the second member of the herding group -- to take best in show at the 2017 Westminster Kennel Club Show. It’s the 39th time a female has won. More Westminster trivia: Irish setters have had the most sporting group placements (54) at Westminster, but have never won BIS. Norwegian elkhounds have won the hound group 11 times, but the breed has never won BIS. A Pekingese has won BIS four times, most recently in 2012. A boxer has won four times, and a Norwich terrier twice.

-- Looking for a good read? The Dog Writers Association of America recently named its best books of 2016. The winners were Laura T. Coffey, Dogwise Best Book Award for “My Old Dog”; Christina Potter, Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Book for “Insider Training”; Kristin von Kreisler, Best Book -- Fiction, Young Adult or Humor for “Earnest”; Kim Kavin for “The Dog Merchants” and Tracy Libby for “Reporting for Duty” in the Reference Book category; Patti Lawson for “What Happens to Rover When the Marriage Is Over” in the Human-Animal Bond category; Eileen Anderson for “Remember Me? Loving and Caring for a Dog with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction” in the Behavior, Health or General Care category; Pamela Dennison for “You Can Train Your Dog” in the Training category; and Cindy W. Hollingsworth, “Westie Tails,” in the Children’s category. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker.

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

What to know about giving your pets medication

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

When you live with a cavalier King Charles spaniel, you know that at some point, you are going to be medicating your dog to manage congestive heart failure from mitral valve disease. That day has come for me and Harper, my 9-year-old cavalier.

I took her to the veterinary ER last month because she was showing classic signs of heart failure: restlessness, rapid respiration and coughing. I had been chalking the coughing up to the grass that she loves to eat, but combined with the other two signs, I knew it wasn’t something to ignore. Harper’s cardiologist wasn’t able to see her right away, but based on chest X-rays and clinical signs, she prescribed three medications to help control Harper’s symptoms until she could be examined. One of them is a diuretic.

We’ve been through this before, so we knew what to expect. The diuretic removes excess salt and fluid from Harper’s body. That means she drinks more water and needs to urinate more frequently. No more asking her to wait if I’m busy when she comes to let me know she wants to go out. We get up and go right away.

No matter what disease your dog or cat is facing, there are lots of great drugs out there that can help. Here’s what you should know about ensuring that you and your pet get the best results.

-- Ask about side effects. Most drugs have them. Your pet may not experience side effects, but you should know what to look for. Common side effects of various types of medication include vomiting and diarrhea, stomach ulcers, lethargy, or liver or kidney damage. The potential for liver or kidney damage is why your veterinarian may require your pet to have blood work done a week or so after starting the medication or before refilling the prescription. Call your veterinarian right away if you suspect your pet is having a reaction to medication.

-- Ask for a copy of the prescription. You may be able to purchase medication for less at big box stores such as Target or Costco. They can leverage their purchasing power to get lower prices, something your vet may be unable to do. Getting a medication direct from your veterinarian can be more convenient, though, and may be worth the price difference to you.

-- Ask about compounding. If your pet is difficult to medicate if the pills don’t come in small sizes, a compounding pharmacy can formulate the drug in a different way, such as a chicken-flavored liquid or a cheese-flavored chewable.

-- Ask online pharmacies if they are accredited by the National Association Boards of Pharmacy Top-Level Domain program or, for compounding pharmacies, the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that medications that are packaged or shipped improperly may be ineffective.

-- Ask if the medication should be given with food or on an empty stomach. It can make a difference in the effectiveness.

-- Ask when to start the medication. Your pet may have already gotten a dose at the veterinary hospital and might not need more until the next day.

-- Ask how much leeway there is in timing the doses. If a medication needs to be given every 12 hours, but your schedule is variable, it’s good to know if your pet can get the drug a little early or a little late.

-- Ask what to do if your pet misses a dose. Usually it’s not advisable to double up on a dose, but only your veterinarian knows for sure.

Q&A

Is surgery the

only solution?

Q: My dog has a cruciate ligament tear. The surgery to repair it is really expensive. Is there anything else we can do? -- via Facebook

A: It’s not just athletes who suffer these types of injuries. Cruciate ligament tears are one of the most common orthopedic problems seen by veterinarians. The options for repair depend on such factors as your dog’s size, age, activity level and, of course, your budget.

Maybe you have a small dog. It’s possible that with complete crate rest for six weeks, medication for pain relief and some rehab sessions, his condition could improve. It won’t be fixed, but if he’s an older dog and doesn’t have an active lifestyle, that may be OK. A larger or more active dog may not respond as well to this program.

That might sound like a good plan to you, but keep in mind that when we say complete crate rest, we mean that your dog must be confined to a small area where he has room only to stand up, lie down and turn around. He doesn’t come out of that space for the whole six weeks except to go outdoors to potty on his leash and then go straight back into confinement. This can be tough on people and dogs, and your dog still runs the risk of eventually tearing the meniscus, the C-shaped disc that cushions the knee.

An orthotic for the dog’s knee (called the stifle) is also a possibility. Some dogs don’t like wearing them, though, and it’s not temporary; the dog will need it for life.

If you have a young, active dog or one who competes in a canine sport or is a service dog, surgery is likely the best option. Your veterinarian can discuss the various surgical options with you, including complications and success rates. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Kids like pets

more than siblings

-- Your dog or your brother? A survey of 77 12-year-olds found that they got more satisfaction and less conflict out of their relationships with pets than with siblings. Anyone who has squabbled with a sister or brother probably agrees. The advantage of confiding in a dog or cat, of course, is that he’s not going to argue with you or say “I’m gonna tell!” Girls reported “more companionship, disclosure and conflict” with pets than boys did. The University of Cambridge study appeared in the Jan. 24, 2017, issue of the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology.

-- Zelda has a new lease on life after becoming the first ferret to have a pacemaker surgically implanted. Veterinarians at Kansas State University’s Veterinary Health Center performed the surgery last month after Zelda’s owner, Carl Hobi, noticed in December that Zelda seemed lethargic and had little appetite. An EKG found that she had a low heart rate, and Hobi was referred to a KSU cardiologist. Zelda was a good candidate for the surgery, and went home after two days in the intensive care unit. The pacemaker’s battery should last approximately 10 years, giving Zelda a full ferret lifespan.

-- Alaska has become the first state in the nation to require courts to take an animal’s well-being into account in divorce settlements, empowering judges to assign joint custody of pets. With the same statute, it becomes the 32nd state to protect companion animals under domestic violence protection orders and allow courts to require abusers to pay financial support for a pet in situations of cruelty or neglect. In a blog post, the Animal Legal Defense Fund wrote, “Alaska’s new statute represents significant progress for animals in the legal system.” The law took effect last month. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.