Pet Insurance In The USA

Pet Health Insurance In The USA
My Small Dogs-Jane Smart

Pet health insurance companies are hoping that someday pet owners in the United States will catch up with European pet owners. A recent poll taken of American pet owners suggested that approximately three percent of American pet owners had purchased pet health insurance for their family pet. A veterinarian who was interviewed after the survey was stunned by the results. She felt that the survey was generous. She believes that less then one percent of her patients have any health care insurance.

In Europe approximately twenty-five percent of all pet owners have some sort of pet health insurance on their pets. The numbers are even higher in Sweden where approximately fifty percent of all pet owners rely on pet health insurance to help pay their pet’s medical expenses.

Some experts believe that the reason so many pet owners in the United Kingdom have pet health care insurance is because of an act passed in 1971. In the United Kingdom dog owners are liable for any accident that their pet is found responsible for. This means that if a dog darts out into traffic and causes a seven car pile up the dog’s owner is responsible for paying all the damages. Unwilling to dip into their own pockets to cover their pet’s misadventures, pet owners in the United Kingdom purchase something called third party insurance. Third party insurance is a simply a liability insurance specifically geared to pet owners.

Many American pet owners don’t realize that there are similar pet liability insurance plans available in the United States. Pet owners who would like to purchase pet liability insurance to cover any damages their pets might be responsible rather should be aware that certain breeds of dogs are listed as high risk insurance cases and the owners will be required to pay extra high
insurance policies.

It is unclear why more pet owners in the United States don’t purchase pet health insurance. One possibility is that pet owners simply don’t understand exactly how expensive pet health care is. Fifteen minutes spent in a veterinarian’s office can sometimes cost as much as a hundred dollars. When a pet owner finds themselves facing the cost of an emergency surgery or has to
take their family pet to a university hospital to have an illness treated they quickly find themselves whishing they had something to help cover the enormous vet bill. All too often pet owners who find themselves in an emergency situation are forced to euthanize their beloved pet for economic reasons.

Pet owners who are city dwellers probably feel that they don’t need to worry about something like pet health insurance because they can’t possibly for see when they would need it. Their pets live inside, what could possibly happen to them? What these pet owners don’t realize is that illness can sometimes affect house pets the hardest because their immune systems haven’t had a chance to build up any resistance.

Farmers and ranchers have a very clear cut idea of how fast an accident can happen and how expensive vet care is. Most of them would like to insure the health of their pets but there simply isn’t enough extra money to afford the monthly premiums. Ranchers and farmers also tend to have a working knowledge of illnesses and injuries that lets them treat their pets on their own.

Would you be ready to pay expenses for your pet if an accident happened? Did you know that you could get pet insurance for as little as 20cents per day? Discover how you can protect your pet today:http://mysmalldogs.com/petinsur.htm
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Jane Smart is the owner of http://mysmalldogs.com/ Her partner, Dr. Kristie Ponce,DVM is a licensed vet in the state of Wisconsin who specializes in small dog care. Get answers to all of your questions:http://mysmalldogs.com/sign-up.htm

Keep Your Small Dogs Safe...........

Hi Guys,

Boy was mom upset with us this last weekend! Of course it was my dumb brother, Mike Jones's fault!

We went to MN for a BMX race. Our human brother races in BMX races. Anyway, when we got to the race track, we barked and tried to get to every other dog we saw. Mike Jones got away from dad one time and actually attacked another dog. He was big too! He didn't do anything. He just backed away from Mike Jones. We barked so much, mom said that she was going to buy us muzzles. Gee, I hope it doesn't hurt! As angry as mom was, they probably will!

We hope you enjoy the article we have for you.

Until next time,

Crash

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Keep Your Small Dogs Safe From Parasites and Protect Your Children From Disease
My Small Dogs-Jane Smart

(NewsUSA) - Sometimes pets can give a child more than just a wet, sloppy kiss and endless affection. When pets aren't protected, they could spread diseases called zoonoses, to which children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people are especially vulnerable.
Purdue University research estimates that 5 percent to 20 percent of children are infected by dog roundworm larvae at some time, and that an estimated 10,000 human cases of Toxocara (roundworms) infections occur each year in the United States. Some zoonotic diseases can be transmitted by fleas and intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms, which is why the Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.petsandparasites.com) recommends year-round protection for pets.

It is unknown whether transmission can occur from casual contact with your pet. Even if a pet does not have intestinal parasites, a parasitic zoonotic disease could still be contracted.

Backyards, sandboxes, public parks and beaches accessible to dogs, cats and wildlife often are contaminated with parasite eggs from an infected animal's feces. To help reduce the risk of your child contracting a parasitic zoonotic disease, the Companion Animal Parasite Council offers these tips:

* Minimize your child's exposure to potentially contaminated environments, such as uncovered sandboxes.

* Clean up your pets' feces.

* Decontaminate soiled concrete surfaces with bleach or ammonia.

* Practice good personal hygiene and have children wash their hands after playing with pets or after playing in potentially infected environments.

* Treat your pet year-round for intestinal and external parasites. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a monthly heartworm preventative, the broadest spectrum and most pet-friendly dewormer, and a monthly flea-control product.

* Ask your veterinarian to perform fecal examinations each year (two to four times for puppies or kittens) to assist with diagnosis of potential zoonotic infections.

* If your pet is diagnosed with a zoonotic parasite, inform your physician and pediatrician immediately.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, treatment for parasitic zoonosis is not necessary in most cases, but some serious health problems, such as blindness or swelling of the body's organs or central nervous system, can occur.

Prevention is key, to ensure that children do not become infected. Discuss zoonotic risks and symptoms with your veterinarian and pediatrician. To assess your family's zoonosis risk, visit www.noworms.com, and for more information about zoonoses, pets, and children, log on to www.petparents.com.

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Jane Smart is owner of http://mysmalldogs.com Her partner, Dr. Kristie Ponce, DVM, is a practicing, licensed Veterinarian in the state of Wisconsin, specializing in the care of small dogs. Have questions about your small dog? Ask Dr. Ponce here:
http://mysmalldogs.com/forum