Recent research undertaken by Halifax has found that people in the UK have spent over £2.6 billion on Cats and Dogs in the last 5 years.

Consider the average costs you encounter whilst owning a pet. Firstly there’s the initial outlay to acquire the animal, then you have to pay for food, Veterinary treatment and environmental enrichment, such as toys, etc. This can mount up fairly quickly, which is shown when you look at the average cost for a dog during its lifetime. This currently resides at £20,000 according to Churchill insurance. Out of this you can expect to pay an average of £790 on Veterinary treatment and that’s if you’re lucky.

It is definitely sensible to take out a Dog insurance policy, as certain breeds are prone to medical conditions, such as, skin conditions which require long term treatment at great expense to the owner. Add to this, the fact that an overweight animal is many times more likely to acquire conditions such as Diabetes, Thyroid problems, Circulatory conditions and Joint problems, to name but a few.

Next we have Cats to consider as they are an equally, if not, more popular pet in the average UK household. They have the tendency to get themselves run over and cost the owner large amounts of money “helping” them back to health. As you can imagine the average Vet makes a lot money from this sort of accident. Costs to be encountered are likely to be (ranking from most costly): Fracture repair, blood tests and general hospitalisation, etc.

The average Cat could live easily into its late teens, so this is a long length of time to go without a Cat insurance policy covering for a lifetime of eventualities.

If you consider the cost of the average pet in the UK and take into consideration the risk factor involved, especially with overweight animals. Can you afford not to have pet insurance?

Pet Insurance can be more important than you think, taking out a Dog insurance policy or

Cat insurance policy can save you a large amount of money in the long run.

Insurance as we all know is a type of ” risk management” mainly done to evade any sort of risks of prospective monetary loss. However, there are different types of insurance related to matters other than financial-for example different pet insurances to care of your pets. Among these, pet care insurance or pet health care insurance, is the most common type

Here, some amount is paid to the person, whose pet falls ill or suffers any accident. The pet insurance policy that is paid, is usually limited by the sum that will be paid by three ways-either by putting a check on the total amount to be paid in a year or by putting a check on for each illness or accidents or even putting check on for every claim along with restricting the period of the claim. The pet owner generally has to pay some amount for any claim called premium.

Mostly, these types of insurances are available for cats and dogs only. Sometimes special insurances are also offered for horses. These policies are almost available in all (developed) countries. But the rules and other details regarding the policies differ.

After making a good study on different companies who are engaged in this business it has been found that till now ‘ the king of the jungle’ is VPI pet insurance, which covers almost over 6400 illness, accidents or injury cases. They also cover for vaccines, though generally insurances are not paid for veterinary cares.

Pet insurance has now become the fastest growing form of insurance in the market as it helps us to get the best care for our pet and also helps us to get ready, beforehand for any sort unanticipated emergencies. It also helps us to cope with the rising veterinary costs.

Find more about Pet Insurance on http://www.LeanderNet.com/Pet_insurance/Pet_insurance.php . More useful content on LeanderNet - http://www.LeanderNet.com

What would life be like if we did not have our loyal pets to keep us company? While we provide our pets with a great deal of love, but let it be known that love alone will not keep them out of harm’s way. A pet needs security and a safety net and such security is provided by making sure that a pet dog or cat is properly provided for in the instance of a medical emergency.

No matter how many precautions we may take to keep a pet safe and secure, accidents happen that require attention. Sometimes, the simple matter of aging can yield some complications that require medical attention. Also, very benign procedures such as common dental work may result in some expensive medical costs. Pet insurance helps circumvent the problems that can arise in such a situation. After all, that is the whole purpose of insurance (pet or otherwise): the need to protect one’s assets in the case of an unexpected calamity or occurrence.

The costs involved with a trip to the vet can be very steep indeed and many pet owners find themselves in a state of shock when they discover exactly how much a medical procedure can cost. This is why the need for a sensible pet insurance plan is advised. Some may laugh at the mere mention of a pet insurance policy to cover vet bills, but it is a practical consideration to take. (Now, a pet life insurance policy, that is laughable!)

Pet insurance is usually not very difficult to obtain and, in most cases, does not involve the release of the pet’s medical records. While there will be a need for extensive review of a human being’s medical files when he or she applies for an individual insurance plan, when it comes to pets, unless the cat or dog is very old or has a pre-existing medical condition, there will usually be no need to review the files of a cat or dog’s medical file. This lack of necessity for providing stacks of medical files may provide greater ease for those who have adopted their pet from a local shelter and such extensive medical records may not be available.

For most pets, pet insurance can be acquired for under $30 a month. When one considers that a major procedure on a pet can cost upwards of $500, then such a monthly fee is quite a bargain. While some may scoff at the idea that a trip to the vet can run up such a high dollar figure, the reality is that expensive pet care is more common than is ordinarily thought. This is why the notion of purchasing pet insurance is something that all pet owners should give serious consideration.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on pet insurance and cheap pet insurance at http://www.petinsurancegroup.com

What is Horse Cribbing and How can I get my Horse to STOP?

WHAT IS CRIBBING?

Do you know that CRIBBING is not only rough on barns and fences, but it also may be detrimental to a horse’s health? The horse wears down his teeth and swallows air, which can lead to inappropriate digestion and colic. Cribbing can lead to serious health problems, such as poor digestion, colic, and various dental problems.

Cribbing is an obsessive-compulsive behavior when a horse chews on wood and swallows air. The cribber uses its upper teeth to grab a stationary object, such as a fence board, and then arches its neck, pulls backwards while swallowing air and grunting. Other horses crib by resting their incisors on an object without grasping it; still others rest their chin on an object and swallow air.

WHY DO HORSES CRIB?

It’s not known what causes cribbing in horses.

There appears to be an inherited susceptibility to STRESS in horses, so genetics are part of the answer. When a horse cribs, it is believed that his body releases endorphins, which stimulate the pleasure center of his brain as why it is such an addictive habit, and such a hard one to break. This may explain why horses crib when under stress, as well. A horse’s INABILITY TO GRAZE can be a significant stress that is commonly thought to lead to repetitive cribbing behavior.

IMPROPER DIET AND FEEDING PRACTICES are commonly cited as factors that may lead to cribbing. Improper diet and feeding is also thought to contribute to cribbing, perhaps because it may cause a horse more stress.

Another popular theory is that cribbing is due to BOREDOM, AND LACK OF EXERCISE. Horses kept stalled are more likely to become Cribbers than horses that are allowed to roam in a pasture. Semi-wild horses or horses in the wild or in the pasture naturally spend 90% of their time grazing and are less likely to crib.

Every horse handles stress differently, some better than others. It appears that susceptibility to stress in horses is INHERITED, so genetics may play a part also.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR A CRIBBER?

Food - Horses need to eat throughout the day and keep their minds active lest they become bored and stressed, since boredom is the most common reason why a horse will pick up the cribbing habit.

Cribbing Straps - Crib straps aren’t perfect but they do succeed in suppressing many cribbers, so it’s an inexpensive option that’s worth a try.

Electro-Shock Collars - These collars are worn around the upper neck just like a crib strap; the strap emits an electric shock to shock the horse each time he takes hold of a fence to crib.

Electric Fencing - Stringing electric fencing along the top of any paddock and/or pasture fences is an effective way to stop them from cribbing on fences. Electric fencing is highly encouraged since it will effectively stop cribbing in its tracks on the protected locations.

Chew Stop And Related Products - Some Non-Toxic Products are now available in the market. These can be sprayed or painted on popular cribbing areas to lend a very unappetizing taste and smell, thereby discouraging a cribber from taking hold of the area. These products are typically recognized as the most humane and cost effective methods to stop your horse from cribbing.

Surgical Procedure - This procedure entails cutting some of the muscles and nerves in the ventral neck region as well as the removal of some muscle tissue.

Anti-depressant - It is an injected to the animal, which prohibits the creation of endorphins, thereby suppressing the natural high a horse gains when he cribs. This is not a practical solution since the effects are short-lived, but further research is being done on similar drugs that may have a longer lasting effect.

MORE TIPS AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Once a horse starts cribbing it is difficult to get them to stop. The best thing is to try to distract and prevent it from occurring in the first place. One of the most common aids in breaking your horse from the cribbing habit are:

-Allow your horse as much pasture time, in as big a pasture as possible
-Spend time training and handling the horse to help prevent boredom.
-Provide your horse with a companion, preferably another horse, but goats also often make good companions for horses.
-Distract your horse with multiple feedings; pasture time and toys before the habit becomes ingrained.
-Allow your horse access to fresh grass, or grass hay at all times.

To date we know of no proof or studies that indicate a horse learns to crib from being around a cribber, and it is likely that several factors come in to play to cause this disorder.

Finally, if your horse suddenly picks up cribbing and doesn’t seem to have developed it from one of the normal causes, it would be a good idea to ask your veterinarian to check your horse and make sure there isn’t a medical cause for the cribbing.

For more helpful information on cribbing please visit www.horse-cribbing.com

Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats

Is it Worth the Money?

Trying to decide if you should invest in a pet insurance policy for your “friend”? Here are some commonly asked questions and statistics, which will hopefully help you, make up your mind.

Why should I get Pet Insurance?

Vet fees are steadily increasing every year due to the increased cost of running a clinic. If your “friend” gets sick, vets can now offer treatments that were not even considered just a few years ago, such as radiation therapy to kidney transplants, etc., but at very high prices. Costs even for common illnesses can be quite steep. See approximate costs below:

• Motor Vehicle Accident $4900
• Ingestion of foreign body $4300
• Cancer treatments $3600
• Bladder infection $2750
• Hip dysplasia $2400
• Fractured leg $2500
• Pneumonia $1900
• Diabetes $1750

Pet insurance could help mitigate a lot of these fees, and it usually only costsabout $1 a day.

Why do I need Pet Insurance if I have an indoor pet?

Indoor pets don’t always stay indoors, and when they do get outside, they are more at risk to get injured since they are not use to this environment. Indoor pets are also just as likely to ingest objects and get infections or cancer.

The decision to get Pet Insurance basically boils down to determining if you will have the money set aside to cure your pet, if your “friend” does get seriously hurt or ill. Everyone has great intentions to set $x away each month in case of an emergency, but if I had to guess, only about 5% actually succeed. It would be absolutely awful, to have to say goodbye to your “friend” just because you didn’t have the money set aside to cover the vet fees.

Questions to ask, when researching a Pet Insurance program:
If you decide Pet Insurance may be an option, consider these questions when researching your options:

• Does your Vet have to be part of the network?
• Are there deductibles?
• Discounts available for multiple pets?
• Are hereditary conditions covered?
• What is Covered under the Policy (ie: Illnesses, Accidents, Routine Care, etc)?
• Are there lifetime limits?
• How to submit a claim?

Research all of your options. Click around on various websites that offer Pet Insurance, and at a minimum ask the questions above. Unfortunately all of the plans are structured differently, and have different options available. Take your time to ensure you are getting the best plan for you and your “friend.”

Sandra Thompson, Author of website http://www.petinsurancedata.com

“Inappropriate elimination,” is a fancy term for your cat urinating anywhere around your household.

The issue of cleaning cat urine is complicated and there are no easy answers or quick remedies. It leaves hard to remove stains and odor infusing through your home. After a thorough application of cleaning products and deodorizers, stains remained and worse, the odors come back!

Cat urine smell is so difficult to remove and it comprises of three major components: Urea – which is the sticky stuff, Urochrome – the pigments which give it color and Uric Acid – which is the stinky part.

Uric Acid is comprised of crystals and salts, when dried it releases relatively little odor, once the crystals and salts dampen again, with rain or humidity the odor comes back.

You can easily get rid of the stinky stuff and the color stain using a proven cleaner or urine remover. The trouble is, because of the uric acid that cat urine contains, normal cleaners do not effectively eliminate the smell.

There are products readily available in pet stores containing enzymes which will neutralize the smell. Examples of effective cat urine remover are Odor Secret. Follow the directions on the bottle and see the results for yourself.

I advise you to discover not only how to clean your cat’s urine but what to do so you can stop the problem in the first place. The key is to completely get rid of the smell from the cat’s perception because the cat may still smell where it urinated attracting it to pee in the same area over and over again.

Another tip is NOT to use ammonia or ammonia based products to clean up cat urine since ammonia smells similar to cat urine, so you will be attracting them to pee on the same spot.

One of the best things you can do to eliminate odors associated with the litter box is to keep it clean. Cats may urinate outside their litter boxes for many reasons: Cats are territorial; they mark their territory by urinating and when they feel threatened. Stressful situations can cause cats to mess anywhere or your cat has Urinary infections.

I believe in approaching the problem from many different angles and not just the most obvious you’ll find the bottom line answers to putting a stop to your cat urine problem.

Find out that there could be many causes to your cat’s problem and what you should do about it. You’ll learn that there are more ways of dealing with your pet’s problem than just cleaning it up.